Industry News

January is traditionally a month for new hope and new energy to meet life and business goals. But for manufacturers facing a new year with the lowest unemployment rate in more than five decades, it can be a tough time to expect workers to come back with enthusiasm from holiday celebrations to dull and menial tasks. That makes January an ideal time for National Cobot Awareness Month

New robots will be able to generate savings in manufacturing and plug short-term gaps while helping create future jobs.

Tooling Tech Group (TTG), a Macomb, Michigan-based provider of engineered tools and automated assembly equipment to a wide range of industries, has hired Craig Fullenkamp as its Segen Quick-Change and standard products sales engineer.

Hurco Cos. Inc. continued its commitment to help customers navigate the ever-evolving technology landscape by partnering with BMO Automation, a company that shares Hurco’s mission to help manufacturers increase productivity and profitability.

The One System Solution grippers from OnRobot are now part of the UR+ program that tests and certifies EoAT products for seamless use with cobots from Universal Robots.

Macomb, Michigan-based Tooling Tech Group (TTG), a leading provider of highly engineered tools and automated assembly equipment to a wide range of industries, has announced that it has hired Nate Ruhenkamp as a sales manager for the company’s compression mold and thermoform tooling offerings, as well as its Segen Quick Change standard products. He is responsible for managing this group’s sales team, developing new business opportunities and creating synergy with the company’s sales managers in the stamping, die casting and automation sectors.

Toolcraft, a machine shop in Monroe, Washington, was immediately impressed by the 30 µm repeatability and built-in force/torque sensing in Universal Robots’ new flagship line of collaborative robots. The company needed to automate a challenging, three-operation machine tending task inside its CNC machine and has saved 23% on production costs and increased throughput 43% by using the UR5e cobot.

More than 2,000 manufacturers from across North America attended Mazak Corp.’s Discover 2019 event held Nov. 5-7 and 12-13 at the company’s North American manufacturing headquarters in Florence, Kentucky. The event featured over 30 live machine tool demonstrations, and Mazak unveiled for the first time in North America several productivity-enhancing technologies such as its new Mazatrol SmoothAi control, as well as a new mixed reality training and service support system.

Tomenson Machine Works is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of precision hydraulic manifolds, with a focus on continuous improvement. The company turned to collaborative automation in its pin-stamping application to improve quality, profitability and worker satisfaction. The OnRobot collaborative RG6 gripper handles dozens of different part sizes with fast and easy changeovers, and sets the stage for ongoing automation in potential applications such as CNC tending, deburring and packaging.

RCM Industries Inc., a Wheeling, Illinois-based manufacturer of die-cast aluminum components for industries such as automotive and consumer products, found itself in competition with low-wage suppliers in Mexico for a large outsourced project. “We had to look at how to drive cost out of the product without reducing the value that we provide our customers,” said Mike Higgins, RCM Industries director of sales and marketing. “Without the cobots, we would not have had a shot at that work.”

A report from McKinsey & Co., “The Future of Work in Black America,” highlights the challenges American workers will face during the next decade as automation continues to take away blue-collar jobs. While the negative effects of automation are expected to hit all demographics, black American men are the group who will be most affected.

Dorner’s facility in Guadalajara, Mexico, (Dorner Latin America), is already expanding its manufacturing capabilities by now building its popular-selling 2200 series modular belt conveyor for customers throughout Latin America. Dorner Latin America is staffed with experienced employees well versed with Dorner’s entire product line.

When Suttner adopted a growth strategy 15 years ago, the company decided to significantly increase the manufacturing depth. Priority was to be focused on parts with complex designs and high added value. The executive management brought Arno Werkzeuge on board as their partner and facilitator to also increase productivity. This success story has brought about manufacturing competences and products that were inconceivable in the past. At the same time, it is an effective solution to the lack of skilled workers.

Teradyne Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of AutoGuide Mobile Robots, a leading supplier of high-payload autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). AutoGuide’s advanced products deliver easy deployment, improved safety, reduced costs and increased efficiency of industrial and warehouse material-handling operations.

Doosan Robotics Inc. (Doosan), a leading global manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), announced plans to establish its first U.S. office in Buford, Georgia, by the end of 2019 to accelerate its distribution efforts. The new office will serve as the headquarters for sales, marketing, training, and customer service in the Americas.

Transor Filter announces that they have surpassed the 25,000 drum mark in shipments of TransOgrind TG-250. Introduced in 2000, this quality grinding oil has become popular for manufacturers of carbide cutting tools due to its performance characteristics and overall value.

Since 1992, RobotWorx has been refurbishing industrial robots, restoring the workhorses of manufacturing environments to like-new condition. Robots are commodities today, performing everything from welding tasks to handling intrinsic materials in solar panel clean room environments. For RobotWorx, opportunity beckons when companies upgrade their plants, close their facilities, or when old robots are replaced. Regardless of their condition, RobotWorx gives used robots new life.

As manufacturers continue to be challenged by a shortage of skilled workers and the need to boost productivity, automation remains a topic of significant interest. That was certainly the case at the Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show. The biennial trade show took place Oct. 8-10 at the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wisconsin.

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. – GF Machining Solutions has announced that it will expand distribution channels and regional sales to further invest in its capability to deliver advanced manufacturing technology to customers throughout North America.

SCHUNK will now be assembling grippers in the US.