January Industry Watch: Business

BIG KAISER PRECISION TOOLING INC. (HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL) . . .

opened its new corporate headquarters in Hoffman Estates. At 33,000 sq ft, the new facility is nearly three times larger than the former headquarters and features a state-of-the-art showroom and resource center, high-tech classroom, office space, warehouse and repair center.

The new 5,000 sq ft showroom features extensive tooling and demonstration displays from the company?s complete product lineup. In-house machining centers allow the showroom to double as a resource center for customer demos and training. The facility also includes a high-tech classroom for advanced product training and presentations.

The new 10,000 sq ft warehouse contains the company?s extensive product inventory, allowing for minimized shipping time and cost to customers. An in-house repair center is staffed with skilled technicians to quickly fulfill customer?s repair or maintenance needs. www.bigkaiser.com

HARDINGE INC. (ELMIRA, NY) . . .

recently announced a new strategic alliance with three premier distributors: Gosiger, Inc. (Dayton, OH), Hartwig, Inc. (St. Louis, MO), and Morris Group, Inc. (Windsor, CT). These three groups will have exclusive sales and support responsibilities for Hardinge products in virtually all of the U.S. Over a transition period of the next few months these organizations will replace current Hardinge distributors and direct sales and service support groups.

"We are honored to be working with this caliber of companies that will sell and support our products in the US market," said Rick Simons, president and CEO of Hardinge. "All three distributors bring at least 50 years of history and a team of well trained sales, service and applications people to assist in future sales and provide service support on existing Hardinge equipment in the field. Combined they have a workforce of over 700 employees and their sales last year were in excess of $600 million. Their reputations as capable, comprehensive, and professional organizations make for a perfect fit with Hardinge. We are convinced that partnering with these companies provides the strongest opportunity for market share growth in the U.S. and reflects the importance of being aligned with leading distributors in this highly competitive machine tool marketplace.?

From its Dayton headquarters, Gosiger operates 15 facilities in 15 states with more growth planned. Now in its third generation of family ownership, Gosiger has evolved from its original role as a distributor of machine tools into a problem-solving organization that uses the latest and best technologies to help manufacturers be more competitive and profitable.

Hartwig, founded in 1960 by Paul and Juanita Hartwig, has grown into the largest machine tool distributor in the Midwest and Southwest regions, with eight offices supporting 14 states including Missouri, Montana, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois.

Morris Group, originally founded by Robert E. Morris (a Hardinge graduate apprentice), enters its 69th year of operation as one of the largest distributors of high performance machine tools in the U.S. The firm employs 330 people and continues under family management. Five Morris branded subsidiaries will represent Hardinge in portions of 21 states. www.hardinge.com

PRIMA NORTH AMERICA (CHICOPEE, MA) . . .

received ISO 9001:2008 certification for both the Champlin, MN and Chicopee facilities, and all three of Prima North America?s businesses: Laserdyne Systems, Convergent Lasers, and Prima Systems. TUV SUD America Inc., an accredited management systems registrar in the U.S., Europe and Asia, granted the certification based on a recent audit of Prima North America?s quality management system.

Prima North America is a global supplier of 2D and 3D lasers and laser manufacturing systems used in aerospace, automotive, military, medical, and general manufacturing. Convergent Lasers designs and manufactures CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers. Prima Systems provides sales and service in North America for the Prima brand of 3D laser cutting and welding systems.

Laserdyne provides multi-axis laser machining systems for demanding drilling, cutting and welding applications. As another sign that the application of laser processing in the global turbine engine manufacturing business is expanding, it announced two new orders with a total value exceeding $2 million were received in early December for multi-axis laser systems. One order is from a Russian turbine engine manufacturer new to laser processing, and the second is from an American aerospace engine manufacturer who is adding to their existing Laserdyne equipment.

