Industry News

Helical Solutions LLC recently announced a top-tier finish in the 2015 Boeing Industry Challenge II, which is an invitational tournament meant to test the world's strongest and highest-performing milling tools in aerospace titanium.

“The 30-foot-by-35-foot pit in a concrete floor is empty, shiny and immaculate as it awaits the arrival of a massive machine for use by Connecticut manufacturers to cut, shape and do a range of other tasks with composite materials,” writes Stephen Singer in the Hartford Courant. “At the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology in East Hartford, the large rectangular hole resembling a swimming pool and reaching a depth of 4 ft. in parts will be filled later this year by the 130,000-lb, high-speed industrial machine [that] will be used to shape, cut, grind and otherwise fashion aerospace and other industry components made of composites.”

Los Angeles Times reports: Factories south of the border are fueled by American goods and services—creating a silver lining for at least some workers in the U.S.

Takumi USA, Indianapolis, recently unveiled its new technology center and showroom to distributor partners to kick off the introduction of Takumi USA to the North American market.

Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., which manufactures holemaking and finishing products for the industrial tool and machining sector, this year celebrates its 75-year history with an eye on the future.

In an effort to expand its reach within the aerospace industry, OSG USA Inc. has purchased Amamco Tool & Supply Co. Inc., an ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100C registered company that makes high-quality, custom, carbide tools for manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive and medical industries, according to an OSG USA news release issued today.

The addition of over 15,000 sq. ft. was designed to increase assembly capabilities and provide additional space for newly acquired capital equipment

Houghton International Inc., Valley Forge, Va., recently announced the appointment of Kevin Smith to the positions of senior vice president of Houghton International and president of the company's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and global automotive and aerospace markets. Effective Feb. 1, Smith is based in the company's Manchester, U.K. office, and reports to Houghton International CEO Mike Shannon. Smith will assume responsibility for the general management of Houghton's EMEA region and the global leadership of Houghton specialty product lines for the major transportation industry segments, including automotive and aerospace. He also becomes a member of Houghton's executive committee.

The Sandvik Coromant Co., Fair Lawn, N.J., named Sean Holt as the company's new president of the Americas market area, according to a Jan. 28 news release. With the promotion, which took effect Jan. 1, Holt is now part of the company's global sales management team. An experienced executive in the manufacturing industry, Holt was a key member of the Americas management team as the vice president of engineering. He joined Sandvik Coromant in 2000 as a sales engineer in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Since then, he has held several positions, including application development specialist and aerospace manager for the Americas market area before taking on the vice president of engineering position in 2014.

Norsk Titanium AS, Oslo, Norway, announced the first shipment of Airbus test parts manufactured by the company's patented Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) process has been delivered to Premium AEROTEC's plant in Varel, Germany, where it has already undergone finish machining, according to a joint company news release issued Jan. 20.

Industrial Info Resources, a market research company based in Sugar Land, Texas, reported Aug. 5 that demand for aircraft parts has helped give rise to U.S. manufacturing plant expansions. 

Okuma America Corp. has opened an Aerospace Center of Excellence at its facility in Charlotte, N.C. The center is for aerospace manufacturers to use as a testing and proving ground for advanced CNC machining technology to enhance productivity while solving industry-specific challenges, according to the company.

H-D Advanced Manufacturing Co., Pittsburgh, acquired San Diego-based Sungear Inc., a manufacturer of precision gears and assemblies for the aerospace industry.

Since the economic slowdown in 2008, the global sales of business aircraft has been less than 50 percent of the annual sales in 2007; however, as aircraft fleets get older and the economy improves, pent-up demand may stimulate purchases.

Liberty Hall Capital Partners, a New York, N.Y.-based private equity firm focused exclusively on the global aerospace and defense industry, announced the acquisition of Tulsa, Okla.'s Precise Machining & Manufacturing, a Tier II supplier of machined parts, kits and assemblies and processing services to the aerospace industry.

AFAB, a Lake Forest, Calif.-based manufacturer of machined parts and assemblies, is moving into the aerospace and automotive markets through acquisitions of new equipment,  hiring experienced personnel, and institutingnew systems, according to the company.