July 2007 Edition

EASTEC ROUNDUP

EASTEC Roundup: Slow for Some, but with Bright Spots

SME’s annual trade show east of the Mississippi drew crowds, but opinions varied about their number

By Pete Nofel, editor

The 2007 EASTEC Exposition at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield, MA, took place May 22 through May 24. Although some exhibitors considered the number of attendees to be fewer than the 2006 show, according to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, who sponsors the show, attendance this year was 14,612 compared to 13,884 for 2006.

Shawn Beckwith’s pride in wearing a blinking MAN badge paid off with his winning a GPS system from Publisher Bob Olree

Some opinions about the low traffic could have been generated by the distribution of exhibitors between five different buildings. Buildings one and two, which were the first destinations after registration, featured precision manufacturing equipment and had the most traffic.

After attendees got their fill in those buildings, they wandered through the other three buildings. Because of the layout of the exposition grounds, some exhibitors, in the further-away buildings didn’t see increased traffic until later in the show’s run.

Shameless Plug

Nelson Publishing [MAN’s parent company] administrative assistant Christine Bradley heroically staffed the combined Modern Applications News / Tooling & Production booth and attracted foot traffic with chances to win a color GPS system. All an attendee had to do for a chance to never get lost again, was wear one of the MAN badges which sported a flashing LED.

Shawn Beckwith, machinist, Poplar Hill Machine, Conway, MA, was found sporting the badge by Bob Olree, MAN publisher, and contest judge. He received the GPS unit Wednesday afternoon, May 23, on behalf of MAN.

Datron’s Aluminum Man wandered the show, battling the evil forces of something or other

MAN also sponsored a separate give-away of an Apple iPod. Brian Saliga, owner of Saliga Machine, Hudson, MA, won the mp3 player.

Bright Lights and Brighter Garb

Numberall Stamp & Tool Co., Sangerville, ME, a leader in the traditional stamp ID marking field, unveiled the company’s first excursion into laser marking. The large-capacity unit is priced at about $50,000 and the company expects sales to reach one unit per month.

At the high end of the scale, Hardinge, Inc., Elmira, NY, introduced its Bridgeport FGC 2 Flexible Grinding Center, which uses milling machine processes with grinding wheels. Using a 2-axis rotary indexer, the FGC 2 completes parts in one clamping, increasing part throughput by grinding faster than conventional creep-feed methods. It reduces the risk of scrap by grinding one part at a time.

Developed several years ago in Great Britain, in cooperation with Rolls-Royce turbine engine manufacturing, the FGC 2 started with jet engine blade and vane grinding. The FGC 2 uses conventional aluminum-oxide grinding wheels and a high-speed wheel changer to grind blades and vanes. Hardinge company representatives said turbine engine component production was the primary function of the unit, but they expected the unit would find other uses as the machine penetrated the U.S. market.

It features a 50 hp, 8,000 rpm integrated spindle. The base platform is grey cast iron, weighing 30,100 lb. Grinding feed rates of 100 ipm are faster and more agile than traditional creep-feed grinders, according to the company.

After development and use in Great Britain, the Bridgeport FGC 2 Flexible Grinding Center has made it to U.S. shores

One of the more brightly-attired attendees was AL the Datron Aluminum Man. Wearing his silver and black skin-tight “superhero” outfit – with either mask or cowl, depending on his whim – he drew attention to the company’s products. Perhaps a few more ab crunches are in order for AL.

Siemens Energy & Automation exhibited at the show. While known for its controllers, it also addresses training in its equipment and software. A company representative said there would probably be more than 30 training sessions across the country in 2007. Registration can be done online at www2.sea.siemens.com/Training/index.htm.

What do you think?
Will the information in this article increase efficiency or save time, money, or effort? Let us know by e-mail from our website at www.ModernApplicationsNews.com or e-mail the editor at pnofel@nelsonpub.com.