TROUBLES AHEAD FOR THE U.S. TOOL & DIE INDUSTRY

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This episode of Autoline This Week delves into the critical but often overlooked U.S. tool and die industry, highlighting significant challenges threatening its survival. Laurie Harbour of Harbour Results presents concerning data, predicting the closure of 75 mold and die shops in the current year, a stark increase from 2019's ten closures. The primary drivers identified are increased competition from China, fueled by their 2025 strategy, and the automotive industry's shift towards electrification and autonomous vehicles, which alters tooling demand. OEMs are cutting costs by sourcing tooling from China, despite potential long-term issues with scrap and lead times. The discussion also touches upon the industry's reliance on skilled labor, the struggle of smaller, less efficient shops against larger, more process-driven ones, and the national security implications of losing domestic tooling capabilities. While the industry has historically been strong, a lack of adaptation to new manufacturing processes and a failure to diversify customer bases are contributing to the current crisis.