Industry News

Star SU LLC will be exhibiting at the 2020 SHOT Week Supplier Showcase in Las Vegas, Jan. 20-21, 2020. Entering its fourth year, the SHOT Week Supplier Showcase was developed in conjunction with the SHOT Show as a dedicated event for suppliers to present their products to shooting, hunting and outdoor manufacturers.

Although the book doesn’t cover machining parts, “Blowout” by Rachel Maddow, host of “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC, does examine an industry that’s a major consumer of precision machined parts—oil and gas.

Wildeck Inc. has earned MHEDA’s (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association) MVS (Most Valuable Supplier) Award for 2020. Each year, this distinguished industry honor is award to MHEDA’s member companies that demonstrate a consistent, documented commitment to their dealer network, employees and community.

Amsted Seals and Forming, a global leader in sealing solutions and metal fabrication, has acquired Clark Seals Ningbo, to be renamed Amsted Seals Ningbo (ASN). The IATF-certified seal production facility, built in 2012, incorporates the latest in manufacturing, testing and quality control systems to supply oil, grease and bearing seals to customers in Asia and the wider global market.

IoT technologies have perhaps been most visible in the consumer market. Applications that once seemed futuristic are now almost commonplace. Consumers order groceries and household supplies by speaking at a voice-enabled connected device. Wearable smart watches and activity trackers help consumers meet their fitness goals. Homeowners can keep tabs on their house or apartment while they’re miles away and use a smartphone to turn up the heat, arm the security system, and even feed pets.

Broadening its presence in Canada, GF Machining Solutions and GF Piping Systems will open a new joint headquarters to further strengthen direct sales and service support for Canadian manufacturers. The companies broke ground for the 67,000-sq.-ft. facility located in Ontario in late October 2019.

Fusion Coolant Systems, manufacturer of an advanced coolant and lubrication system for CNC machines called “Pure-Cut,” has seen some of the largest automotive, aerospace and medical device manufacturers around the world come through their doors. The global emphasis on sustainable development has played a dynamic role in Fusion’s recent success, with companies looking for a cleaner, safer and more efficient alternative to traditional cutting fluids. With multiple customer visits scheduled every week, Fusion has expanded its facility and capabilities to set them up for long-term success.

The late Jerry Magnuson is a legend in the hot rod racing and aftermarket industry. Extending his love of the sport beyond the track, Jerry and his wife, Maureen Magnuson, started Magnuson Products LLC, Ventura, California, after many years of designing and building supercharger kits for the aftermarket. The company also supports OEMs.

Has your workplace received low safety grade scores because it has a poor program or, worse, no written safety program in place at all? Having an expert safety manager is optimal. For companies that do not have the resources, there are outstanding online programs, such as those offered by Occupational Health & Safety and the National Safety Council, that provide excellent free and paid content and classes for Occupational Safety and Health Administration 30-hour training, first aid, CPR and more.

In the rise of esports, or professional gaming, some see a new generation of athletes. I see our next-generation workforce. I see natural leaders in digital manufacturing and the future coders of smart cities. But we can’t expect a generation of digital natives who never experienced an analog workplace to want to go back in time. They will join us if their provided workspaces and tools clearly represent the future.

Sean Holt, head of sales area Americas for Sandvik Coromant Co., Fair Lawn, New Jersey, announced that a new Sandvik Coromant Center will open in Mebane, North Carolina, where customers and partners will be fully immersed in the latest technology and digital machining techniques, including CoroPlus, the platform that brings connectvitity to manufacturing. Currently, Sandvik Coromant has a production unit in Mebane that manufactures special and standard products and will expand the existing production site space to fully utilize the capabilities of the current building.

Two industry leaders in the tungsten carbide world join forces to serve the U.S. market. Sinter Sud has named Castlebar Corp. its exclusive distributor in the U.S. for all its Premium Carbide Products. The addition of the Sinter Sud product line to Castlebar’s already expansive carbide offerings, will greatly increase product availability for tool makers across the U.S.

ProShop USA, Bellingham, Washington, is donating ProShop ERP software to the student-run Eagle Manufacturing business at Brown County High School in Nashville, Indiana.

Solar Atmospheres Inc. has long been a model of innovation and leadership in the heat treating industry. As long-time members of the Metal Treating Institute (MTI), Hermitage, Pennsylvania-based Solar employees are actively involved in the many programs available through the institute and MTI recognized three Solar employees for their commitment to MTI.

In 2017, AccuRounds began talks with MachineMetrics and installed their machine monitoring system on 10 CNC machines in January 2018. Within a year, they had connected 23 machines and were driving process improvements and greater collaboration between engineers and machinists. Because of AccuRounds’ history of building a strong culture from the front office to the shop floor, the team worked to deliberately manage the tensions that came to the surface during their first few months after installation.

Hy-Tech Engineered Solutions, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Blaz-Man Gear and Gear Products & Manufacturing; both Chicago-based companies specialize in the manufacture and distribution of custom gears and power transmission gear products. The addition will triple Hy-Tech’s capacity in gear production, as well as bring new expertise to expand into more complex spiral and straight bevel gear design and manufacture.

The new Heidenhain Life Sciences brand partnership is now in place, offering ground-breaking technology that enables lab automation for the advancement of medical technology. This development consists of the business partnerships from the Heidenhain Group that includes Heidenhain, IMT and ETEL brands.

Index Corp. has announced the hiring of Matt Voyles for the role of service manager. In his position, Voyles will be responsible for overseeing the 22 field service engineers that respond to customer needs across the U.S. and Canada, as well as coordinating with personnel at the Noblesville, Indiana-based machine tool builder's network of 19 distributors, many of whom provide service to customers as well.

Solar Manufacturing Inc. commemorated the opening of a new, 59,000-sq.-ft plant with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 24. The company, located at 1500 E. Clymer Ave., Sellersville, Bucks County, is the first business to build in the newly established Sellersville Business Campus. On hand to celebrate were a number of Bucks County notables, including Thomas C. Hufnagle, mayor of Sellersville Borough; Mary Smithson, chair of the Bucks County Industrial Development Authority; and Robert G. Loughery, chairman of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners.

The success of modern product development and manufacturing efforts depends increasingly on being able to iterate quickly, test innovative ideas and shorten time to market. Products must be designed, materials evaluated, prototypes tested and parts manufactured faster than ever. With access to the right technology, agile teams can quickly go from design to production, using less resources and meeting customer demand. A comprehensive rapid prototyping and manufacturing strategy offers an obvious advantage to businesses looking to keep their products and services competitive.