Despite concerns about the impact of the Omicron variant, labor shortages, supply-chain issues and inflation, the industrial manufacturing industry appears to be in relatively good health, with recent gains in output, capacity utilization and a general sense of optimism, according to various reports. 

This year has been a follow-up to the global slowdown and economic recession brought about in 2020 by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is tracking more than 6,000 U.S. maintenance-related projects, worth $14.4 billion, that list pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) among their equipment key needs and are planned to start construction in 2021.