People & Companies

Abtex Corp., Dresden, N.Y., recently hired Christian Donovan as Operations Manager in response to "dramatic growth in all lines of business," according to an April 29 company news release.

Jana Davis steps into a new role as Chief Operating Officer at Bunting Magnetics Co. effective May 30. Davis, who joined the company in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer, will oversee day-to-day business operations at the company's Newton, Kan., location, as well as at its Magnet Materials Division in Elk Grove Village, Ill., Bunting Magnetics Europe in Berkhamsted, U.K., and Magnet Applications Inc. in DuBois, Penn.

MachiningCloud GmbH, a product content provider for cutting tools, CNC machines and workholding, today announced partnerships with Mitsubishi Materials and Destiny Tool to make product data from both companies available through its web-based platform, according to an announcement from MachiningCloud issued today.

Without a manufacturing schedule, workpiece materials don't arrive on time, machine tools sit idle and customers fume. However, scheduling is difficult, especially when multiple-level assemblies and large numbers of components are involved. To meet this need, software companies have developed complex, integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Hundreds of such systems exist, from giant multisite suites able to manage (OEMs') needs to those suitable for a job shop with a handful of employees.

One of the most enduring issues in the metalworking world is finding and retaining skilled workers, and the 10th annual Metalworking Trends Survey from LoSasso Integrated Marketing, Chicago, showed that this challenge continues.

I'm thankful to share that our machining business has picked up and we're running near capacity. I can't get overly optimistic just yet, but good news nonetheless. We haven't required new equipment, new employees or a second shift, but that could change if business continues at this pace or improves. While this uptick has been a nice morale booster, our energy-focused market remains unpredictable. Even so, we're getting a bit more confident with our forecasts and planning.

Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., which manufactures holemaking and finishing products for the industrial tool and machining sector, this year celebrates its 75-year history with an eye on the future.

The continuous advancement of Hermes specifications has led to a new generation of ceramic honing rings. A higher porosity supporting a better chip removal interacts with a high-performance grain, which leads to longer tool life. Thus, a significant tool reduction is the result.

Cline Tool, Newton, Iowa, recently added two new sales positions. Jeff Prothero has been named the regional manager and project engineer for Cline Tool's Southern Wisconsin/Northern Illinois branch. The company also appointed Brian Krebs as field application engineer at its Houston branch.

Tungaloy has introduced DuoJustCut, the parting-off tool for Swiss-type lathes. The innovative clamping system designed for DuoJustCut provides highly rigid insert clamping, and a toolholder is applicable for three types of inserts according to parting-off diameters.

Vero Software recently promoted Lee Richards to oversee the technical teams for the company's Edgecam and Surfcam brands, according to a news release from the England-based company. Richards' appointment as technical manager of the Americas reportedly positions the software company to extend and improve its services for a growing customer base.

Emuge Corp., West Boylston, Mass., recently named Dan Doiron its new milling products manager, which puts Doiron in charge of endmills, toolholders, technical and CAD/CAM program support for milling products, according to a recent company news release.