Sunday, February 17, 2019
All News
Excelite Introduce the First Black Frame Swimming Pool Enclosure to Korea Market
July 4, 2017
SUZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Excelite, a leading designer and manufacturer of pool enclosures, today introduced the first swimming pool enclosure with a black frame to the Korean Market. It features a gable style roofing design, made from a black aluminum structure and 4 mm solid polycarbonate sheet. Excelite’s Model G is a 24'' * 46''
Digital Resource: Finding and Learning About Cutting Tools
July 4, 2017
Two features stand out on Seco Tools’ new website: a utility named “Suggest,” which calls up detailed tooling recommendations depending on the application, and a “News and Events” feature that consists of readable discussions of new and basic tooling concepts. Two features stand out on Seco Tools’ new website: a
Macola ERP and Business Software Enhanced for Use on Tablets
July 4, 2017
With Macola 10.5, Exact took a tablet-first approach to refreshing its user interfaces, developing a new architecture to offer a better experience on tablets. New Product Post: 7/4/2017 Edited by Lori Beckman Managing Editor, Production Machining Exact’s Macola 10.5. ERP and business software enhances the usability of the software with
Happy Birthday, USA
July 4, 2017
If there is one thing I've learned about mold builders, it's that they are patriotic. And what better day to celebrate that aspect of the industry than the birthday of the United States. Patriotism is demonstrated the most emphatically by the acts of kindness the mold manufacturing industry performs for those who serve the United States of America
Afton Chemical Completes Acquisition of Aditivos Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.
July 3, 2017
RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Afton Chemical Corporation is pleased to announce the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Aditivos Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (AMSA), a petroleum additives manufacturing, sales and distribution company based in Mexico City, Mexico. The transaction closed on July 3, 2017, following the approval by the
Retired Machinists in a Contingency Staffing Role?
July 3, 2017
Senior Editor Matt Danford’s article “Lean Manufacturing Layout Relies on People” describes one idea to help cultivate a pool of machining and manufacturing talent. It describes the efforts by the Jane Addams Resource Corp. (JARC) to teach low-income adults in the Chicago, Illinois, area the skills they need to establish
Lean Manufacturing Begins With Layout, Commitment
July 3, 2017
After enough one-size-fits-all initiatives, lean manufacturing can lose its luster. After all, the Toyota Production System (TPS) that forms much of the basis of modern lean thinking doesn’t apply perfectly to every manufacturing operation, particularly job shops. And yet, the experience of at least one manufacturer shows that the perfect
Logical Reasoning Is a Critical Skill
July 3, 2017
“Robots are job-killers. They should be banned or taxed. I heard this from experts at the universities.” Such comments might make us smile if we weren’t hearing them from policy makers, influential public figures or fellow voters who clearly believe what they are saying and are likely to base decisions on these views. Often the
ER Clamp Available in More Big Plus Taper
July 3, 2017
Big Kaiser’s Mega ER grip is designed for high clamping force, concentricity, rigidity and balance at high spindle speeds. The holders are now sold without a standard clamping nut so that customers can choose the best clamping nut option for their needs. The line has been expanded to include more options of Big Plus tapers, specifically
BMW Group U.S. Reports June 2017 Sales
July 3, 2017
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 0.4 percent in June for a total of 28,962 compared to 28,855 vehicles sold in June 2016. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is down 2.8 percent in the U.S. on sales of 149,086 vehicles compared to 153,436 sold in the first six months of 2016. Notable vehicle sales in June include
Grob, Open Mind to Offer Free, Two-Day Technology Seminar
July 3, 2017
The Grob Group and Open Mind are offering a free, two-day technology seminar August 1-2, 2017. The manufacturer of universal machining centers will partner with the developer of CAM/CAD systems to present production solutions for aerospace and other industries at Grob’s U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in Bluffton, Ohio. Cost,
Mitsubishi Motors Reports June 2017 Sales
July 3, 2017
CYPRESS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) reported June 2017 sales of 7,625, down 5.0 percent over June 2016. The Outlander CUV led the way for the brand with its best June sales month since 2007. Total Outlander sales were 2,313, an increase of 16.2 percent over last June. Mirage sales were up 12.8 percent with
Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Best-Ever June Sales of 28,994
July 3, 2017