Both orders are for 795 XS (X=1m, Y=1m, and Z=1m) systems equipped with BeamDirector and CL50k lasers to be used for a variety of laser drilling applications. The CL50k laser allows high speed hole drilling on the fly with patented Optical Focus Control (OFC), Breakthrough Detection (BTD), and CylPerf programming at normal, minor, shallow and compound angles. This combination software has helped major turbine engine manufacturers maintain ±2 percent airflow on new generation of components where ± 10 percent had been the norm. www.prima-na.com

WESTERN ENTERPRISES (WESTLAKE, OH) . . .

made a major donation of its equipment to the Cincinnati-based Great Oaks Career Campuses in support of the school?s welding program. Great Oaks Career Center was chosen based on their ability to
train students for welding positions in various industries such as construction and manufacturing using a multitude of welding processes including GMAW,GTAW and oxyfuel, as well as plasma cutting and oxyfuel brazing.

The company provided a large variety of equipment including shielding gas regulator/flowmeters, oxygen and acetylene regulators, torch and regulator flashback arrestors, and quick disconnects. This donation will be used to equip the welding instruction labs in various facilities of the Great Oaks Career Campuses. Mike Miller, product manager of industrial products, stated, ?We are proud to sponsor welding educational facilities whenever there is an opportunity to do so. Sponsoring students and promoting welding as a viable occupation is a key to the future of this industry.?

Western Enterprises is an innovative leader in gas management technology, and offers a full line of gas management products for the welding and other industrial markets, including regulators, flowmeters, manifolds, and accessories, encompassing over 17,000 items. www.westernenterprises.com

ERIE PRESS SYSTEMS (ERIE, PA) . . .

upgraded its Quality Management System, attaining certification from BSI America, Inc. (Reston, VA) to the International standard ISO 9001:2008, which is valid through October 1, 2012. Erie holds certificate number FM 505160. This upgrade brings the Erie Quality Management System up to date with the latest version of the International standard.

The company is a leading manufacturer of custom hydraulic and mechanical presses and machinery for a broad range of metal and non metal forming applications. Since 1895, Erie has supplied integrated process solutions for open and closed die forging, sheet and extrusion stretch forming, carbon extrusion and compacting, super plastic forming, cold extrusion, powder metal compacting, composite molding, and other custom applications. Designed to meet the unique needs of each customer?s forming process requirements, press capacities typically range from 500 to 15,000 tons (4.8 ? 146.8 MN). www.eriepress.com

AIRTRONICS METAL PRODUCTS (SAN JOSE, CA) . . .

received ISO 13485:2003 certification from TÜV SÜD (Munich, Germany), an international quality management systems certification body. This certification marks a major milestone in Airtronics? 50-year history, validating the company's high quality standards and its commitment to expanding into the medical device industry. Airtronics also upgraded its ISO 9001:2000 to ISO 9001:2008 certification.

ISO 13485:2003 is an internationally recognized Medical Device Quality Management System (QMS) standard developed by the International Standardization Organization (ISO). To become ISO 13485 certified, companies must implement and maintain a medical device QMS that has tight change control and full traceability, and that ensures steps have been taken to identify, manage, and minimize the risks involved in the design, manufacture and distribution of medical devices.

?This certification represents the dedication and teamwork of everyone in the company to continually monitor quality and consistently follow well-organized processes,? said Jeff Burke, Airtronics president and CEO. ?ISO 13485 verifies our ability to produce high-precision medical components and complex assemblies that consistently meet customer needs and regulatory requirements. We are particularly pleased to have been given this accolade at our first attempt.?

Airtronics Metal Products, Inc. is a full-service, one-stop precision sheet metal products company that serves a variety of industries, including semiconductor, medical, networking, food processing, architectural and consumer electronics that was founded in 1960. www.airtronics.com

AMERICAN MACHINE TOOL DISTRIBUTORS? ASSOCIATION (ROCKVILLE, MD) AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY (MCLEAN, VA) . . .

November U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $178.83 million, according to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors? Association, and AMT ? The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 16.0 percent from October but down 16.2 percent from the total of $213.50 million reported for November 2008. With a year-to-date total of $1,552.53 million, 2009 is down 63.4 percent compared with 2008. These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

?The three month upward trend in manufacturing technology order values is great news for the industry and the country, despite unit levels stubbornly hovering around 1,000,? said Peter Borden, AMTDA president. ?As we turn the calendar and our attention to 2010, we?re hopeful that Washington will pass legislation allowing American manufacturing to rebuild not only its employment levels and backlogs, but also to improve our balance of trade and our country?s economy.?

