Tooling & Production

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

A 'wind'-fall: economically viable industry holds hope for the future.(larger margin)
Of the fields said to be recession-resistant industries, "green engineering" is near the top of the list. News commentators are forecasting a number of job openings. Companies will be hiring workers . . .

Record aluminum content: use of the lightweight metal in automobiles at all-time high.(news & analysis)
A new study has found that the 2009 North American vehicle contains an all-time high amount of aluminum--8.6 percent of vehicle curb weight. The study by Ducker Worldwide, commissioned by The Alum . . .

T&P's 75th birthday this summer.(news & analysis)
Back in 1934, a group led by Cleveland businessman Roy T. Wise was called the Special Tool, Die & Machine Shop Industry Trade Association. It founded a publication--and that magazine became the one . . .

Saw blades tipped with carbide.(news & analysis)(Correction notice)
The L.S. Starrett Co. has introduced a new line of carbide tipped band saw blades named Advanz with a special tooth tip cylinder of sub-micron grain carbide with a triple-chip grind, welded to a duc . . .

Managing is managing: be it baseball or the shop floor, operating at low decibels is a plus.(straight talk)
Read Joe Torre's latest book, The Yankee Years, and you'll find that a baseball team is a lot like running a manufacturing shop floor--except for the salaries paid. Torre went to work managing the . . .

On target: for a new generation of parts, automated centerless profile grinding fills the bill--with up to 3-fold increase in pr
Two Southern manufacturers are reaping the benefits of automated centerless grinding that range from time and money savings to a 300 percent improvement in production. Ostrem Tool Co. of Lyman, SC . . .

The taper test: prototype fixture finds why vexing toolholder wear marks appear.(toolholding)
Why toolholders exhibit wear marks at the threaded area and at the gage line is a question that's been asked for some time. J&M Machine Inc. of Fairport Harbor, OH, a manufacturer of retention kno . . .

The true cost of quality: how to weigh the expense and benefits to determine profit and price.(quality)
In today's world of economic uncertainty combined with cost-cutting initiatives, where does quality fit in? How can a company remain competitive yet not compromise quality? What does your customer b . . .

Watchful eye keeps tabs on 575 machine tools: aerospace supplier sees new productivity heights, lower costs.(predictive maintena
Many aerospace component suppliers are seeking ways to improve their productivity and bottom line results in the face of uncertain economic times and the resulting budget tightening. Spirit AeroSy . . .

Virtual gets visceral: metal chips a-poppin' on website as jaws are droppin'.(metalworking webified)
When I was 16, my father managed his family-owned company that manufactured cloth-cutting machines used in the garment industry. I hated the four-day a week, 100-mile commute to New York City. But I . . .

A new environment: fiscal stimulus helps recovery, but brings high inflation.(financial analysis)
The United States is now operating in a new investment environment, the result of the government's response to the financial crisis--in which we are witnessing both a massive transfer of private sec . . .

From 12 hrs to 25 mins: giant steps for faster cavity hogging, square-offs follow re-tooling.(re-tooling strategies)
To deliver sooner and stay cost-competitive, often the smartest move a diversified stamping house can make is to speed up the tool and diemaking. Joe Krish, manufacturing engineer at Boehm Pressed . . .

Machinists: beware dips n learning curve.(shop talk)
When you hire a new employee, you take all of the appropriate steps so that your new hire will be successful. But your company is unique, so no matter how bright and experienced this new hire, there . . .

Little CMM that could: small but powerful tool boosts productivity and pinches pennies.(enterprise metrology sleuth)
Sleuth was perplexed and couldn't sleep. So, he did what he always did when stressed--he stayed up late and watched a string of movies on demand. The one on the screen now was about a cute little . . .

Multispindle center.(product spotlight)
ZPS America has introduced the new eight-spindle Mori-Say TMZ 867 CNC multispindle multifunction production center. The machine can accommodate bar stock up to 72mm diameter and can operate as an op . . .

Grooving inserts.(product spotlight)
Thinbit, manufactured by Kaiser Tool Co., has expand the Groove 'N Turn line to include dovetail grooving inserts, used to machine O-ring dovetail grooves with 66[degrees] undercut angles. The inser . . .

