ZEBRA SKIMMERS CORP. (CLEVELAND, OH) . . .

is offering free online resources, including a Coolant Troubleshooting Guide. Meg Grant, sales & service manager, said, "When we see a need regarding coolant maintenance in the metalworking industry, we work to fulfill it. We found that many metalworkers are unfamiliar with coolant maintenance protocols and how to trace any issues to their source for remedy. And, in many cases, shops do not log what maintenance procedures they perform. Our Coolant Troubleshooting Guide will help to trace coolant issues, and the Machine Coolant Standards & Maintenance Log tracks coolant conditions to provide advance warning that protocols are not performed."

Coolant maintenance protocols include:
– Manage water hardness
– Manage concentration
– Manage pH
– Manage tramp oil
– Manage chips

These resources are available on the company's website.www.ZebraSkimmers.com

RATHGIBSON (LINCOLNSHIRE, IL) . . .

is supplying 40 tons of light-walled titanium tubing for Nanjing Turbine & Electric Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (NTC), which manufactures various equipment for power generation facilities, including gas turbines, steam turbines, generators, and motors. "NTC was impressed with their excellent product quality, solid application experiences, fast delivery and quick and professional service," said Peter Wang, business development director, greater China.

The tubing will be used in the assembly of two seawater condensers for a 2 × 150 MW power plant project in Fuijan, China. RathGibson manufactured the 25 mm outer diameter (OD) and 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm wall thickness Grade 2 titanium tubing to NTC specifications, which are stricter than those put forth in ASME B338 standards. The company manufactures highly engineered straight lengths, coil and U-Bend tubing for petrochemical, power generation, oil and gas, food and dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical and general commercial applications. www.RathGibson.com

M-1 TOOL WORKS (MCHENRY, IL) . . .

received vendor recognition from Argonne National Lab (ANL; Lemont, IL) for supplying critical components for the Undulator device on linear particle accelerator. The Undulator System on the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) project was recently completed at ANL and supplied as an extension of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California.

M-1 Tool Works manufactured a variety of machined metal components and assemblies used in the focusing operation on the light beams that create ultra-bright, ultra-short X-ray pulses from a high-energy electron beam. These X-ray pulses are a billion times brighter than the most powerful light source known and are used to capture images of molecules and detail their actions within an atomic structure. The first beam was generated in April 2009 and the undulator was installed and fully functioning in the Spring of 2010.

Users of this new American technology from every continent are already lining up at SLAC to apply it for the investigation of atoms on various mechanical structures, raw materials, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, military ordnance, space exploration hardware and hundreds of other products. Commercial, institutional, educational, governmental and advanced research concerns are all requesting use of this technology, according to the directors of the project.

M-1 Tool Works, a longtime supplier of precision components to such diverse fields as the aerospace industry, defense, medical, high tech, close tolerance and high reliability commercial industries, had previously done work for Fermilab and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. They were called upon by ANL to produce 36 assemblies, each comprising a central assembly and various close-tolerance components. The materials used included tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum and specially annealed oxygen-free copper for the particular densities and electrical properties required on this application.

Machining of the metals involved five-axis milling, drilling, wire and sinker EDM. The tight tolerances, all in the range of 0.0005 in or less, were validated in the M-1 quality department, using CMM and other metrology devices. CAD files were supplied to M-1 by the designers at ANL. This particularly difficult machining operation required precise matching and line-up of milled, wire EDM and sinker EDM features. As company sales manager Ray Lindberg observed, "We were one of the few shops that had the machinery, the people, the expertise and the experience to do this job to the exacting specifications required."

Functionally, the highly collimated electron beam travels through the undulator, where its motion is modified by a series of alternating magnets to create radiation saturation and the coherent alignment structure of the beam. This occurs in a two-mile section of the linear accelerator. First light was generated in April, 2009, light to the instrument was achieved in August of that year and the project was completed for commercial utilization in the summer of 2010. This $415 million project was completed by ANL on time and under budget.

Overall, the undulator section measures 433 ft and runs in a 600 ft section of the tunnel at SLAC. All the assemblies were built and tested at ANL, then transported for assembly and final commissioning at Stanford. A beam position monitor checks the dimension and orientation of the beam to sub-micron levels of accuracy. www.m1toolworks.com

LENOX (EAST LONGMEADOW, MA) . . .

unveiled the LENOX Tech Rep Vehicle at the recent 2010 IMTS trade show in Chicago, IL. The vehicle, optimized for exceptional customer service, will be used for service and maintenance calls to prospective and current customers throughout the US and Canada as well as at distributor events, trade shows and training events.

"Our band saw business has a long history of providing the highest level of customer service. The Tech Rep Vehicle is an extension of this service and allows our technical service representatives team to add yet another level of support to our customers and distributors," stated Glenn Tatro, director of technical sales. "We maintain our position of being the premium supplier of band saw blades in North America by consistently providing high quality band saw products that are engineered to deliver exceptional value for a wide variety of sawing applications."

The new Tech Rep Vehicle is a Ford F350 Lariat with a 6.8L 3-Valve SOHC EFI Triton V10 diesel engine generating 300 hp@5,000 rpm. The interior design includes two computer monitors for convenient use of the SAWCALC program that provides users with an optimal band saw blade, speed and feed rate recommendation based on a specific sawing operation – machine type and material being cut. The vehicle is also outfitted to carry the extensive collection of tools that technical service representatives typically use to diagnose problems and make immediate adjustments to band saw machines, ensuring optimal performance and productivity. The tools include a tension meter, a feed force gauge, and a Traverse-Master. The truck also has a variety of sample materials for team members to work directly with customers to determine which band saw blade would provide the best cutting results for each of their specific cutting conditions.

To check the integrity of the band saw blade on-site, the truck is equipped with an on-board microscope for examining blades. An enlarged image of the blade is transmitted from the microscope back to the company's metallurgical lab in East Longmeadow, MA, where they can provide an immediate diagnosis on whether or not the blade has tooth damage, backing steel cracks, or back edge wear resulting from improper machine conditions and/or extensive cutting. The team of technical service representatives is a major force in the North American band saw blade market. The team consists of 17 full-time employees located throughout the U.S. and Canada. Collectively, they represent 269 years of expertise in servicing band saw blades and machines. These trained technical representatives are available to perform a thorough 13-point tune-up to ensure that every blade cuts smoother, straighter and faster to provide optimized blade and machine performance – ultimately lowering the cost per cut. www.lenoxtools.com

MAG INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS (ERLANGER, KY) . . .

received an order for two VIPER automated fiber placement systems to support production of the Airbus A350XWB at the plants of Germany's Premium Aerotech. The two systems, valued at more than $12 million, will be shipped in 2011, joining six others already installed at, or soon to be shipped to, various European factories in the Airbus supply chain. "This order further validates our role as the supplier of choice for automated fiber placement systems within the Airbus supply chain," said Randy Kappesser, vice president and general manager, MAG Composites Technologies. "While our composites expertise originated in the U.S., the growing number of installations we have outside the Americas allowed us to open a new composite technology center in 2009 in Göppingen, Germany. This materially enhanced our ability to win this order, as well as provide better support to customers in Europe and Asia as we go forward."

Dr. Dieter Meiners, COO at Premium Aerotech, added, "We are glad to expand our cooperation with MAG on the basis of this new project, and will enjoy the convenience of having a new technology center close to our locations." The manufacturer pioneered automated composites processing for building aerostructures, and its systems are widely used in major worldwide aircraft programs, with over 125 installations globally. In addition to offering the fastest production proven composites machines, the company has an extensive global footprint with 24 facilities providing system build and integration, processing expertise, and service for its broad range of machine tools and automated systems. Fifteen of these facilities are located in the European and Asian regions, close to the rapidly growing base of customers there. Premium Aerotech was created in 2009 with the spinoff of three German plants in Nordenham, Varel and Augsburg owned by Airbus and its parent, European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. As part of Airbus' program to cut production costs and develop risk sharing partnerships with other firms, Premium Aerotech has been given contracts to work on the composites-intensive A350XWB wide-body plane.

MAG also received an order, valued at approximately $7 million, from Lockheed Martin for two 6-axis, CNC-controlled AutoDrill systems to be used in the aerospace manufacturer's Marietta, GA, plant. Scheduled for delivery in Q1 2011, the precision automated drilling and trimming systems will use a surface-detecting pressure foot to drill and countersink thousands of fastener holes through complex contoured surfaces comprised of stacked composite materials, aluminum and titanium for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter's center wing assembly. These are the fourth and fifth AutoDrill systems sold to Lockheed; the other three are located in the company's Fort Worth, TX, plant. The newest drilling systems include an upgraded 24,000-rpm spindle and new head with integral vacuum ducting and no external hoses or wires. The head design supports the porting of hoses, wires and cables through the head, versus external porting, to avoid interference during operation. As a major component of the center wing work cell, the AutoDrill systems are designed for continuous operation at 100 percent duty cycle for three shifts per day. The systems are designed to be ergonomically friendly with an emphasis on accessibility and maintainability of components, and include Freedom eLog software with an event-log tracking tool to assist production engineering and maintenance.

The AutoDrill systems will be enhanced with advanced volumetric error compensation (VEC) capability for improved drilled hole positional accuracy. Developed especially for improving machining accuracies for large 5-axis machine tools by 50 percent or more, VEC analyzes and corrects positioning errors in all machine-tool axes simultaneously for unprecedented machining accuracies on large parts. This is a turnkey order and includes installation, startup and training. "The AutoDrill solution will provide Lockheed Martin excellent value while achieving repeatable, exceptionally accurate machining of premium aircraft components," said Chip Storie, executive vice president of Aerospace. "By the time this complex assembly, which is the core of the F-35, reaches the AutoDrill system, the value of the assembly is in the millions of dollars. Lockheed Martin continues to trust MAG to deliver AutoDrill systems to perform high-accuracy, delicate operations on these very high value assemblies." www.mag-ias.com

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY (MELVILLE, NY) and APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES (MASON, OH) . .

entered into an agreement to expand MSC's metalworking point-of-use solutions. MSC fills a niche by adding the Access 180N as a specialized capacity dispensing system designed to control production metalworking items in the round cutting tool and indexable cutting tool categories. "Many MSC customers have expressed a desire to manage vital production tooling in a decentralized manufacturing cell environment," said Tom Cox, MSC executive vice president of sales. "As such, we are very excited to announce the arrival of a revolutionary new dispensing system, which is a perfect alternative to full-size vending machines."

