No. of Recommendations: 4
Back when I was a kid, Japanese products were perceived as junk. Fifteen years later, they were acknowledged to be every bit as good (and in many cases better) than products designed and built in the US and Europe.
Not long ago, Chinese products were perceived as junk (despite many of our premium companies building their products in Chinese factories.
I can tell you from personal experience that the consumer products currently sold in China compete very favorably with those manufactured in the US or Europe.
Jeff
No. of Recommendations: 10
We o longer have the machines to make the machines to do modern manufacturing. Try to find tool and die makers and machinists nowadays. Sure, an AI can create a program to run a 3-D printer, but try to find a CNC machine shop with an experienced crew - and then multiply that by 10,000. My high school had nearly a dozen machine shop equipped classrooms and studying that (as well as foundry, pattern-making, technical drawing, etc. was mandatory). They scrapped them in the 1990's and fired the shop teachers (who were generally retired machinists). That ain't coming back and the students taught in those rooms have all retired.
Jeff
(who worked as a tool and die maker during the summer between HS and college)
No. of Recommendations: 4
"It's our turn to manufacture and build wealth."
We'll see.
I would have phased it as:We are planning to return to manufacturing.
In 1945-46 we converted manufacturing back from weapons & munitions production back to consumer goods.
The US was a powerhouse of industrial production from then to 1980. Jack Welch around 1980 transferred GE electric motor production to Mexico. Then in the 1990's GE stove & refrigerator production moved to Mexico. Other corporations followed suit. Not necessary to Mexico but to China. 1990's began the flood. First with NAFTA then adding CHINA to WTO in 2001.
No. of Recommendations: 0
There are an estimated over 40 "tool and die" companies and related suppliers in Connecticut, according to business directories. The precise number fluctuates as directories are constantly updated and some companies specialize in specific niches of the tool and die industry (e.g., metal stamping, die casting, specific tools).
In summary, expect hundreds of tool and die companies across New England, varying from small, family-owned shops to larger specialized manufacturers, critical to advanced industries in the region, even if a precise, live count isn't readily available.
AI Overview
Top 7 Tool and Die Companies Near PA, NY, OH, & WV That ...
While there's no exact count of companies, the Midwest is a major hub, with Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin employing thousands of Tool and Die Makers, indicating a strong presence of these specialized shops, with Michigan leading in employment and concentration, supporting a fragmented but critical industry vital for manufacturing.
Key States by Employment (BLS Data):
Michigan: ~9,000 Tool & Die Makers
Ohio: ~5,710 Tool & Die Makers
Illinois: ~4,900 Tool & Die Makers
Indiana: ~3,760 Tool & Die Makers
Wisconsin: ~3,470 Tool & Die Makers
Industry Context:
The U.S. tooling industry is made up of around 2,600 small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs), many acting as "hidden champions" with deep niche expertise.
These companies are crucial for creating custom molds, dies, and fixtures for automotive, aerospace, and other manufacturing sectors, forming a significant part of the Midwest's industrial backbone.
In short, the Midwest hosts a large concentration of tool and die shops, with top states like Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois being key centers for this skilled workforce, though the exact number of firms fluctuates.