Double coating.(product spotlight)
Walter has launched the new Titex X-treme Plus solid carbide drill with its DPL-Double Performance Line. The new internally cooled performance drill covers diameters ranging from 3mm to 20mm. The do . . .

New geometry.(product spotlight)
Kennametal has introduced the new A4 GUP geometry across five Beyond grades for longer tool life, improved grooving, and turning productivity for a variety of work materials. The new A4 GUP geometry . . .

Hybrid press brake.(product spotlight)
The new Toyokoki hybrid press brake combines the aspects of a conventional hydraulic brake with Toyokoki's AC servo brakes. The new HYB125 can deliver an average annual electric bill savings of $700 . . .

6-12mm ball screws.(product spotlight)
Nook Industries has introduced its Small Diameter Ball Screw Assemblies (SD Ball Screw) designed for smaller footprint applications, These screws are used in robots, medical equipment, guided missil . . .

New brochures feature face mills, turning grades.(Marketplace)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In conjunction with its Spring Product Launch, Valenite announces to its customers four new brochures to support these Spring Launch products. Each brochure details features . . .

Cool electronic cabinets.(Marketplace)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UL Listed Cabinet Cooler Systems are a low-cost way to cool and purge heat sensitive electronics such as control panels. The compact systems produce cold air at 20[degrees]F . . .

Automatic tube cutoff lathes and feeders.(Marketplace)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Our new color t0 page catalog describes the advanced engineering and performance of Modern Machine Tool's newest Servo-Slide and Conventional Cutoff Lathes; capable of quick . . .

GibbsCAM 2000, V9.0 enhancements provide powerful capabilities.(Marketplace)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Optimize older and new CNC machines by improved CNC programming with GibbsCAM, recognized as the CAM industry's ease-of-use leader for CNC programming solutions. Widely accl . . .

HAAS automation provides worldclass CNC machine tool sales, service and support.(Marketplace)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Haas Automation is the world's leading builder of CNC machine tools, and the largest dollar-volume builder in North America. Haas products are built in the company's 1-milli . . .

Rubrecht's recipe for success is simple: right people in the right seats on the bus.(visionsaries)
Wolfgang Rubrecht isn't afraid to say teamwork is essential for a company's success. In fact, he would be the first to credit author Jim Collins, whose "Good to Great" is a bestseller, for much of h . . .

Programming caps it off: final skill set of apprenticeship program is crowning touch.(shop talk)
Developing and implementing your own apprenticeship program can take much time and effort, but a highly trained employee is worth it. If you've built a program based on our first three skill sets, y . . .

Come to grips: keep a monkey wrench out of the works.(larger margin)
The new year, in most people's minds, is a time to start fresh. However, here at Tooling & Production, we are offering our traditional annual Industry Outlook--but with new questions and new answers . . .

Auto suppliers share anxiety over economy.(news & analysis)
When Key Plastics LLC recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, one might have imagined the news reverberated through the company like a shockwave. Not so. The auto parts manufacturer, . . .

Euroimpianti SpA of Schio, Italy, has acquired C&D Robotics Inc. of Beaumont, TX.(In motion)
Euroimpianti SpA of Schio, Italy, has acquired C&D Robotics Inc. of Beaumont, TX. The updated company name will be C&D Skilled Robotics Inc. It will continue to manufacture ganry palletizing systems . . .

Mahr Federal.(In motion)
Mahr Federal has opened a new customer resource and training facility in Cincinnati OH. The Providence RI, company manufactures precision gages and offers metrology solutions. . . .

Timken.(In motion)
Timken will invest $14 million in a new thermal treatment facility in Canton, OH, to increase its production of heat-treated steel bars and tubes. These are used primarily in the energy and industri . . .

Venture Techno Capital of Japan has purchased Nomura Automatic Lathe Co.(In motion)
Venture Techno Capital of Japan has purchased Nomura Automatic Lathe Co. The new company will be named Nomura VTC and will produce precision machine tools with high metal removal capability. . . .

