From all indicators Ronson Gears is cautiously optimistic about growth in the gear manufacturing industry in 2012, although Australian updates on the status of the Manufacturing industry reveal a wide disparity between industry sectors. Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Heather Ridout, said: "Manufacturing conditions clearly remain tough and have been so for much of the past year raising critical issues for policy-makers and businesses alike. While the Australian PMI(r) shows signs of an easing in the pace of decline in current activity and new orders, employment levels fell sharply in November suggesting an ongoing loss of manufacturing capability. This highlights the importance of the Federal Government's manufacturing taskforce in developing a long-term strategy for the industry. At the same time, it is encouraging that the just released ABS capital expenditure data indicates a solid upturn in manufacturing investment suggesting that underneath the data there is a strong vein of confidence in the prospects for the industry".

For a number of us it is now business as usual as we gear up for a big year ahead. The Ronson Gears team is looking forward to an eventful 2012 although we agree it would take more than a crystal ball to predict how the year will unfold for the Gear Manufacturing Industry in particular, and  also the Global economy.

An interesting feature to read over morning coffee during the well earned holiday break is the latest evaluation of the status of the Gear Manufacturing Industry.The respondents considered in the article all work at locations where gears, splines, sprockets, worms and similar products are manufactured.

Now that Christmas is over, we have a little time to reflect on the year that was ... 2011!

And on the subject of Christmas gifts for Gear aficionado's we have come up with another special idea. While it may test the patience of even the most dedicated it is guaranteed to engross, could even become an obsession, but whatever the response the results will be worth every painstaking minute.

When your world is largely made up of gears, in all their guises, "All I want for Christmas..." takes on a whole different meaning.

Read up on the latest news at Ronson Gears. In this latest issue of Gear Whispers, our focus is on education - from different perspectives. Stories also include regular features such as the Director's Cut, Hitting the Road and Employee News.

This time next week we will all be looking forward to our 2011 Christmas break! Whether it is to spend family time, lazy days just chilling out or a hectic party time we hope you enjoy. Relax, revitalise and get ready for a busy year in 2012!

To meet customers' demands for shorter lead times and surpass their expectations of quality, Ronson Gears, manufacturers of gears and associated power transmissions components, invests in state-of-the-art technology such as the Fellows FS630-200 CNC Hydrostroke Internal Gear Shaping machine.

The value of attracting more women to the manufacturing industry seems to be finally gaining traction here in Australia. In the US meanwhile 'Women in Manufacturing' has been given a whole different meaning.