The Access 180N mounts to a wall, pedestal or bench. Apex Connect n' Go Technology means data flows seamlessly from the Access 180N to the Edge C3iHub via the Internet. Since the Access 180N is MS Windows free, it eliminates many of the support requirements of earlier generations of automated dispensing systems. Everything is taken care of from the C3iHub. It allows customers to see detailed information sorted and sub-totaled the way they want to view it from their browser, anytime and anywhere. In addition, when customers are leveraging multiple units in multiple cells, they have the option to request consolidated order processing, leading to a single replenishment shipment the following day. "Apex Industrial Technologies is thrilled with the new agreement signed with MSC, North America's largest metalworking distribution organization," said Kent Savage, Apex CEO. "The combination of our advanced dispensing design and technology together with their strength and expertise in delivering customized solutions to metalworking customers makes this a natural relationship. The Access 180N will bring automated dispensing to areas never before considered feasible due to lack of space or quantity of tool usage." MSC Industrial Supply, Apex Industrial Technologies

ADVANCED MACHINE & ENGINEERING (ROCKFORD, IL) . . .

purchased the assets of the Metalcut Carbide Saw Division of Centro-Metalcut of Rockford and a longtime global industry leader in the design and manufacture of heavy-duty carbide sawing systems for the metalcutting industries. AME is also a leading global manufacturer of carbide sawing systems under its popular AMSAW brand name that is found in forge, metalcasting, service center and primary producer operations, anywhere large or continuous sawing is performed. 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, allowing a seamless transition for all existing customers and immediate access to the Metalcut carbide saw line for all new AME accounts. AME has worldwide sales and service locations already in place to accommodate all customer requirements, according to Greg Champion, vice president of sales and marketing for the company. Centro-Metalcut will continue to manufacture and market all other product lines in its offering, including hot and cold abrasive saws, conditioning grinders and materials handling equipment. Dietmar Goellner, AME president and CEO, and Danny Pearse, CEO of Centro-Metalcut, agreed to the purchase terms on September 24, 2010.www.ame.com

NIKON METROLOGY, INC. (LEUVEN, BELGIUM) . . .

formed a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), serving as a technical partner. As part of this relationship, Nikon Metrology (NMI) will provide JGR with sophisticated microscopy products, technical advice and support. "In an industry where product failure is not an option, the partnership between NMI and JGR is a natural one," says Koji Kiribuchi, marketing manager of vision products, for Nikon Metrology. "The ease-of-use of our equipment, combined with proprietary software that allows us to communicate in real-time, means that we can provide the fast and efficient solutions that are required for JGR in the racing industry." The partnership stems from a project that took place earlier this year, in which JGR, one of NASCAR's top teams, experienced first-hand the benefits the AZ100 multi-purpose zoom microscope can bring to its garage. Facing a problem with its racecar's engine rocker arms, which were experiencing excessive wear and tear despite protective coatings to prevent just that type of damage, JGR engineers contacted Nikon Metrology to see if they could help to solve the issue.

Nikon Metrology sent the JGR engineers its AZ100 model microscope, a multi-purpose zoom microscope that combines the wide field-of-view advantages of a stereoscopic zoom microscope with the advantages of a metallographic microscope. The AZ100 system features high-resolution bright field and seamless digital documentation. With this system, at 50X magnification, the engineers were able to capture an image at a far greater resolution and contrast than with their previous system. Through video conferencing and image sharing with the part vendor, it only took the two groups 90 minutes to determine that inclusion and discoloration in the coating were responsible for the rocker arm damage. "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." Nikon Metrology, Inc. , Joe Gibbs Racing

PENNENGINEERING (DANBORO, PA) . . .

acquired QRP, Inc. (Leland, NC), which specializes in manufacturing quick release pins, lanyards, latches, and access fastener products. Terms of the transaction between the two privately held companies were undisclosed. The acquisition was completed on September 30. "This strategic acquisition expands our fastening product portfolio and we expect significant growth opportunities for both of our companies," said Mark Petty, president and CEO of PennEngineering. "QRP's wide range of quick release pin products and related specialty fasteners will provide us with new capabilities and expertise to extend our offerings in key customer markets."

"This represents an exciting opportunity to grow in conjunction with them," said Tom Kievit, president of QRP, "And as a result, there will be ongoing benefits for both of our companies in the future." Kievit noted that the current QRP management team remains in place and that QRP will continue to operate its business from the company's current locations in North Carolina. This latest acquisition follows the recent acquisition of 3V Fasteners, Inc. and the introduction of AS9100 quality systems in key PennEngineering plants. "All these initiatives serve to reinforce our position in the Aerospace and Defense markets," Petty added. Founded more than 30 years ago, QRP is a leading supplier of standard and custom-designed quick release pins for the aerospace, military, automotive, and marine industries, among others. The high-quality pins are manufactured in accordance with NASM23460 and NAS1332 and meet PAN, EFA, and AS requirements. In this transaction with PennEngineering, Jacobs Capital served as the financial advisor for QRP. www.pemnet.com

LA-CO INDUSTRIES (ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL) . . .

launched a new, user-friendly website that is geared primarily towards metalworking or welding professionals and uses a visually-entertaining and interactive format to provide an added level of value, product information and service to those with the toughest industrial marking needs. Designed to educate heavy industrial users on the versatility of new Pro-Line HP markers, the website utilizes a bold visual platform and interactive features to illustrate the variety of extreme environments that the markers are suitable for. Upon entering the site, users are greeted with energizing music and intense visuals, while a functional layout enables them to navigate with ease.

To help provide an enriched experience for visitors, the site features an informative yet humorous demo video that details the benefits and applications of Pro-Line HP and encourages metalworking and welding professionals to "Just say no to wimpy markers." Pro-Line HP marks the most difficult industry applications with precision, even on oily, soapy and wet surfaces, but without the health and environmental issues of other liquid paint markers. In addition, visitors can also click on the Colors tab to scroll over and better view the bold array of 14 colors available with the product line.

The website also provides metal layout and fabrication workers with the unique opportunity to share their extreme marking experiences by emailing in videos, pictures and stories that tell how they use the markers. Markal will then post their favorites and send all winners a Markal "Extreme Measuring Device" along with a set of the markers. Visitors can also request a free trial set of markers to test drive on their applications by simply clicking on the "Get Sample" tab. "When designing this website, our goal was to create a fun experience for welders and metal workers while also providing them with the unique opportunity to tell us their stories," states Dan Kleiman, chief executive officer of La-CO/Markal. "The end result is an interactive website that is as extreme and bold as the markers."

In a continuous effort to enhance the customer's experience, a "Where to Buy" tool helps users locate local Markal distributors. By entering a postal code and specifying the distance (in miles) that they would be willing to travel, metal working professionals in the U.S. and Canada can view a complete list of distributor locations closest to them in the range specified. www.laco.com

SECO TOOLS (TROY, MI) . . .

launched a new animated aerospace micro-site. Jump on board the virtual Seco Jet by clicking on industry applications, where solutions for aerospace machining come to life. This dynamic site allows users to scroll over various parts the aircraft — landing gear, engine or structural areas — where pop-up windows indicate the main components within these locales. By clicking on a specific component, successful tooling solutions are displayed along with basic process information.

This new micro-site is part of the company's focus on the development of tailored solutions that increase productivity for key industry segments, such as the new Jabro solid carbide end mills for the machining of composite materials. Going beyond just tooling, these solutions illustrate the development of a component from drawing to finish — how the company processes, optimizes, quotes, fine-tunes and presents the final to the customer.

Rather than focusing on selling a cutting tool, the goal with this new approach is to sell a complete solution for specific components, helping customers to quickly identify where Seco can partner with them to improve production. In order to help customers keep appraised of the latest technology and processes, the company anticipates updating the tools and applications shown on the site on a regular basis. Seco Tools is part of Seco Tools AB, which recently acquired 100 percent of the shares in AOB, a French manufacturer of PCD (Poly Crystalline Diamond) cutting tools.

AOB, based in Mortagne-sur-Sevre near Nantes, France, is one of the leading suppliers of PCD tools to the aerospace, automotive and woodworking industries and has special expertise and experience in machining of composite materials (CFRP). AOB has annual revenue of approximately EUR 4 million and around 50 employees. "We are delighted at the opportunity to advance our position in the strategically important aerospace industry. This acquisition will further strengthen the high-tech capability on which our customer relationships are based," says Kai Wärn, president and CEO of Seco Tools. www.secotools.com

CELERITIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(CAVE CREEK, AZ) . . .

appointed J&K Sales and Engineering (Gallatin, TN) to distribute VoluMill, its revolutionary ultra high-performance toolpath engine, to manufacturers in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. VoluMill is a patent-pending plug-in engine that can be used with any CAM system. It is used in place of traditional roughing toolpath engines when shop productivity is a priority. The use of VoluMill has proven to significantly increase machine capacity utilization, and dramatically reduce per-unit tooling costs on all part geometries and materials.