The U.S. Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

November manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region totaled $33.32 million, up 27.1 percent when compared with the $26.21 million total for October but off 16.5 percent when compared with November a year ago. The $301.72 million year-to-date total was 51.7 percent less than the total for the same period in 2008.

Totaling $27.48 million, Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption in November rose 26.6 percent above October?s $21.71 million but was 12.6 percent less than the total for November 2008. At $215.96 million, 2009 year-to-date was off 66.1 percent when compared with last year at the same time.

With a total of $49.35 million, Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in November was 2.2 percent higher than October?s $48.27 million but off 31.5 percent when compared with November a year ago. The year-to-date total of $444.35 million was 68.5 percent less than the comparable figure in 2008.

At $49.26 million, November manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region was up 39.3 percent from October?s $35.36 million but down 2.2 percent when compared with November a year ago. The $379.36 million year-to-date total was 64.6 percent less than the 2008 total at the same time.

Western Region manufacturing technology consumption in November stood at $19.43 million, 14.1 percent less than October?s $22.62 million and down 1.5 percent when compared with November 2008. With a year-to-date total of $211.13 million, 2009 was down 57.2 percent when compared with 2008 at the same time. www.amtda.org , www.AMTonline.org

ACCURATE MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS GROUP (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) . . .

took delivery of their fifth Star (Roslyn Heights, NY) CNC Swiss lathe, an SR-32J that expands their 24-hour unattended manufacturing capability, making their production schedule more flexible and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This machine expands the range of sex bolts and shoulder screws made in house, with bar capacity of 1.250, part lengths of 12 in, and holding 0.0005 in tolerances.

Accurate, a premier supplier of sex bolts, stainless steel shoulder bolts, spring anchors, and architectural fastening systems, has dealers all over the world with the largest line of stainless steel shoulder bolts (stripper bolts) available from stock, from 1/8 in diameter by 1/8 in length, thru 1 in diameter x 6 in length. Special sizes are made in house with very quick turnaround, and competitive pricing. www.accuratemfg.com

GF AGIECHARMILLES (LINCOLNSHIRE, IL) . . .

has partnered with Metalcam SpA (Breno, Italy) to include the new AC CAM Easy software on every machine in its series of CUT 20P/30P wire-cutting EDM. The new machines combine outstanding performance with remarkable ease of use for standard parts and general engineering applications.

The software is based on the Metalcam?s flagship product, Fikus Visualcam for wire EDM, and is designed specifically for GF AgieCharmilles CUT 20P and 30P machines. The powerful software allows effortless preparation of ISO files during machine production, increasing part quality and reducing programming time. Users are also able to execute a variety of jobs, ranging from contour creation to part production, without external applications.

The software includes CAD capabilities, 2X-cutting with conic features; simulation and G-code editing; and collar wizard for die makers. Optional features include no-core-cut processes, gear design, 3D data translators and text capabilities. The software is fully compatible with Fikus Visualcam, Fikus Fastwire and AC Geo files. www.gfac.com/us

ASKO, INC. (HOMESTEAD, PA) . . .

recently acquired the assets of the Wapakoneta Machine Company (Wapak; Wapakoneta, OH), including intellectual property, machinery, equipment and inventories, to serve new customers, expand business and create growth. The integration of the Wapak business into ASKO will benefit all customers, all employees and strengthen the company.

CEO Bill Rackoff remarked, ?Our acquisition affords Wapakoneta customers the continuous availability of tooling grades and outstanding performance they have long relied upon. Our entire team looks forward to servicing Wapakoneta customer tooling requirements."

Wapakoneta's president Dan Fischer stated, "We are pleased that with their purchase of assets, our customers may look forward to the continuous and reliable supply of the grades and quality products that we have perfected over the years. The employees and shareholders of Wapakoneta are working together closely with ASKO to assure a seamless transition for our former customers."

Wapak, founded in 1891, has continually manufactured and serviced industrial knives at its sole manufacturing facility in Western Ohio. Their products include straight and circular knives for the steel and non ferrous metals industries, slitter tooling, and hardened machine ways.

