Industry News

News • October 18, 2017

Private investors take majority stake in toolmaker Harvey Performance Co.

Summit Partners of Boston and Menlo Park, Calif., has bought a majority investment in the privately held Harvey Performance Company, Rowley, Mass. Harvey makes specialized cutting tools for precision machining applications for the manufacturing and metalworking industries, including aerospace and defense, medical, automotive, industrial motors and telecommunications sectors. It consists of two brands, Harvey Tool based in Rowley, and Helical Solutions in Gorham, Maine.

News • October 17, 2017

Survey: Manufacturers are adapting Smart Factory tech—and reaping benefits

A survey designed to assess manufacturers' preparedness for Industry 4.0 changes polled 537 manufacturing executives across eight industry segments. The vast majority of manufacturers surveyed have recognized the need for industrial transformation, with most already taking action. Those that have done so say they are already seeing benefits as a result.

News • October 17, 2017

Watlow saluted for workforce development efforts

Thermal systems manufacturer Watlow has been working to bolster a shrinking manufacturing workforce in the US, and its efforts have been recognized. The Missouri Association of Manufacturers has awarded the company a Made in Missouri Leadership Award because of its support of STEM education, training programs and economic development initiatives.

News • October 16, 2017 • Doris Schulz

Engine plant reduces power, water consumption by about 30%

At the BWM Group's engine plant in Steyr (Austria), in a reference project accompanied by the Technical University of Vienna, Ecoclean Monschau has significantly raised the energy efficiency of a flexible EcoCFlex Classic robot cell that had been in service for several years. The system's electric power and water consumption were each cut by around 30 percent. These energy efficiency measures are now intended to be implemented on another 95 systems of the same type installed at various sites throughout Europe and Asia.

News • October 16, 2017 • Usha B. Trivedi

Wisdom guide for fabricators to adopt the right CAD tool

Fabrication/manufacturing is a very discrete industry and is on a run to shift towards additive manufacturing instead of the conventional machining process. And as a result, 3D CAD sketching and modeling tools are accepted as the most lucid geometrical medium for design articulation. In the wake of this constant attraction of fabricators towards CAD, software companies have a line of CAD software modules floating in the markets.

News • October 13, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

Controls, DIYs and getting respect

The CNC Cookbook blog recently polled its readers regarding their use of CNC control systems. According to the results, the five most-used CNCs are FANUC, Haas, Mazak, Siemens—and Centroid, which jumped up 9 places from last year's poll. The company is less well known that those other four but has a growing niche among "do-it-yourself" manufacturers.

News • October 12, 2017 • Alan Richter

‘Manufacturing Day’ every day

The mood of MFG Day, the annual celebration of U.S. manufacturing that took place Oct. 6, doesn't cease after the plant tours and information sessions end and the participating students, parents and educators head home.

News • October 12, 2017

Mitchell Metal Products wins first National Reshoring Award

Mitchell Metal Products, Merrill, Wis., has received the first National Reshoring Award in recognition of the company's success bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. The award, given by The Reshoring Initiative and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), honors a company that has effectively reshored products, parts or tooling made primarily by metal forming, fabricating or machining.

News • October 11, 2017

Survey: Employers miss opportunities for disabled workers

Most employers have effective programs for accommodating workers with disabilities, but they often overlook recruiting and training practices that could expand employment opportunities, according to a national survey.

News • October 11, 2017

Cheapest way to filter coolant water to reduce total dissolved solids

We are using standard tap water for our coolant and because we were about to order more coolant, I glanced at the data sheets and they want the TDS below 100ppm. We are at 500. I know this can be a problem for coolants and has shown issue in the shop if the sumps sit for a while.

News • October 11, 2017

Fighting machine tool chatter with a 555 timer

Vibration is a fact of life in almost every machining operation. Whether you're milling, drilling, turning, or grinding, vibration can result in chatter that can ruin a part. Fighting chatter has generally been a matter of adding more mass to the machine, but if you're clever about things, chatter reduction can be accomplished electronically, too.

News • October 10, 2017

DENSO invests $1 billion in U.S. automotive manufacturing

International automotive technology, systems and components supplier DENSO, Southfield, Mich., is expanding its U.S. footprint with a $1 billion investment in its Maryville, Tenn. location. The investment is meant to significantly increase the role North America plays in the global trend toward vehicle safety and electrification, according to the company.