The Manufacturing Technologies
Association (MTA) monthly
members’ survey for February has
revealed an increase in orders,
enquiries and subsequently,
confidence, compared to results in
January 2012, itself a strong month.

Total net new order intake grew by
+17.6% on the January 2012 level,
taking the cumulative level back to
its second highest level, a little below
the November 2011 peak. Business
confidence registered its 4th
consecutive positive figure and the
balance of +35 almost matches the
June 2011 figure. This is significantly
above the long-run average. Total
order intake grew by +17.6% (+16.7%)
compared to January. This growth
was led by the domestic market
where orders were +28.0% (+12.5%)
higher than in January; export
demand fell by -5.8% (+28.6%).

Graham Dewhurst, MTA director
general, said: “February was another
good month with strong growth in
orders accompanied by increases in
the percentage balance for confidence
and the level of enquiries across the
engineering based manufacturing
technologies industry; both are well
above their long-run average levels.