July 2007 Edition

Industry News

American Torch Tip Buys Precision Products

“And, we’re not done yet,” Jeff Grueninger, milling foreman of Excel Machine and Fabrication, said.

The American Torch Tip Co., Bradenton, FL, purchased the Precision Products Company, Canaan, NH. Precision Products specializes in manufacturing plasma torches and consumables used primarily in the metal fabricating industry.

The acquisition will give American Torch Tip an expanded product line and increased manufacturing capability, making it one of the largest suppliers of plasma products. American Torch Tip has a 70,000 ft² manufacturing, warehousing, and office facility in Florida and employs more than 225 people.

Romi Names New President

Amaury Torres de Miranda was named president of Romi Machine Tools, Ltd. He will manage the company’s North American distribution and service facility in Erlanger, KY. Miranda began his career with Romi in 1962 at its headquarters in Brazil. He was elected to the board of directors in 1990. He also holds the post of vice president responsible for its international business operations. Miranda holds a bachelor’s degrees in aeronautics engineering from the Aeronautics Technical Institute in Sao Paulo, and in economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. Romi manufactures CNC lathes, engine lathes, turning centers and machining centers.

Manufacturing Technology Consumption Up 34.9 Percent

March U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $371.10 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association – AMTDA – and the Association for Manufacturing Technology – AMT.

The total, as reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption program, was up 34.9 percent from February, and up 1.4 percent from the total of $365.89 million reported for March 2006. With a year-to-date total of $945.27 million, 2007 was up 7.1 percent compared with 2006.

These numbers are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption – USMTC – program.

The USMTC report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region

With a $55.39 million total, March manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region was up 30.1 percent compared with February’s $42.58 million, but down 3.7 percent when compared with March 2006. The year-to-date total of $151.27 million was 14.5 percent higher than at the same time a year ago.

Southern Region

Southern Region manufacturing technology consumption in March stood at $41.63 million, 11.4 percent higher than February’s $37.36 million, but 21 percent less than the total for March a year ago. With a year-to-date total of $111.27 million, 2007 is running 15.1 percent behind 2006 at the same time. .

Midwestern Region

March manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwestern Region totaled $107.33 million, up 61.3 percent when compared with February’s $66.54 million, but 1.3 percent less than the March 2006 total. At $251.38 million year-to-date, 2007 has fallen 8.9 percent behind 2006 at the same time.

Central Region

Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in March stood at $103.13 million, 12.7 percent higher than February’s $91.52 million, and up 14.6 percent when compared with March 2006. At $271.55 million, the year-to-date total was 27.9 percent higher than the comparable figure for 2006.

Western Region

March manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region rose to $63.62 million, up 71.7 percent compared with the $37.05 million tallied in February, and 11.7 percent higher than the March 2006 total. With a year-to-date total of $159.8 million, 2007 was up 21.6 percent when compared with last year at the same time.

MAG Appoints New President

Robert Wassmer was appointed as president of MAG Industrial Automation Systems – MAG IAS – Sterling Heights, MI.

Wassmer, who is a MAG IAS veteran, came to the company from Bombardier Transportation, where he was director of the research and development section of the locomotive and freight division. He also managed Bombardier’s bogie division, including facilities in western/eastern Europe, China and India. He also worked at ADTRANZ, later DaimlerChrysler Railsystems, where he helped coordinate international development projects.

Wassmer earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe, with a focus on product engineering.

Through strategic acquisitions since 2005, MAG IAS has become a group of machine tool companies and brands in the durable goods manufacturing industries. MAG IAS consists of four groups: MAG Powertrain [Cross Hüller, Ex-Cell-O and Lamb], MAG Advanced Technologies [Cincinnati Machine, Giddings & Lewis, Cincinnati Automation & Test, Hüller Hille, and Fadal], MAG Special Machines [Boehringer, FMS, Hessapp, Witzig & Frank, and Turmatic Systems], and MAG Maintenance Technologies.

In other news from MAG, MAG Maintenance Technologies, Hebron, KY, has expanded its machine tool remanufacturing services to include Fadal vertical machining centers. Offered under the trade name, “R-line,” the machines give parts manufacturers and die/mold producers the option to add machining capability through refurbishing an older Fadal machine that they own, or buying a remanufactured machine from stock.

According to Gidon Moshkovitz, R-line general manager, Maintenance Technologies is the only company that is factory-certified to rebuild Fadal products, providing remanufactured VMCs for as low as $29,900.

All R-line rebuilt Fadal machines receive a 158-point inspection, which includes axis motors, spindle drive inverter, spindle cartridge, machine geometry, coolant system, lubrication system, and other components. Upgraded CNC controls ensure up-to-date programming capabilities and performance optimization. Parts are warranted for six months.

The machines that are remanufactured by Maintenance Technologies come from customer trade-ins or directly from machine owners who want to upgrade their machines with current-technology controls and drives.

Remanufacturing operations for Fadal machines are in Chatsworth, CA.

Mori Seiki Creates Learning Institution

Mori Seiki established Mori Seiki University, a new educational resource division in the company. The division’s dedicated 9,000 ft2 facility in the Chicago area was unveiled in May in a ceremony where Masahiko Mori, president of Mori Seiki, officiated.

