Production Machining's June 2024 News Highlights

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of Mazak North American manufacturing operations in Florence, Kentucky. Through its focus in manufacturing innovation and technology, engineering and customer support, the company has positioned itself as a leader of the North American manufacturing industry.

“Mazak Kentucky was the first global facility outside of the company’s headquarters in Japan,” says Dan Janka, president of Mazak Corp. “At Mazak Kentucky, we constantly invest in the research, development and equipment to continuously evolve our manufacturing operations and the products we produce. As a result, we’ve maintained a leadership position and have brought a world of technological firsts to the industry, from our Multi-Tasking Done In One machine concept to advanced digital solutions, innovative automation systems and more.” Read more about how Mazak is celebrating its 50^th anniversary of manufacturing operations.

Wieland Breaks Ground on Copper Recycling Center

Wieland is expanding its foundry at its Vöhringen, Germany, site to include a recycling center, which will enable the processing of copper scrap. This expansion will increase the global recycling rate of Wieland products to more than 80% after commissioning, according to the company.

Vöhringen, a strategic base for Wieland, is crucial in terms of material supply. From here, plants throughout Europe and parts of Asia are supplied with high-quality, semi-finished copper products. In the future, the new plant on the Wieland foundry site will produce pure copper bolts with a recycled content of 100%. This approach, using copper scrap and granulate as well as on-site production scrap, not only ensures the supply of material to various Wieland sites but also has a positive impact on the CO₂ footprint of Wieland products. The recycling process is based on a highly energy-efficient method known as fire refining. Customers will receive primary material with a low product carbon footprint (PCF), enabling them to make their own process chains lower-emission and more sustainable.

ModuleWorks Announces Acquisition of Celeritive Technologies

ModuleWorks announces the acquisition of Celeritive Technologies Inc., the developer of VoluMill.

Through reduced cycle times and cutting tool costs, VoluMill can help manufacturers become more profitable, flexible and competitive.

Both Celeritive and ModuleWorks have been strategic partners to many manufacturing organizations for several years. By combining the strengths of both companies, these organizations can benefit from many natural synergies, covering everything from technology to sales and support. This can enable more technology to be made available to both sets of customers in the near future. This can also help to reinforce ModuleWorks’ position in providing toolpath and simulation components for digital manufacturing systems.

Sunnen Receives Exports Award From U.S. Department of Commerce

Sunnen Products Co. is being awarded the President’s E Star award for exports by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Sunnen is one of 64 companies being recognized for furthering U.S. exports, and one of 13 entities to receive the E Star Award for exports. This is Sunnen’s second time receiving the E Star award, having also received the honor in 1986.

The President’s E Star award recognizes companies who have made a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. Sunnen first received the E award in 1964. The E Star award was later authorized by the Secretary of Commerce to recognize E award winners’ continued export promotion efforts.  

JR Machine Launches Expansion Strategy, Hires New CEO

JR Machine has announced a strategic partnership with Schneider Resources Holding (SRH). SRH is now a majority equity member in JR Machine. The investment from SRH is expected to position JR Machine to grow in tandem with its customers in emerging markets, such as space travel, as they continue to evolve.

In line with its expansion strategy, JR Machine has integrated two DMG MORI NLX 4000 CNC turning centers with CELOS controls into its exclusive DMG MORI shop earlier this month. This enhancement enables JR Machine to produce intricate parts up to 18 inches in diameter while leveraging data to enhance quality and efficiency. With support from SRH, JR Machine plans to further invest in cutting-edge equipment, adopt new technologies and explore potential complementary acquisitions. The company is considering the incorporation of five-axis mill/turn centers, diversification into other machining processes and expansion of in-house manufacturing services. JR Machine holds ISO, AS9100 and ITAR certifications, with expertise spanning aerospace, green energy, heavy equipment and medical devices.