Industry News

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed robots that have the ability to reason about shape, function and attachment of unrelated parts. This lets the robots build basic tools by combining objects. The breakthrough is a significant step toward enabling intelligent agents to devise tools that could prove useful in hazardous situations.

A third of Generation Z — adults ages 18 to 22 — have had manufacturing suggested as a career option compared with 18% of millennials and 13% of the general adult population, according to a new study. Gen Z is 7% more likely to consider working in the manufacturing industry and 12% less likely to view it as in decline compared with the general population.

The aging U.S. population and labor force weigh particularly heavy on one economic sector: manufacturing. While an aging population affects most sectors, its impact on manufacturing could be outsized for a couple of reasons.

Sean Holt, head of sales area Americas for Sandvik Coromant, welcomes Annika Langéen to the vice president of marketing role for the Americas. Annika is responsible for the strategic direction of global marketing and brand positioning for the sales area.

For the first time, the annual World Robotics report includes a specific analysis on the market for collaborative robots, documenting a robust 23% growth worldwide. The International Federation of Robotics’ report indicates that a substantial part of the adoption will be driven by more intelligent components, such as smart grippers, “plug and play” interfaces and programming by demonstrations.

Cameron Perkins is named director of business development – Eastern U.S.A. for Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions (RYMS).

Halter CNC Automation B.V. from the Netherlands and Fastems Oy Ab from Finland have an intention to establish a joint venture, the Halter Group. Relevant parts of Fastems Systems GmbH related to R&D and production of the Halter LoadAssistant product range will be transferred to the newly founded Halter CNC Automation GmbH. This company will be located in Issum, Germany, and, together with Halter CNC Automation B.V., it will form the Halter Group.

Toolmaker LMT Tools and Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH, a leading manufacturer of CNC gear cutting machines and automation systems, are collaborating to continue the success story of the patented ChamferCut method. The two technology partners signed a cooperation contract for the new ChamferCut-CG (collision gear) and ChamferCut-IG (internal gear).

L Squared Capital Partners and GWS Tool Group announced that L Squared has partnered with GWS management to recapitalize the GWS. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

ARCH announced the appointment of Lori Lorant to the position of vice president human resources. Lorant has been with the organization for almost five years and has held the roles of employee relations manager and director of human resources prior to her promotion to vice president.

Hyperion Materials & Technologies Inc. announced that it signed an agreement to acquire Arno Friedrichs Hartmetall GmbH & Co. KG and its affiliates (AFC), a global solutions provider in premium tungsten carbide blanks used in the manufacture of high precision rotary cutting tools for drilling and milling applications.

Methods Machine Tools Inc. announced that its board of directors has appointed Mark Wright as its president and CEO. Wright will assume all operating functions of Methods Machine Tools, including the Sudbury, Massachusetts, headquarters and all seven direct offices throughout the U.S., as well as its national distribution network.

Mobile Industrial Robots opened its largest office in North America to accommodate continued growth across the continent. The new two-building, 7,376-sq.-ft. office in Holbrook, New York, replaces the Danish company’s first international office, opened in the same city in 2016.

Engine development company Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions (RYMS) will now use ProShop USA Inc.’s software to manage its advanced manufacturing shop. ProShop’s comprehensive ERP software allows users to control every step in the manufacturing process, from pricing and inventory to inspection data and shipping documentation. The software is especially beneficial to AS 9100 and ISO 9001 certified facilities such as Roush Yates.

IBC announces that WIDIA Products Group, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, has joined the IBC industrial buying group as a preferred supplier. WIDIA is a leading manufacturer of precision metalcutting tools utilized in CNC machining operations.

As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to quality, innovation and long-term growth, GF Machining Solutions recently announced two key leadership changes, both of which were effective Sept. 1, 2019. Scott Fosdick, former president and head of market region North and Central America, has been promoted to the position of head of sales, marketing, business development and communications for the global organization. Phil Hauser, formerly the director of sales and head of turbine group at GF Machining Solutions USA, will assume Fosdick’s former position.

Contract inspection and reverse engineering capacity has doubled in terms of throughput, while the size of the component that can be measured has increased more than five-fold at Laser Scanning Ltd., based in Chapeltown, U.K., near Sheffield. It follows the installation of a second, larger coordinate measuring machine built by LK Metrology Ltd. at its Castle Donington, England, factory.

According to a findings specified in the report on the waterjet cutting machine market, the market is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period (2018-2026), led by increasing industrialization and manufacturing sector in emerging regions across the globe. The long-term outlook for the global waterjet cutting machine market is expected to remain positive and the market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period.

Burgsmüller, a subsidiary of the KraussMaffei Group, confirms its strong commitment to Lower Saxony by building a new metalworking plant in Einbeck, not far from its current location in Kreiensen. In mid-April 2019, the company signed a lease agreement with VGP – a leading project developer for commercial real estate – thus kicking off the construction of a factory and office complex with roughly 7,200 sq. m of floor space. Relocation of Burgsmüller’s production site from Kreiensen to Einbeck is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2020. The new site with a plot area of ​​approx. 20,000 sq. m will offer state-of-the-art production and office spaces for up to 125 employees.

Gary Brown, president and general manager of Heule Tool Corp., Loveland, Ohio, recently celebrated his 30th anniversary with the company. Brown began working for Heule in August of 1989, shortly after earning his engineering degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.