Machine industry
On the other end the machinery industry supplies consumer goods, including kitchen appliances, refrigerators, washers, dryers and a like.
Due to modular design such devices and machines can often be manufactured in small series, which significantly reduces the costs.
Companies in this emerging field grew out of iron foundries, shipyards, forges and repair shops.
He introduced a steam engine easy employable to supply a large amounts of energy, which set the mechanization of factories underway.
In 1804, Richard Trevithick placed the first steam engine on rails, and was in 1825 the Stockton and Darlington Railway was opened, intended to transport coals from the mine to the port.
[3] The inventions of new propulsion techniques based on electric motors, internal combustion engines and gas turbines brought a new generation of machines in the 20th century from cars to household appliances.
Shortage of labor in agriculture and industry at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, raised the need for further mechanization of production, which required for more specific machines.
The rise of the computer made further automation of production possible, which in turn set new demands on the machinery industry.
Some classifications recognize the machine industry as a specific class, and offer a subdivision for this field.
A selection: In ASEAN, the machine industry is a vital part of the region's economic structure.
The ASEAN region is home to roughly 12,000 active companies in the machine industry, with the majority being small and medium-sized enterprises.
Prominent companies in the ASEAN machine industry include ST Engineering (Singapore), Aikawa Iron Works (Thailand), and San Miguel Corporation (Philippines).
The industry's significant growth can be attributed to favorable macroeconomic policies, open trade regimes, and increasing demand for manufactured goods both within the region and globally.
ASEAN's machine industry has been significantly influenced by advancements in automation and digital infrastructure, contributing to increased productivity and competitiveness on a global scale [5] In Germany, in 2011 about 900,000 people were employed[6] in the machine industry and an estimated of 300,000 abroad.
In the French machinery industry in 2009 about 650,000 people were employed, and the sector generated a turnover of 44 billion euros.
[8][9] In Japan, the machine industry plays a significant role in the economy, employing a considerable number of people and generating substantial revenue.
[12] Some of the largest companies in the Netherlands are Lely, Philips and Stork B.V. U.S. machinery industries had total domestic and foreign sales of $413.7 billion in 2011.
