Industry News

Hexa Research reports that the global laser marking machine market size will reach USD 3.38 billion by 2024, driven by increasing adoption of laser systems in industries such as automobile, packaging and machine tools. The marking equipment industry witnessed notable change over the past two decades, and the trend is expected to continue.

To meet customers' demands in a growing Asian market, Transor Filter USA, Elk Grove Village, Ill., has expanded its facility in Kunshan, China.

As Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) continue to grow and evolve, they promise numerous benefits for a leaner enterprise. In the realm of machine tools, the IIoT can certainly offer chances for improvements in monitoring and maintenance. There are, however, some concerns that must be addressed before this becomes a reality.

Matsuura Machinery USA Inc., St. Paul, Minn., which develops high-speed machining and manufactures automated, unmanned, high-accuracy CNC machine tools, has announced a number of personnel appointments.

UI LABS and ManpowerGroup have released a workforce analysis that identifies 165 data-centric jobs that will define the future of manufacturing in the United States. Descriptions for jobs such as collaborative robotics specialist, manufacturing cybersecurity strategist and enterprise digital ethicist give a window into the advanced skills and knowledge needed to put new technology into practice and remain globally competitive.

The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) reports that June manufacturing technology orders climbed 6.5 percent over May. The latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report also shows a year-over-year increase of more than 10 percent, the fifth consecutive month posting a year-over-year gain.

Kyocera Corp., Kyoto, Japan, has acquired fastener and tool manufacturer Senco Holdings Inc., Cincinnati.

Melin Tool Co., Cleveland, and MachiningCloud Inc., Camarillo, Calif., have partnered to provide Melin Tool product data in the cloud.

The Manufacturing Leadership Council's 800+ members have identified the most urgent and important issues disrupting the manufacturing industry over the next twelve months as it pursues a more efficient, agile, and data-driven future. MLC bills itself as "the world's foremost executive leadership organization dedicated to driving transformational growth for the world's manufacturing companies."

When you hear the phrase "preventive maintenance" what comes to mind? Do you cringe at the thought of taking your CNC machine out of production, losing precious time and money? Or are you meticulous about taking care of your investment so it will last a very long time? Here are some preventive maintenance (PM) tips to help keep your CNC lathe running at peak performance while avoiding unplanned downtime.

June U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $186.57 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 2.8% from May's $191.93 million and up 6.0% when compared with the total of $175.97 million reported for June 2016. With a year-to-date total of $1.095 billion, 2017 is up 5.8% when compared with 2016.

As a precision sheet metal machining technology, photo etching achieves exacting tolerances, is highly repeatable and in many instances is the only technology that can cost-effectively manufacture precision metal components with the accuracy necessary in demanding and often safety critical applications. Once design engineers select photo etching as their preferred metalworking process, it is important that they fully appreciate not just its versatility, but also the specific aspects of the technology that can affect—and in many instances enhance—product design. This article analyzes the key considerations that design engineers must appreciate to get the most from photo etching and benchmarks the process against other metal machining technologies.