Management

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.

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.

Machine tool builder SMTCL-Americas, City of Industry, Calif.,  has entered in to a partnership with the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The written agreement provides a commitment from SMTCL to provide equipment to create a machine lab for engineering students to manufacture components for class projects and international competitions.

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence Values Veterans (AMEV2) Program held its kick-off symposium on Friday, March 14, 2014 at DMG Mori USA's facility in Hoffman Estates, Ill. This event focused on teaching American employers how to recruit, hire, train and retain veterans.

Optimism regarding the direction of the domestic economy rose among U.S. industrial manufacturers during the first quarter of 2014, according to the Q1 2014 Manufacturing Barometer, released today by consulting firm PwC US, New York. The positive sentiment about the prospects of U.S. commerce in the next 12 months reached the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2005.  Conversely, optimism regarding the prospects of the world economy lessened during the first quarter as U.S. industrial manufacturers remained cautious on the global stage.  

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. 

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. 

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.

Versevo Inc., Hartland, Wis., a manufacturing and services provider for the cast metals industry, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. "Whether you have been here 1 month or 20 years, the commitment and determination that goes into a business and making it successful is important," said Terry Moon, founder, president and CEO of Versevo, when addressing employees at a celebratory luncheon. "But it's the collection of all of us that make this work."

Advanced ceramics producer Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp. (KICC), Tokyo, announced the creation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Kyocera Precision Tools Inc., that consolidates its North American cutting tool operations in the indexable, microtool, and printed circuit board (PCB) cutting tool markets.