J&K Sales and Engineering, founded in 1994, serves more than 120 automotive, medical and aerospace manufacturers. J&K offers CNC machines made by Doosan Infracore, end mills by Helical Solutions, Iscar and Sumitomo, along with indexable tools, taps, and drills. Oley Martin, president and sales manager for J&K, says he decided to offer this software because he believes the use of VoluMill "will positively impact the competitiveness of the American manufacturing industry because it dramatically reduces machining time and tooling costs while simplifying the part programming process." www.volumill.com

SANDVIK COROMANT (SANDVIKEN, SWEDEN) . . .

reached a cooperation agreement with Precorp Inc. (Spanish Fork, UT) with the aim of being a joint solution provider for composite machining. The company also released a free App designed to provide a convenient resource for calculating cutting data, introduced a tool library to simplify manufacturers' tool management systems and announced an agreement with Höfler Maschinnebau to develop and provide highly productive and reliable machining solutions for the gear machining industry.

As partners, Sandvik Coromant and Precorp will provide unique products using PCD vein technology and innovative carbide solutions as well as application know how for the composite industry. The PCD vein technology incorporates a precision sintered slot of PCD onto the cutting edge improving the quality and efficiency of the tool. The partnership secures the development of innovative solutions from Sandvik Coromant and Precorp and strengthens the niche for diamond based cutting tools, particularly in the rapidly growing composite aerospace segment. Sandvik Tooling acquired 49 percent of the shares in Precorp Inc. during 2008.

The company recently released a free App designed to provide engineers and machinists with a convenient resource for calculating cutting data. Once downloaded and installed, the App helps users optimize performance of their turning, milling and drilling applications by calculating optimal setting based on a job's unique parameters. "We're always looking for exciting new ways to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers," says Lennart Lindgren, global vice president marketing and sales "We developed this App to provide customers with a convenient resource that can be accessed anywhere they take their phone."

The Machining Calculator App features a help button that provides additional information on the calculation being executed and the input needed to generate results. The App also contains a process cost comparison that determines how tool optimization can provide cost and time savings. The App works with both metric and in measurements and is available for both iPhone and Android phones.

Sandvik Coromant in introducing a tool library to simplify manufacturers' tool management systems. Launching in select markets during Q1 2011, this library provides a standardized means to maintain digital files on all of the cutting tools they use, regardless of brand and tool supplier. "The need for cutting tool data has been increasing dramatically in recent years," says Mats Allard, manager for virtual machining. "Manufacturers use dimensional parameters, 2D drawings and 3D models for cutting simulations, NC programming, tool management and other day-to-day business functions. This has proved challenging, as many suppliers of cutting tools and PLM/CAM/CNC software have used their own unique naming conventions and storage protocols. This library will offer a standardized source for this vital data and provide manufacturers with substantial time savings."

The tool library will contain three main sections:
– Catalog Area: This section will be open to all cutting tool suppliers to enter data for their products.
– My Items: Manufacturers can copy data from the main catalog to their own personalized, customizable section.
– My Assemblies: Users can manually or automatically build assemblies from their selected data, allowing easy storage and retrieval of dimensional parameters, 2D drawings and 3D models.

Via an intuitive interface, users will be able to easily transfer their selected data to whichever of their software applications require cutting tool data. The cutting tool data structure is based on ISO 13399 to ensure stable and safe development, use and communication of cutting tool data. The tool library has been developed with TDM Systems, the know-how center for tool data within Sandvik Tooling.

In related news, Sandvik Coromant has announced an agreement with Höfler Maschinnebau
to develop and provide highly productive and reliable machining solutions for the gear machining industry. The companies' efforts will primarily focus on the growing wind power industry, which requires cost efficiency and high quality standards. "Höfler is an ideal partner for us," says Kenneth Sundberg, global business manager for gear milling solutions. "They offer technology leadership in gear manufacturing and a strong global position within the wind power industry. Their stable and accurate machines and our cutting tools for extreme loads will increase metal removal rates and signifcantly reduce manufacturing costs." With U.S. operations in Pittstown, NJ, Höfler is headquartered in Baden Würtemberg, Germany, and produces special purpose machine tools for grinding and hobbing. The company has more than 50 years of experience in gear manufacturing. www.sandvik.coromant.com, www.hofler.de

HARDINGE INC. (ELMIRA, NY) . . .

acquired the assets of Jones & Shipman (Leicester, UK), a manufacturer of grinding and super-abrasive machines and machining systems. Jones & Shipman distributes a range of high-quality grinding (surface, creep feed and cylindrical) machines used by a diverse range of industries including aerospace, medical, mould tool and die, power generation and high-end automotive. The Jones & Shipman business has operated continuously in the UK, under various owners, since 1899. "This transaction is a solid strategic fit for us adding valuable product lines, as well as the strong Jones & Shipman brand name, to our grinding portfolio," said Rick Simons, president and CEO. "Along with expanding our European-based grinding business, Jones & Shipman products will help us expand our U.S. and Asian market presence."

Jones & Shipman has become part of the company's Kellenberger grinding organization and will continue operations at the current Leicester location. The sales of the Jones & Shipman products in the US will be handled by the current Hardinge Technical Grinding Sales team, along with the existing Jones & Shipman Technical Grinding Sales team. "Hardinge is a strong company with strong brand names of Hardinge, Bridgeport, Kellenberger, Hauser, Tschudin and now the Jones & Shipman brand name. This addition continues to show our strength. " said Mr. Simons. www.hardinge.com

LUVATA ELECTROFIN, INC. (MIDDLESEX, UK) . . .

plans to expand its presence into Northern California to meet the growing demand for spray-applied coil and cabinet corrosion protection. The facility will offer Insitu, a spray-applied, permanent, water-based, synthetic coating developed by Luvata ElectroFin specifically for the protection of heat exchange units and cabinet coating. At its new location in San Leandro, CA, Luvata ElectroFin moves closer to its Northern California and Oakland Bay area customers looking for its branded Insitu spray-applied corrosion protection for post manufacturing equipment. "The addition of the Northern California location, combined with our Temecula or Southern California operation, provides us with the opportunity to satisfy demand throughout the Western U.S., as well as for those customers shipping HVAC/R equipment into the Pacific Rim where corrosion is prevalent," states Mike Powell, director of sales and marketing. "This new Northern California location, in addition to the recent opening of our Tampa, FL, location, demonstrates Luvata ElectroFin's continued commitment to our customers in pursuing opportunities where the market demands a superior product and supplier."

Through the acquisition of McIntyre coatings services assets and Luvata ElectroFin's additional investment into the facility and equipment upgrades, including all business and environmental operating permits to meet company standards, the 13,000 sq ft facility is immediately ready to fully support the spray-applied market. The acquisition does not include McIntyre's coil or air handling business units. Luvata Insitu polymer coating contains ES2 (embedded stainless steel) pigment to provide a multi-layer structure which tightly bonds to the substrate. As the Insitu coating wears away over time, the stainless steel particles become more and more exposed, providing continued protection for the remainder of the coating and substrate underneath. Insitu is UV and chemical resistant, is environmentally sustainable and meets stringent air quality emission standards. www.luvata.com

COE PRESS EQUIPMENT (STERLING HEIGHTS, MI) . . .

added Veugen Integrated Technologies (VIT; New Dundee, ON) to its distributor network, which consists of representative companies throughout North America. In addition to being a distributor of plant automation devices, VIT is recognized as a leader in the metalforming industry for its innovative approaches to rebuilding press controls to meet current safety standards as well as being an integrator of automated machinery. Headed by Walter Veugenand, president, and Mike Foster, sales manager, VIT will represent COE coil handling and feeding equipment throughout Canada. COE Press Equipment designs and manufactures coil handling and servo roll feed equipment from stand-alone roll feeds, straighteners, reels, cradles and air feeds to complete integrated feed line systems. The company supplies and services a wide variety of global markets and industries including automotive, appliance, lighting, metal processing, housewares, lawn and garden, contract stampers, tool and die builders, and many others. www.cpec.com

ITW WELDING NORTH AMERICA (APPLETON, WI) . . .

added MAXALT-brand aluminum welding wire products to its portfolio, effective immediately. MAXAL, Inc. was a privately-held company based in Traverse City, MI. "This addition enables us to deliver a superior platform of customized, comprehensive aluminum wire and feeding solutions to our customers in strategic markets," said Mike Weller, president of ITW Welding North America. "The synergy between MAXAL aluminum wire products, Miller welding equipment and our offering of MIG welding guns solidifies our position as the leader in aluminum systems technology in a marketplace where demand is increasing."

Founded in 2006, MAXAL was owned and operated by aluminum industry innovators, Jim MacIntosh and Steve and Bruce Anderson. The company is widely recognized in the industry as a technology leader and has revolutionized the way aluminum wire is developed and produced. "This is a strategic move for our business and ultimately enables us to deliver more value to our customers and the industry overall," said Steve Anderson, one of the principal founders of MAXAL. "ITW Welding North America is composed of the best welding products in the market, and we're extremely pleased to be joining this portfolio of industry-leading brands." Both Steve and Bruce Anderson will remain as key contributors to the business moving forward. As part of ITW Welding North America, MAXAL will continue operating at its current location. Jim MacIntosh will continue as president of MAXAL, reporting to Tim Temby, group vice president of Industrial Products for ITW Welding North America. www.itwwelding.com

THE BRADBURY CO., INC. (MOUNDRIDGE, KS) . . .

acting through its subsidiary, Bradbury Australia, Pty Ltd., announced its further expansion into the southern hemisphere by entering into an agreement to acquire the assets and intellectual property of Hilleng International and Diecraft. The deal is expected to close in the near future. Hilleng is the leading manufacturer of sandwich panel laminating machinery and systems. The business has been established for more than 35 years, successfully installing more than 250 panel manufacturing systems worldwide. Diecraft has been established for more than 25 years and is the leading supplier of rollforming equipment to the rainwater goods market. "We are pleased to welcome Hilleng International and Diecraft to our family of companies. For the past number of years, we have known and competed with this talented group of people and the quality products they provide. With Martin Cannon and Graeme Clark coming on board as senior managers of Bradbury Australia, the systems they produce will complement our global strategy in the key markets and geographic regions we have targeted for growth," remarked David Cox, president and COO of The Bradbury Group.

