I called TA today, no heads to sell and no estimate for when things will change. They says they are short two CNC operators, so the same story as 2021.
Yes of course that’s why there are no BBB heads for sale either. This same issue has been a problem for 10+ years, they have always had issues obtaining and retaining good people.
What a mess, same in my industry no one wants to run a printing press even though the stupid thing does everything for you now. There is really no one to take my place we do but he is a operator and not a pressman. Pressman make all the adjustments to the ink and water systems most people can only push the buttons to push paper through. How many machinists you know younger than 50 years old probably not many and I hope I am wrong on that. If TA has had trouble the last ten years getting good people that tells you right there we are in trouble. Once my generation passes all of it will go away better hope we go another 20 years or so lol
here in the northeast(with a maine accent), machinist payscale starts at $18, the cheap places, to $30 with experience. the machine shops here deal with top of the line machines. the one that walk, talk and give change. the shops are not afraid to do anything that comes their way. sad, when a little extra money makes the future and no money takes the future away.
I'm a retired teacher. The school called me back to teach, I said no. I'm now a welder and we can't get people to apply. Another shop called me the other day needing help.
My Dad was a pressman for 24 years. He was laid off in 2010 and ended up finding another career in HVAC. Sometimes companies cause these shortages through their own missteps. Not saying that is the case at TA, but it is a trend with skilled labor overall. Eventually people will turn to other careers and then try to persuade others not to make the same mistakes they did. I've been in aviation for a decade now. I was told by dozens and dozens of people early on not to, given how frequent layoffs are in general. It has worked out for me so far though, and I tell everyone I can that it is not a bad job if you work hard and try your best to stick with reputable employers. I hope word starts getting out to the next generation that we still need skilled labor, and that there is money to be made.
My dad was printer pressman his whole career. I remember him have binders of sample jobs he did with notes of ink water etc. So when the job was to run again he could help himself. I remember watching him pull sheets every so often to keep a check on the dots and all throughout the run........yes like all careers the equipment has become smarter and more capable of running error free. Around here in mid ohio ppl with no education, no care about their work or career can make 17 a hour to flip burgers and deep fry fries at 5 guys.........to have a knowable skill like machinist to.make 1 dollar more this upcoming generation isn't going to invest in themselves. They want the easy way
If you can finally pay them enough,you know how much more the products will cost. So right now,the issue is availability. The next issue will be price. You see the latest run of TA blocks are $8300.00. Yep. Expect something similar with the heads.
WOW, not good news! TA needs to move their facility to Ohio, it’s been said before, not many if any, blue collar skilled trade workers in Arizona, kinda like setting up a machine shop in Fort Myers Florida, mostly retired people down there. Young people are being taught, groomed, and duped into thinking “push a button, it’s easy”