After a long stretch of cautious ordering and slow production schedules, U.S. manufacturing is finally showing real signs of momentum again. New industry data released this week indicates that factory activity expanded at its fastest pace since 2022, driven by a sharp rise in new orders and stronger production levels across multiple sectors.
For manufacturers that rely on precision components such as custom springs and wire forms, this shift is more than just a headline—it directly affects lead times, capacity planning, and supplier relationships.
At Jackson Spring & Manufacturing, we see this change playing out every day in customer inquiries and project pipelines.
Manufacturing activity is back in expansion mode
The latest manufacturing survey shows that overall factory conditions moved back into expansion territory after months of contraction. The most notable improvement came from new orders and production, which both posted strong increases compared to the previous month.
In practical terms, that means:
- More OEMs are restarting projects that were previously delayed
- Production schedules are stabilizing
- Purchasing teams are re-engaging suppliers earlier in the design cycle
For companies sourcing custom springs, this matters because rising demand tends to tighten available production windows quickly.
Why this rebound matters for custom spring manufacturing
Spring manufacturing is often an early indicator of broader production trends. Springs and wire forms are used in assemblies across automotive, medical devices, lawn and garden equipment, firearms, valves, and industrial machinery.
When manufacturers increase production, demand for:
- compression springs
- extension springs
- torsion springs
- and formed wire components
moves almost immediately.
As manufacturing activity accelerates, buyers who wait too long to lock in their spring supplier often face longer lead times or reduced flexibility on engineering changes.
At Jackson Spring, we’re already seeing:
- increased requests for production-ready prototypes
- tighter project schedules
- more emphasis on rapid design validation and testing
This is typical of early-stage recovery cycles in manufacturing.
New orders are leading the recovery
One of the strongest signals in the latest report is the jump in new orders. That is especially important for companies building products that require custom-engineered components rather than off-the-shelf hardware.
When new orders rise, manufacturers tend to:
- move faster from concept to tooling
- finalize spring specifications earlier
- reduce tolerance for late design changes
For purchasing and engineering teams, this is the point where choosing the right custom springs supplier becomes a strategic decision rather than just a price comparison.
Production is improving, but capacity still matters
Although production levels have improved, capacity across the broader manufacturing sector remains uneven. Some suppliers are still operating cautiously after the past two years of volatility.
This creates a simple reality for OEMs:
strong demand combined with limited excess capacity can create bottlenecks very quickly.
For spring manufacturing, capacity planning, secondary operations, and testing throughput become critical. Manufacturers that offer both production and validation services under one roof are better positioned to support fast-moving programs.
At Jackson Spring, our ability to support spring manufacturing and testing in-house allows our customers to move faster from design approval to production without waiting on outside labs or additional vendors.
What buyers should be doing right now
If you are responsible for sourcing custom springs or wire forms, this is the right moment to:
- review your upcoming production forecasts
- confirm your spring supplier’s available capacity
- validate lead times for both prototypes and production runs
- verify testing and documentation requirements early
As activity continues to rise, suppliers that are already embedded in your design process will be in a much better position to support volume increases.
Waiting until demand peaks usually results in tighter schedules and fewer options.
How Jackson Spring supports manufacturers during growth cycles
Jackson Spring & Manufacturing specializes in precision spring manufacturing and custom springs for OEMs that require consistent quality, reliable delivery, and responsive engineering support.
We work closely with engineering and purchasing teams to support:
- compression, extension, and torsion springs
- complex wire forms
- prototype development
- production scaling
- spring testing and validation
As manufacturing activity strengthens across the U.S., having a spring partner that understands both production and testing requirements becomes increasingly important.
If your organization is planning new programs, accelerating product launches, or preparing for higher volumes, Jackson Spring is ready to help you move forward with confidence.
Contact Jackson Spring & Manufacturing to discuss your next custom spring or wire form project.