Mike Lowe, managing director of Hayes International, a subsidiary of The Bradbury Group, commented, "This acquisition allows the four strong brands of Bradbury, Hayes, Hilleng and Diecraft to be under one umbrella. We will be merging the staff of Hayes Australia, Pty Ltd, into Bradbury Australia, Pty Ltd. This greatly increases our service and support of the Australia and Southeast Asia marketplace. Our customers will be able to continue to contact the same technical service people they have dealt with in the past. Hayes International New Zealand, now in its 50th year, will remain the hub for regional activities." Martin Cannon, managing director for Hilleng and Diecraft stated, "The strength of The Bradbury Group will enable Bradbury Australia to capitalize on the entire capability of the Hilleng and Diecraft product lines. Our association with the Group will allow us to provide unparalleled service and to undertake exciting new technologies that we will bring to the industries we serve around the world." www.bradburygroup.com

D&S MANUFACTURING (BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI) . . .

achieved certification to DIN EN 15085-2 standards, Certification Level CL2, for the welding of new components and parts for railway vehicles, according to Michael Dougherty, company president. "This certification provides us with a strong competitive advantage within our industry, as we are now able to provide documentation that we meet the requirements of railway products manufactured for the European market. I am very proud of the accomplishments of our welding team and the high praise they received from the auditing body based on their performance during the evaluation process," he stated.

According to manufacturing engineer Joe Lane, customer Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) was seeking a source for DIN EN 15085-2 certified weldments in the U.S. EMD was impressed with D&S facilities and the company's existing welding processes, which include adherence to AWS standards as well as component review by a full-time AWS certified inspector. An extensive compliance audit was conducted at the D&S Manufacturing facility by TÜV Rheinland (Cologne, Germany). The auditor tested welding coordinators regarding their weld process knowledge, thoroughly inspected the shop and evaluated all weld procedures. "The standards require that D&S maintain systems in place for training and consistency in welding procedures and that a responsible welding coordinator is retained on-site to provide supervision and address technical questions," Lane explained. D&S's certification to DIN EN 15085-2 standards, which was issued on July 9, 2010, is valid through March 15, 2013. www.dsmfg.com

D&S MANUFACTURING

(BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI) . . .

expanded their cutting capabilities by installing a new Messer MG Titan II cutting system. Michael Dougherty, president of D&S, announced, "This sizeable investment in new equipment enables us to expand the range of projects we are able to accommodate internally, resulting in a more efficient and economical approach to the manufacturing process."

Quality manager Joe Lane explained that the new unit, which replaces the company?s existing
ESAB Avenger and Sector Technologies Model ST1200 equipment, was researched and selected by a team of employees. "The Titan II unites oxyfuel and high definition plasma technologies within one integrated system by placing them on a common rail. This enables us to increase machine duty cycle and versatility while reducing the time and expense associated with operator training. This system also accommodates raw material as lengthy as 85 ft, a significant increase over our existing capabilities and a major differentiator in our industry," he revealed.

The speed and quality of the oxyfuel cutting process is enhanced through the integration of automatic height sensing technologies. This proprietary feature eliminates the need for manual adjustments to compensate for material shifts caused by heat or natural distortion of the steel. As a result, the 4-torch system will consistently deliver uniform cuts throughout the entire production run for parts as thick as 6 in. Rapid cutting speeds for components as slim as ¼ in will be achieved by employing the single torch of the high definition plasma process. Automated programming, utilizing the company?s existing MRP software, results in seamless nesting.

According to Lane, the Titan II uses downdraft tables that draw air from the bottom of the cut to significantly improve air quality by removing particulates and dust from the cutting process. It also eliminates wastewater, reducing the time and expense associated with weekly maintenance.

D&S, which is certified ISO 9001:2008, has served as a custom manufacturer of large scale components, assemblies and complete weldments for Caterpillar, Oshkosh Corporation, Parkson, The Trane Company, CNH and other corporations for more than 40 years. This installation coincides with the completion of the company?s extensive building expansion program that re-engineered the floor plan for the entire production facility, including machining, laser, high definition plasma and oxy-fuel cutting, manual and robotic welding, liquid spray painting and shot blasting to assembly and testing. The resulting reduction in raw material handling will dramatically improve work flow, yielding significant cost savings. www.dsmfg.com

LSA LASER (PLYMOUTH, MN) . . .

moved into a new 26,000 sq ft manufacturing and office facility in Plymouth which more than doubles the size of the previous operations of this precision laser processor of components and assemblies for the medical device industry. This manufacturer performs laser cutting, laser welding, laser ablation and laser marking used in a broad range of medical devices, including defibrillation leads, stents, catheters, surgical instruments, dental instruments, orthopedics, hearing devices, neuro applications and a host of other applications.

Thomas Noll, LSA Laser president, announced the move by stating, "These new facilities are designed to accommodate our rapidly growing work with the medical community. While we have more than doubled our physical plant and offices, more significantly we have expanded our R&D capabilities and laser technology range to include a large scale research and development department. To form partner relationships with customers, we go far beyond the manufacture of components and products. We often team with customer design engineers throughout the product development process. Together, we work through various design iterations utilizing our laser machines and engineers to refine a design and an appropriate manufacturing process."

LSA Laser is certified ISO 13485:2003 and has over 11 years of experience supplying the medical device industry. The company utilizes twenty-two laser welding and cutting systems, with up to six-axis motion control and computer aided manufacturing capabilities, to produce components used in guidewires, pacing leads, surgical instruments, electrical leads and assemblies. Many are made of exotic metals in very small sizes. Some of the materials include platinum, titanium, nitinol and nichrome in sizes down to .001 in, which is smaller in diameter than a human hair. www.lsalaser.com

JET EDGE, INC. (ST. MICHAEL, MN) . . .

introduces its new waterjet parts website, https://waterjetparts.jetedge.com, a user-friendly, secure source for ordering consumable and replacement water jet parts. This designer and manufacturer of waterjet systems for precision cutting, surface preparation and coating removal carries a wide variety of competitively priced parts, including waterjet cutting heads, abrasivejet cutting heads, dual pressure valves, high pressure tubing and high pressure fittings. Custom waterjet swivels, lines and coils are also available.

The company is offering all new online accounts 25 percent off on their first online order made through December 31, 2009 (this offer applies to all parts, except for nozzles and hp hoses). Established in 1984, Jet Edge systems are used around the world in a broad range of industries, from the world's leading airlines to automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturers, machine and job shops.

In addition to waterjet parts and accessories, Jet Edge also manufactures precision waterjet cutting machines, waterjet pumps, portable waterjet cutters, and ultra-high pressure water blasting tools for cleaning and surface preparation. www.jetedge.com

GF AGIECHARMILLES (LINCOLNSHIRE, IL) . . .

announced a reorganization of its Swiss facilities to adapt to the ongoing worldwide economic crisis. The move will include realigning resources to boost efficiency, accompanied by some layoffs to reduce current excess capacity. In addition to these changes, the company is working to ensure maximum profitability through continued investment in research and development and customer service.

Production of EDMs that previously took place in Geneva, Switzerland, will now be integrated into the company?s manufacturing facilities in Losone. The Losone campus will also house some aspects of research and development, along with the sales organization serving Switzerland and several other European nations.

The campus in Geneva continues to be responsible for the majority of GF AgieCharmilles? research and development efforts, as well as housing the company?s international headquarters. International marketing, customer service and worldwide spare parts will also be located in Geneva. The company, a leading North American supplier of wire EDM, CNC and manual diesinking systems, and high speed/performance and 5-axis CNC milling machines, currently employs approximately 1,000 individuals through its Swiss operations.

"The current economic hardship has presented an enormous challenge to manufacturers around the world," says Glynn Fletcher, president of GF AgieCharmilles in North America. "Some layoffs will accompany the realignment of our production resources, but our primary goal is to increase efficiency so that we may continue to provide standard setting products and services. Even as we make these changes, we continue to invest in our customer service and support centers and develop new technologies."

The manufacturer just invested in a new state-of-the-Central Art phone system to serve their U.S. and Canadian customers more efficiently, and can now connect or forward calls directly to any of their U.S. locations utilizing VOIP technology. GF AgieCharmilles will be unveiling a variety of new machines and technologies at EMO 2009, including the HSM LP High Speed Machining Center and Cut 1000 Oil Wire EDM, along with the new IQ Generator and a new HEM milling product line. The company will also introduce the Laser 1000 5Ax, a new machine created to provide surface texturing on a wide array of materials.

To maintain its commitment to customer service and support, the company recently invested in its CRM system, along with adopting voice over internet protocol for its call centers. The company has also put additional resources behind its Privilege Club, which provides benefits to customers.

In other news, the company has developed and contributed sample code for programming in Visual Basic to MTConnect. The solution was created internally and made available to the MTConnect Institute to further the standard?s development.

"MTConnect will do a lot to transform modern manufacturing," says Eric Ostini, the GF AgieCharmilles product manager who developed the sample code. "Increasing productivity and efficiency is the key to strengthening the global competitiveness of American manufacturers. Creating a common communication protocol for all manufacturing equipment will redefine the productivity we can achieve." The Visual Basic sample code will be used in GF AgieCharmilles? booth at EMO 2009 in Milan, where attendees can see its application to their operations. www.gfac.com/us

ACS PRECISION LLC (MERCERSBURG, PA) . . .

recently added a certified pre-owned 4 kW Mitsubishi LXP laser system to its equipment capabilities. The LXP is capable of processing material up to 0.75 in thick steel and can accommodate a 4 ft x 8 ft sheet size. The laser adds even more diversity to the existing fabrication processes already in place in an 11,900 sq ft flexible job shop that focuses on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic metropolitan areas.