Komet of America has acquired Afilatec S.A. de C.V. in Queretaro, Mexico, which specializes in grinding and coating of solid car
Komet of America has acquired Afilatec S.A. de C.V. in Queretaro, Mexico, which specializes in grinding and coating of solid carbide tools. Komet now plans to offer engineering, manufacturing, and r . . .

Machine tool and laser manufacturer Trumpf has assumed control of SPI Lasers of Southhampton, UK.(In motion)
Machine tool and laser manufacturer Trumpf has assumed control of SPI Lasers of Southhampton, UK. SPI designs and manufactures optical fiber-based lasers. . . .

Mori Seiki Americas.(In motion)
Ground has been broken for the new American corporate headquarters of Mori Seiki Americas. The Hoffman Estates, IL, location will feature a 42,560sqft showroom for its machine tools. . . .

Almco has joined KleenTec Inc. in a combined operation owned by Innovance.(In motion)
Almco has joined KleenTec Inc. in a combined operation owned by Innovance. Almco KleenTec will continue to offer metal parts deburring, finishing, and cleaning equipment solutions to industrial user . . .

Fisker Automotive Inc.(In motion)
Fisker Automotive Inc., a green American premium car company, has opened a new Engineering and Development Center in Pontiac, MI. It will support production of the Fisker Karma, a luxury plug-in hyb . . .

Mayfran International, a Cleveland, OH-based manufacturer of factory automation systems, has acquired Press Room Techniques of L
Mayfran International, a Cleveland, OH-based manufacturer of factory automation systems, has acquired Press Room Techniques of Lindsay, ON. PRT makes products to manage scrap in stamping operations. . . .

Correction.(news & analysis)(Correction notice)
In the November/December Tooling & Production report on IMTS, it should have read that Haas Automation displayed the first VMC it built, the VF-1, which debuted at IMTS in 1988 for $49,900. The IMTS . . .

What would 'Ev' say? selling our soul to the company store--to the tune of trillions.(straight talk)
"A billion here, a billion there and pretty soon you are talking real money." That quote is attributed to the late Sen. Everett Dirksen. However, in the last few years, the U.S. debt has been elevat . . .

Go lean! Invest! Formula for '09: Merrill group practice pays off as company realizes 20% growth a year.(management strategies)(
The phone wouldn't stop ringing and Gary Yackel was actually afraid to answer it. That's how much business was rolling into Merrill Technologies Group back in 1997. Times were good and a lot of Mi . . .

Globalization an opportunity.(industry outlook 2009)
Thomas Edison, the great inventor, has declared, "Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by acci . . .

Improving operational focus.(industry outlook 2009)
Q: Many manufacturers of all sizes find the sheer expense of maintenance starting for their machine tools to be staggering. How are machine tool builders ensuring their customers see maximum life an . . .

Software's next wave.(industry outlook 2009)
Q: Your company in the last year partnered with both Mazak and Mori Seiki to create some innovative technologies. What role do these types of partnerships play in the advancement of software capabil . . .

Growth strategies.(industry outlook 2009)
Q: Kennametal's flexibility helped to make fiscal 2008 a landmark year. Will flexibility continue to be a major goal in 2009 as well as expansion into growing markets? Kennametal's financial flexi . . .

Maximizing work force.(industry outlook 2009)
Q: Multi-tasking seems to be changing the face of manufacturing as we know it. What role is the workforce going to play as more manufacturers shift to automation? The key to success, said Brian Pa . . .

Embracing change.(industry outlook 2009)
Q: When you look at successful manufacturers (or customers), the ones that have been able to thrive with all the unique challenges now, what are the key ingredients to their success and innovation? . . .

Quality of service.(industry outlook 2009)
Q: How has the relationship changed between machine tool makers and customers--and where do you see it going in the future? The responsibility of machine tool makers has evolved from not only buil . . .

Maximizing production.(industry outlook 2009)
Q: What ideas, lessons, and observations about metal-working manufacturing have you noticed in 2008 that will carry over into 2009? As the focus shifts from automotive to booming industries such a . . .