Industry News

Sales of mass finishing consumables are primarily driven by the increasing demand for surface finishing from various end-use industries such as automotive, aerospace, and general and industrial engineering. As indicated in a new study, the global mass finishing consumables market is estimated to be valued at over US$180 million by the end of 2019, demonstrating moderate growth at a less than 5% CAGR during the forecast period, 2019 to 2029.

Nueva Precision, Milliken, Colorado, is, for the most part, Eddie Casanueva and his wife Leandra operating out of a garage. And while many job shop owners would want to grow and expand their businesses, the Casanuevas are content with keeping the shop at its current size because, according to them, customers benefit from dealing directly with the person making their parts. This, as well as the shop's advanced manufacturing technology, makes Nueva Precision a trusted partner to its customers and an agile supplier.

Digitization has its price. The networking of people, machines and companies not only increases productivity and sustainability, but also raises the risk of a cyberattack. The VDMA Cybersecurity Congress at METAV 2020 on March 11, 2020 offers potential ways of resolving this dilemma. Heinz-Uwe Gernhard is head of the VDMA Security working group and in his principal occupation is responsible for IT security at Robert Bosch in Stuttgart. In an interview he reveals his recipe for success: vigilance training for cyberattacks.

Test Equipment Distributors LLC (TED) has appointed Jeff Sengenberger as sales representative for nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment and services. He is responsible for sales and technical support in the Midwest U.S., including Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Monaghan Tooling Group, Dayton, Ohio, welcomes industry veteran Brett Scruggs as a technical account manager. He will work out of his home office in northwest Indiana and is responsible for servicing existing accounts and developing new business in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.

More than 2,000 manufacturers from across North America attended Mazak Corp.'s Discover 2019 event held Nov. 5-7 and 12-13 at the company's North American manufacturing headquarters in Florence, Kentucky. The event featured over 30 live machine tool demonstrations, and Mazak unveiled for the first time in North America several productivity-enhancing technologies such as its new Mazatrol SmoothAi control, as well as a new mixed reality training and service support system.

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.