What is mechanical manufacturing? What is the nature of the mechanical manufacturing industry?

　　The machinery manufacturing industry includes seven detailed industry segments, three of which manufacture machinery for specific industries, known as special-purpose machinery: agricultural, construction, and mining machinery manufacturing; industrial machinery manufacturing; and commercial and service machinery manufacturing.

　　The other four segments manufacture machines used by many different industries; these machines are called general-purpose machinery: ventilation, heating, air conditioning, and commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturing; metalworking machinery manufacturing; engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing; and other general-purpose machinery manufacturing. The nature of each machinery manufacturing industry will be introduced below.

　　The Nature of the Machinery Manufacturing Industry

　　Metalworking Machinery Industry: Manufactures machinery and tools used to shape, cut, and form metal. The properties, strength, and durability that make metal an ideal component in many goods also make metal difficult to shape. The specialized drills, grinders, dies, presses, and the accessories these machines use, required to form metal, are all manufactured in this industry. Metalworking machinery manufacturing is overrepresented in the composition of the machinery manufacturing industry because most such plants are relatively small.

　　Agricultural and Construction Machinery Manufacturing Industry: Composed in part of larger organizations that produce both large, precision machinery and common household equipment. Examples of this include leaf blowers and cultivators for personal and commercial use, and bulldozers and backhoes used in road and building construction.

　　What is Machinery Manufacturing

　　Ventilation, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing Industry: This segment provides climate control machinery for residential and commercial buildings. In addition to heating and cooling equipment, air purification equipment, increasingly common in new construction, and commercial refrigeration equipment primarily used for food storage are produced.

　　Commercial and Service Machinery Manufacturing Industry: This segment produces machinery used by companies that provide services. For example, companies in this segment manufacture commercial household appliances such as laundry equipment used in laundromats and vacuum cleaners used by cleaning services. Other large components of this industry include vending machines, typewriters, and non-electronic office equipment such as mail sorters, as well as machinery used to manufacture optical lenses.

　　Industrial Machinery Manufacturing Industry: This segment produces machinery used to manufacture finished products from raw materials. Materials processed include plastics, rubber, and glass. Machinery manufactured in this area is also used in printing and binding, and in the manufacture of semiconductors and circuit boards.

　　Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing: This segment includes a variety of machines that transfer one type of work to another. Turbines utilize the energy produced by the movement of steam, gas, water, or wind to generate mechanical power by turning a drive shaft. Turbines, along with gears, transmissions, clutches, drive chains, and pulleys (also manufactured in this segment), keep assembly lines and other industrial machinery running. Connected to generators, turbines also produce electrical power. This industry segment also produces diesel and other internal combustion engines and their components, which are used to power portable generators, air compressors, pumps, and other equipment. Aircraft and automobile engines are manufactured by the aerospace products and parts manufacturing and motor vehicle and parts manufacturing industries, respectively, appearing elsewhere.

　　What is Machinery Manufacturing

　　Other General-Purpose Machinery Manufacturing: Produces a variety of machines primarily used by manufacturing industries. These include pumps, compressors, welding and soldering equipment, and packaging machinery. It also manufactures various materials handling equipment such as industrial trucks and tractors, overhead cranes and hoists, conveyors, and many types of hydraulic equipment used in manufacturing and other industries. Other common machinery produced includes scales and electric and hand tools, as well as elevators and escalators.