“There are have been communication barriers,” Hanaway said of the reasons U.S. firms were returning work to American tooling firms. “There were problems with delivery — it may take weeks to get a product; quality problems where a part or mold wouldn’t perform.”

Larry Sippy, president of Sipco Molding Technologies of Meadville, said work at his shop is split.

“Building injection molds (for plastic parts) is tough, but precision machining is good” he said.

The molds are used in the automotive and consumer products industries while the precision machining is for the aerospace and heavy equipment industries, he said.

“It looks good through the end of the year,” Sippy said.

Brian Deane, president of NuTec Tooling Systems of Meadville, a maker of automated equipment for larger manufacturers, said his firm is doing well.

“Companies are continuing to invest money in their operations,” Deane said. “Their capital budgets aren’t being slashed.”

Deane expects business to continue at a steady pace into 2008.

The economy does remain positive overall, said Ralph Pontillo, president of the Manufacturer’s Association of Northwest Pennsylvania, a trade group that represents about 5,000 companies in 17 counties.

“Unemployment is low and we still have a solid manufacturing base,” said Pontillo.

Still, Pontillo is concerned about the economic future of the country, state and region — particularly as China continues to flex its economic muscle and conflicts with the U.S. on trade issues.

“We can measure the economy today, but what about four, five or 10 years out?,” he said. “Right now, we (the U.S.) are the dominant manufacturer in the world. If China becomes the dominant manufacturer in the world we may not be able to deal it then. We need to deal with it now.”