Production Machining’s January 2022 News Highlights

In 2022, Platinum Tooling President Preben Hansen is celebrating four generations and 100 years of family working in the metal cutting industry. The Hansen family metal cutting history begins with Preben’s grandfather, Louis Eckart Hansen, who learned his trade in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the early 1900s, while working as a machinist in the Danish Navy’s repair facility. Preben’s father, Svend Eckart Hansen, was the next generation and he honed his skills under the guidance of Louis. Read more about the Hansen family’s metal cutting family history.

Here are more news highlights:

ANCA Launches Educational Grinding Show — ANCA has launched a monthly show, the ANCA Academy, which will cover a new technical topic each episode — from setup through grinding. The educational videos will help ANCA machine users understand new applications and features. Hugh Ingham, an ANCA mechanical engineer, hosts the show. “I love working at ANCA because we design and apply really interesting and effective technology,” Ingham says. “It is important that we make sure we are helping our customers and those interested in getting into cutting tool grinding produce the best possible product faster, more accurately and at the lowest possible cost.”

CNC Indexing & Feeding Technologies Partners With AR Filtrazioni Air/Oil Filtration Systems — CNC Indexing & Feeding Technologies has been named the exclusive U.S. importer for AR Filtrazioni industrial air/oil filtration systems. AR Filtrazioni manufactures systems that use up to seven stages of filtration to remove contaminants, including oil mists, fumes and dust from the air. The units improve air quality in manufacturing environments as well as front offices, positively affecting the health of every employee. In addition to purifying indoor air, the units also filter out contaminants that can flow out of the shop into the atmosphere and eventually back into soil and water.

Methods Machine Tools Completes Koch Machine Tool Acquisition — Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of CNC tools and automation systems in North America, has completed its acquisition of Texas-based Koch Machine Tool. Methods announced in October 2021 its intent to purchase Koch in order to grow its reach into the regional machining market as part of its national expansion strategy. “This expansion is an important step in our long-term investment in the Texas/Louisiana region to accelerate our national growth and bring our industry-leading portfolio to more customers,” says Mark Wright, Methods president and CEO.

Zeiss and Oak Ridge Develop New Characterization Methodology — Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology LLC has partnered with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to develop and commercialize a comprehensive powder-to-part characterization methodology for additive manufacturing (AM). The collaboration between ORNL and Zeiss, “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Enable Reliable Non-Destructive Characterization of Additively Manufactured (AM) Parts Using X-ray CT,” is led by Dr. Amir Koushyar Ziabari, an R&D staff scientist at ORNL.

Carr Machine & Tool Expands Operations — In 1972, Richard Carr opened his precision machine shop — Carr Machine & Tool — which initially served as a manufacturer for commercial printing press parts. In 2004, the company began to focus on emerging industries when Richard’s son, Jim Carr, took full ownership as its president. Since taking over, Carr has turned the company into a high-tech CNC shop, a process that included upgrading its ERP, obtaining AS9100D accreditation and refocusing its interests on the aerospace, space and exploration, semiconductor, medical and defense industries.

Tormach Expands in U.S., Europe — Tormach Inc., a supplier of compact CNC machines, has expanded its domestic and international operations by moving to a new corporate headquarters facility in Madison, Wisconsin, and entering into a distribution agreement with CNC Machine Tools Ltd. of Snetterton, Norfolk, England. In Wisconsin, Tormach has moved from its previous location in Waunakee to a new building in Madison.

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