Industry News for 08/2019

If you are looking for signs of trouble in the U.S. economy, many experts and politicians point to manufacturing. The industry faces the double whammy of President Donald Trump’s trade war and declining purchases from abroad as Europe, China and other regions and countries slow down.

The ways in which an enterprise software solution looks, feels and works for a user are increasingly crucial. Now that users have been influenced by their consumer experiences with innovative and digital technology, expectations have increased for their business software to provide a similar user experience (UX). Smartphone apps, online banking, flight purchases, shopping websites and so many other experiences are designed with intuitive, easy-to-learn user interfaces to improve UX. If users find a software experience inefficient, they’ll find ways around it, adoption will lag and organizations may not obtain the return on investment they expected. UX drives adoption, which is an important first step toward realizing business value from manufacturing enterprise software systems, including enterprise resource planning, supply chain management and customer relationship management.

While buzzwords such as predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence, digital twin and augmented reality have promised to enable the fabled digital transformation of manufacturing, when it comes to Manufacturing 4.0, most practical applications start and end with machine connectivity.

As per the findings of a report, the global industrial robotics market is projected to indicate substantial growth over the forecast period due to multiple driving factors such as adoption of internet of things in industries and growing digitization of manufacturing industry across geographies.

To put it bluntly, everyone is much happier when they do not need products from Eberle Medizintechnik. Well, not as such. On the other hand, they are extremely welcome when it comes to minimal invasive surgery and operations. However, then they must meet the highest standards with regards to functionality, quality and sterilisation. For many years, Arno Werkzeuge has been a reliable partner servicing the requirements of Eberle with high-quality tools and a tool management system. This ensures that precision remains second nature when it is a matter of flesh and blood.

When Trumpf saw API’s XD Laser at a trade show, the manufacturer of machine tools, laser technology, electronics and medical technology immediately recognized that it could measure the three degrees of freedom (DoF) needed for production of its TruMatic 7000 punch laser machine in a single measurement process. A subsequent demo at Trumpf’s factory in Ditzingen, Germany, however, revealed more benefits than Trumpf was anticipating.

The most significant marketing challenge of our time is the scarcity of attention from potential customers. Bombarded relentlessly from all directions with too much information, a deluge of products and services, and too many unsubstantiated claims, potential customers have tuned out, dropped out and become all but unreachable. Now resistant to communication, they can’t even process 5% of what is thrown at them daily, maybe even less.

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) has launched a new credential to validate an instructor’s or evaluator’s parts inspection skills.

At the DeburringEXPO from Oct. 8-10, 2019, over 170 exhibitors will present innovative and advanced technologies, products and services for quality-critical production steps. This unique range of exhibitors is complemented by an attractive frame programme with theme parks, research pavilions and a bilingual expert forum.

For any metalworker or engineer, from aspiring to advanced, the acclaimed Home Machinist series is the ultimate resource for everything you need to know!

Global demand for toolholders, specifically arising from the automotive and defense and aerospace industries, will witness a relatively steady growth between 2018 and 2028, as predicted by a research intelligence report. While the demand for toolholders will be largely driven by emerging economies, in particular the manufacturing sector, China is likely to make substantial investments in high performance cutting tools, considering the robust manufacturing and industrial output in the region.

Worldwide sales of bandsaw machines is estimated to total about 200,000 units in 2019, with an estimated increase of about 3% year over year, according to the recent research study. The bandsaw machines market is set for an unwavering growth through 2029, primarily driven by growing focus on effective cutting technologies that promise high functionality for varying applications. However, limitations in terms of producing perfectly shaped curved edges continues to threaten the relevance, thereby adding new uncertainties to the near-term outlook of bandsaw machines.

Toolcraft Inc., a small machine shop in Monroe, Washington, makes parts for such industries as aerospace, defense and medical. The company needed help tending its CNC machine and ultimately turned to e-Series collaborative robots by Universal Robots A/S.

Existing “digitally challenged” assets can be retrofitted or remanufactured cost-effectively to support many digitization goals. Using a simple net present value approach, small and midsize enterprises can assess the value of retrofitting or remanufacturing assets with machine learning, artificial intelligence or other data science applications.

MxD announced a comprehensive workforce development program for cybersecurity in manufacturing, underwritten with a $1.25 million grant from the Siemens Foundation. The grant will fund the development and implementation of a highly skilled cybersecurity for manufacturing initiative as part of MxD’s workforce strategy known as MxD Learn.

The global servo motors and drives market was valued at about US$ 9 Bn in 2014, and is expected to surpass US$ 12 Bn by the end of 2019. The servo motors and drives market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 8% between 2019 and 2029, and is estimated to reach a global value of about US$ 28 Bn by the end of 2029.

Why do so few women pursue careers in engineering? A new study from a Rice University researcher will seek to find out by examining their everyday work experiences in the profession.

DMG Mori manufactures a wide variety of conventional chip-cutting machining centers for OEMs and production job shops that serve the demanding oil-and-gas industry. Inherent in this market are several factors that lobby for great care and planning in the machining process. Typically, components produced for the oil-and-gas field are large, heavy and often have complex contours, making the machining time long and the tool life short. The DMU 50, although an entry-level 5-axis machining center from DMG Mori, is a compact unit that features considerable strength.

In addition to three large horizontal milling machines with a maximum clamping weight of three tons, there are numerous CNC lathes, machining centers and bandsaws. The highly skilled workforce produces housings as well as drive parts for VETEC valves in two-shift operation. In addition to carbon and stainless steel, materials such as titanium, zirconium and numerous specialist alloys are used in the Speyer, Germany, plant.

Eliminating unnecessary interruptions to production directly affects machining cycle times, costs to complete each part from start-to-finish and, by extension, the ability to bid competitively. Getting more hours a day out of your spindle is key to optimizing this equation.