Spring and Wire Product Manufacturers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 900 spring and wire product manufacturers in the US are divided into two segments: primary spring and wire producers and manufacturers that purchase primary spring and wire and process it into a wide variety of finished products ranging from chain link fence and automotive suspension springs to staples and watch coils.
Shift from Mechanical to Digital Products
The conversion of machinery and consumer goods from mechanical operation to digital has significantly impacted demand for some types of springs and wires.
Metal Tariffs Affect Prices
US spring and wire product manufacturers that source metal materials from foreign suppliers may see increases in costs due to tariffs placed by the federal government.
Industry size & Structure
A typical spring and wire manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs 70 workers, and generates about $11 million annually.
- The spring and wire product manufacturing industry consists of about 900 companies which employ about 65,000 workers and generate about $9.9 billion annually.
- Most companies are small, independent operators - about 85% have a single location.
- The spring manufacturing segment of the industry is somewhat concentrated in that the 20 largest firms account for 63% of industry revenue. The wire manufacturing segment is fragmented with the 20 largest firms representing 37% of industry revenue.
- Large companies include Lee Spring (NY), Sterling Spring (IL), All-Right Spring (IL), Elyria Spring & Stamping (OH), and Madsen Steel Wire Products (IN).
- While spring and wire product manufacturing takes place in nearly every state, the Midwest “Rust Belt” has a high concentration with Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania accounting for 30% of establishments and about a third of revenue.
Industry Forecast
Spring and Wire Product Manufacturers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Jan 18, 2025 - Profits Sink Amid Falling Sales
- Producer prices for spring and wire product manufacturers rose 5.4% in November compared to a year ago after falling 2.5% in the previous November-versus-November annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Employment by spring and wire product manufacturers declined by 2.8% year over year in October, while in November average wages at fabricated metal manufacturers rose 4.6% YoY to a new high of $26.61 per hour, BLS data show. After-tax profits for fabricated metal products companies sank 15.9% YoY in the third quarter and fell 4.7% versus Q2, amid falling sales, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau.
- US manufacturers have much to lose if a trade war erupts between the US and its largest trading partner Mexico, The New York Times reports. During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to slap 25% tariffs (or higher) on all goods from Mexico unless it stopped the flow of migrants and drugs to the US. While Mexico depends heavily on trade with the US – exporting some 80% of its goods to America – it accounted for nearly 16% of overall US exports in 2022, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative. Tariffs on Mexico and China, another Trump target, would have widespread ramifications for manufacturers, making it more expensive to produce goods that use foreign materials and components. And if other countries respond with retaliatory tariffs, it could also make it more expensive for manufacturers to export goods to foreign markets, according to Manufacturing Dive.
- Shop floor injuries needn’t be serious to be costly. In its 2024 Injury Impact Report, the insurer The Travelers Companies found the most common workplace accidents accounted for the majority of claim costs. The most frequent causes of injury identified in the report included overexertion (29% of claims analyzed); slips, trips, and falls (23%); being struck by an object (12%). Those injuries were also the top drivers of severe claims, defined as $250,000 or more. Slips, trips, and falls, which include falls from height, topped that list. Injuries related to overexertion can result in extended absences with injuries like dislocations having the highest number of average lost-time days at 142 days, followed by fractures (92 days), and inflammation (85 days). Improving shop floor ergonomics, eliminating trip/fall hazards, and material handling mishaps are three areas metal fabricators can focus on to reduce injuries and time lost.
- Manufacturers of metal products that source foreign-made steel routed through Mexico are facing higher supply costs due to new tariffs imposed by the Biden administration in July, the Fabricator reports. To stop China from avoiding import taxes by routing steel and aluminum through Mexico, the US has imposed a 25% tariff on Mexican steel that is melted or poured outside North America before being turned into a finished product. Previously, that steel would have entered the country duty-free. Aluminum imports from Mexico also face a tariff of 10% if they contain metal smelted or cast in China, Belarus, Iran, or Russia, said the White House’s National Economic Council director. While US steelmakers have welcomed the higher tariffs, companies that rely on imported steel to manufacture their products generally oppose the tax hike.
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