Industry News

Jarvis Cutting Tools is constructing a 500W AC solar panel array in front of its property in Rochester, N.H. Jarvis President Costikyan Jarvis said the solar project will help the company cut production costs and capitalize on incentives for producing solar energy, according to a report on fosters.com.

In two separate personnel moves, YG-1 Tool Co., Vernon Hills, Ill., recently promoted Shane Hollenbaugh to Executive Director of Sales and hired Bill Pulvermacher as Director of Marketing. Pulvermacher will be responsible for marketing, strategy and brand development.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June for the fourth consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 85th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

IKONICS Corp., a Duluth-based imaging technology company, announced today that IKONICS Precision Abrasive Machining capabilities align with NASA test results to reduce aerodynamic drag on acoustic jet engine liners.

CEO of John Force Racing Inc. and 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force along with Cory Miller, General Manager of Hurco North America, announced an initial five year agreement between the Indianapolis area based companies that will continue to enhance the development and production capabilities of JFR and its Force American Made (FAM) machining company.

Takumi USA, Indianapolis, recently unveiled its new technology center and showroom to distributor partners to kick off the introduction of Takumi USA to the North American market.

Patrick M. Ryan, Vice President of Manufacturing for Kankakee, Ill.-based Stor-Loc, passed away June 25, 2016. A founder of the Stor-Loc Modular Drawer System, Pat recently celebrated 25 years in business.

Most manufacturers offer at least occasional in-house instruction as factory work has become more about brains than brawn. But Tooling U-SME, an organization focused on manufacturing education that's part of an industrial nonprofit in Dearborn, Mich., found in a recent survey that just 25 percent have a structured training program.

Economists have been debating the performance of business investment during the current recovery. Much of the debate has centered around the relative importance of policy (such as regulation) and demand. Meanwhile, from a company’s perspective, it probably doesn’t make sense to invest when its existing plant and equipment are already underutilized.

Michigan Manufacturing International (MMI) was founded in 1991 in Michigan by Jacob Prak. A number of moves were necessary as the operation outgrew each location, but the name remained the same. In November 2013, MMI built a 40,000 square foot building in Stevensville, Md., and currently occupies 12,000 square feet of that space.

Sound website design and integration attracts new business and simplifies operations for manufacturers, internet marketing professional Gary Sargent said.

Carbide Tool Services Inc., Anoka, Minn., recently hired Dan Hoemberg as Operations Manager.  Hoemberg, who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Management, also has a degree from Staples Technical College in Tool Room Machining. 

Dorner Mfg. Corp., Hartland, Wis., recently appointed Michael Goodall as its Regional Sales Manager covering the area of Northern Ohio and Michigan. In this new position with Dorner, Goodall will be working with sales channel partners and key accounts to grow the company's industrial and sanitary conveyor business, as well as focusing on the automation markets throughout both states.

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) released the first-ever industry Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) standards. Developed over the course of a yearlong intensive nationwide validation process with more than 125 subject matter experts from companies who use a variety of CAM software, the standards define the competencies and skills expected by industry for entry-level CAM positions. 

Manufacturing technology orders for April 2016 were down 27.5 percent from the same month a year ago, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report compiled by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. Year to date, orders are down 16.6 percent compared to the same point in 2015. 

Indiana job shop cuts insert costs in half and triples tool life with Beyond Evolution grooving and cut-off tools, according to a case study submitted by Kennametal Inc.

The first automobile internal-combustion engines used a camshaft to open and close poppet valves. Now, more than 100 years later, camshafts are still used and their basic function hasn’t changed—even though camshaft geometries, materials, surface finishes and tolerances have improved greatly to achieve better fuel economy, lower emissions and larger torque.

With two in three manufacturers unware of the true cost of system downtime and mechanical failure, Gill Sensors & Controls discuss how its new condition monitoring sensors help reduce downtime, associated costs and improve reliability of large manufacturing gearboxes.

Haimer USA last month celebrated the grand opening of its new 25,000 sq. ft. North American headquarters with a ribbon cutting ceremony, distinguished guest speakers, on-site machine demos and presentations.

Technology advancements and the Industrial Internet of Things are making outcome orientation more feasible, according to the Harvard Business Review. For example, when Rolls Royce or GE provide a “power by the hour” engine solution, they are delivering an outcome and potentially more value to the customer.