Industry News

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August, and the overall economy grew for the 99th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. At 58.8 percent, the August PMI showed an increase of 2.5 percentage points from the July reading of 56.3 percent.

Schütte LLC, Jackson, Mich., appointed Jeffrey Reinert CEO for North American operations.

Haimer Mexico, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, brought in Alonso Acevedo as general manager.

Cincinnati Inc., Harrison, Ohio, named industry veteran Rakesh Kumar vice president of sales, marketing and service.

Okuma America Corp., Charlotte, N.C., a manufacturer of CNC machine tools, welcomed Kitchener, Canada-based Praemo, which is in applied industrial internet of things and artificial intelligence, to Partners in THINC.

The global metal cutting machine market is expected to reach $9.79 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc. Increasing demand from automotive industry has been a key factor driving market growth, globally. In addition, robust growth in various application industries such as electronics, defense, marine, construction and aerospace is also fueling the demand.

Dignity Medical Solutions, Inc. (DMS), a group of doctors, scientists and engineers focused on developing technologies that improve the health and dignity of patients worldwide, has partnered with Quest Specialty Products, Inc. to manufacture the TIMO Solution (TIMO), a safer, healthier, and more cost-effective method to manage urinary incontinence. The two companies recently signed an agreement that will provide DMS with the manufacturing, service and support infrastructure needed to market TIMO along with shipping, receiving and inventory management services. The first product release is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Workers in the hardmetal industry are not at increased risk for lung cancer or any of 63 other potential causes of death, concluded the largest and most definitive study on this population to date. The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health-led study of more than 32,000 workers in five countries was performed after smaller studies indicated that tungsten carbide with a cobalt binder—the primary ingredients in hardmetal—may be linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. Hardmetal is a human-made substance second only to diamond in hardness. It's used in metal cutting tools and drill bits.

Drake Manufacturing Services Co. LLC, Warren, Ohio, has been sold in a court-ordered receivership.

MachiningCloud Inc., Camarillo, Calif., and Colibri Spindles Ltd., Lavon, Israel, have partnered to provide Colibri Spindles product data in the cloud.

Concurrent Technologies Corp. celebrated its 30th year with a luncheon Friday outside its main facility in Johnstown. The R&D company of about 550 employees works primarily with military contracts and advanced manufacturing techniques. Current projects include friction stir welding, which can strengthen joints in thicker metal, additive manufacturing for repairs of temperature-sensitive or hard-to-reach parts, and laundry and shower wastewater recycling for military outings.

Ivy Tech Community College has secured a $15,000 grant with which to support scholarships and credentialing for the machine tool technology program at the East Chicago location of its Lake County campus.

Etna opened in 1946, and until recently was one of the last remaining tool and die shops in Manhattan. After years of watching the neighborhood grow and transform from its Bond Street location for 70 years, James Galuppo, the owner, has reluctantly closed the shop’s doors.

The global ceramics market is expected to reach $287 billion by 2022, according to a recent report by Grand View Research Inc. Furthermore, advanced ceramics are expected to be the fastest-growing segment in terms of volume at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 9 percent through to 2022.

Schunk USA, Morrisville, N.C., started construction on an expansion project at its U.S. headquarters that will more than double the size of the facility.

Paul Polesnak has joined Franklin Bronze Precision Components LLC, Franklin, Pa., as quality assurance manager.

Business conditions continued to improve across the US manufacturing sector in August, albeit at a weaker pace. At 52.5, the seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained above the 50.0 neutral value, but fell from 53.3 in July to signal only a modest rate of improvement.

Stents and tubes are used in countless medical devices, with new ones added every day, fueled in part by the growth of minimally invasive surgery and the commonplace use of stents. The number and diversity of devices is rapidly increasing, as well as demand for more and more laser-cut stents, flexible tubing, cannulas and microcannulas, needles, biopsy devices and other minimally invasive tools. While legacy stent- and tube-cutting systems have performed well in recent decades, cutting technologies entering the market offer faster, better cuts with higher production rates and unique cutting capabilities.

Additive manufacturing developer HP Inc. and professional services company Deloitte together will work to accelerate the digital reinvention of the $12 trillion global manufacturing industry. The two companies will collaborate on the implementation of HP’s 3D printing systems in large-scale manufacturing environments, applying their digital operations experience to help enterprises accelerate product design and production, create more flexible manufacturing and supply chains, and enhance efficiency across the manufacturing lifecycle.

Micro Technology Inc., Tullahoma, Tenn., makes parts that are used to mount to automotive engine blocks to be robotically transported through assembly lines. The company uses HAAS VF-3 with CAT40 taper tools. One part is 6061 Aluminum with a tolerance requirement of +/- 0.002" and was being machined with a face mill at 3,000RPM 120IPM with 1.25" axial and 1.2" radial depth of cut. The challenge: Improve productivity without sacrificing quality and accuracy. OSG Tap & Die describes their solution in a recent web feature: