The Haze Has Lifted. Now Is the Time to Book Your CNC Project.

Every summer has its own story. This July has certainly been memorable.

We usually expect a slowdown around Independence Day, giving us time to reflect on business — and maybe enjoy a double-dip ice cream. However, this year demand has remained strong.

At the same time, much of the Midwest has experienced days of dense smoke from Canadian and U.S. wildfires, with Air Quality Index (AQI) readings reaching unhealthy levels.

That haze is an appropriate metaphor for today’s manufacturing environment. Over the past several years, manufacturers have navigated supply chain disruptions, inflation, and material shortages. While some uncertainty still exists, the outlook is becoming much clearer. Stability is returning—but available machining capacity remains limited.

For companies in the aerospace and medical industries, where production schedules and quality cannot be compromised, planning ahead has never been more important.

Stability Is Returning to Manufacturing

One of the most encouraging trends we’re seeing is greater predictability across several key areas that impact precision CNC machining.

Material Costs Are Becoming More Predictable
Raw materials remain the largest cost driver for most precision machine shops. Fortunately, inflation among many commonly used materials has stabilized, including:

• Aluminum
• Stainless steels
• Plastics

Some specialty materials, however, continue to vary, including:

• Copper (red metals) and copper alloys
• Inconel® or Invar® and other nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys
• Titanium
• High-temperature refractory metals such as tungsten and niobium

These materials are often produced in smaller quantities and can have limited availability depending on the required size and form. Early planning helps reduce the impact of these market fluctuations.

Energy Costs Remain Consistent

Although petroleum markets continue to fluctuate, electricity—the primary energy source for CNC machining—has remained relatively stable. This consistency helps manufacturers better manage production costs and scheduling.

Investing in Better Service for Our Customers

Behind the scenes, we’ve been making significant investments.

In May 2026, Protomatic successfully completed the implementation of a new ERP system. We appreciate the patience of our customers and suppliers during the transition. The implementation went smoothly and has already improved our ability to manage scheduling, communication, and production planning.

Looking ahead, we’re continuing to invest in:

• Additional machining capacity
• Hiring skilled manufacturing professionals
• Secure AI-assisted estimating and CNC programming tools
• Continuous process improvements that reduce lead times while maintaining the highest quality standards

These investments strengthen our ability to support customers with complex, mission-critical components.

The Reality: Industry Capacity Is Tight

Although many economic indicators are stabilizing, one challenge remains across the precision machining industry: Demand from aerospace and medical manufacturers continues to grow while experienced machinists and high-performance equipment remain in short supply.

For companies producing life-saving medical devices or mission-critical aerospace components, waiting until production is needed can result in longer lead times and fewer scheduling options.

Why Ordering Early Benefits You

Placing orders earlier than usual provides several important advantages:

• Reserve production capacity before schedules fill.
• Improve delivery confidence for your own customers.
• Reduce the risk of delays caused by specialty material availability.
• Lock in pricing before future market changes.

Early planning is becoming a competitive advantage.

Precision You Can Count On

At Protomatic, every component we manufacture is produced with the understanding that it may ultimately support a life-saving medical device or a mission-critical aerospace application.

Our commitment remains unchanged: deliver exceptional precision, dependable quality, and reliable delivery for every customer.

Production scheduled in the coming months?

If you have production scheduled in the coming months, now is the time to secure production capacity. Planning ahead helps ensure your critical components are delivered when you need them, while giving your team the confidence that comes from working with a partner committed to Life-Saving Precision.

Contact Us Directly

Phone: 734-426-3655
Email: Open our contact form

About the Author
Doug Wetzel is Vice President and General Manager of Protomatic, a CNC precision machine shop serving the medical and aerospace industries.