Industry News

While manufacturing jobs dominated in the 20th century, many believe that coding will have a similar impact during the 21st century. “I think we’ve lost the ability to make things," said Adam Enbar, co-founder of Flatiron School, on Fox Business’ “Wall Street Week.” "Americans love to build and create and make things. This is that new wave. The new form of manufacturing is making software.” Flatiron School, which is located in New York City, is a coding boot camp that trains people of all skill levels on how to code.

In connection with the article I’m writing about metalworking fluid filtration equipment for our March issue, I spoke with Irvin Kaage, president of Transor Filter USA, Elk Grove Village, Ill. The company provides the One Micron Filtration system, which removes particles larger than 1µm from oil, primarily for grinding.

In connection with the abrasive waterjet machining article scheduled for our March issue, I spoke with Jim Draper, owner of Rocky Mountain Waterjet, Greeley, Colo., who said when a parts manufacturer finds that waterjetting is a suitable process for a part or family of parts, the decision to outsource that work to a waterjet job shop or buy a waterjet machine for in-house production depends on the part quantity.

Marion Technical College's new $500,000 mobile training lab has the potential to train hundreds of workers each year throughout central Ohio, writes Hasan Karim in The Marion Star. The vehicle's 400-sq.-ft. simulation center accommodates eight students, each with a laptop and other training equipment, officials say. Bob Haas, the college's chief strategy officer, says the purpose of the mobile lab is to provide on-site training to local manufacturers.

In addition to helping counteract any automation-caused unemployment, writes Brad Jones for the website Futurism, a universal basic income could provide a huge boost to the U.S. economy. A study from the Roosevelt Institute predicts that 8 years of universal basic income would result in a $2.48 trillion increase in the nation's gross domestic product.

In the decade since the beginning of the Great Recession industrial production (e.g. manufacturing, mining and electricity production) has been a political football of both the left and right. It’s time to stop playing that game, and a good way to start is to review some facts about these industries, which continue to provide a significant share of the Midwestern economy.

Residents and activists in California continue to fight business interests over exposure to the carcinogen chromium-6, made famous by the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich." One issue involving the substance concerns its use at metal-treating companies. They oppose tightening air regulations. The metal-finishing industry provides about 9,000 jobs in the state, with more than half of them in Southern California.

Machine tool builder Niigata Machine Techno USA Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill., opened its North American headquarters.

LMT Onsrud LP, Waukegan, Ill., and MachiningCloud Inc., Camarillo, Calif., are partnering to provide LMT Onsrud product data in the cloud.

Imagine a beam of light traveling unimpeded for 13.5 billion light years, only to get deflected and distorted just before being captured by a telescope. That is something the builders of the Giant Magellan Telescope are working hard to avoid.

Jasper, Ind.-based toolmaker NAP Gladu, a Techniks Industries company, acquired Eide Saw & Tool Service Inc., Minneapolis.

Gear Motions Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., is partnering with Southeast Industrial Solutions, Atlanta.

As reported in The Wall Street Journal, nearly 200 parents of high school students in Fort Collins, Colo., recently gathered for “Parents’ Night.” Their children, they were told, could have great, well-paying careers while being “the next generation of makers.” The venue? Woodward Inc., an engine and equipment components plant looking for ways to line up the next generation of employees amid a dearth of manufacturing workers nationwide. “We’re really trying to get after the parents—the parents are influential with their kids,” said Keith Korasick, Woodward’s vice president of operations, who started as a machinist there 26 years ago. “Our message to the parents was, ‘There’s another option.’ You can’t have everybody be a lawyer.”

Stanek Tool LLC, New Berlin, Wis., a manufacturer and employee-owned business specializing in the design and production of complex hydraulic workholding fixtures and precision machined components, appointed Kevin Lichtenberg CEO.

Aircraft Tooling, a Dallas-based repair center for the aviation industry, was surprised to find that Universal Robots could withstand the high temperatures and harsh environment while performing metal powder and plasma spray processes. The UR “cobots” have been in operation for 3 years without breakdown or service requirements.

Single Source Technologies, Auburn Hills, Mich., a distributor of machine tools and consumables, is collaborating with SmalTec International LLC, Naperville, Ill., to bring the EM203 and GM703 microprecision EDMs to SST’s West, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

​​​A year ago, a leading aerospace manufacturer approached Sandvik Coromant with a machining challenge. The operation in question was finishing deep titanium pockets, a common feature in structural aircraft components.

The skills gap is a well-known, widespread dilemma across the manufacturing industry. Now that the gap is a mainstream problem, what are the steps industry leaders can take to solve it?

Open Mind Technologies AG has announced that its hyperMILL CAM software has provided 5-axis programming to successfully replicate a basketball hoop. The basketball hoop was machined on a GROB G350 5-axis machining center using conical ball barrel cutters from OSG.

In response to the question of whether custom CNC aluminum is better for the CNC machining process, the answer is “yes” in the majority of cases. Today, demand for CNC machining is on the rise, and to ensure superior quality parts and components, customization makes a significant difference.