Detroit-Area Machine Shops Discover the Roadmap to Wind Energy

Over 50 machine shop owners and representatives recently attended the Seco Tools (Troy, MI) ?Tooling up for Wind Power Generation? conference co-sponsored by the Sterling Heights Chamber of Commerce, Automation Alley, and Oakland County Planning & Economic Development.

This was the first diversification event in the area aimed specifically at helping metalcutters convert their shops from automotive to wind energy production work. Attendees received extensive information on how to enter the wind energy sector including necessary tooling, equipment and available government financial assistance.

The meeting was opened by Seco president Kurt Nordlund, who said ?Given this economy, we want to do what can to help companies move forward. We have extensive knowledge in machining metals for wind energy components, and we want to connect that knowledge to the skilled manufacturing base that we have around us. If we focus on this together, we can generate area jobs in wind power.?

Other presenters at the event included NextEnergy, the Great Lakes Wind Network, wind tower manufacturer DMI Industries, Mori Seiki machine tools, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Oakland County Planning & Economic Development, a representative from the 9th Congressional District of Michigan, and Seco tooling experts.

Attendees to the event represented manufacturers from Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Jackson counties. Eric Neumann of Concord Tool & Manufacturing (Mt. Clemens, MI) commented, ?The recent Wind Energy Conference was very informative and I definitely took a lot out of it.?

This is the first in a series of seminars developed by Seco that are focused on helping Michigan metalcutting manufacturers remain viable by transitioning into growing industry sectors such as medical and aerospace. If you would like to be notified on upcoming conferences, please call 248-528-5478.

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Seco Tools Inc., 2805 Bellingham Drive, Troy, MI 48083, 248-528-5200, Fax: 248-528-5600, www.secotools.com .