The university will offer courses in topics ranging from nuances of newly-developed machine technologies to the theories of lean manufacturing. Courses will be made available to employees and distributors, ensuring that the knowledge base of those representing the company matches the pace of developing technology. Moving forward, the company will evaluate and explore the potential to develop training courses for customers and others within the industry.

JETCAM Partners with Swiss Flatbed Cutting Company

JETCAM International, Monaco, announced an agreement with Zünd Systemtechnik AG, Switzerland, where JETCAM Expert CAD/CAM nesting software will be offered with the Zünd range of flatbed cutting machines.

The agreement ensures closer cooperation between sales, marketing, technical, and development staff of both companies.

Zünd and JETCAM completed several installations for tier 1 and 2 companies in the aerospace and motorsport industries, including several Formula 1 manufacturers. Zünd manufactures digital flatbed cutting and printing systems and has been involved in the development of Swiss flatbed cutting technology, including tools for knife-cutting, laser-cutting, creasing, routing, and other processes.

Manufacturing Association Creates Charitable Award

The National Association of Manufacturers established a charitable award for small- to medium-sized manufacturers, which best embody the spirit of the award’s namesake, the late Sandy Trowbridge.

According to NAM, Trowbridge used his leadership among the business industry to enrich the broader community. The award will recognize a company for its community service at a local, state, or national level.

The award will be given to a NAM member with 1,000 or less employees. The $5,000 will be announced at the NAM’s board of directors meeting in September and will be donated to the charity of the award recipient’s choosing.

Trowbridge served as President Lyndon Johnson’s commerce secretary.

When he was appointed at the age of 38, he was the youngest person to hold that post. He later was NAM president from 1979 to 1980. He was a marine who earned the Bronze Star during the Korean War. Trowbridge died in 2006.

Another Firm Tackles Commercial Space Development

A private space tourism company has changed designs of its suborbital space tourism vehicle to a winged glide-to-landing concept.

As a result of a study by SpaceDev, Benson Space Co., Poway, CA, has chosen to pursue an approach that is an amalgam of the X-2, X-15, and T-38 vehicles for its Dream Chaser spaceship, rather than the orbital NASA HL-20 vehicle that was the company’s first model.

The new spacecraft will incorporate elements from these winged rocket and jet planes. The vehicle will be powered by hybrid rocket motors, launch vertically, and glide to a landing at the launch site after achieving an altitude of at least 65 miles. The new design will subject passengers to fewer g-forces and will have windows for passenger views of the Earth and space.

Mastercam Certified for Autodesk Inventor

Mastercam X2 CAD/CAM software was certified for Autodesk Inventor 2008 by the Autodesk Inventor Certified Applications Program. Mastercam software is a product of CNC Software, Tolland, CT. To be certified, the product must meet Autodesk guidelines and demonstrate quality and compatibility with Autodesk Inventor. Certification is given only after the product has been tested and approved.

According to Mastercam, the flow from design to manufacture assures that the part designed in Inventor is the part that is machined with Mastercam.

Mastercam X2 has a direct add-in for Autodesk Inventor to boost productivity. Free to the Mastercam and Autodesk communities, Mastercam Direct lets users open a model in Mastercam while in an Inventor session, and then update toolpaths to reflect changes to the model. Mastercam X2 is able to read in native Inventor files for design purposes and toolpath generation.

“You ought to be in pictures . . . ”

Abanaki Corp., Cleveland, a maker of oil skimming products, is offering a $1,000 prize for the best home-made video or print ad promoting the company’s products.

Tom Hobson, company president, said the firm got the idea from Chevrolet’s college student contest to design a commercial shown during the Super Bowl.

The contest is open to anyone, with some exceptions, such as Abanaki employees. A panel will judge the entries based on creativity, originality, and imagination. All entries must be submitted by Aug. 31. Complete rules and contest entry form are available on the Abanaki website www.abanaki.com/040.

Prima North America Names VanderWert New President

Terry L. VanderWert was named the new president of Prima North America, Inc., Champlin, MN. VanderWert succeeds Paolo Cigna, who continues as a member of board of directors of the North American division. The changes are part of the succession plan the company established over the last several years, according to Gianfranco Carbonato, CEO of the parent company.

VanderWert moves to the presidency from his position of senior vice president and general manager. VanderWert will be responsible for all Prima North America businesses, which include sales and service activity in North America for 2D and 3D sheetmetal CO2 laser-cutting systems; multi-axis, precision laser processing systems; and the manufacture of industrial lasers.

An 18-year veteran of Prima’s Laserdyne operations, he is a licensed professional engineer and has held management positions in metallurgical research. He has a master’s degree in metallurgy and materials science from the University of Minnesota.

Radiac Abrasives Acquires Bates Abrasives

Radiac Abrasives, Salem, IL, acquired Bates Abrasives, Inc., Burlington, WA, a manufacturer of resin-bonded, cut-off, and grinding wheels. Paul Anderson, CEO and previous owner of the company, which was founded in 1975, will continue to run the operation. It employs 55 people. The company will retain the Bates Abrasives branding.

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