PM News: January 2011

Expanding Range of Turning Machines

Star Micronics Co. Ltd. is expanding its lathe lineup to include turning centers. The firm recently released specs of its first such model, the SF-25, while mentioning a target to sell 60 units in the first year, mainly in West Europe and the U.S. The firm is bracing for net losses for a second straight year when it closes its book in February, but it anticipates a turnaround, with sales up two-thirds. The builder also will venture into automatic fixed-spindle turret lathes for bar work. It’s setting a sales target of 20 units a month worldwide of its first such model,
the SG-42.

Sandvik Coromant Names New Director, Business Services

Sandvik Coromant has announced that Mike Verkamp is the company’s new director, business services. In this position, Mr. Verkamp will track manufacturers’ changing needs for services and establish processes, projects and programs that address these needs. “The challenges facing today’s manufacturers are constantly evolving and Sandvik Coromant
works constantly to address them,” says John Israelsson, president. “Mr. Verkamp will be applying his expertise and years of experience to better understanding customer needs and creating the programs that meet them.”

Cimcool PurchasesMetalworking Fluids Business

Cimcool Industrial Products LLC, a Milacron LLC company, has acquired the Starchem Inc. metalworking fluids business. Starchem is a metalworking and lubricant supplier. The acquisition provides new opportunities by increasing the reach of the Cimcool business while enhancing the value the company can deliver to both Cimcool and Starchem customers.

Rego-Fix Appoints New OEM Account Manager

Nicholas J. Korfias has been appointed as OEM account manager/new product development for Rego-Fix. This newly created position entails developing and maintaining close relationships with machine OEMs and dealers and working to identify and refine the company’s future product line expansions. Mr. Korfias has worked in American manufacturing for more than 26 years, in a range of engineering, sales and marketing positions. Contact Rego-Fix at rego-fix.com.

Renishaw Certified for VIP Technology Partnership Program

Mazak has announced that Renishaw was recently certified as a Mazak Value Inspired Partner (VIP). Created to support customers and provide comprehensive manufacturing solutions, the VIP program promotes higher levels of cooperative partnership among companies offering complementary manufacturing products.

Renishaw will provide machine tool probing and calibration systems and its extensive expertise to the VIP program.

Members of the VIP program will work with Mazak to coordinate product development efforts, foster innovation and create comprehensive customer training spanning a broad range of topics.

Associations Appoint New Leadership, Convention Planned

The National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) announced the election of Colorado business owner Grady Cope as chairman of its board of directors. The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) announced the election of Bob Clay as chairman of its board of directors. NTMA also appointed David Tilstone as its new president.

Mr. Cope and Mr. Clay jointly announced that NTMA and PMA will join the Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) to co-host the Manufacturing for Growth (MFG) Meeting, March 3-6, 2011, in Chandler, Ariz. The convention brings together business owners and executives from around the country to combine resources and explore opportunities to re-establish manufacturing as a primary engine driving the U.S. economy.

DMG/Mori Seiki Names Qualified Supplier

Schunk is an official DMG/Mori Seiki Qualified Products supplier (DMSQP). The DMSQP was created by DMG/Mori Seiki to ensure that all peripheral equipment used on its lathes and machining centers fulfil the company’s requirements in terms of quality and performance. “It is an honor to be part of the DMSQP program and for our company to be recognized for our strong technical support and our product quality and reliability,” says Milton Guerry, president of Schunk USA. “The entire Schunk team is looking forward in working closely with the DMG/Mori Seiki team to bring productive, efficient, machining solutions to U.S. manufacturing companies.”

Partners in THINC Welcomes New Partner

Okuma America Corporation welcomes Exsys-Eppinger, a sup-
plier of fixed and rotary toolhold-ers, to Partners in THINC. Exsys-Eppinger design approaches have aided customers in reducing manufacturing cycles and tool inventories, enabling them to be more competitive and more profitable.
“By being a member of Partners in THINC, we can offer our talents in many ways to further enhance the machining capabilities of Okuma’s turning equipment. Our intimate knowledge of machine tools and engineering knowhow span many years of developing new toolholders to improve manufacturing methods as well as improving capabilities not before thought of on turning centers,” says Jill Young, North American sales manager for Exsys.