General Shop Equipment & Supplies

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February, and the overall economy grew for the 93rd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The February PMI registered 57.7 percent, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from the January reading of 56 percent. The New Orders Index registered 65.1 percent, an increase of 4.7 percentage points from the January reading of 60.4 percent. The Production Index registered 62.9 percent, 1.5 percentage points higher than the January reading of 61.4 percent.

To a certain extent, other countries have taken advantage of the United States since the turn of the last century. Beginning with World War II and the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after much of it was destroyed, the United States insisted in promulgating our version of democracy and continued to fund economic assistance to underdeveloped countries, and not-so-underdeveloped nations as well.

Hypertherm announced its most significant advance in mechanized plasma cutting with the introduction of an entirely new class of plasma called X-Definition. This new plasma is available in a 300-amp plasma system called the XPR300.

SoftInWay Inc. and OPEN MIND Technologies AG announce a cooperation agreement to provide a complete solution for the design, development and manufacturing of gas turbine components and other types of turbomachinery. Both companies reportedly provide component developers the needed productivity tools to accelerate the product development and production process while maintaining a high level of accuracy.

It's no secret that shop owners and managers frequently bellyache about the difficulty of attracting skilled workers and poach staff from other manufacturers by offering better pay.

Looking at the variety of certificate programs available at Sheridan College, Sheridan Media's Judy Hagerott offers a report on the Machine Tool Technology Program at Sheridan.

Jeffrey Badger, Ph.D., addresses the difference between grinding ceramic material versus steel in the 76th episode of the Grinding Doc video series.

German Machine Tools of America (GMTA) offers a full line of Rasoma machining centers, including vertical turning centers, 4-axis shaft turning centers, end machining centers, double-spindle and various special-purpose machining centers with full automation is offered. Rasoma is a large machine tool builder, founded in 1919 and based in Döbeln, Germany, who provides contract manufacturing to some of the best known brands in the global auto industry, as well as its own brands.

Coldwater Machine Co., an ITAR-certified, leading engineering solutions company that manufactures and integrates precision equipment and tools, has announced its large-part precision machining services for prototype creation or contract manufacturing of demanding applications. The company is recognized for consistently achieving machining tolerances of +/-0.0003-in.

GF Machining Solutions, Lincolnshire, Ill., named Stephan Swanson as its new head of sales in the Central region of the United States, according to a Feb. 27 news release. In this new post, Swanson will further enhance GF Machining Solutions' sales, service and support presence in the territory, which includes 15 states.

MachineTools.com, Birmingham, Mich., in February announced it had provided its 2-millionth lead. Since its founding in 1999, leads have gone to dealers for used machinery, to builders and distributors for new machinery, and to other companies in the industry, according to a company news release.