The acquisition affords Wapak customers full access to ASKO?s extensive line of industry leading grades, technical expertise, and worldwide supply base. ASKO manufactures and supplies shear knives, slitter tooling, and wear parts for the metal producing, processing and recycling industries. The company also developed EdgeMaster slitter set-up software which improves slit edge quality, speeds the set-up process, and improves set-up accuracy, addressing the unique demands of any coil processing operation.

ASKO combines expert understanding of specialty tool materials, heat treating, and tooling application requirements to create innovative metal processing solutions. www.asko.com

METHODS MACHINE TOOLS INC. (SUDBURY, MA) . . .

held two Multitasking Machining Seminars in December at their Sudbury Technology Center that showcased new multitasking strategies for machining precision parts and were well received by over 100 manufacturing professionals.

?We were very pleased with the turnout for the event, and the positive feedback we received from attendees,? commented Rich Parenteau, director of applications. ?It?s encouraging to see so many manufacturing professionals committed to learning about the latest technologies.?

The first seminar featured the world?s first twin ATC B-axis lathe and focused on how it can change the way machinists approach complex part processing. Attendees learned how the machine?s unique twin ATC design makes it easy for all levels of operators to take advantage of the latest in B-axis machining technology. At the second seminar ? ?The Tools You Need to Succeed? ? participants viewed live machining demonstrations and learned how to reduce setup time by 50 percent or more on their current multitasking machines. Attendees were also able to review their own prints and parts with applications experts.

In addition to the seminars, attendees were able to view demonstrations on the latest turning centers, including 3-turret, 3-Y axis machining and tooling equipment from vendors was demonstrated. www.methodsmachine.com

ASTRAEUS WIND ENERGY INC. (EATON RAPIDS, MI) . . .

received a $7 million grant to develop a revolutionary wind hub machining cell for high-volume manufacturing, as well as pursue development of carbon-fiber turbine blades. The new venture of MAG Industrial Automation Systems (Erlanger, KY) and Dowding Machining LLC (Eaton Rapids, MI) was one of only five winners chosen from 80 applicants to receive the clean energy grants from the state of Michigan, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The proprietary machining system will be developed by MAG and installed at the Astraeus facility in Eaton Rapids. Plans call for the system to be in production late 2010.

"This is the first step in our strategic plan to turn this industry on its head by mass producing wind turbine components more efficiently than ever thought possible," said president Jeff Metts. "We intend to transform the manufacturing cost and throughput for turbine components to make wind energy cost competitive with fossil fuel. This grant will help us reach one of the key goals of that transformation." The unique hub machining cell will increase production rates from the current standard of one per day to as many as five per day, Metts explained, cutting machining times from 20-24 hours per part to just over four hours.

Astraeus is also closing in on its goal to produce carbon fiber turbine blades, based on a unique new design to be licensed from a major wind turbine component manufacturer. The company is negotiating with Dow Chemical Company as well to produce a new resin that will complement the lightweight, high strength characteristics of carbon fiber. Key to the manufacturing process is a new automated lay-up and molding system developed by MAG. The new Rapid Material Placement System (RMPS) brings integrated manufacturing, with automation and repeatable process control, to wind blade fabrication, a process that has historically been manual, resulting in blades imperfections and weight variations, causing higher warranty and replacement costs.

"This is game changing technology that will take the market by storm ? there will be no competition," Metts stated. Astraeus hopes to open turbine blade manufacturing plants on both coasts of Michigan, and ultimately move into materials technology for automotive, defense and municipal infrastructure applications.

"We see wind energy as a technology in transition," said Roger Cope, president of the Strategic Business Development Group of MAG. "Manufacturing output for wind energy components is on a plateau right now, limited by available technology developed during the industry's infancy, resulting in higher costs per megawatt. Our goal through Astraeus is to use new ideas, new materials and new automation technology to bring the cost for wind energy megawatts into parity with coal and nuclear power." www.mag-ias.com

MICRO WATERJET LLC (HUNTERSVILLE, NC) . . .

now offers contract manufacturing services through the North American headquarters in Huntersville, with plans to sell the WomaJet® by the end of 2010. Combining abrasive waterjet cutting technology with the precision of a laser enables the company to provide ± 3 micron (0.0001 in) positioning accuracy. For companies seeking contract manufacturing of high precision and micro parts, the new proprietary process is as accurate as EDM, but faster with no heat deformation.

