Industry News for 12/2013

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), vice chair of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, released a new report detailing the revitalization in U.S. manufacturing. The report shows over 500,000 have been added jobs since February 2010, up 38% since 2009 and exceeding the industry's pre-recession peak for exports.

TechFab, Montreal-East, Quebec, officially joined the KOMET SERVICE network with an open-house event and cocktail party for customers, business relations and city officials on Dec. 5, 2013. The company is now certified by Germany-based KOMET GROUP for the refurbishment, re-grinding and manufacture of solid carbide tools. 

Use of 3-D printing for the production of parts for final products continues to follow a decade-long growth trend. According to Wohlers Report 2013, final-part production rose to 28.3 percent of the $2.2 billion spent last year on 3-D printing products and services worldwide. In 2003, it represented only 3.9 percent of revenues, as shown in the accompanying chart. 

MSC Industrial Supply Co., Melville, N.Y. expanded its Accupro line of metalworking products with the launch of new milling, threading and toolholding solutions. 

On Jan. 1, 2014, GF AgieCharmilles, Geneva, Switzerland, will become GF Machining Solutions, underscoring the fact that parent company Georg Fischer AG (GF) is a unified company with three divisions. Along with the name change, a new design style on the GF Machining Solutions Web site and sales literature will be gradually implemented, according to the company. GF AgieCharmille's U.S. operation is based in Lincolnshire, Ill. 

Precision components provider ARCH Global Precision, Livonia, Mich., has acquired two cutting tool manufacturers. ARCH purchased Flushing, Mich.-based Ultra-Dex Tooling Systems, including the Ultra-Dex USA branded product line and the Beamer Laser Marking Systems product line (collectively "Ultra-Dex") from Mark and Sharon Birchmeier. Ultra-Dex is a manufacturer of tooling systems, including indexable boring, milling and drilling systems, as well as tool holders, custom designed tooling and laser marking systems. 

Deublin Company, a manufacturer of rotary unions based in Waukegan, Ill., launched its  new Web site at www.Deublin.com. The new site includes an e-commerce section where customers can select and purchase Deublin products. The site also includes detailed product specifications and application information.

Threading and grooving toolmaker Tool-Flo Manufacturing, Houston, has added polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tools to its product line. The ultrahard materials allow for longer tool life when cutting abrasive materials such as graphite, hard rubber, plastics, carbon, fiberglass components, ceramics, wood, copper, bronze, brass and aluminum alloys, and permit higher removal rates and faster cycle times. 

Third Wave Systems, a Minneapolis-based provider of machining modeling technology, has been awarded a $3 million contract by the U.S.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The contract, one of the largest funded projects in Third Wave's 20-year history, is to expand its metalcutting simulation solutions to composite materials used on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Okuma America Corp.'s Technology Showcase event, held December 10-12, 2013 in Charlotte, N.C., was the company's largest to date, both in attendance and the number of CNC machines shown, according to the company. Held annually, the event is designed to give attendees the opportunity to see and gain hands-on experience with Okuma's latest technology and discuss their individual needs with a variety of industry experts. 

MSC Industrial Supply Co. has added more than 3,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) and facility safety products to its safety portfolio. The goal is to make it easier for safety professionals to find, buy and correctly use the highest quality safety solutions from one supplier. With more than 500 brands represented, MSC customers have access to thousands of safety products. In addition, MSC offers specialized support and certified safety training. The company's safety technical team is available to answer questions and offer product recommendations based on each customer's specific criteria.  

Parlec Inc., a Fairport, N.Y.-based provider of toolholding and presetting solutions, launched a new Web platform to showcase its re-engineered precision modular boring system. "We wanted to bring our new product offering to life," said Dave Hartman, product manager of tooling systems. "By using a combination of 3-D animations and video footage, we're able to provide clear demonstrations and evidence of the types of benefits Parlec boring systems can bring manufacturing operations." 

MSC Industrial Supply Co., the Melville, N.Y.-based distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) solutions, has increased its selection of Kennametal cutting tools to 54,000 total items. MSC customers gain access to almost all of Kennametal's metalworking products, including milling, turning, holemaking, threading and tooling system products.