IndustryNet Blog

A help-wanted ad that used to pull a dozen qualified applicants might pull two today, and neither one has set foot on a shop floor. We recently wrote about how manufacturing hiring is stepping up while unfilled positions keep climbing, and separately about why Gen Z is increasingly opting into manufacturing careers instead of avoiding them. Both point to the same conclusion. Manufacturers who wait for the applicant pool to look like it used to are going to wait a long time. The more useful question is who else is already looking for exactly this kind of work and simply isn't showing up through the usual recruiting channels.

Whether it's a family farm raising poultry in North Carolina, a large-scale cattle operation in Kansas, or a cooperative serving grain producers across the Corn Belt, feed suppliers are the behind-the-scenes force that keeps U.S. livestock production running. The industry is marked by deep regional roots, multigenerational ownership, and a customer base that depends on consistent quality and reliable supply.

New analysis conducted by the research teams at Industrial SalesLeads, an MNI partner, has identified 398 new planned industrial projects for October 2026, up 2% from 392 in September. The increase makes up for September's 2% decline. The Industrial Manufacturing industry led the growth with 169 new projects, its highest monthly total of 2026, while Food and Beverage fell to a 2026 low of 38.

U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for a 10th consecutive month in October, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management, released November 2nd. The PMI climbed to 55.5 percent, its strongest reading in months, as production surged to a multi-year high and demand indicators held broadly positive.

Every significant achievement deserves recognition that matches its importance. Custom recognition awards give organizations a meaningful way to honor individuals while producing something that reflects the true weight of what was accomplished.

Every Halloween, kids learn a lesson that procurement teams relearn every year: what is inside the bag matters more than the wrapper. A supplier quote with an attractive unit price can come attached to a contract that costs far more over its life, through payment terms that drain cash, escalation clauses that raise prices, or renewal language that locks you in for another year before anyone notices.

Plastics manufacturing is one of the most versatile and essential segments of U.S. industry. From injection-molded automotive components to thermoformed medical trays, plastics suppliers serve virtually every sector of the economy.

IndustryNet has launched a fully redesigned website, bringing modern mobile functionality, a faster buyer experience, and a more powerful platform for the industrial suppliers listed on it. The update touches nearly every part of the site, from the home page and supplier search results to company listing pages, quote request forms, and account management tools.

The U.S. manufacturing sector is entering the final stretch of the year with its expansion streak intact, its labor recovery strengthening, and demand conditions remaining broadly constructive after a brief mid-summer soft patch. Manufacturing activity expanded for an eighth consecutive month in August, employment accelerated sharply, and new orders bounced back after two consecutive monthly declines.

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA has expanded its heat treatment capabilities with the delivery of a new water quench furnace specifically designed to process large titanium components. The company is currently commissioning the new system at its Hermitage, Pennsylvania, facility and is expected to be placed into production November 2026.

Neway Packaging Corp., a leading provider of industrial packaging supplies, equipment, and custom packaging solutions, is proud to announce its full membership in Network Distribution, a global distribution organization connecting independent distributors to deliver comprehensive supply management solutions.

On paper, two aluminum extrusion suppliers might look nearly identical. Both have the equipment, capacity, technical expertise, and quality systems to manufacture the part. Their quotes are competitive. Their delivery commitments are comparable.

Concrete products are foundational to American infrastructure in the most literal sense. Precast and prestressed concrete components underpin bridges, highways, parking structures, utility networks, and commercial buildings from coast to coast. This article examines the current state of the industry using data collected directly from U.S. concrete products suppliers, explores the key trends shaping the sector in 2026, and highlights the largest companies and top suppliers serving construction, infrastructure, agricultural, and utility buyers across the country.

