Machine tool builder Okuma America Corp. hosted more than 500 customers, partners and distributors at its 2014 Technology Showcase event December 9-10 at its Charlotte, N.C., headquarters. The event featured learning opportunities for attendees, including hands-on demonstrations, a facility tour highlighting titanium machining at the new Aerospace Center for Excellence, and a look at Okuma's electrical and mechanical repair operations.

The theme of this year's event, "Make the Leap," included demonstrations of simple technology upgrades that enable users to enhance the productivity of their CNC machines and operators, improving overall profitability. For each technology shown, there was a side-by-side demonstration of basic vs. advanced machine functionalities.

The demonstrations were relevant to a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, construction/farming (heavy equipment), die/mold, firearms/munitions, medical, oil/energy and general job shops.

Members of Partners in THINC demonstrated how peripheral equipment such as tooling, gaging, workholding and automation can be integrated with Okuma technology to improve productivity.

Guests also enjoyed a special dinner at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte where they competed in a driving simulator and in a pit crew challenge and were given the opportunity to explore the history of stock car racing.