Industry News

Toolmaker Seco Tools LLC, Troy, Mich., a technical and supplier sponsor of Andretti Autosport's Verizon IndyCar Series championship racing team, invited customers from across the Midwest to attend an Indy 500 practice day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The day included a meet and greet with IRL driver Marco Andretti, a tour of the Andretti Autosport garage, a catered lunch in the team's suite at the track and a visit to the pits to watch the Indy cars in action.

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), Rolling Meadows, Ill., has debuted the AME Manufacturing Job Board, designed to connect job-seeking professionals with the organizations requiring their specific skills.

In 2003, Kevin Burkett was offered $30,000 for his 1978 Travis Bean "Wedge" guitar and realized it was too valuable to perform with. Most guitarists would make do with using a similar, less-valuable model, but Travis Beans have a distinguishing characteristic that makes them hard to replace — they're made of metal.

Toolmaker OSG Tap & Die, Glendale Heights, Ill., has announced its "Train the Nation 10 City Tour," a traveling seminar on high-speed machining for the die mold industry.

Kennametal Inc. completed the relocation of Kennametal Extrude Hone GmbH to its new location in Holzgünz, Germany, after a year of planning and construction. The new building combines several previously separate production and administrative sites in one new building, which is based on "green" design principles. The inauguration and a Technology Days event took place May 6-8 and an employee family day was held May 10. During Technology Days, Guest speakers from industry and academia universities provided insights into market developments and new technologies while Kennametal experts answered questions on metal cutting and other topics.

Midwest Industrial Tool Grinding Inc. hosted a tour of its Hutchinson, Minn., facility on April 22, 2014, that included representatives from LifeScience Alley (LSA), a trade association with 680 members from U.S. life sciences industry, and the Hutchinson (Minn.) Economic Development Association (EDA). The event at MITGI was part of a larger tour of Minnesota by the LSA and EDA in an effort to cultivate relationships and connect industry partners in the state. 

Steel strapping is effective for bundling materials, but poses a number of problems for a machine shop. Its sharp edges make it something of a workplace hazard, while its long, ungainly shape makes storage and disposal difficult. It's also made of mid-carbon steel, so even though throwing the strapping in the dumpster is the easiest way to handle it, possible profits from recycling are dumped as well.

Methods Machine Tools, Inc., a supplier of precision machine tools, automation and accessories, will hold a Grand Opening of their new, expanded Technology Center in Anaheim, Calif. on June 25th and 26th, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Manufacturing professionals are welcome and encouraged to attend. The new 11,400 square foot Methods facility supports operations in Southern California, replacing the previous center in Buena Park, Calif.

Machine tool builder SMTCL-Americas, City of Industry, Calif.,  has entered in to a partnership with the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The written agreement provides a commitment from SMTCL to provide equipment to create a machine lab for engineering students to manufacture components for class projects and international competitions.

Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of machine tools, automation and accessories, announced it is hosting Metal Storm 2014, an open house event taking place June 11-12, 2014 at the company's recently-renovated headquarters and corporate technology center at 71 Union Avenue, Sudbury, Mass. Metal Storm 2014 will feature over 50 machines under power. Attendees are also invited to participate in technical seminars conducted throughout the event by manufacturing industry experts in automotive, aerospace, automation and more. 

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence Values Veterans (AMEV2) Program held its kick-off symposium on Friday, March 14, 2014 at DMG Mori USA's facility in Hoffman Estates, Ill. This event focused on teaching American employers how to recruit, hire, train and retain veterans.

Optimism regarding the direction of the domestic economy rose among U.S. industrial manufacturers during the first quarter of 2014, according to the Q1 2014 Manufacturing Barometer, released today by consulting firm PwC US, New York. The positive sentiment about the prospects of U.S. commerce in the next 12 months reached the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2005.  Conversely, optimism regarding the prospects of the world economy lessened during the first quarter as U.S. industrial manufacturers remained cautious on the global stage.  

Komet of America, a Schaumburg, Ill.-based manufacturer of bore machining, reaming and threading tools, and Schunk Inc., a Morrisville, N.C., provider of clamping technology and gripping systems, held a joint distributor event on April 9, 2014, at Komet of America's Schaumburg facility. The 5-hour event consisted of morning product presentations and three afternoon demos in the machining center on the production floor featuring Schunk workholding and toolholding with Komet cutting tools.

Longmont, Colo.-based used machinery dealer Automatics & Machinery is celebrating 25 years supporting machine shops. With a sales staff to research, locate and negotiate machinery for customers, a longstanding membership in the Machinery Dealers National Association (MDNA) and a machinery appraiser accredited through the Association of Machinery and Equipment  Appraisers (AMEA), A&M has sought to simplify the process of finding new equipment since its establishment by founder Steven Beck in 1989. 

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Milwaukee Alderman Joe Davis (D-2nd District) toured Milwaukee's Matzel Manufacturing Inc. Feb. 27 and discussed cross-party solutions for creating a "pro-hiring" environment for local manufacturers. Those solutions include accelerating the development of Wisconsin youth apprenticeship programs that allow young professionals to gain real-world experience. Matzel Manufacturing, which was founded in 1957 and machines complex castings and forgings, has such an apprenticeship program.

Cutting tool manufacturer Seco Tools, Troy, Mich., released the results of its North American Carbide Recycling Program for 2013. The company collected and processed 125,919 lbs (57,235 kg) of used carbide tools. Of the total, 110,585 lbs (50,265 kg) were returned to Seco Tools AB for processing into grade powder. Over the life of the carbide recycling program, Seco Tools has returned an average of over 10,100 lbs (4,100 kg) of tools per month for recycling.

Harvey Tool Co. LLC, Rowley, Mass., has released its latest catalog, which includes more than 850 new tools. The Spring 2014 edition introduces 10 new product lines that reflect what the company calls its commitment to "make your specials our standards." In addition to over 9,000 standard tools, special recognition is given in the catalog to Harvey Tool's metric offering, highlighted in both the full catalog and new digital-only metric catalog download. 

Versevo Inc., Hartland, Wis., a manufacturing and services provider for the cast metals industry, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. "Whether you have been here 1 month or 20 years, the commitment and determination that goes into a business and making it successful is important," said Terry Moon, founder, president and CEO of Versevo, when addressing employees at a celebratory luncheon. "But it's the collection of all of us that make this work."

Advanced ceramics producer Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp. (KICC), Tokyo, announced the creation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Kyocera Precision Tools Inc., that consolidates its North American cutting tool operations in the indexable, microtool, and printed circuit board (PCB) cutting tool markets.

Lucifer Furnaces Inc., Warrington, Pa., shipped a high-temperature laboratory box furnace to Pottstown, Pa.-based Hammond Lead Products, which provides products to the battery, ceramics and glass industries. The Model 3027 AK12 heats to 2,500° F using silicon carbide rod-type heating elements mounted above and below the hearth, providing uniform heat in the work chamber.