If your company has picked up work from customers moving their sourcing back to the U.S., it's tempting to say so everywhere: a flag on the homepage, "American-made" across the trade show banner, a #madeinUSA hashtag on every LinkedIn post. Domestic production is a real selling point right now, and buyers are actively looking for it

A standard service saddle with a conventional bolt simply must be assembled to the water main, thread the bolt through, and then torque it to the correct specification. While it sounds easy, without using a torque wrench, there is no way of knowing whether it's been tightened to the correct torque. As a result, saddles can be overtightened, damaging the bolt, causing saddle failure and, in the worst-case scenario, cracking the pipe beneath it.

Ball Systems announced today that its Westfield, Indiana facility is now AS9100D certified, the internationally recognized quality management standard for organizations serving the aviation, space and defense industries.

In modern manufacturing, reducing assembly time is only part of the challenge. Manufacturers are also looking for ways to reduce part handling, minimize work-in-process inventory, simplify production equipment, and improve process consistency

Henry Repeating Arms has introduced the "Founding Fathers Collection," a series of seven Tribute Edition rifles honoring the men who shaped the American republic: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton. The series arrives as the United States of America continues to celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence.

Employee-owned A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., a leading manufacturer of structural building components in the Southeastern United States, today celebrates 49 years in business and begins the countdown to its 50th anniversary.

Most of what's making headlines about the U.S.-Canada trade dispute this week has nothing to do with industrial supply chains. Alcohol, dairy products, and motorcycles are the items getting banned outright. That's a real story, but it's not the one that matters for anyone buying or selling industrial goods. The real story is what's stacking underneath it, on steel, aluminum, and the components made from them.

The U.S. springs industry is a mature, technically demanding sector with deep roots in American precision manufacturing and a customer base that spans virtually every segment of the industrial economy.

More than 1.1 million home invasions occur in the United States every year. In the vast majority of those cases, the criminal does not pick a lock. He kicks in a door. According to FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 93% of burglars who attempt forced or unlawful entry gain access to a home through exactly that method, and most succeed in under 10 seconds.

Enstrom Mold and Engineering Inc. has built its reputation on keeping plastic injection molding close to home. The San Marcos, California-based company historically designed and built custom molds, molded parts, and assembled finished products at its11,000-Square-Foot 235 Trade St facility. Expanding their capabilities they have announced their new 11,000-Square-Foot facility next door at 245 Trade St.

Equipment reliability is the foundation of efficient industrial operations. Whether in a manufacturing facility, water treatment plant, aerospace operation, or processing facility, equipment must perform consistently to meet production goals and minimize costly downtime.

Heat staking is sometimes reduced to a simple question: "What temperature should I use?" For engineers, that is the wrong question. A repeatable heat-staking process is the interaction of several controlled variables. Temperature is important, but it is only one part of the process.

While the humble label is the last thing applied to a product, it's the first thing a customer reads. It identifies what's inside, communicates regulatory compliance, carries the brand, enables traceability through the supply chain, and in some cases serves as the primary sales tool the product has at the point of purchase. Labels are everywhere, and the companies that design, print, and supply them touch virtually every industry that makes or moves a physical product.

As a manufacturer, how can you effectively develop and promote a case study for your business? About 42% of B2B marketers plan to increase spending on business case studies this year. Therefore, it is important to focus on the specific benefits of having a case study for a marketing strategy, what part of the industrial buyer's journey a case study is most beneficial for, the steps to developing it, and how to promote a case study.

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA is pleased to announce the purchase and installation of a new KASTO saw for its metallurgical laboratory, strengthening the company's capabilities in the preparation and analysis of difficult-to-machine materials including Inconel and titanium.

When facility managers assess workplace safety, floors are often among the last things to get serious attention. Equipment guarding, machine lockout procedures, PPE programs, and chemical handling protocols typically dominate safety planning. But the floor beneath every worker, every piece of equipment, and every production line is a constant factor in how safe an industrial facility actually is.

A part that used to take four weeks now takes ten. A customer is asking for a ship date, and the honest answer is that you don't have one yet. A single component, the kind nobody thought twice about buying a year ago, is now the reason an entire order is sitting unfinished.