ACS president Sandra Tillman-Daniels commented on the decision to add this technology to the equipment lineup. "The laser is a perfect complement to our waterjet and CNC machining equipment," she said. "With a laser in our portfolio of services, we are able to cut thin gages of material in intricate shapes with the speed and accuracy that our customers need. Plus, it allows us to free up our waterjet to focus mainly on the fabrication of heavier sheet and plate aluminum, and other non-ferrous materials."

ACS Precision?s services include sheet metal fabrication, machined weldments, structural components, precision machining and, rubber and plastic and safety guarding products. www.acsprecision.com

AMERICAN WELDING SOCIETY (MIAMI, FL) . . .

recently published a revised edition of the AWS C4.2, Recommended Practices for Safe Oxyfuel Gas Cutting Torch Operation. The standard known, as C4.2/C4.2M:2009, supersedes the 2006 edition.

The 62-page book describes the oxyfuel gas cutting process and latest procedures and safety requirements, using terminology compatible with ISO documents. Illustrations show torch and nozzle configurations, and examples of production-cut surfaces. The standard makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI).

The revised standard is the joint effort of the AWS C4 Committee on Oxyfuel Gas Welding and Cutting, made up of volunteer industry suppliers, end-users, and researchers. AWS C4.2/C4.2M:2009, Recommended Practices for Safe Oxyfuel Gas Cutting Torch Operation is available at 888-WELDING or www.aws.org/standards for $68. American Welding Society members can purchase the standard for just $52. www.aws.org

BISON GEAR & ENGINEERING CORPORATION

(ST. CHARLES, IL) . . .

was recently recognized for its commitment to employee health and well-being and its innovative health and wellness initiatives yielding measurable employee health improvement by receiving the "Healthiest Company in America" award from Interactive Health Solutions (IHS).

"Everyone talks about health care today, but more than a dozen years ago Bison Gear began creating a corporate culture that encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own health and to take an active role in their preventative care," said CEO Martin Swarbrick.

The award is based on clinical evaluations of employee participants across an index that tests for indicators of heart disease, diabetes, smoking and other measures of health status that are in part controllable by an individual. When Bison constructed its headquarters and manufacturing facility in St. Charles in 1997, the gearmotor manufacturer budgeted for a completely equipped employee fitness center. More recently, it has invested in an onsite clinician ready medical resource center. In addition, a cross-functional team of Bison "Health Ambassadors" has been formed to develop and communicate health awareness and improvement programs throughout the company.

Working with IHS, Bison hosts an annual Wellness Fair for employees and their family members that includes free diagnostic testing and counseling. "Years ago, we were fortunate to win the business of an up and coming exercise equipment company," said Ron Bullock, chairman and owner of Bison Gear. "That customer relationship, which still endures, has contributed to the health of our business. More importanly, though, it made us more aware of the benefits of proactive health management and that has been an even greater contribution to every Bison associate."

Founded in 1960, Bison Gear designs and manufactures fractional horsepower electric motors, gearmotors and gear reducers used in industrial and commercial OEM applications worldwide. Bison's integrated production facility in St. Charles manufactures gearmotors and reducers in parallel shaft and right angle configurations, as well as AC and DC electric motors. www.BisonGear.com

BUNTING® MAGNETICS COMPANY

(NEWTON, KS) . . .

rolled out their redesigned corporate website, www.buntingmagnetics.com that features improved navigation, better product information and a more streamlined experience for purchasing products online. Throughout the site, video and improved photography will be incorporated onto all the product pages.

"This new website is part of our continued effort to provide our customers with the best service possible," stated Charles Whitt, Bunting® director of marketing. "A part of this commitment is to have a website that gives constant updates on product information while at the same time being easy to use. We feel that this redesign helps accomplish that goal."

The new website allows customers to quickly find their sales representative through the Locate a Rep feature, keeps visitors up-to-date on recent news releases and give industry-specific examples of how Bunting® products are used in different applications. Also, the new Flexible Die Division is more prominently featured on the new site.

Since 1959, privately-owned Bunting® has been serving manufacturers of metal products. The company?s world headquarters and main manufacturing facility in Newton manufactures magnetic separation equipment, and magnetic and non-magnetic conveyors for use in manufacturing and recycling industries. The company also has a manufacturing and distribution facility in Elk Grove Village, IL, that sells a full range of magnets, including magnetic assemblies, cut magnets, flexible magnetic rubber and magnetic tools. www.buntingmagnetics.com

CARL ZEISS IMT (MAPLE GROVE, MN) . . .

opened a new West Coast Tech Center in Irvine, California. "We are dedicated to supporting the high-tech industry on the West Coast by providing customers easy access to our most modern and advanced technology," said Andy Sisler, vice president of sales at Carl Zeiss IMT. "The new technical center will provide more local resources and support for this fast paced market. It?s an exciting time for us because this is a chance to be even closer to our customers, and show our commitment to customer support after the sale."

The new facility is located in an Irvine modern technology park and focuses on application support, contract inspection services, software training, and demonstration of ZEISS equipment. "Providing contract inspection services is an exciting part of what we are building here," states Drew Shemenski, software and applications manager. "With a full suite of metrology systems at this facility, we have the capability to support the inspection needs of everyone from micro-molders, up through traditional CNC job shops, as well as specialists such as gear and turbine manufacturers."

The facility houses the Metrotom 1500, an X-ray based computed tomography system specifically designed for 3D metrology of small, complex low-density parts made of plastic, composite materials or ceramic. It also has the O-Inspect, a multi-sensor system that features both tactile and optical scanning and provide tremendous flexibility for measuring parts that approach the micro range of size. "We have a variety of surface form and geometry systems to really round out our measuring and demonstration capabilities. The team we have in place also brings a depth and variety of experience that really complements the technology. We are looking forward to bringing all these elements to support our customers," states Shemenski. www.zeiss.com/imt

CHINA ISSUES MAJOR ECONOMIC INDICATORS . . .

In August 2009, the total value added to industrial enterprises with an annual sales income of more than RMB 5 million yuan ($732,000) in China rose 12.3 percent year-over-year, or 1.5 percentage points higher than July 2009, reports Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, TX). From January to August 2009, the figure showed 8.1 percent growth from the previous year, which is a year-over-year decrease of 7.6 percentage points, according to the Instant Statistic Report of the National Bureau of Statistics of China that was announced September 11.

In August, all 39 industrial classifications showed year-over-year growth:

? textile industry, up 9.8 percent

? manufacture of raw chemical materials and chemical products, up 18.2 percent

? manufacture of non-metallic mineral products, up 17.3 percent

? manufacture of general machinery, up 12.0 percent

? manufacture of transport equipment, up 26.7 percent

? manufacture of electric machinery and equipment, up 13.0 percent

? manufacture of communication equipment, computers and other electronic equipment, up 4.8 percent

? production and supply of electricity, gas and water, up 6.8 percent

? ferrous metal smelting and pressing, up 13.3 percent

In terms of different products, of 494 different products, the output of 364 products showed year-over-year growth:

? output of coal was 260 million tons, up 14.6 percent from the previous year

? output of crude oil was 16.32 million tons, up 1.6 percent

? electricity production was 334.3 billion kilowatt-hours, up 9.3 percent

? pig iron production was 52.33 million tons, up 22.0 percent

? production of cement was 150 million tons, up 24.0 percent

? production of motor vehicles was 1,167 thousand, up 90.0 percent, of which, the output of cars was 657,000, up 96.2 percent.

From January to August 2009, China's fixed-asset urban investments was $1.65 trillion, up 33 percent year over year, or 5.6 percentage points higher than the same period last year. In August 2009, total retail sales of consumer goods reached $147.68 billion, an increase of 15.4 percent year over year and 7.8 percentage points lower than the increase of August 2008. From January to August 2009, the total retail sales of consumer goods were $1.15 trillion, a year-on-year growth of 15.1 percent, but down by 6.8 percentage points growth in the same period of last year.

In August 2009, the consumer price index went down 1.2 percent year over year. In August 2009, the price dropped 1.3 percent in cities and 1.0 percent in rural areas from last year. The price of food increased 0.5 percent, while non-food prices dropped 2.0 percent. In August 2009, the producers' price index (PPI) for manufactured goods went down 7.9 percent year over year. PPI growth in August 2008 was 10.1 percent. In the first eight months of this year, the year-on-year change of the producers' price for manufactured goods was down 6.4 percent. In the same period last year the price of manufactured goods was up 8.2 percent from the same period of 2007.

According to the announcement made by the General Customs Administration of China, in August 2009, the import and export value in China reached $191.7 billion, a drop of 20.6 percent year over year. Of this, the export value reached $103.7 billion, a drop of 23.4 percent year over year, and the the import value reached $88 billion, a drop of 17 percent year over year. China's trade surplus was $15.71 billion.

JOHN DEERE & COMPANY (MOLINE, IL) . . .

The Deere & Company Board of Directors approved an investment plan to establish a manufacturing and parts center in Russia. The project will be located near Moscow, in close proximity to the Domodevedo International Airport. The new site will have the capability to manufacture a broad range of John Deere products, including tractors and harvesting equipment, as well as construction and forestry products. At the same time, Deere will consolidate several depots into one site to improve parts and after-sales service to customers.

"Russia will be a major contributor to meeting the world's future needs for food and forestry products," said Samuel R. Allen, president and chief executive officer. "John Deere's products and solutions can greatly improve agricultural and forestry productivity through the use of advanced technology. Therefore, our investment in this new facility helps Deere prepare to significantly contribute to the Russian government's vision for expanding exports from Russia in these important sectors."

Allen said this announcement is the first step to achieve the vision for Russia that Deere announced in July 2009 at the US-Russia Business Summit and indicated the company's intention to significantly expand its presence in the country, which Deere views as an important growth market for agriculture, forestry and construction equipment. The project complements Deere's planned investment in a national operations and training center in the Kaluga region and its existing seeding equipment manufacturing facility in Orenburg.

