Industry News

Manufacturers face continual pressure to expand margins and be more profitable. Smart manufacturing can bring real bottom-line value to a business, helping it do more with less.

In 2017, Tulip raised $13 million with help from New Enterprise Associates Inc., Pitango Venture Capital and a handful of investors who already were onboard for the seed round. Now the Somerville, Massachusetts, startup is back with a round of financing that’s three times that. Toolmaker DMG Mori has joined the ranks, along with Vertex Ventures.

Teradyne Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of AutoGuide Mobile Robots, a leading supplier of high-payload autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). AutoGuide’s advanced products deliver easy deployment, improved safety, reduced costs and increased efficiency of industrial and warehouse material-handling operations.

Emuge Corp. held a grand opening ceremony of its significantly expanded, custom-designed manufacturing facility in West Boylston, Massachusetts, on Oct. 15, 2019. Marking a 35-year presence in the U.S. along with increased growth in North America, the Emuge expansion includes more manufacturing and tool reconditioning space, the addition of a new PVD coating center, as well as an expanded Technology and Training Center. The expanded facility doubles the size of the original building to over 50,000 sq. ft. total.

Doosan Robotics Inc. (Doosan), a leading global manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), announced plans to establish its first U.S. office in Buford, Georgia, by the end of 2019 to accelerate its distribution efforts. The new office will serve as the headquarters for sales, marketing, training, and customer service in the Americas.

Zoller Inc. hosted its annual Zollerfest on Oct. 2-3 at its North American headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Zollerfest is an annual technology days and open house event that combines the celebration of the company’s German heritage and its presetting, measuring, inspection, tool management and automation technology to create a truly unique manufacturing event. Over 100 guests visited the company across the two-day event, coming from a variety of industry segments ranging from aerospace and defense to job shops, with the goal of learning how Zoller solutions could help bring success to their manufacturing process.

Transor Filter announces that they have surpassed the 25,000 drum mark in shipments of TransOgrind TG-250. Introduced in 2000, this quality grinding oil has become popular for manufacturers of carbide cutting tools due to its performance characteristics and overall value.

The global market for gear measuring machines is poised to grow at a noteworthy rate by the end of the forecast period. In terms of value, the global gear measuring machines market is expected to reach ~ US$ 538 Mn by the end of 2029. In terms of revenue, the global market for gear measuring machines is foreseen to expand at a CAGR of ~3% throughout the forecast period, as revealed in the research.

Computer numerical control machining is an exercise where software controls how machinery moves as it produces an object. For example, when you want an automotive device from Geomiq.com, written codes are fed into the system whereby the machine runs as instructed. Consequently, your automotive item will be ready without the intervention of humans because the program runs independently.

Although the title of a book I received a digital review copy of is “Basic Benchwork for Home Machinists,” it contains information that even metalworking professionals might implement on the shop floor or at least enjoy reading.

Since 1992, RobotWorx has been refurbishing industrial robots, restoring the workhorses of manufacturing environments to like-new condition. Robots are commodities today, performing everything from welding tasks to handling intrinsic materials in solar panel clean room environments. For RobotWorx, opportunity beckons when companies upgrade their plants, close their facilities, or when old robots are replaced. Regardless of their condition, RobotWorx gives used robots new life.

CNC machining is a common industrial process with specific design features that work best. Learn the ins and outs of CNC design in this detailed guide.

Machining a part requires knowing the correct speeds and feeds for a cutting tool and material — a skill that can take years to master. What if a resource existed that made it possible for anyone to run a CNC machine and successfully cut a range of materials, from plastic and stainless steel to titanium? What if the same resource could help seasoned machinists learn how to optimize a new cutting tool or a new material?

As manufacturers continue to be challenged by a shortage of skilled workers and the need to boost productivity, automation remains a topic of significant interest. That was certainly the case at the Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show. The biennial trade show took place Oct. 8-10 at the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wisconsin.

After a bit of a hiatus, I received a new book about metalworking, “Essential Guide to Metals and Manufacturing” by Krishan Katyal. The author is a mechanical engineer who has worked for four decades designing and manufacturing machine tools, consumer appliances, diesel-electric locomotives and heavy concrete construction products for Chicago area companies.

NVision Inc., in cooperation with the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, is making it possible for those with vision-impairment to interactively engage with some of the great works by modern sculptors. NVision, a leader in 3D noncontact optical scanning/measurement for more than 29 years, recently scanned several sculptures by Auguste Rodin (perhaps best-known for his sculpture, The Thinker) and Julio González for the Nasher. The scanning data was used to 3D-print to-scale replicas of the sculptures for a tactile educational experience for the blind and visually impaired.

Master Fluid Solutions, a Perrysburg, Ohio-based manufacturer of metalworking fluids and associated chemicals, announces its acquisition of Wilhelm Dietz GmbH. Based in Düsseldorf, Germany, Wilhelm Dietz GmbH primarily serves the needs of the pipe and tube expansion, forming, wire drawing and metalworking industries under its WEDOLiT brand name.

The Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research and Development (OMIC R&D) announced this week that Urmaze Naterwalla has joined the organization as its Research Operations Officer. Naterwalla, formerly senior engineer for machining solutions at Boeing Portland, will be developing research operations at OMIC R&D in this new role for the organization.

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) and the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center – Research & Development (OMIC R&D) have united to define a set of Metrology standards and to develop a metrology certification process. Metrology, the study of measurement, has far-reaching applications in the manufacturing industry. The ability to compare and verify a physical part against its CAD model is in high demand, and that demand is predicted to increase.

At first blush, hardness and toughness may seem like interchangeable concepts, but they actually exist at opposite ends of a continuum that defines indexable and solid tool performance, particularly when it comes to carbide inserts. Harder inserts offer greater wear resistance for superior performance and tool life in hot cutting environments, while tough inserts can handle greater impacts and stressors for the highest feed and depth of cut. For any given application, there is an optimal balance of hardness and toughness – and toolmakers have worked diligently to establish metallurgic principles to offer a range of tools that can meet the diverse needs of manufacturers.