Methodology
How the World Machine-Tool Survey Was Taken
Short History. These annual reports of world machine-tool production, trade, and consumption were started in 1965 by Anderson Ashburn for American Machinist magazine, and he remained closely affiliated with the survey until his death in 2003. In the early 1980s, Joe Jablonowski, now editor of Gardner’s Metalworking Insiders’ Report newsletter, joined the project. Eleven years ago, again using these editors in New York, Gardner Publications, Inc. (Cincinnati, Ohio) began annual preparation of the surveys for its publications and Web site.
The methodology has remained constant. Much of the information comes from official sources directly to Gardner’s research department. Some field reports are drawn from the newsletter’s correspondents. Coordination of the data collection is through Nancy Eigel-Miller, Gardner research manager in Cincinnati.
Sources. The revised data for 2005 as well as the estimated data for 2006 is sourced at government agencies or trade associations. In the case of the fifteen national trade groups that are part of the western-European CECIMO consortium (Comité Européen de Coopération des Industries de la Machines-Outil), data-gathering is facilitated through CECIMO offices in Brussels, Belgium.
Notes on entries. The reliability of such sources varies somewhat from country to country. When it is necessary, the editors develop an estimate that is based on information from a number of sources, including import and export data from the country’s trading partners. When this is done, it is indicated by a “c” (for “circa”) next to the particular figure on the Producers table.
The Survey provides estimates for 2006 and updated figures for 2005. If no estimate for 2006 is available, the 2005 figure is carried forward unrevised and marked with a “u,” that is, the same figure is used for 2006, except that it is converted to dollars at the 2005 rate.
Definitions. A machine tool is usually defined as a power-driven machine, not portable by hand, and powered by an external source of energy. It is designed specifically for metalworking either by cutting, forming, physico-chemical processing, or a combination of these techniques.
Machine tools are traditionally broken down into two categories: Metalcutting and metalforming. Metalcutting machines typically cut away chips or swarf and include (but are not limited to) broaching machines, drilling machines, electrical-discharge machines, gearcutting machines, grinders, machining centers, milling machines, transfer machines, and turning machines such as lathes. Metalforming machines typically squeeze metal into shape and include (but are not limited to (bending machines, cold-heading machines, presses, shears, coil slitters, and stamping machines.
Data here are solicited for metalcutting machines (codes 8456-8461 under the Harmonized Tariff System) and for metalforming machines (8462-8463) and are for complete machines only, not including parts or rebuilt machines.
Exchange rates. All local-currency figures are translated into dollars at the average commercial rate as reported at www.oanda.com.
Country |
Reporting Currency |
2006 |
2005 |
Change |
Argentina |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Australia |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Austria |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Belgium |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Brazil |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Canada |
Canadian dollars |
1.1346 |
1.2117 |
-6% |
China, Peoples Rep. |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Croatia |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Czech Republic |
Koruna |
22.6253 |
23.9905 |
-6% |
Denmark |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Finland |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
France |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Germany |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
India |
Rupees |
45.3188 |
44.1154 |
3% |
Italy |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Japan |
Yen |
116.3366 |
110.1245 |
6% |
Korea, Rep. of |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Mexico |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Netherlands |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Portugal |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Romania |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Russia |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Spain |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Sweden |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Switzerland |
Euros |
0.7979 |
0.8045 |
-1% |
Taiwan |
Taiwanese $ |
32.5565 |
32.1991 |
1% |
Turkey |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
United Kingdom |
Pounds |
0.5435 |
0.5500 |
-1% |
United States |
U.S.$ |
1.0000 |
1.0000 |
0% |
Effect of Currency Fluctuations. Percentage changes discussed in the Country Reports and in the Analysis are in the original local currency and are the true measure of a nation’s machine-tool industry. Year-to-year variations in exchange rates caused by inflation, etc., can distort those percentage changes somewhat after they are converted to dollars. Some countries report their production in U.S. dollars, and this is noted above and on the Producers table.
Scope. Information from the 29 countries represented in the survey does not include all the machine-tool production and trade activity in the world, but it is thought to encompass more than 96%. In some cases like Thailand a machine-tool market exists, but data on production are not compiled locally, and the country cannot be included in the survey. Please see the Country Reports section for contacts within some of these non-reporting countries.
Preparation of the raw data for presentation in HTML on the web is done by Julie Ball and Tracy Dugan of the GardnerWeb staff.
Additional Data. For more detailed statistics, we highly recommend The Economic Handbook of The Machine Tool Industry, published by AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology, McLean, Virginia, USA. The CD-ROM costs $295 + $5 shipping and handling. Order from http://www.amtonline.org/