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported best-ever June sales of 28,994 units, an increase of 1.8%, closing out the second-quarter at 161,960 year-to-date. Mercedes-Benz Vans also reported best-ever June sales with 3,108 units and smart reported 226 units, bringing the MBUSA grand total to 32,328 vehicles for the month, up
Skills Training Strengthens Shops, Communities
July 3, 2017
For three straight years, Seneca Speight didn’t have a job. Not a regular one, anyway, the Chicagoan explains, recalling the uncertainty accompanying sporadic work sourced through temporary placement agencies. He didn’t have a car, either, among other barriers to full employment. Negativity came easy, and reasons for optimism seemed
Analyzing Sound Boosts Machine Monitoring
July 3, 2017
“I don’t like the sound of that.” That thought or expression can be an important part of being responsible for the performance of a machine tool. Sounds from the shop floor are now becoming an important part of how machines and processes can be monitored in the factory enabled by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). A cutting
CAM Software Helps Shop Take on Complex Work
July 3, 2017
Even when competent machinists are proficient at writing CNC programs at the machine, the very act of on-machine programming creates inherent downtime in a manufacturing process. To alleviate this, shops must weigh the costs and benefits of investing in a CAM system and programming parts offline. In the case of Sluterbeck Tool and Die Co. Inc., the
Shrinking Costs: The Tool Life and Cycle Time Advantages of Shrink-Fit Tooling
July 3, 2017
How can a production facility increase productivity and reduce consumable tooling costs without changing anything about the cutting tool itself? Wescast Industries Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of cast manifolds and housings for passenger cars and light trucks, discovered a way to do this and has documented the extent of its
Machine Communication Removes Operator Intervention
July 3, 2017
Gilson Co. wanted to shift the way it did business at its Lewis Center, Ohio, facility. Instead of outsourcing production of critical parts, the company saw a growth opportunity in making and selling some of its own products. However, before moving in that direction, it would have to invest in two manufacturing technologies it never had before:
Linear Drives Double Productivity of Single-, Twin-Spindle Machining Centers
July 3, 2017
Chiron’s single and twin-spindle models FZ08 FX and DZ08 FX compact milling centers are now equipped with Chiron’s dynamic precision package, which was presented at IMTS last year on the FZ08 MT machine model. According to the company, the new DZ08 FX Precision+ and the FZ08 FX Precision+ are up to 50 percent more productive than the
Growing with the Times (and Customer Demands)
July 3, 2017
What do you do when your biggest customers ask for more advanced manufacturing capabilities closer to their assembly plants? According to Tyler Burke, CEO of Turbine Technologies Inc., “You’re either going to innovate and invest or you’re going to be rationalized.” To grow his business, he made the decision to invest in EDMs
Trinseo Resins Now Offered as Filament for 3D Printing
July 3, 2017
BERWYN, Pa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trinseo (NYSE:TSE), the global materials solution provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, announced today that its Consumer Essential Markets (CEM) business unit has partnered with Advanc3D Materials, a materials supplier for additive manufacturing, to produce filament made of Trinseo
Customers Snap Up Record Numbers of Ford Brand SUVs in First Half; F-Series Has Best June
July 3, 2017
DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported its June 2017 sales results. Visit media.ford.com to view the news release. Ford will begin its monthly sales call at 10 a.m. ET this morning when Erich Merkle, Ford U.S. sales analyst, will host a conference call for the investment community and news media to discuss the
Medical Molder Sweats the Small Stuff to Deliver Big Results
July 3, 2017
“You think you know everything—but when you write it down, you see the small things,” explains Rao Neelam, v.p. of operations at Freudenberg Medical’s Baldwin Park, Calif., medical-device manufacturing facility. The “small things” are a big deal at Freudenberg Medical’s operation approximately 20
Tires and Ice Cream
July 3, 2017
According to the folks from Michelin, there are over 200 ingredients in an auto tire that fall into five groups: “Natural rubber: the main component of the tread layers Synthetic rubber: part of the treads of car, van and 4x4 tires Carbon black and silica: used as a reinforcing agent to improve durability Metallic and textile reinforcement
PPG Earns Safran Awards for Aerospace Ecoat Primer
July 3, 2017
PPG earns recognition for its Aerocron electrocoat aerospace primer in the supplier category of the 2017 Safran Innovation Awards, including first-place honors from Safran Nacelles and second place from parent company Safran. Each year, the 10 companies comprising Safran select the most promising initiatives from their employees, partners and
