General Shop Equipment & Supplies

CNC Software Inc. and Sandvik Coromant recently agreed to collaborate on the integration of the Adveon Tool Library and Mastercam. The tool library will help Mastercam users further improve their machining productivity and security, while saving time during machine set-up, according to a Dec. 16 news release issued by Sandvik.

Speedgrip Chuck Inc., an Elkhart, Ind.-based designer and manufacturer of highly engineered workholding mechanisms, has been sold to an affiliate of Stratford-Cambridge Group, a private investment firm headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. Speedgrip announced the transaction in a news release issued Dec. 16.

Labor productivity in the manufacturing sector increased at a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.1 percent during the third quarter of 2015—the largest gain recorded since a 6.1 percent increase during the third quarter of 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Output increased 3.2 percent while hours worked decreased 1.8 percent.

As Kirtland Community College puts the finishing touches on its new Computer Numerically Controlled lab, the Roscommon, Mich., school is nearly set to launch a certificate program aimed at meeting the growing demand for workers with computerized tooling training.

Manufacturers contribute $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), a Washington, D.C.-based association representing small and large manufacturers in 50 states. Up nearly 28 percent since the second quarter of 2009, the amount spent by manufacturers leads off the "Top 20 Facts About Manufacturing" posted on the NAM website.

HAINBUCH America Corp., which designs and manufactures innovative precision workholding systems, this month appointed John Soukup to serve as the Southeast U.S. regional sales manager for the company.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December for the second consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 79th consecutive month, according to the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The report, issued Jan. 4 by Bradley J. Holcomb, chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

Robert Nedler takes over as managing director at Hwacheon Machinery America, which covers North and South America. Nedler, who had served in sales and product manager roles since joining the company in 2012, now is in charge of sales, service and general operations at the Lincolnshire, Ill., company.

Methods Machine Tools Inc. today named Benjamin Fisk general manager of Methods' 3D Additive Manufacturing business. The move follows a partnership agreement announced Oct. 20, 2015, between Methods and 3D Systems, a provider of 3D digital design and fabrication solutions, including 3D printers, print materials and cloud-sourced custom parts. The partnership allows Methods to enhance its portfolio of leading-edge precision machine tools and solutions for traditional manufacturing with advanced 3D printing solutions for additive manufacturing (AM).

Methods Machine Tools Inc. recently promoted Robert Nakash to general manager of the company's operations in Phoenix, where he has held the position of sales engineer since 2007. Prior to that, Nakash was at Mori Seiki USA Inc. in New Jersey for 17 years in various positions.

Koma Precision Inc. provides a series of angle head demonstrations for aerospace applications in this brief report posted as a video sidebar to the "What's your angle?" feature article in the January 2016 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.