Industry News

Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced this week that it will move production of its V-Twin Vanguard engines from a joint venture partnership in Japan to its existing manufacturing facilities in Statesboro, Georgia and Auburn, Alabama. The increased production in North America will create approximately 50 new jobs at each of the facilities.

Motion Industries Inc., Birmingham, Ala., a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co., agreed to acquire Apache Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder toured FANUC America Corp.’s North American headquarters and technical center in Auburn Hills, Mich., accompanied by Dr. Kiyonori Inaba, executive vice president and general manager of FANUC Corp.’s robot division, and Michael J. Cicco, president and CEO of FANUC America.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, North Kingstown, R.I., announced that its portable and stationary coordinate measuring machine technologies will be integrated into a new metrology program offered at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif.

Dapra Corp., Bloomfield, Conn., has 1,600 indexable tools for milling available through MachiningCloud Inc., Camarillo, Calif.

Eriez Manufacturing Co., Erie, Pa., hosted its 2017 Business Conference at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.

Motion Industries Inc., Birmingham, Ala., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts and a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co., named Stacy Lenard vice president/general manager of the Dallas division.

Ceratizit SA, Mamer, Luxembourg, and Komet Group GmbH, Besigheim, Germany, announced the acquisition of Komet Group effective Oct. 12.

Superior Tool Service, Wichita, Kan., has purchased a new building and will soon move operations.

MVTec Software GmbH, Munich, is expanding its team.

Heidenhain Corp., Schaumburg, Ill., appointed David Fuson service operations manager for North America.

Over 4,600 Davenport, Iowa-based M.A. Ford cutting tool items are now available through MachiningCloud Inc., Camarillo, Calif., with more to come.

Souderton, Pa.-based Solar Atmospheres President Jamie Jones was presented with the Metal Treating Institute Distinguished Service Award for 2017 and nominated as vice president/president-elect of MTI for 2017-2018.

Parker Steel Co., Maumee, Ohio, appointed James "Jamie" Kaufman sales manager of the company’s Maumee-based sales operation.

Kyocera Corp., Kyoto, Japan, announced that it has concluded a basic agreement to acquire the majority of shares of a company to be established from the company split of Ryobi Ltd.’s power tool business.

Heule Tool Corp., Cincinnati, announced that Lynn Bissell joined the company as sales & marketing coordinator.

In a clear echo of the 'Rosie the Riveter' campaign of WWII, manufacturing organizations in 2017 are striving to let women know that their talents are needed, the work is important and rewarding, and unlike in their grandparents' time, the jobs are permanent.

One day everything in space will be made in space. That’s the ultimate goal for Made In Space Inc., said Matt Napoli, the company’s vice president of in-space operations, during his Oct. 25 keynote presentation titled “Made in Space: Manufacturing at 17,200mph” at The Quality Show. The trade show took place Oct. 24-26 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill.

We all know that as grinding wheels wear and get smaller, they eventually stub out, requiring replacement. But what really happens as they wear? Does performance change? Do wheels act or behave differently as they wear? Do we need to change the grinding or dress parameters throughout whel life to compensate for these changes?

Inaugural awards hosted by manufacturing innovation centers mHUB, UI LABS and IMEC celebrated region’s manufacturing innovation and leadership by recognizing the companies, products and initiatives driving a new revolution.