Klöckner Pentaplast Completes Acquisition of LINPAC Group
July 3, 2017
MONTABAUR, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Klöckner Pentaplast Group (“kp”), announces the successful completion of the acquisition of LINPAC Senior Holdings Limited and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. LINPAC is a prominent film producer and converter for food packaging in Europe. The transaction creates a worldwide leader in
Velodyne LiDAR Expands Global Capacity with Autoliv
July 3, 2017
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Velodyne LiDAR Inc., the world leader in 3D real-time perception systems for autonomous vehicles, today announced that Autoliv Inc., the world’s largest automotive safety company, joined Velodyne’s Tier-1 Program and will develop and manufacture an automotive grade LiDAR product using Velodyne’s
NRI Secure Begins Providing Automotive Penetration Test Service
July 3, 2017
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NRI SecureTechnologies, Ltd. (President: Jun Odashima, hereinafter NRI Secure) has established a new team focused on information security diagnostics and assessments of automobiles and their onboard devices, and will now be providing a “Automotive Penetration Test” service (hereinafter the Service). -
Cabot Norit Activated Carbon to Chair Biogas Purification Panel and Showcase Activated Carbon
July 3, 2017
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cabot Norit Activated Carbon, the world’s largest and most experienced producer of activated carbon products, will participate in the UK AD & Biogas and World Biogas Expo 2017 on July 5-6, 2017 in Hall 3, stand F402 in the National Exhibition Center, Birmingham, United Kingdom. William Krents,
Global Motion Control Market Is Returning for Solid Growth
July 3, 2017
IHS Markit expects the world market for motion control controls to sustain a steady growth trend.
The Arrival of Low-Cost Metal AM?
July 1, 2017
You might be aware that I have been leading a double life. Along with my role for Modern Machine Shop, I serve in a similar role for a sister publication, Additive Manufacturing. The interest and activity around industrial 3D printing easily justified our launching a standalone publication on this topic several years ago. But even so, we need to
Study Reveals Finishing Industry Barriers to Phasing Out Cadmium
July 1, 2017
Sifco conducted the survey, which they say was done to gage the industry knowledge of about speculation that the U.S. aerospace industry will phase out cadmium by 2023. A survey of finishing job shops on the probable phase-out of cadmium shows that only 23 percent believe they will be cadmium-free within the next five years, and almost half
Born Leaders
July 1, 2017
Many in the 40-Under-40 class rose up in family businesses. Dan Brockman swears he was just trying to do right by his son when he refused to hire him right out of college. Despite having two engineering degrees and an MBA, Phillip Brockman was not about to get hired at Techmetals Inc. in Dayton, Ohio, a company started by his father, Dan, that was
How to Eliminate White Chalky Substance from Vibratory Finished Parts
July 1, 2017
Q. We are getting a white chalky substance left on our aluminum parts after vibratory finishing and it affects the coating adhesion. How do we eliminate this problem? Q. We are getting a white chalky substance left on our aluminum parts after vibratory finishing and it affects the coating adhesion. How do we eliminate this problem? A. The white
Polishing vs. Buffing: What's the Difference?
July 1, 2017
Q. We’re confused about the term “polishing.” Is this the same as buffing? A. Finishing processes that utilize abrasive belts are referred to as polishing, and processes that use cloth wheels with compound applied is buffing. Polishing generates a brushed or lined finish, where buffing removes the lines and creates a bright
Cathode Materials and Cathode/Anode Ratios
July 1, 2017
Q. Can we use titanium as a cathode in our Type I, II and III anodizing tanks, and what are the guidelines for cathode to anode surface area ratios? Q. Can we use titanium as a cathode in our Type I, II and III anodizing tanks, and what are the guidelines for cathode to anode surface area ratios? A. Titanium cathodes can be used, but titanium is no
“Snowflake” Corrosion on Anodized Aluminum Parts
July 1, 2017
Q. Our customer sent us some of its anodized aluminum extrusion samples that were exhibiting a condition that looked like small snowflakes all over the part. Is this is a metal condition, or something wrong in the anodizing process? Q. Our customer sent us some of its anodized aluminum extrusion samples that were exhibiting a condition that looked
Supercar Gets Super Ecoat System
July 1, 2017
