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Tag : Clutches And Brakes
Press Release

Power Transmission Distributors Association Release date: July 10, 2008

PT/MC Industry Sees General Decline in Sales July 10, 2008-Chicago, IL: The Power Transmission DistributorsAssociation (PTDA) today released May 2008 month-end trend data fordistributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control(PT/MC) products.

U.S. distributors' overall sales of PT/MC products declined 7.2% inMay 2008 compared to April 2008. When matched up against sales inthe same month last year, sales in May 2008 were up 1%. Accountsreceivable collection days rose 7.8% since April 2008. Theconfidence index of U.S. distributors dropped to 5.6 in May 2008from 5.8 in April 2008 (on a 10-point scale) the first declinesince Frebruary 2007.

Canadian distributors also reported a decrease in PT/MC sales,dropping 5.4% in May 2008. Sales over the same period last yearwere down 6.8 %. Accounts receivable collection days rose 2.5%compared to April 2008. In May 2008, the confidence level ofCanadian distributors was held constant for the fourth month in arow at 5.7 (on a 10-point scale).

U.S. manufacturers' sales increased slightly in May 2008, with a0.9% gain compared to April 2008. Sales in May 2008 climbed 3.8%compared to the same period last year. Orders in May 2008 were up10.9% over April 2008. The confidence level of U.S. manufacturersrose 0.3 in May 2008 to 5.4 (on a 10-point).

Canadian manufacturer's sales declined significantly in May 2008with a 10.3% loss compared to March 2008. Sales were down 11.1%when compared to the same period last year. The confidence level ofCanadian manufacturers decreased 0.1 to 4.9 (on a 10-point scale)from April 2008 to May 2008. This is the first time the confidencelevel has fallen below 5 since January 2003.

Product-by-product sales between April 2008 and May 2008 reflectthe overall increase in sales experienced by U.S. manufacturers andthe decline of sales experienced by Canadian manufacturers. Four ofnine product categories for U.S. manufacturers-variable speeddrives, clutches & brakes, unmounted bearings and positioningsystems/ linear motion products-posted sales gains. For Canadianmanufacturers, three manufactured products posted a positivegain-variable speed drives, shaft couplings and clutches & brakes.

U.S. Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales (April 2008 vs.May 2008)

Canadian Manufacturer Percent Change in Product Sales (April 2008vs. May 2008)

The Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the PowerTransmission Distributors Association. The full report includesmonth-to-month and year-to-year changes for the current and theprevious year in sales, inventory and accounts receivables for U.S.and Canadian distributors as well as a general confidence index.U.S. and Canadian manufacturer data includes a confidence index aswell as sales and order trends for mounted bearings, unmountedbearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives,positioning systems/linear motion products, gear products, clutchesand brakes, shaft couplings and mechanical drive systems and otherPT products.

Year-end data for 2006 and 2007 is available in a complete report.The monthly data is available by subscription via email or mail. Topurchase the year-end data or to begin a subscription to themonthly data, order online or call PTDA at 312-516-2100. PTDAmembers may download the report at no charge through the PTDAwebsite.