Management

SMTCL- Americas, City of Industry, Calif., kicked off the beginning of spring with a sales training course and open house. Instructed by Chief Operations Officer Jerry McCarty, 18 individuals became certified on SMTCL machines. This creates a larger distributor network in California and other regions to better service potential customers, according to the company.  

Engineering products and service provider Nasmyth Group announced the opening of its new regional North American headquarters this month. The Group has acquired a 25,000 sq. ft. facility in Burbank, Calif., adjacent to its subsidiary, Nasmyth TMF. The new facility will become the focal point for Nasmyth Group and its corporate activities in the U.S. 

Methods Machine Tools Inc., a Sudbury, Mass.-based supplier of machine tools, automation and accessories, sponsored a senior year "capstone" project for several fifth-year electromechanical engineering students from Boston's Wentworth Institute of Technology. The project involved researching and designing a new type of infeed system for potential use in future Methods automated cell projects. The students presented different designs to Methods and a winner was chosen at Wentworth Dec. 15. The students are currently working on building the capstone project this semester and plan to have the prototype completed by April. 

BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc., Hoffman Estates, Ill., is hosting the Golden Corridor Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (GCAMP) Open House on April 23 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. An event directed toward area students and parents, it will explain what advanced manufacturing means in today's economy. The agenda includes presentations, technology demonstrations and opportunities to talk to college representatives and professionals in the field. 

Weiler Corp., Cresco, Pa., a provider of surface conditioning products, donated $10,000 to the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, along with $4,500 in Weiler products to help with the group's 2-week Build-A-Thon program in eastern New Orleans. "We were honored to have participated," said President and CEO Chris Weiler. "The Weiler team welcomed the opportunity to support the work of an organization that will restore the promise of New Orleans' future, and the future of its residents." 

Tooling manufacturer BENZ Inc., Charlotte, N.C., will hold a national sales meeting and dealer training for its metalworking and composites products April 7-8 in Las Vegas. The meeting will be led by John Roasa, national sales manager of the BENZ Metal Division. Informational sessions will be held throughout the event with topics including marketing efforts, use of social media platforms, upcoming trade shows, catalogs and order forms, new products, product updates and price lists, as well as "What's Hot" in 2015, according to the company. The sales meeting also offers several tooling-specific hands-on training sessions.

Haas Automation Inc.'s recent HaasTec open house attracted nearly 3,300 attendees to the company's headquarters and manufacturing facility in Oxnard, Calif., according to the company. The 4-day event drew visitors from 48 countries, including China, India, Korea, Latin America, the Middle East and many European countries, as well as more than 330 students from regional high schools, colleges and universities.

Machine tool builder Okuma America Inc., Charlotte, N.C., has joined forces with 5ME LLC, Warren, Mich., to demonstrate the advantages of cryogenic machining, including faster processing, longer tool life, increased part quality and lower environmental impact, according to the companies. The strategic partnership will establish two cryo demonstration facilities—one at 5ME's Technical Center in Warren, and the other at Okuma's Aerospace Center of Excellence in Charlotte—where manufacturers can test various machining processes using 5ME's cryogenic machining technology. Both facilities will have Okuma machines equipped with cryogenic systems that use vacuum jacketed feed lines to deliver small flow rates of liquid nitrogen through the tool directly to the cutting edge. 

Minnesota Business Magazine announced the companies has selected for this year's 100 Best Companies to Work for Award. Midwest Industrial Tool Grinding, Inc., Hutchinson, Minn., a first-time applicant and recipient, has been recognized as "the best that McLeod County has to offer" for work environment, employee benefits and culture, according to the company. 

Toolmaker Dormer Pramet's new line of indexable tooling, including internal and external turning, milling cutters and indexable drills with carbide inserts, becomes available to North American customers April 1 following the publication of a new catalog featuring the Pramet- tool line, consisting of turning, milling and drilling inserts and holders.