"Our strategic investments reflect Deere's confidence in the potential of the Russian market, the strength of our dedicated dealers and employees, and the support of the Russian national and local authorities, particularly in the Kaluga, Orenburg, and Moscow Oblasts," said Mark von Pentz, president in John Deere's Agriculture and Turf Division. As government policies and market conditions allow, Deere intends to expand the company's presence in Russia in its current facilities and in other locations around the country, von Pentz said.

John Deere is a leader in providing advanced products and services for agriculture, forestry, construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. The company also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.

John Deere has been doing business in Russia for more than 100 years and has recently invested to expand operations, employment and sales in the Russian Federation. Today, Deere's dealer partners span the major agricultural and forestry regions. In total, Deere has a network of more than 70 sales locations across the country with employment in Russia at Deere and its independent dealerships approaching 2000 people.

Deere opened a forestry sales branch in Saint Petersburg in 2002; an agricultural sales branch in Moscow in 2003; a manufacturing facility for seeding equipment in Orenburg in 2005; and added construction equipment sales to the Moscow branch operations in 2009. The company also has announced its intention to develop an operations and training center in Kaluga. www.deere.com

DELCAM PLC (BIRMINGHAM, UK) . . .

the CADCAM developer has maintained its industry-leading levels of research and development expenditure during the first half of 2009, despite feeling the effects of the global economic downturn. The company invested over £4.7 million in R&D during the period, a small increase from the £4.5 million invested in the first half of 2008. This strategy is in marked contrast with some other suppliers in the CAM market, which have cut their investment in development as their sales have fallen.

Delcam also continues to invest in other areas of its business, including the opening of a new Professional Services Group and the addition of a large five-axis machine tool in its Tooling Services Division. Sales during the opening six months of 2009 were £16.1 million, less than 5 percent down from the £16.9 million achieved in the equivalent period last year. This reflects the very challenging market conditions that saw the company?s manufacturing customer base deferring its expenditure on software.

Within this total, recurring maintenance revenues, derived from software maintenance and support contracts, increased by 13 percent to £5.8 million compared with £5.1 million in the first half of 2008. This increase shows the value that customers put in the regular upgrades to the company?s software and the high quality of the technical support provided.

Despite the fall in sales and its continued high levels of R&D expenditure, the company has remained profitable. Pre-tax tax profit for the first six months of 2009 was £0.3 million, against £1.4 million in the first half of 2008. Net cash at the end of the period was a very healthy £5.8 million. This financial strength will leave the company well placed to take full advantage of any improvement in market conditions.

Commenting on the results, Delcam chairman Peter Miles said, "Reflecting the global financial and economic crisis, the trading environment in 2009 has been challenging and the impact of the downturn in the manufacturing sector has been even harder than we initially anticipated at the end of last year. With many companies postponing their investments in capital equipment, it is to be expected that the associated software sales should also be delayed. Given our strong financial position and high level of recurring income, we believe that the business is well placed to see out the near-term challenges. In particular, we are continuing to invest significantly in product development and marketing that provides us with an increasing commercial advantage and will help to support our ambitions to build our market share during the downturn."

The current global economic uncertainty makes it harder than usual to predict how well the company will perform in the second half and especially in the last quarter, which historically is their most important trading period in the year. However, Delcam anticipates an improvement in profitability in the second half of the year.

In related news, the company established a dedicated Healthcare Division to provide a greater focus on this increasingly important part of its business. The new Division will help companies across the medical, dental and associated industries to apply Delcam?s CADCAM expertise and experience in taking advantage of the latest design and manufacturing techniques. Commercial director Bart Simpson has been appointed as the head of the new Division.

"Companies in the healthcare industry face the same demands from their patients that our traditional engineering clients see from their customers for faster delivery of better and cheaper products," explained managing director Clive Martell. "Patients want to receive higher quality products and services, and they want to complete their treatment in the shortest-possible time. At the same time, healthcare companies are under pressure to provide this higher quality at lower cost and to increase their productivity to meet the growing demand. These requirements can only be met through the application of more advanced and more automated technology."

Delcam?s increased emphasis on the healthcare industry comes at a time when the sector is expanding rapidly and when it is much more receptive to computer-based technology. The aging population in industrialized countries and the growing affluence of the emerging economies mean that the healthcare industry is seeing global growth. Through its existing engineering business, the company is established in more than 80 countries worldwide and so can provide international support to larger healthcare providers and original equipment manufacturers.

Equally, Delcam?s focus on the toolmaking and subcontracting industries means that the company?s staff are used to dealing with smaller companies on a local level. All its offices, whether wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures or independent resellers, are renowned for the high level of support they provide to all their customers.

The company is, of course, already active in many areas of the healthcare business. Its design, reverse engineering, machining and inspection software are used in a wide range of applications from the production of prostheses, through to the manufacture of surgical instruments and all types of medical packaging. This is especially true for the PartMaker machining system for turn-mill equipment and Swiss-type lathes. These machines are used extensively for the manufacture of medical and dental components, to the extent that around 70 percent of PartMaker sales already come from the healthcare industry.

In addition, Delcam has introduced several specific products for the healthcare market over the last two years. These include the DentCAD and DentMILL programs for the design and manufacture of dental restorations and the OrthoModel and OrthoMill software for the development of orthotics. The company also offers special versions of its CRISPIN range of footwear design and manufacturing software for the production of orthopedic footwear.

The common theme with all these products is that they take existing Delcam technology and add a dedicated interface that uses imagery and terminology from the healthcare sector. This makes the software easy to learn and quick to use for healthcare professionals, even those that are not familiar with using computer-based design and manufacturing. www.delcam.com

ATG SOLUTIONS GMBH

(THÜRINGEN, GERMANY) . . .

a designer and manufacturer of production facilities and equipment, relies exclusively upon Dassault Systèmes? Delmia software solutions for validating its manufacturing facility and equipment efficiency. The digital manufacturing software is helping ATG save time and money by identifying potential problems in the virtual world, prior to production.

"Because of the ubiquity of Catia in our industry design engineering, the seamless compatibility of Delmia data is a huge plus," says Torsten Hessland, CEO of ATG. "Delmia allows us to integrate visualizations and simulations easily into previously existing plant and engineering designs without losing any time due to translation issues."

Working with SWJ Consult GmbH (Städe, Germany), an independent engineering company for planning and project management, ATG is able to create an entire factory or production facility in the virtual world of Delmia. Noted Hessland, "Without the Delmia solutions, it would not be possible to create the necessary interfaces for system evaluation."

To accomplish its goal of proving out factory floor efficiency in the virtual world, ATG is currently implementing Delmia DPM Body-in-White, Robotics, Human, and Automation solutions. Together, these solutions allow ATG to create, modify and validate automotive body-in-white planning for lines and stations in a virtual 3D environment ? inclusive of robotic workcell programming and human behaviors ? prior to any physical production.

Additionally, the virtual commissioning capabilities of Delmia Automation solutions merge the 3D virtual manufacturing models with the actual control systems and robot controllers. The company can then conduct and evaluate "what if" scenarios to optimize production, enabling them to get it right the first time. Any proposed changes to a plant floor layout can be explored beforehand in the virtual model of the plants.

The strength of the Catia/Delmia combined solution is based upon a common data model that allows for continuity of workflow to achieve immense time, quality and investment advantages. "For example," explains Dr. Bernd Hirthammer, CEO of SWJ, "when several robots are involved in the material handling of a component, we can simulate the process offline using Delmia for maximum efficiency. The accuracy of the solution then allows for easy transfer and upload of the program to the real-world equipment."

Currently, ATG is focusing on the development of new materials for carbon fiber technology. "Given today?s focus on energy conservation through weight reduction, we are examining applications where steel or aluminum could be replaced with carbon fiber materials," says Dr. Hirthammer. "This is an excellent application of the Delmia portfolio as we?ve found that our simulation results have been confirmed through real-world prototype testing." www.atg-solutions-group.com

TRILOGY MACHINERY, INC. (BELCAMP, MD) . . .

entered into an agreement with Deratech of Belgium to become their new, exclusive North American agent. Deratech, while relatively new to the press brake and shear market, has taken the industry by storm. Producing eight different styles of press brakes and shears, the manufacturer has positioned themselves to become a leader in the industry offering high quality machines at incredible prices with numerous standard features.

"We are excited about our new North American agent, Trilogy Machinery, and look forward to sharing our quality machines with their market" said managing director Bjorn Rabiot. Trilogy Machinery president and founder Allan Flamholz, says, "we are very enthusiastic about the opportunity to represent Deratech throughout the North American market. They will emerge as a leader in the industry with the quality, craftsmanship and included features of their machines."

Trilogy occupies a modern 50,000 sq ft facility, complete with 25 ton overhead crane capacity, over 2,500 sq ft of office space and a 5,000 sq ft showroom, where they can demonstrate under power Deratech press brakes and shears as well as the full line of ROUNDO bending rolls, including machines equipped with CNC controls. Customers can have samples of their products tested to insure the highest quality results.

Trilogy will handle all technical support for Deratech, as well as keep a full stock of parts and accessories at their Belcamp location. In addition, Trilogy team members will be trained at the Deratech headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, to be able to efficiently and effectively assist customers with applications, support and service. Trilogy will showcase Deratech Press Brakes and Shears at the upcoming FABTECH show in Chicago, November 15-18, 2009. On hand will be the managing directors of Deratech to further answer customer inquiries and demonstrate the machines. www.trilogymachinery.com

EGYPT RECORDS 75 PERCENT INCREASE IN STEEL CONSUMPTION IN FIRST HALF . . .

The Egyptian steel market witnessed unprecedented growth during the first half of this year, recording 75 percent growth in consumption on a year-on-year basis. According to research by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, TX), Egypt consumed about 2.4 million tons of steel in the first half of 2008, but fulfilled steel demand of 4.2 million tons during the same period this year.