Honda builds unique ecoat system for Acura NSX at $70 million Performance Manufacturing Center. Honda builds unique ecoat system for Acura NSX at $70 million Performance Manufacturing Center. Built in the 206,000-square-foot PMC assembly plant, the Acura NSX starts at around $156,000 for a base model. Each NSX is hand-carted to the paint area where
CAD Capabilities Bring Racking Solutions to Life
July 1, 2017
Production Plus uses AutoCAD from design to fabrication, streamlining production and ensuring maximum rack density. Article Post: 7/1/2017 Hannah Coombs Assistant Editor, Products Finishing The ecoat rack shown here demonstrates the company's maximum part density. Computer-aided design software is nothing new. CAD drawings have been used in the
Gardner Business Index: May 2017 — 55.1
July 1, 2017
Registering 55.1 for May 2017, the Finishing Business Index reversed course from April. For the year-to-date period, the index has averaged 54.5. In the same five-month period in 2016 and 2015, the index averaged 46.8 and 51.6 respectively. The drivers of the overall index in the year-to-date period include Material Prices, Employment, Production
Born Leaders
July 1, 2017
Many in the 40-Under-40 class rose up in family businesses. Dan Brockman swears he was just trying to do right by his son when he refused to hire him right out of college. Despite having two engineering degrees and an MBA, Phillip Brockman was not about to get hired at Techmetals Inc. in Dayton, Ohio, a company started by his father, Dan, that was
Turbine Repairs Call for Selective Brush Plating Solution
July 1, 2017
IPS uses in situ repairs to minimize downtime and maintain revenue flows. IPS is the leading provider of electric motor and generator repair services in North America. An unfinished part before a selective brush plating solution to repair and protect a critical component. The selective brush plating process begins on the part. A plated and polished
NASF Report: July 2017
July 1, 2017
NASF releases its Metals Loading Study for Wastewater Discharges and looks at recent federal deregulatory actions impacting surface finishing. NASF Completes Metals Loading Study Highlighting Industry’s Clean Water Success NASF releases a study pointing to the finishing industry’s major success in reducing metals discharges to local
CAD Capabilities Bring Racking Solutions to Life
July 1, 2017
Production Plus uses AutoCAD from design to fabrication, streamlining production and ensuring maximum rack density. Article Post: 7/1/2017 Hannah Coombs Assistant Editor, Products Finishing The ecoat rack shown here demonstrates the company's maximum part density. Computer-aided design software is nothing new. CAD drawings have been used in the
How to Use XRF Testing Instruments to Accurately Measure Zinc Nickel
July 1, 2017
Q. What are the XRF testing requirements for plating zinc nickel alloy? Experts Post: 7/1/2017 Matthew Stauffer Technical Service Director, Pavco TABLE 1 - Low Alloy: 6-12% Nickel, 5-10 μm Thickness TABLE 2 - High Alloy: 12-16% Nickel, Large Thickness Variation Previous Next Q. What are the XRF testing requirements for plating zinc nickel
How to Choose the Right Paint Booth Filters
July 1, 2017
Q. Our shop spends a lot of time on maintenance for our paint booth filters. How can we improve our operation, and what should we be looking at for filtration options? Experts Post: 7/1/2017 Mick Ramis Parts and Filters Business Unit Manager, Global Finishing Solutions Q. Our shop spends a lot of time on maintenance for our paint booth filters. How
Supercar Gets Super Ecoat System
July 1, 2017
Honda builds unique ecoat system for Acura NSX at $70 million Performance Manufacturing Center. Honda builds unique ecoat system for Acura NSX at $70 million Performance Manufacturing Center. Built in the 206,000-square-foot PMC assembly plant, the Acura NSX starts at around $156,000 for a base model. Each NSX is hand-carted to the paint area where
The Robots Are Coming — Will Your Job Be Next?
July 1, 2017
I recently delivered the keynote address at an education conference at which I spoke about the changing face of American industry. There is a need to rapidly adapt the workforce for an exciting and interesting future brought about by continued advancements in industrial automation and robotics. Following the speech, I was approached by a woman who
Gardner Business Index: May 2017 — 55.1
July 1, 2017
Registering 55.1 for May 2017, the Finishing Business Index reversed course from April. For the year-to-date period, the index has averaged 54.5. In the same five-month period in 2016 and 2015, the index averaged 46.8 and 51.6 respectively. The drivers of the overall index in the year-to-date period include Material Prices, Employment, Production
A Conversation with Bill Ellerbee, Lincoln Industries
July 1, 2017
PF: How has the transition been from leading operations and five departments to now leading the entire company? BE: It has gone very smoothly. The organization in total has been extremely supportive. I have really enjoyed the increased interactions with our customers, and the opportunity to work with our team on our key growth initiatives. PF: