The Wall Street Journal reports: Following 12 straight years of declines, U.S. manufacturers added 109,000 workers to their payrolls in 2010 and another 237,000 in 2011. And in January of this year, the number of manufacturing jobs increased by 50,000. Yet this vibrant sector is being held back—and not by imports. Instead there is a...Continue Reading

Photonics West 2012 exceeded 1210 exhibiting companies, and once again drew record attendance. Every company that we talked to at Photonics West is enjoying a backlog, but after the recent economic sleigh ride, remains cautious. Registration attendance was 20,324 (up 4.8% over 2011) 5,487 Conference Attendees 8,130 Exhibition-Only Visitors (an increase of 6.3%) 6,707 Exhibitor...Continue Reading