Precision components provider ARCH Global Precision, Livonia, Mich., has acquired two cutting tool manufacturers. ARCH purchased Flushing, Mich.-based Ultra-Dex Tooling Systems, including the Ultra-Dex USA branded product line and the Beamer Laser Marking Systems product line (collectively "Ultra-Dex") from Mark and Sharon Birchmeier. Ultra-Dex is a manufacturer of tooling systems, including indexable boring, milling and drilling systems, as well as tool holders, custom designed tooling and laser marking systems.
ARCH also acquired Production Tool & Grinding (PTG), a manufacturer of solid carbide cutting tools located in Orange, Mass. All PTG equipment and employees will be relocated to the KEO Milling Cutters facility in nearby Athol, Mass. KEO is a wholly-owned unit of ARCH Global Precision.
Mark Birchmeier, former owner of Ultra-Dex, will continue on in his role as President of the company for a transitional period. "We are pleased to announce the sale of Ultra-Dex Tooling Systems, Ultra-Dex USA and Beamer Laser Marking Systems to ARCH Global Precision," he said. "In choosing an acquirer to sell the companies to, it was important for Sharon and I to find a group that understood our business and was committed to maintaining the business here in Flushing. Based on the positive interactions that we experienced throughout the sale process, we found ARCH Global Precision to be the ideal buyer for Ultra-Dex."
PTG will become an integral part of KEO, according to ARCH Global Precision. "The PTG acquisition not only diversifies the products manufactured and end markets served by KEO Milling Cutters, but also provides significant CNC grinding capacity to accommodate future growth," said Terry Leach, vice president of operations for KEO Milling Cutters and Richards Micro Tool.
Related Glossary Terms
- boring
boring
Enlarging a hole that already has been drilled or cored. Generally, it is an operation of truing the previously drilled hole with a single-point, lathe-type tool. Boring is essentially internal turning, in that usually a single-point cutting tool forms the internal shape. Some tools are available with two cutting edges to balance cutting forces.
- computer numerical control ( CNC)
computer numerical control ( CNC)
Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
- grinding
grinding
Machining operation in which material is removed from the workpiece by a powered abrasive wheel, stone, belt, paste, sheet, compound, slurry, etc. Takes various forms: surface grinding (creates flat and/or squared surfaces); cylindrical grinding (for external cylindrical and tapered shapes, fillets, undercuts, etc.); centerless grinding; chamfering; thread and form grinding; tool and cutter grinding; offhand grinding; lapping and polishing (grinding with extremely fine grits to create ultrasmooth surfaces); honing; and disc grinding.
- milling
milling
Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling.
