Industry News

September 2019 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $195.9 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was down 4.3 percent from August's $204.7 million and down 7 percent when compared with the $210.6 million reported for September 2018. With a year-to-date total of $1.8 billion, 2019 is up 0.2 percent when compared with 2018. Please note there were revisions to August 2019.

Arch Cutting Tools hired Charlie Novak Jr. as Arch Specials business development and coordinator. He will be located at Arch-Mentor and report to Brent Sheerer, product manager for Arch Specials (dotted line to Jeff Cederstrom, divisional president of Arch Cutting Tools). Novak joined the company on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, as the toolmaker honored those who've served.

Hermitage, Pennsylvania-based Solar Atmospheres of Western PA has completed construction of a new brazing and assembly room. Though built primarily to accommodate a large aluminum brazing project for a specific customer, the room will be used for other brazing and assembly work, as well.

API Services, Rockville, Maryland, one of North America's largest nationwide providers of on-site metrology and laser tracker rental services has launched a recertified laser tracker operation. API Services is a wholly owned division of Automated Precision Inc. (API) whose CEO, Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker. The API Radian laser tracker series offers the smallest lightest and most accurate trackers available.

Tomenson Machine Works is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of precision hydraulic manifolds, with a focus on continuous improvement. The company turned to collaborative automation in its pin-stamping application to improve quality, profitability and worker satisfaction. The OnRobot collaborative RG6 gripper handles dozens of different part sizes with fast and easy changeovers, and sets the stage for ongoing automation in potential applications such as CNC tending, deburring and packaging.

New Unison Corp., a Ferndale, Michigan-based builder of precision grinding equipment, announced that Robert Baker has been promoted to its senior management team. As the new general manager, he will be responsible for the company's manufacturing operations, as well as assisting in equipment sales and service.

Researchers have developed a futuristic 3D printer that is so big and fast that it can print an object the size of an adult human in just a couple of hours.

Without the right bits, even the perfect CNC rig won't go very far. Explore this comprehensive guide to CNC router bits.

Most political analysts agree that Donald Trump won the presidency on the backs of long-suffering blue-collar workers in industrial states. His campaign was propelled by a promise to revive manufacturing through trade, tax and regulatory policies. After nearly three years in office, the results are unfortunately tepid in terms of engineering a real boom in this sector, and the trends in recent months signal spreading weakness. Nonetheless, manufacturing is stronger than it was when he took office, and policy support is still in place for growth. Headwinds from trade policy and political uncertainty, however, are restraining a more robust growth path.

Colin Cooper, Connecticut's first chief manufacturing officer, will be involved with regulations, hiring and training. The new position comes after manufacturing companies in the state said they would like to hire more local workers but struggle to find candidates.

RCM Industries Inc., a Wheeling, Illinois-based manufacturer of die-cast aluminum components for industries such as automotive and consumer products, found itself in competition with low-wage suppliers in Mexico for a large outsourced project. "We had to look at how to drive cost out of the product without reducing the value that we provide our customers," said Mike Higgins, RCM Industries director of sales and marketing. "Without the cobots, we would not have had a shot at that work."

The UP! App, the digital platform that connects industrial manufacturers to people that can service and repair their machinery, has committed an initial gift of $3,000 to the Columbus State Community College Foundation to support the school's engineering, manufacturing and Engineering Technology Pathway programs. These degrees can help prepare students to join the industrial manufacturing workforce as service technicians with a two-year degree or transfer for further education.