People & Companies

The Chicago-based Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute is opening its manufacturing floor to manufacturers and academic institutions that need to quickly test process improvements. "We are seeing a manufacturing renaissance in Chicago, and the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute is adding to that momentum," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. "By opening their doors, sharing equipment and providing expertise to small businesses, startups and students, DMDII is ensuring Chicago's advanced manufacturing ecosystem will be stronger for generations to come."

In the digitized manufacturing world that is being born, the product that a job shop produces is less a piece of machined metal and more a piece of intellectual property.

Whether or not you believe in New Year's resolutions, starting any new year with optimism and a positive attitude is a worthy idea and can't hurt anything. An important element is applying key lessons learned from the previous year.

The maintenance spare parts business is in turmoil. There have been fundamental changes in the sale, distribution and storage of spare parts needed to maintain machinery and other physical assets. The key to uptime in manufacturing is managing risk, and "Surviving the Spare Parts Crisis: Maintenance Storeroom and Inventory Control" by Joel Levitt describes how to evaluate risk in the inventory.

While manufacturing jobs dominated in the 20th century, many believe that coding will have a similar impact during the 21st century. "I think we've lost the ability to make things," said Adam Enbar, co-founder of Flatiron School, on Fox Business' "Wall Street Week." "Americans love to build and create and make things. This is that new wave. The new form of manufacturing is making software." Flatiron School, which is located in New York City, is a coding boot camp that trains people of all skill levels on how to code.

Industrial Press Inc. says Warren Hammer's "Blueprint Reading Basics" has been a bestselling classic for nearly two decades, revered for its ease of understanding and for giving readers opportunities to practice what they learned.

Machine tool builder Niigata Machine Techno USA Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill., opened its North American headquarters.

LMT Onsrud LP, Waukegan, Ill., and MachiningCloud Inc., Camarillo, Calif., are partnering to provide LMT Onsrud product data in the cloud.

Jasper, Ind.-based toolmaker NAP Gladu, a Techniks Industries company, acquired Eide Saw & Tool Service Inc., Minneapolis.

Gear Motions Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., is partnering with Southeast Industrial Solutions, Atlanta.

Stanek Tool LLC, New Berlin, Wis., a manufacturer and employee-owned business specializing in the design and production of complex hydraulic workholding fixtures and precision machined components, appointed Kevin Lichtenberg CEO.

Single Source Technologies, Auburn Hills, Mich., a distributor of machine tools and consumables, is collaborating with SmalTec International LLC, Naperville, Ill., to bring the EM203 and GM703 microprecision EDMs to SST's West, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.