December PM News

AME Completes Asset Purchase of Metalcut

Advanced Machine & Engineering (AME) has purchased assets of the Metalcut Carbide Saw Division of Centro-Metalcut. The acquisition of the Metalcut carbide saw line represents a substantial expansion of the company’s capabilities in the world market.

This purchase will transfer the complete sawing machine technologies, engineering data, inventory, spare parts and service operations for all Metalcut carbide saws to AME. Steve Swanson, the business unit manager for the carbide saw machine division of AME, will assume oversight responsibility for the Metalcut product line. The company has worldwide sales and service locations already in place to accommodate customer requirements.

Morris Group Names Executive V.P.

Chris Stine has been appointed as executive V.P. for the Morris Group Inc. Formerly of United Grinding, Mr. Stine will join the executive management team where he will have an active role in both operational and strategic leadership.

“Mr. Stine’s track record of helping manufacturers benefit from the latest machine tool technology is perfectly in line with the goals of Morris Group,” explains President Brad Morris. “We provide manufacturers with high performance machine tools and the tooling, accessories and process expertise necessary to get the maximum return from them.”

Mr. Stine will relocate with his family to the Hartford area to work out of Morris Group’s headquarters. Contact Morris Group at morrisgroupinc.com.

CNC Company Celebrates 22 Years in the U.S.

NUM Corporation is celebrating 22 years of operation in the U.S. Recent success stories in the North American market include customers such as Bourn & Koch, Anderson-Cook Machine Tool and the Star Cutter Company.

NUM’s strategy is to help current and future customers to construct better machines, and it focuses on a number of high-end CNC applications. In addition to CNC hardware and software, it also develops drives and motors. Headquartered in Switzerland, and with R&D facilities in Switzerland, France and Italy, the company currently has more than 35 sales and service locations worldwide.

Machine Tool Company Hires Product Manager

Methods Machine Tools Inc. has promoted Bernie Otto to the position of Kiwa product manager.

“We are pleased to have Bernie take on management of the Kiwa line of machine tools,” says Dave Lucius, V.P. of sales for Methods Machine Tools Inc. “With more than 28 years in Methods service, technical sales and technical sales management, Bernie is uniquely qualified to organize and lead the Kiwa sales effort.” Mr. Otto will retain his current position of technical sales manager, and will assume his Kiwa product manager responsibilities immediately.

VIP Technology Partnership Program

Mazak has certified LNS as a new member of Mazak’s Value Inspired Partners (VIP) program. The new program was created to inspire and foster high levels of cooperation among producers of complementary products to provide manufacturers with total solutions.

Inclusion in the program requires a company to provide products and services that transcend traditional supplier relationships and meet the following criteria: be a recognized leader with unique, innovative and high quality products; provide extensive pre- and post-sales support; add value to customer processes and provide system solutions; and maintain a culture of ethical business standards and practices.

Members of the VIP program will work with Mazak in product development and the creation of training events and seminars spanning a range of topics.

Machine Tool Connectivity Working Group

The MTConnect Institute proposed the establishment of the Legacy Machine Tool Connectivity Working Group. This group will be essential in addressing the issue of providing best practices and overall guidance for the physical connectivity of the thousands of legacy machine tools in manufacturing shops around the globe. The group will be lead by David McPhail, president and CEO of Memex Automation Inc., and John Turner, director of technology for FA Consulting and Technology, as the co-chairs and consist of manufacturing equipment providers, ISVs, consultants and users.

Dave Edstrom, president and chairman of the board for the MTConnect Institute, says, “This proposed working group is critical for enabling
MTConnect on the countless number of manufacturing’s legacy machine tools, and I fully expect our MTConnect Technical Advisory Group to approve this new working group. We want to see an array of hardware options to enable MTConnect for both small and large installations.”

Nikon Metrology Inc. Partners with Joe Gibbs Racing

Nikon Metrology Inc. has formed a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), serving as a technical partner. As part of this relationship, Nikon Metrology will provide JGR with microscopy products, technical advice and support.

“In this world, it’s all about speed, quality and reliability,” says Richard Miller, quality control engineer, Joe Gibbs Racing. “Using Nikon Metrology’s equipment, we were able to return our cars and drivers to the track with the speed, accuracy and safety this sport requires.”

New President Appointed at NTMA

David (Dave) Tilstone is the new president of the National Tooling & Machining Association. Mr. Tilstone comes to NTMA with more than 35 years of metalworking experience. Throughout his career, he held leadership positions with Kennametal and Extrude Hone where he was instrumental in developing and implementing growth strategies and improving operating results.

Recognized internationally, Mr. Tilstone has extensive experience in promoting domestic manufacturing capabilities to global markets. His ability to market America as a manufacturing leader provided his prior companies with significant organizational growth and market share, the company says.