Industry News

German clamping and gripping specialist SCHUNK has partnered with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as the company's new brand ambassador. Managing Partner Henrik A. Schunk, an enthusiastic soccer fan, personally picked the athlete, citing "dynamics, precision, reliability and continuous top performance in the team." As a brand ambassador, Lehmann is able to communicate SCHUNK's credibly due to his proven competence in both soccer and society.

CNC machine tool manufacturer Rollomatic Inc., Mundelein, Ill., is exhibiting several new products during the GrindTec show in Augsburg, Germany, to be held March 19-22, 2014. One product on display is the GrindSmart 6-axis CNC grinder that is furnished with a traveling work head that can produce drills with a flute length up to 12". In addition, other solid-carbide drills and high-performance endmills can be manufactured. Features include a camera to locate coolant holes and a 6-station wheel and nozzle changer. 

The new Metal Loss Monitor (MLM) from Erie, Pa.-based separation technology provider Eriez enables operators to determine the quantities of valuable metals that are passing through their scrap yards unrecovered. It accomplishes this by continually scanning the residue stream for metal that has escaped the process, according to the company.

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), Fairfax, Va., announced that it awarded a record number of credentials last year to individuals seeking to enter into or advance in jobs in the metalworking industry. In 2013, NIMS issued 13,888 industry-recognized credentials, representing a 58.8 percent increase from 2012.

Owners of 3-year-old vehicles (2011 model year) report more problems than did owners of 3-year-old vehicles last year, according to the 2014 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study^SM (VDS) released by market information services firm J.D. Power and Associates, Westlake Village, Calif.

Minneapolis machine shop NTM Inc. was named a partner in the KOMET SERVICE network and will provide localized tool regrinding and refurbishment services for tools from KOMET and other toolmakers, as well as sell standard and special KOMET solid-carbide tools.  

Manufacturing software provider CGTech has announced 22 North American VERICUT Users Exchange (VUE) events scheduled in 2014, with the first to be held on March 10th in Irvine, Calif., near the company headquarters.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the eighth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 56th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. Yet, the January PMI registered 51.3 percent, a decrease of 5.2 percentage points from December's seasonally adjusted reading of 56.5 percent.

Seco Tools, Troy, Mich., was recognized for participating in the John Deere Cost Reduction Opportunities Process (JD CROP), part of Deere & Company's Achieving Excellence program. The toolmaker received the honor for the quality of its cost-reduction ideas and for demonstrating its commitment to continuous improvement, according to Seco.

Sharpening diamond-tipped and solid carbide rotary tools will be the focal point of Vollmer's display at Stand 1017 at the GrindTec 2014 international grinding technology trade fair, to be held March 19 to 22 in Augsburg, Germany. The grinding and erosion machine company will demo its new VGrind 160 grinding center, the company's first for processing carbide rotary tools.

In April 2014, igus Inc., East Providence, R.I., will hold its  biannual vector awards ceremony. The vector awards aim to recognize the most creative applications of the igus Energy Chain Systems. Participants can apply online to present their idea to the panel of judges, with the first, second and third prizes being awarded at the Hannover Trade Fair in Germany. 

Nanotechnology developer NanoMech announced it will build a facility adjoining its existing factory in Springdale, Ark. The approximately-25,000-sq.-ft.t building will triple the size of current operations and will serve as the company's world headquarters. NanoMech produces tool coatings and other nanotechnology-based products. 

United Grinding North America, the Miamisburg, Ohio-based provider of cylindrical grinding machine tools, has scheduled a six-city demonstration tour of the United States, as well as two open house events in Canada and Mexico, to demonstrate its STUDER S11 production workpiece.

Absolute Machine Tools Inc., Lorain, Ohio, has launched a new version of its website. The site provides descriptions, specifications and application information for the company's offerings of turning, milling, deep hole and gun barrel drilling machines and EDMs from OEMs including AccuteX, You Ji, Johnford, Tongtai, Nexturn, and Precihole. 

TechFab, Montreal-East, Quebec, officially joined the KOMET SERVICE network with an open-house event and cocktail party for customers, business relations and city officials on Dec. 5, 2013. The company is now certified by Germany-based KOMET GROUP for the refurbishment, re-grinding and manufacture of solid carbide tools. 

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), vice chair of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, released a new report detailing the revitalization in U.S. manufacturing. The report shows over 500,000 have been added jobs since February 2010, up 38% since 2009 and exceeding the industry's pre-recession peak for exports.

Use of 3-D printing for the production of parts for final products continues to follow a decade-long growth trend. According to Wohlers Report 2013, final-part production rose to 28.3 percent of the $2.2 billion spent last year on 3-D printing products and services worldwide. In 2003, it represented only 3.9 percent of revenues, as shown in the accompanying chart. 

MSC Industrial Supply Co., Melville, N.Y. expanded its Accupro line of metalworking products with the launch of new milling, threading and toolholding solutions. 

On Jan. 1, 2014, GF AgieCharmilles, Geneva, Switzerland, will become GF Machining Solutions, underscoring the fact that parent company Georg Fischer AG (GF) is a unified company with three divisions. Along with the name change, a new design style on the GF Machining Solutions Web site and sales literature will be gradually implemented, according to the company. GF AgieCharmille's U.S. operation is based in Lincolnshire, Ill. 

Precision components provider ARCH Global Precision, Livonia, Mich., has acquired two cutting tool manufacturers. ARCH purchased Flushing, Mich.-based Ultra-Dex Tooling Systems, including the Ultra-Dex USA branded product line and the Beamer Laser Marking Systems product line (collectively "Ultra-Dex") from Mark and Sharon Birchmeier. Ultra-Dex is a manufacturer of tooling systems, including indexable boring, milling and drilling systems, as well as tool holders, custom designed tooling and laser marking systems.