Industry News

Parker Steel Company, Maumee, Ohio, a supplier of metric-sized metals in North America, in March moved its headquarters from Toledo to Maumee. The company still maintains its two Toledo-based warehouses in the same locations.

TM Robotics, in partnership with Toshiba Machine, announced it has teamed up with ASG, a certified manufacturer, provider, and service center focused on products and automated solutions for assembly. ASG will offer Toshiba Machine robots in both national and international markets.

Cleaning Technologies Group (CTG), Cincinnati, Ohio, in March announced the promotion of Chris Whittaker to Vice President Business Development & Marketing. Whittaker formerly served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Walter Surface Technologies, Dallas, in March announced the opening of a 22,000 sq. ft, distribution and training center in Dallas. Located at the Freeport Corporate Center, the new facility directly serves 20 states throughout the Southern and Western United States.

CNC Software Inc., Tolland, Conn., in March announced a partnership with a leading independent machine tools and allied equipment supplier to help strengthen the supplier's commitment to offering a "total customer solution." Engineering Technology Group (ETG), which employs 100 people at its headquarters in the West Midlands, signed a deal with CNC Software to sell Mastercam and Cimco software across the United Kingdom, providing manufacturers with access to the latest CAM and CNC technology.

Seco Tools LLC, Troy, Mich., in March expanded its service and support team with the addition of Olivier Branget to its North American Applications Engineering group and the promotion of Aaron Eller to Product Manager, ISO Turning and Advanced Materials.

“When I founded my diamond grindery in 1922, I never would have thought that LACH DIAMANT would one day be a pioneer in the manufacturing of diamond tools…” said Jakob Lach, the founder of LACH DIAMANT, Germany in the early 80s.

SCHUNK customers now have a fully equipped facility where they can view a demonstration, receive advice and support for their specific application, or get an expert technician for repair or service. The Tec-Center has a milling machine, lathe, air chuck display and robotic machine-loading display, giving people the ability to see a variety of processes using real parts and machines.

Dosatron International, Inc., headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., in March named Matthew Wellage as Regional Sales Manager. Wellage has 6 years of experience working for a manufacturer of chemical dispensing equipment, and more than 8 years of experience in industrial pipe, valve and fitting distribution.

Funke will oversee a team of engineers to deliver complete component tooling solutions to Seco customers. He plans to further build and strengthen relationships with customers and other industry partners to deliver excellence in products and services.

BIG KAISER’s parent company, BIG DAISHOWA Seiki Co. Ltd., in March announced the completion of its new logistics and distribution center, which joins five existing factories on the lush Japanese island of Awaji. The 130,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility was built to meet the need for logistics improvements as the company's product reach expands globally, according to the company.

Electro-Matic Ventures Inc., a supplier of high-tech automation components and services headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., in March announced it had acquired RAF Fluid Power, a provider of advanced automation with a focus on pneumatic and robotic solutions. RAF, located outside Cleveland in Solon, Ohio, is the first acquisition for Electro-Matic Ventures, which has three other subsidiaries: Electro-Matic Products, Electro-Matic Integrated, and Electro-Matic Visual.

When Dake opened its doors 130 years ago in Grand Haven, Mich., the machine tool manufacturer became known for its prowess at producing steam engines. Dake manufactured more than 10,000 steam engines for the war effort. Only after the end of World War II did Dake begin manufacturing its line of arbor presses and hand-operated hydraulic presses.

Synova, a leading manufacturer of high-precision laser cutting systems, opened a new Micro-Machining Center (MMC) in Secaucus, NJ, according to an April 10 company news release. The new MMC offers laser machining services such as application trials, single and recurring cutting jobs and machine demonstrations.

At the Omax Corp. blog, writer Gretchen Salois profiles Waterjet Cutting of Indiana, which often attracts customers "because they know they can hand over drawings for an intricate job Friday afternoon, and receive them first thing Monday," she writes. The company cuts everything from skid plates for Indy 500 cars to magnets for the oil industry to elevator weights for buildings throughout the company's hometown of Indianapolis.

In the machine shop of the future, a digital thread will weave through the pre-, in- and post-machining processes. Prior to machining, those processes include design, process and operations planning, and production logistics. After machining, part verification and outbound logistics enter the picture.

The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) sees cyber security awareness and prevention in manufacturing as an emerging challenge and competitiveness issues that manufacturers are facing. In response, NCMS has released a new whitepaper, written by Senior Vice President Rebecca Taylor, “Balancing Productivity and Security: The New Cybersecurity Challenge for Manufacturers.”

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March, and the overall economy grew for the 94th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

Radius Engineering Inc.was recognized with the 2017 Excellence in Composites Manufacturing Award (small-company category) for supplying net-shape manufacturing technology and equipment contributing to improvements in design, quality and reduced manufacturing costs for numerous manufacturing companies throughout the aerospace composites industry. Company co-founder Dimitrije Milovich received a separate award, honoring his 40-plus years of leadership and innovation.

New technology brings higher precision, faster production to make small parts more efficiently than is possible with traditional micro machining technology and equipment, according to a whitepaper from GF Microlution Inc.