U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Top $500M for Fifth Straight Month

U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $605.8 million in July 2026, according to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report (USMTO) published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

July orders decreased 8.0% from June but increased 55.2% compared with July 2025. The July results marked the fifth consecutive month in which manufacturing technology orders exceeded $500 million. According to AMT, this has occurred only twice since the USMTO program began collecting data in 1998.

Through the first seven months of 2026, manufacturers ordered $4.03 billion worth of manufacturing technology, a 37.1% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Order Value Outpaces Unit Growth

While the value of manufacturing technology orders increased more than 37% through July, the number of units ordered rose 13.0% compared with the first seven months of 2025.

AMT attributed much of the difference between order value and unit growth to continued demand for automation. The organization noted that metal-cutting machinery has also experienced moderate inflationary pressure over the past two years.

The data indicates that manufacturers are continuing to invest in higher-value equipment and automation technologies, even as unit growth has been more moderate.

Power Equipment Orders Decline

The month-to-month decline from June to July was influenced by reduced investment from several customer industries. One of the largest reductions came from manufacturers of engines, turbines and other power transmission equipment.

AMT reported that orders from this sector had remained more than 35% above the long-term average for the previous two years, amid increased demand related to electrical grid capacity.

However, investment remained strong among manufacturers of electrical equipment. Orders from the sector reached their highest monthly level of 2026 in July and the second-highest level since March 2024.

According to AMT, electrical equipment manufacturers are investing to address demand associated with upgrades and additions to existing electrical grid infrastructure, as well as new construction projects, including data centers.

Forging, Stamping and Job Shops Show Activity

Several other areas of the manufacturing technology market recorded notable activity in July.

Manufacturers in the forging and stamping sector placed orders at their highest level since December 2012. AMT cited the increase as an indication of continued investment within the U.S. industrial sector.

Contract machine shops also showed signs of increased demand for manufacturing capacity. From June to July, the value of orders placed by job shops declined by only 1.3%, while the number of units ordered increased by more than 2%.

The combination of relatively stable order value and higher unit volume suggests that job shops continued adding equipment despite the broader monthly decline in manufacturing technology orders.

Manufacturing Technology Investment Continues

The July results show differences in investment patterns across individual manufacturing sectors. While some industries reduced spending from June levels, others increased investment in equipment and technology.

Manufacturers are purchasing technology for a range of purposes, including expanding production capacity, increasing automation, improving operational efficiency and addressing quality requirements.

Through July, the overall value of manufacturing technology orders remained significantly above 2025 levels, with $4.03 billion in orders recorded during the first seven months of the year.