Demand for long steel products has been significant, with the country importing about 3.8 million tons during the first half of this year. The large number of imports led domestic steel producers to slash prices of rebar. However, industry analysts indicate that Al Ezz Steel Rebars SAE (EZZ Steel; Cairo, Egypt) and other manufacturers have now raised rebar prices by $36.17 per ton. Currently, the price of rebar in Egypt is about $542.69 per ton.

Globally, the steel industry has been adversely impacted by the economic downturn. Steel producers worldwide have been forced to undertake production cutbacks, defer expansion plans, and lay off employees. The industry, which is still reeling under the effects of the financial crisis, is seeing signs of recovery in some countries. Industry experts say that the Egyptian government's economic stimulus package of $2.71 billion on infrastructure and other development projects in 2008-09 and the proposed $6.6 billion investment during 2009-10 have helped stabilize the domestic steel industry.

A recent report published in The World Today says that in addition to the federal stimulus package, growing demand in Egypt's real estate sector has helped the country's iron and steel sector sustain the repercussions of the global slowdown. The study indicates that the choice of Egyptians to build and buy homes in suburbs rather than in the capital city of Cairo has led to tremendous growth in infrastructure and construction activity across the country.

Egypt records about 600,000 marriages in a year, which has spurred demand for new homes and housing units. The building and construction sector is one of the largest consumers of steel. The report forecasts that by 2013, local steel demand will increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 15.6 percent to 13.4 million tons per year, with rebars accounting for about 82 percent of overall demand.

Egypt's largest independent steel maker, Ezz Steel, produced 2.232 million tons of steel during the first half of 2009, a 7 percent slump on a year-on-year basis. Despite the fall in production, the company's sales of long products grew 10 percent on a year-on-year basis to 1.6 million tons. This has helped in stabilizing the company's revenues, since the sale of flat products declined sharply by 50 percent at the export level and 41 percent in the domestic market. The company, which commands about 60 percent of the domestic market share, operates four manufacturing facilities in Sadat City, Suez, 10th of Ramadan City, and Alexandria.

Ezz Steel owns a 53.2 percent stake in Al Ezz Dekheila Steel SAE (Alexandria, Egypt), which manufactures flat and long steel products. Al Ezz Steel Mills SAE, in which Ezz Steel owns a 90 percent stake, produces long steel products. Ezz Flat Steel SAE, in which Ezz Steel owns a 75.2 percent stake, produces flat steel products. The present combined production capacity of Ezz Steel is 5.3 million tons. The firm employs about 6,000 people.

According to industry reports, Ezz Steel is planning a horizontal integration of its rebar production facility. This process will make use of liquid steel flexible for production of rebars and flat products, and will enable the firm to quickly respond to market demand. With the horizontal integration expected to be completed by mid-2011, Ezz Steel's revenue from rebar is estimated to grow at a 13.1 percent compounded annual growth rate before interest, depreciation, taxes and liabilities.

Steel analysts are optimistic that the global steel scenario will improve by 2010. Ezz Steel already has charted out augmentation plans that will increase its production capability to 6.3 million tons per year by 2010-11. This includes expansion of rebar production capacity by 1 million tons per year, which will take the total rebar production capability of the company to more than 4 million tons per year.

In its Egypt Metals Report 2009, Business Monitor International (BMI; London, England) predicts that the construction sector in Egypt is set to grow 5 percent in 2010. Crude steel consumption in the country has been forecast to increase 0.8 percent, while usage of finished steel products will grow 3.9 percent by 2010. The report indicates that by 2013, Egypt's steel imports will increase 77 percent to 5.27 million tons, while demand for finished steel products will grow 65 percent.

GLOBAL STEEL INDUSTRY POISED FOR RECOVERY FOLLOWING TOUGH FIRST HALF . . .

The global steel industry faced a tough time in the first half of 2009, with the worldwide financial crisis causing industrial production in many regions to decline considerably, particularly in the first quarter. However, according to research by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, TX), recent statistics show signs that the industry may be on its way to recovery.

Some countries ? notably Japan, Italy and Turkey ? registered declines as high as 20 percent in production during the first three months of the year. In contrast, China recorded an increase in industrial production of almost 6 percent in the same period. The International Monetary Fund has revised its world economic forecast to a 2.5 percent growth in 2009, following the gloomy prediction of a 1.3 percent decline it issued in April.

Steel production, following relatively flat worldwide production figures for the first quarter of 2009, has shown a slow but gradual increase in the April to July 2009 period, rising from 89 million tons in April to almost 104 million tons in July.

China continues to record significant growth in its economy and reflects the global trend in increased steel production during the April to July 2009 period, with figures of just more than 43 million tons in April rising to almost 51 million tons in July. Unlike many western countries, the motor vehicle industry in China recorded a 38.8 percent growth during the first half of 2009, largely on the back of government incentives and cuts in sales taxes.

Other countries in the Asian region for the most part have not followed the Chinese trend. India and South Korea have both recorded relatively flat steel production figures, with figures for India ranging from a low of 4.1 million tons in February to a high of 4.7 million tons in March, and those for South Korea ranging from 3.2 million tons in February to 4.2 million tons in May.

The steel industry in Japan hit a low in February this year when it recorded a production of 5.5 million tons. However, steel production increased to 7.7 million tons by July, with inventory of ordinary steel products declining between December 2008 and April 2009, before picking up in May and June 2009.

The decline in the U.S. appears to be slowing down, with many sectors reporting slight improvements from June to July this year. The new orders index in the manufacturing sector rose from 49.2 percent in June to 55.3 percent in July. Steel production in the U.S. appeared to follow this trend, rising from 4.3 million tons in June to almost 5 million tons in July.

After a poor first quarter, Europe's largest steel producer, Germany, began to show an increase in steel production after a low of 1.9 million tons in April, recording a gradual rise over subsequent months to reach 2.7 million tons in July.

It also appears that the various stimulus packages introduced by governments to counteract the global economic crisis have had little effect on steel production figures. This is largely because the packages initiated by the governments were aimed at the construction, automobile and infrastructure areas. Although these packages have the potential to benefit the steel industry, the stimuli will take time to reflect as increased demand for steel.

SANDVIK MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY

(SANDVIKEN, SWEDEN) . . .

is investing in a dedicated service center with its own slitting line in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China, ensuring that delivery times of precision strip to all customers in China can be kept to just one week. The service center is scheduled to open during October 2009 with a main feature of a new slitting line operational during November.

Initially intended to supply strip to customers throughout the Chinese market, the center will offer greater supply flexibility and considerably shorter delivery times, with material finished to size from stock held onsite. It will also open up options to supply other Asia Pacific markets from the first quarter of 2010. The new service center will introduce a considerable number of benefits, not only for existing customers in China, but also for those businesses considering relocation to the region, with fast response times and firm delivery dates for precision strip supplies. Sandvik will be able to provide made-to-order material at short notice, supplied locally, and facilitating fast growth of the market sector in the region.

The service center will focus on finishing and delivering precision strip to customers for the manufacture of flapper valves for compressors used in automotive, refrigeration and air conditioning units. It will also supply material to other important market sectors in the region, such as shock absorber manufacturers. Improved delivery times mean customers will be able to reduce their own lead times, offering flexibility to chase new business. Equally, customers can buy just what they need, when they need it, thus reducing the risks from stock ownership and freeing up capital as well.

"In a competitive market place we see real benefits to both our customers and their customers in our ability to supply material with short lead times directly in the local market," explained Andy McCullock of Sandvik Materials Technology. "This fully equipped service center will facilitate greater physical and operational flexibility, with the logistical capability to ship material to multiple sites, thus accommodating customer specific requirements."

Investment in the new Sandvik service center in Zhenjiang is part of a long term strategy, designed to extend Sandvik Materials Technology?s presence in Asia Pacific. www.smt.sandvik.com/strip

WILSON TOOL INTERNATIONAL

(WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN) . . .

expanded its European headquarters in Swindon, England. The world?s largest independent manufacturer of tooling systems for punch presses, press brakes and punch and die components for the stamping industry added 22,000 sq ft that includes new space for manufacturing as well as a dedicated customer and employee training center. The additional manufacturing space enabled the addition of new machines to be used to manufacture press brake tooling, the company?s fastest growing product line.

The expansion will also allow Wilson Tool to make continuous improvements to toward its lean manufacturing goals by creating new flow lines for the production of punch press and press brake tooling. "Changing our layout to flow will improve efficiencies and eliminate waste in our manufacturing processes," said Ray John, manufacturing manager. "Reducing our lead times, particularly for special tools, is a key objective in 2009. Our commitment to lean manufacturing has already enabled us to manufacture cluster tools and lance and form tools in three days. The new facility will give us the capacity to reduce the lead times of our other special tools."

The new customer training center is designed to be an educational destination for sheet metal fabricators throughout Europe. The facility opened on May 13 with a Productivity Seminar attended by 69 customers who were interested in learning more about lean manufacturing for sheet metal fabrication. Customers attended workshops on lean manufacturing as well as practical punch press and press brake demonstrations in Wilson Tool?s Technology Centre. Additional seminar dates and training for specific product lines will be added in the future.

Wilson Tool is committed to serving the European market through expanded manufacturing capabilities and enhanced customer training opportunities. The recent expansion brings the total footprint of the company?s European headquarters to 82,000 sq ft and demonstrates their commitment to this valuable market. www.wilsontool.com

SMARTTCP (FARMINGTON HILLS, MI) . . .

has been selected by Waiward Steel Fabricators Ltd., of Edmonton Alberta, Canada to automate its structural steel welding process. The robotic welding solution, which is designed for steel fabrication, combines hardware and software into a flexible and efficient welding cell that will automate both the robot programming and the weld production of Waiward?s high volume of ?one off? and small batch parts.

"We?ve been looking into robotic solutions for the better part of the last 10 years and haven?t found anyone that could address our low repeatability welding needs until now," said Jim Kanerva, vice president of operations for Waiward Steel. "We researched robotic systems from most major players in the North American market, always finding that there were important components missing to achieve a welding automation solution well suited to our structural steel needs. We selected them because they were the most advanced in addressing our needs."