Developed in Switzerland, the new WomaJet® has been producing high precision micro parts since 2004 with more than 50 percent of production within the medical industry. Micro Waterjet provides rapid prototyping for aerospace and automotive to electrical, watch manufacturing, and many more specialty applications. Excellent for fast prototyping, the capabilities range from simple cutting to complete solutions including milling, grinding, thread cutting, and more.

With proprietary Abrasive Waterjet Micro Machining (AWJMM®) technology, a surface quality of 1.6 Ra (depending on material/thickness) can be obtained without the negative effects of process forces and thermal stress. Smaller nozzles and advanced technologies achieve high precision that compete more with EDM and laser than traditional water jet machines. Biocompatible, precision parts with tolerances ± 0.01 mm and kerf widths of 0.3 mm are achieved for ceramics to titanium while decreasing deburring and scrap rates. The maximum work piece size is 1000 x 600 mm. www.microwaterjet.com

BOSCH REXROTH CORPORATION (HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL) . . .

opened a new Dallas Regional Service Center that provides state-of-the-art repair, upgrade and maintenance resources for industrial and mobile hydraulics components in the region. The facility is another step in a planned nationwide network of regional hydraulics service facilities that represent a strategic commitment by the company to strengthen its successful service business.

The Dallas Service Center will provide warranty service, repairs and conversions, along with exchange programs that will help manufacturers reduce their carbon footprint by reusing housings from retuned units. In 2010, the company will also include field service for industrial and mobile hydraulics customers, according to Jim Smith, Director of the Regional Service Centers. It will serve a broad cross-section of industries, including automotive and steel manufacturing, in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and parts of Florida.

The 14,000 sq ft facility will be equipped with new state-of-the-art hydraulics test stands, and will service motors and pumps, along with proportional and servo valves. It will be staffed by expert service technicians and managers trained and certified to deliver high-quality service and support.

The company worked with business partner Womack (Dallas, TX) to develop service and repair programs designed to satisfy the needs of the region?s hydraulics users, including developing emergency repair programs that feature market-driven lead times for costing, repair and return of the product to the customer.

The next Bosch Rexroth Regional Service Center open in Southern California in early 2011, with additional regional centers planned to follow. www.boschrexroth-us.com

AMETEK TAYLOR HOBSON (LEICESTER, UK) . . .

expanded its service and support capabilities in India with the opening of an office in Whitefield, Bangalore. The new facility serves as a base for the company?s India sales and service operations, as well as a training centre for its Indian customers. In addition to instrument demonstration and training, the office has a repair facility and workspace for sales, service and engineering employees.

?We?re very pleased about the opening of the Bangalore office, ?notes Bruce Wilson, vice president and general manager of AMETEK Ultra Precision Technologies. ?This new state-of-the-art facility demonstrates the importance of our growing Indian customer base for which we will now provide a wider range of products and services, including training and factory-direct support.?

Taylor Hobson, a unit of AMETEK, Inc., is an ultra-precision technology company operating at the highest levels of accuracy within the field of surface and form metrology, providing for the most demanding industrial and research applications. Taylor Hobson currently serves the Indian aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing industries with its industry-leading line of contact and non-contact surface profiling and measurement systems. www.taylor-hobson.com

ADVANCED LASER TECHNOLOGIES (STONEHAM, MA) . . .

now offers precision micro-hole drilling, cutting, and welding services for extremely close tolerance aerospace, electronic, and medical components. The company uses several 5-axis, 400-700 W Nd:YAG pulsed lasers, along with a 5-axis 2,000 W CO2 laser to produce holes as small as 0.010 in dia with ±0.0005 in tolerance, and weld depths of 0.030 in, depending upon material and thickness. Ideally suited for fabricating critical components, this laser drilling service produces distortion- and stress-free holes in nickel alloys, inconel, stainless steel and other materials.

An accomplished vendor, this manufacturer is AS9100 Rev B certified, NADCAP-approved for laser cutting/drilling (Merit supplier status), and is a General Electric-approved supplier for laser cutting/drilling and airflow per P17TF2, P1TF78, P1TF10, ANSI-Z136.1, S-422 and E50TF217. www.advancedlasertechnologies.net