Industry News

Pratt & Whitney's new 93,000 square-foot facility adds to an already existing GTF fan blade production line in Lansing. The company's AutoAir facility has had a tenfold ramp-up in the past 20 months, and has increased its workforce from just over 200 to almost 700.

July U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $170.95 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 (CTMR) collaboration, was down 8.4% from June's $186.57 million and up 16.0% when compared with the total of $147.43 million reported for July 2016. With a year-to-date total of $1.266 billion, 2017 is up 7.1% when compared with 2016.

The first day of Makino Corp.'s two-day 2017 Die/Mold Technology Expo included technology seminars, economic prognosticators, and demonstrations on more than 23 state-of-the-art machines at the company's U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. The company also unveiled a new vertical machining center for true 5-axis continuous processing.

Synova SA, Duillier, Switzerland, a provider of advanced laser-cutting systems, has developed a CNC machine with 5-axis capability to satisfy stringent technical requirements in the aerospace and energy sectors. As engine manufacturers continuously seek to improve performance, high-quality machining of turbine engine components and process stability in production are critical to success. The new MCS 500 with waterjet-guided Laser MicroJet (LMJ) technology allows precise, fast 2D and 3D laser cutting and drilling of hot section components used in modern jet engines and industrial gas turbines with high repeatability.

The cutting of intricate profiles and odd angles is the domain of wire EDM machining processes, capable of creating ultraprecise shapes and superior finishes that are near-impossible to machine by other means. However, just because a shape is difficult to machine does not mean it should be hard to program.

Containing large-size cargo for transport is challenging yet necessary to keep bundles intact for individual orders and to keep them from flying off the beds of 18-wheelers at high speeds. Allstrap Inc., Upper Arlington, Ohio, specializes in the manufacture of the steel and poly straps that hold these sizeable loads together, as well as the pneumatic and battery-operated tensioning tools that keep the straps taut.

The online magazine Fast Company reports that while the rest of the auto industry increasingly uses robots in manufacturing, Toyota has taken a contrarian stance by accentuating human craftsmanship: "The central role that people play in this corner of [Toyota's] Georgetown plant is repeated throughout the factory and exemplifies the uniqueness of Toyota's manufacturing philosophy."

Kentucky-based startup MakeTime announced the launch, and participating industry partners, of the MakeTime Shop Advantage Program. The first-of-its-kind program is designed to make technology, sophisticated hardware and business services more accessible to the U.S. manufacturing base, which contributes over $2 trillion to the U.S. economy annually.

Vision Engineering Ltd. announces the loss of founder Rob Freeman, MBE, who passed away on Aug.19, aged 84.

Rockford (Ill.) Systems LLC and Master Lock Co. LLC, Oak Creek, Wis., have a new joint initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of safety technologies throughout the North American manufacturing sector.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August, and the overall economy grew for the 99th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. At 58.8 percent, the August PMI showed an increase of 2.5 percentage points from the July reading of 56.3 percent.

Schütte LLC, Jackson, Mich., appointed Jeffrey Reinert CEO for North American operations.