Waiward Steel, one of Canada?s 50-Best Managed Companies, is an Edmonton-based steel fabricator and erector with extensive experience in the petrochemical, mining, power generation, pulp and paper, and commercial markets. The company?s services include the fabrication and installation of structural and miscellaneous steel, equipment components, hoppers, plate work, material handling equipment and bridge girders. Waiward sustains shop fabrication production levels few competitors duplicate, with Manufacturers? Health & Safety Association (MHSA) certified award winning safety, and ISO-9001 registered world class quality. This is achieved in one of Canada?s largest structural steel plants (216,000 sq ft), home to one of Canada?s largest and best trained structural steel fabrication crews.

"Waiward Steel, like most structural steel fabricators, has to deal with custom fabrications where every single piece, beam or column can be completely different," said Efi Lebel, founder and CEO of SmartTCP. "Our turnkey solution is ideal for just this challenge as it provides the most comprehensive, efficient and cutting edge welding automation solution possible to address positioning, fit up and programming issues, giving small batch fabricators a system that can accurately and reliably weld any weldable part in any number of welding scenarios quickly."

While researching automated welding options, Waiward Steel was very specific in its requirements when talking with robotic solution suppliers. They needed a complete solution to deal with high piece count projects with "batches of one". The solution needed to deal with the specialized welding demands of structural steel including large multi pass welds on thick beveled material, full penetration, heat distribution and the ability to handle inaccuracy/variances in part fitting and joint gaps.

"When we saw their solution, we knew that this was the solution," added Kanerva. "It was as if it was designed specifically for our situation and for our industry."

The solution to be implemented in the Waiward facility will include a bridge gantry system 125 ft long with two head and tail positioners (30,000 lb capacity each) specifically designed for structural steel, one ceiling mounted 6-axis articulated robot, welding equipment and welding automation software. The welding system will allow the company to produce more parts more quickly without additional employees and in the same amount of production space. These benefits, coupled with the increased quality and reliability of robotic welding over manual welding, will give the company an additional competitive advantage within their industry.

The off-the-shelf system is being installed in September and SmartTCP anticipates Waiward will be up and running production parts within six weeks, an extremely quick installation considering the machine size and complexity of the technology to be installed. From benchmarking efforts and experience, the company anticipates that Waiward will be able to weld with two operators what would normally take approximately eight welders to complete. Overall, this will result in greater and more efficient throughput.

SmartTCP is a leading supplier of automatic welding solutions for steel fabrications in small batch production. Their robotic welding solution reduces the need for expert welders, improves time to market, and increases production volume and quality. The gantry welding system is a turnkey solution that automates both the robot programming and the weld production and includes the hardware, software, installation, training and support during and after implementation. www.smarttcp.com

SIEMENS ENERGY & AUTOMATION, INC. (ALPHARETTA, GA) . . .

recently announced that Fryer Machine Systems, Inc. (Patterson, NY) has selected the Sinumerik 840D numerical control, together with the ShopMill and ShopTurn software packages, for its job shop milling and turning machines.

By using these CNC solutions, machine tool end-users benefit from decreased machine setup time, a unified control for both milling and turning machines combined with superior performance. Flexibility and ease-of-use were key factors in the decision to select Siemens. The solution allows end-users to achieve higher productivity through easy and intuitive features and step-by-step, on-screen programming that enable job shops to quickly respond to customer demands by drastically reducing programming, tooling and production times.

Fryer Machine Systems, Inc was established in 1982 and manufactures a diverse line of over 50 models of high quality machine tools in their Patterson facility. Over the years, Fryer has become well-respected for their quality and innovation. In addition their standard line, Fryer produces customized machines for a number of major companies in the aerospace and automotive markets.

"The Sinumerik 840D?s modular design allows us to take full advantage of the superior mechanical features in our machines," said Larry Fryer, president and CEO of Fryer Machine Systems. "This offers Fryer a customizable solution that is critical to effectively addressing the needs of our customers. It allows us to provide features not available from any other control."

"We are proud to extend our relationship with Fryer Machine by providing innovative CNC solutions," says Wolfgang Rubrecht, general manager, Motion Control Business, Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. www.usa.siemens.com/cnc

IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOLS

(HUNTERSVILLE, NC) . . .

will be the title sponsor of one of the most prestigious sporting events in the country beginning in 2010: the Irwin Tools Night Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. While the event's new name is unique ? the "Irwin Tools Night Race" ? the summer classic under the lights at Bristol will continue to be 500 grueling laps around the high banks of the .533-mile oval, one of NASCAR's most popular and storied facilities.

A spectacle in sports since 1961, Bristol has had 55 consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sellouts, dating back to 1982. "We could not have constructed a better partnership than one between Irwin Tools and Bristol Motor Speedway," said Irwin president Neil Eibeler. "Bristol leads the way in innovation, quality and ingenuity among NASCAR venues. We can't wait to see our blue and yellow colors here for years to come. Our employees are thrilled and our customers will be waiting in anticipation to see nearly 160,000 fans in the stands next year for the first 'Irwin Night Race at Bristol,' the most popular NASCAR race of the year."

Irwin Tools takes over the entitlement from Sharpie, a sister company under the Newell Rubbermaid umbrella, which has sponsored the race since 2001. "We're very happy to keep the Night Race in the Newell Rubbermaid family," said Jeff Byrd, president and general manager of BMS, NASCAR's fastest half-mile. "We have gotten to know the Irwin Tools team over the years and their desire is to be the best technological company in the tool business. We feel we have the best facility in our sport, so pairing up the two can only result in success. We look forward to a partnership and future together."

Irwin Tools is a manufacturer and distributor of a broad line of professional hand tools and power tool accessories, including Vise-Grip pliers and wrenches, Marathon saw blades, Quick-Grip clamping tools, Speedbor wood-boring bits, Strait-Line marking tools, Unibit step drill bits and Hanson taps and dies. Irwin Industrial Tools is a part of Newell Rubbermaid's global portfolio of brands. The Irwin Tools name has been a mainstay in NASCAR since 2003, serving as a primary car sponsor for Roush Fenway Racing. During that span, drivers Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray both won races in Irwin Tools Fords while Busch carried Irwin to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship in 2004.

"It's been a great ride with Roush Fenway Racing," said Eric Pinkham, Newell Rubbermaid's vice president of sponsorship and event marketing. "They clearly helped us put Irwin Tools on the map, and we appreciate what they've done for the Irwin brand. Now it's time for a new chapter for Irwin, and we can't wait to get started on the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol."

The 2010 Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol will be on Saturday, August 21. www.irwin.com

KSO METALFAB INC. (STREAMWOOD, IL) . . .

recently purchased MIE Maintenance Software, a system designed to help manufacturers prevent failures before they actually occur, from MIE Solutions (Garden Grove, CA).

KSO Metalfab specializes in the prototyping and manufacturing of stampings, machined parts, enclosures and assemblies, and provides comprehensive services, turnkey project management and full engineering support. Their modern facility is fully equipped to handle any project and their quality systems are in place to ensure they meet or exceed their goals by providing on-time, quality products and services.

MIE Solutions is a leading provider of production control software for the entire manufacturing sector. Incorporating MRP, ERP, scheduling, shop floor data capture, barcoding, job costing, quoting and estimating. MIE Trak (formerly known as FabriTrak) is a leading software for sheet metal fabricators, precision engineers and manufacturers that can be adapted to incorporate any manufacturing processes if required and offers a complete solution. Services include training, full product support and on-site implementation.

MIE Maintenance is a full CMMS and work order system designed to be used for an entire manufacturing organization. The system is designed to help by preventing the failure before it actually occurs, which PM and condition-based maintenance help to achieve. It is designed to preserve and restore equipment reliability by replacing worn components before they actually fail. Preventive maintenance activities include partial or complete overhauls at specified periods, oil changes, lubrication and so on. In addition, workers can record equipment deterioration so they know to replace or repair worn parts.

This software helps manufacturers in asset-intensive industries maintain their investments by managing these assets. MIE Maintenance handles both maintenance requests and predefined maintenance tasks to notify maintenance teams to perform work. Maintenance requests can be denied or approved. Once a maintenance request is approved, a work order is created to perform the work. All the work can be logged into the system for historical reporting and fixed asset reporting. www.kso.com

FABRICATORS PLUS (MUSCATINE, IA) . . .

recently unveiled a newly designed website spotlighting their company?s performance metrics and describing their Customizable Delivery System capabilities that raise the bar for JIT delivery practices everywhere. The company has decided there is no better way to demonstrate the measurability of their value-added services than by making public, its own operational results.

The site, www.fab-plus.com , makes specific company performance measures, for instance, quality defect rate, complete and on-time delivery rate, and others, available directly on the newly designed home page. The new site features an overview of the services and benefits the company provides its customers, industry related news articles, company announcements and detailed information regarding their specific JIT Delivery System development capabilities, as well as testimonials from customers.

Fabricators Plus provides customized lean manufacturing solutions to aluminum extruders and metal fabrication customers in Iowa and the Midwest. They manage the entire process, from the procurement of raw material to delivery of well-designed and high quality components and assemblies, often to large OEM manufacturers operating in a variety of industries that include lighting, furniture, construction and appliances.

The company's specialty is designing customizable delivery systems capable of providing dramatic bottom line results for its customers. They have put their combined 150+ years of operational expertise and understanding of lean manufacturing principles to work to develop customized delivery models that are years ahead of others claiming JIT delivery capabilities.

"We are a team of problem solvers. Our dedication to CDI (Continuous Daily Improvement) helps us to provide our customers with real, measurable results. Results that directly impact their bottom lines. Our customers are able to eliminate on-site inventory, increase their inventory turns and free up cash for investing in other areas of their business," said Douglas Buster, president. www.fab-plus.com