Cutting Tool Manufacturer Fills Machinist Skills Gap in its Community January 4, 2018 Rapid growth has spurred a cutting tool manufacturer to reach out to its community to grow the pool of young people available to join its workforce. You don’t have to look farther than the lobby of Midwest Industrial Grinding Inc. (MITGI) to find evidence of its commitment to workforce development for its own benefit as well as that of its Hutchinson, MN, manufacturing community.
Medical Parts Maker Ups Efficiency, Capacity of EDM Machining January 4, 2018 With each new contract and change order to increase part volume and improve delivery, Johnson Matthey Medical Components expanded capacity and capabilities in the same way—by purchasing more equipment. The San Diego, CA-based company would invest in another EDM to meet growing demand for orthopedic, endoscopic, cardiology and neurological medical devices, which is at an all-time high. The tactic was effective, but costly.
General Carbide Acquires Automotive Tooling Supplier, Only Tool January 23, 2018 General Carbide Corp. (Greensburg, PA) has purchased automotive tooling supplier Only Tool (Ypsilanti, MI). Only Tool has developed its expertise in cold-form tool manufacturing under the leadership of co-owners Ray Fender and Mick Ruffolo, who, under terms of the agreement, will continue to operate the business.
Automated Coupling Slashes Robotic Welding Cell’s Downtime May 4, 2018 There is no better way to resolve a problem than by eliminating it entirely. At least that’s how KTH Parts Industries Inc. (St. Paris, OH) regarded its decision to automate a manual equipment changeover process for its robotic welding cells.
Shrink-Fit Toolholder Offers Consistency When Setting Tools April 23, 2018 Shrink-fit toolholding is a simple concept—an induction coil is adjusted and fits over the top of the toolholder. The induction coil heats the toolholder end of the shrinker, expanding the inside diameter, which opens the engagement bore (IDs of shrink-fit toolholders are smaller than the shank diameter of the cutting tool).
Business Outlook for Tooling, Workholding on the Shop Floor Is Bright April 27, 2018 Manufacturers are always looking for signs of what the economy and the business outlook have in store for them. Since the election of President Trump and, more recently, passage of the tax reform law in December, confidence among businesses of all sizes has been overwhelmingly positive.
Bridging the Digital Transformation Divide with Advanced Manufacturing Analytics January 9, 2018 Q&A with Jon Sobel, co-founder and CEO of Sight Machine located in both San Francisco, CA and Ann Arbor, MI.
Smart Control and HMI Software Designs Help Engineers Build New Networks for the IIoT October 12, 2017 Parker Hannifin’s Marissa Tucker talks with Senior Editor Patrick Waurzyniak
A 3D Printing Startup Grows Up October 30, 2017 Fabrisonic, Now 6 Years Old, Moves to Develop New Processes, Materials
SME Chief Warns of ‘Silver Tsunami’ Facing Manufacturing October 10, 2017 Manufacturing faces an even larger shortage of skilled workers as older employees retire over the next few years, the head of SME said in a speech today.