Industry News

For a business owner or manager it’s a frustrating and difficult task to track, manage and keep records on the hand-held tools, production tooling and fixtures, dies and castings that are the lifeblood of your operation. Each category of tool has specific tracking and accounting issues that when addressed have been proven to show a significant return on investment.

When I’m visiting CNC operations around the country, shop managers often start our conversations like this, “Labor is killing us. We can’t find enough good operators and we’re losing some of our experienced operators to competitors. What are my options?” The manager often goes on to describe operational issues related to labor that are typical in high-mix CNC manufacturing. This article describes automation options for CNC shops, specifically focusing on those processing parts in CNC milling machines with batch sizes between 10 and 1,000 pieces.

High quality and productivity are key success factors, not just in machining but also in the production of cutting tools. Accordingly, exacting demands on cleaning quality, capacity and process reliability had to be met when Sandvik Coromant invested in new equipment for its in-process and final cleaning of drill bits, milling cutters and indexable inserts. The company chose several solvent-based cleaning machines made by Ecoclean (formerly Dürr Ecoclean) plus one highly automated ultrafine cleaning system from UCM AG.

Every wonder what it would be like to sell machine tools for living? Rantings of a Machine Tool Salesman by Scott Walker provides a flavor of that wonderland career. Semiretired, Walker is chairman of Mitsui Seiki USA Inc., Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, where he started as vice president of sales in 1991. The company specializes in building heavy metal and mother machine tools.

CRESCO, Pa. — July 17, 2018 — Weiler Abrasives Group, a provider of abrasives, power brushes and maintenance products for surface conditioning, will expand operations at its Cresco facility as a result of investments in lean manufacturing and factory automation that opened space and capacity at the location.

Hutchinson, Minnesota – July 16, 2018 –  Hutchinson Manufacturing proudly announces that its President Tom Daggett is being honored with the 2018 Made in Minnesota Manufacturing Awards Lifetime Achievement Award from Minnesota Business magazine.

At this time of transition, APM has hired an Interim Executive Director who's official start date is July 16.

ATA Tools Inc. expects global growth from its new facility in Akron, Ohio. The specialty manufacturer makes high-quality tungsten-carbide burs and cutting tools used to finish metal and composite products. “This is the largest bur manufacturing facility in the world,” said President Hector Diaz-Stringel.

Blaser Swisslube Inc., Goshen, NY, which develops and produces high-quality Cutting and Grinding Fluids, has appointed Tom Cappadona to Gears & Grinding Business Development Manager - Americas

​NORTH CANTON, Ohio (July 13, 2018) – Driven by higher customer demand and expectations of further growth, Seco Machine recently finalized plans to move to a new, larger plant by the end of the year.

Pete Mrzlak, Regional Sales Manager at oelheld U.S., has been in sales and marketing for the  manufacturing industry for many years and brings a wealth of knowledge about metalworking lubricants and coolants.

MONROVIA, CA – AMADA MIYACHI AMERICA, a manufacturer of resistance welding, laser welding, marking, cutting, and micro machining equipment and systems, announces its newly expanded and enhanced Detroit technical center.

New Milford, CT, July 11th 2018-  Vision Engineering Inc. reaches a milestone this month, celebrating 60 years of manufacturing inspection and non-contact measurement systems.

Kardex Remstar, LLC is pleased to announce Mark Dunaway has been promoted to the position of President for the North American region as of July 1, 2018.

TROY, Mich., July 10, 2018 – Further empowering its customers by continuing to advance its digital capabilities, Seco Tools, LLC has announced that Jeff Bowden has joined the company as its new director of information technology.

SCHAUMBURG, IL (July 10, 2018) –DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH is pleased to announce the appointment of David Doyle as CEO of HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION, effective Oct. 1, 2018.

ROCKFORD, IL, July 9, 2018 – Bourn & Koch, Inc. of Rockford, IL, is pleased to report that Rob Swiss has recently joined the company as the National Sales Manager for Gear Manufacturing Machinery.

JETCAM International s.a.r.l. and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation today announced a partnership by signing the Developer Agreement of “LA-Module” with subsidiary company Mitsubishi Electric Mechatronics Software Corporation whereby JETCAM will develop enhanced support for Mitsubishi’s range of CNC laser machines.

ROCKFORD, IL, July 9, 2018 – Bourn & Koch, Inc. is pleased to announce that Joe Goral Sr. has accepted a new position within the company as Business Unit Manager - Grinding Machine Tools.

Vero Software has hired new Account Manager Chadwick Langway, who will manage the Southeast accounts for the company’s Edgecam, Surfcam and WorkNC metal-cutting solutions.