CUSTOM manufacturers are bucking the downward trend for October, according to new figures released yesterday.
Australian custom manufacturing and engineering network, ManufactureLink, has reported that October was a record month for custom manufacturers with strong sales leads experienced throughout the month for a large variety of advanced manufacturing processes.
Custom manufacturers are defined as those who manufacture components and products on a job-by-job basis to a customers exact specifications.
Manufacturers such as machine shops, casting foundries, steel fabricators and plastics moulders are examples of typical custom manufacturers.
ManufactureLink recorded almost AUD$5 million in custom manufacturing orders placed with ther supplier network during October.
Orders came mostly from Australia, but several good export opportunties for complex structural fabrication were also won by Australian manufacturers.
The biggest Australian markets for custom manufacturing during October were medical device manufacturing, fabrication, casting, CNC machining and toolmaking.
The network has reported increased enquiries from overseas, particularly Europe and said this indicats that export opportuntities for elaborately transformed manufactures may already be increasing on the back of the lowering of the Australian currency against other developed economies.