New technology proves key to growth.(news & analysis)

"If we've heard it once we've heard it a thousand times--faster machines improve ROI over current processes," says Nick Bloom, president of Techspex, the machine tool database featured monthly in Tooling & Production. "But can we prove it? Wouldn't that claim be more compelling if we could say there's a direct positive correlation between the use of new technology and improved business conditions?

"Now, and with statistical certainty, we can," says Bloom.

Techspex and LoSasso Advertising Co. recently surveyed machine tool users in North America to learn abo