MCLEAN, VA -- January US manufacturing technology orders totaled $401.69 million, up 8.4% year-over-year, according to a leading manufacturing association.

Orders were down 26.5% from December, based on data from companies participating in AMT's USMTO program.

“January’s increase in manufacturing technology orders over 2011 is great in light of lower forecasts by experts,” said AMT President Douglas K. Woods. “I think the continued growth highlights manufacturers’ increasing confidence in future growth and that their bottom lines are being channeled into investments in advanced manufacturing technologies.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Orders report, compiled by the trade association representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. orders data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment.