People & Companies

Articles • July 1, 2014 • Alan Richter

Bremen Castings celebrates its 75th anniversary, but doesn’t look back

What do baseball legend Ted Williams slugging his first big-league dinger, Batman comics hitting the streets and Germany attacking Poland to launch World War II have in common? They all occurred in 1939, the same year Ellis Brown, Charles W. Kling and Harold Heckamen founded Bremen (Ind.) Gray Iron Foundry Inc.

Products • July 1, 2014

Diagonal-Shaft Wringer

PRAB's Diagonal-Shaft Wringer reclaims costly cutting fluids and produces more valuable dry chips.

News • June 4, 2014

Seco customers attend Indy 500 practice

Toolmaker Seco Tools LLC, Troy, Mich., a technical and supplier sponsor of Andretti Autosport's Verizon IndyCar Series championship racing team, invited customers from across the Midwest to attend an Indy 500 practice day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The day included a meet and greet with IRL driver Marco Andretti, a tour of the Andretti Autosport garage, a catered lunch in the team's suite at the track and a visit to the pits to watch the Indy cars in action.

Articles • June 1, 2014 • Keith Jennings

One good deed too many

It should be assumed that companies with blue-collar positions are social organizations looking to employ goofballs with troubled pasts.

News • May 21, 2014

Musical machinist gets sweet sounds from CNCs

In 2003, Kevin Burkett was offered $30,000 for his 1978 Travis Bean "Wedge" guitar and realized it was too valuable to perform with. Most guitarists would make do with using a similar, less-valuable model, but Travis Beans have a distinguishing characteristic that makes them hard to replace — they're made of metal.

News • May 10, 2014

Kennametal Extrude Hone opens German plant

Kennametal Inc. completed the relocation of Kennametal Extrude Hone GmbH to its new location in Holzgünz, Germany, after a year of planning and construction. The new building combines several previously separate production and administrative sites in one new building, which is based on "green" design principles. The inauguration and a Technology Days event took place May 6-8 and an employee family day was held May 10. During Technology Days, Guest speakers from industry and academia universities provided insights into market developments and new technologies while Kennametal experts answered questions on metal cutting and other topics.

Articles • May 1, 2014 • Keith Jennings

Managing family dynamics

The dynamics at play when a machine shop is a family affair.

Articles • May 1, 2014

Something from nothing

Ask any entrepreneur and he or she will tell you that getting from concept to reality isn't easy. It almost always requires a hellish amount of work, risks and disappointments.

Articles • May 1, 2014

Steady aim

Despite setbacks, a South Carolina shop thrives, develops winning production strategy.

News • April 8, 2014

Automatics & Machinery’s 25th anniversary

Longmont, Colo.-based used machinery dealer Automatics & Machinery is celebrating 25 years supporting machine shops. With a sales staff to research, locate and negotiate machinery for customers, a longstanding membership in the Machinery Dealers National Association (MDNA) and a machinery appraiser accredited through the Association of Machinery and Equipment Appraisers (AMEA), A&M has sought to simplify the process of finding new equipment since its establishment by founder Steven Beck in 1989.

News • April 8, 2014

Harvey Tool releases spring catalog 2014

Harvey Tool Co. LLC, Rowley, Mass., has released its latest catalog, which includes more than 850 new tools. The Spring 2014 edition introduces 10 new product lines that reflect what the company calls its commitment to "make your specials our standards." In addition to over 9,000 standard tools, special recognition is given in the catalog to Harvey Tool's metric offering, highlighted in both the full catalog and new digital-only metric catalog download.

News • April 8, 2014

Bipartisan tour of Milwaukee shop

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Milwaukee Alderman Joe Davis (D-2nd District) toured Milwaukee's Matzel Manufacturing Inc. Feb. 27 and discussed cross-party solutions for creating a "pro-hiring" environment for local manufacturers. Those solutions include accelerating the development of Wisconsin youth apprenticeship programs that allow young professionals to gain real-world experience. Matzel Manufacturing, which was founded in 1957 and machines complex castings and forgings, has such an apprenticeship program.