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Interplex Companies Receive ISO/TS Certification

Four companies owned by global stamper, plater and molder Interplex Industries, Flushing, NY, have been certified to ISO/TS 16949:2002, the international quality-control designation established for suppliers to the automotive industry. The four companies are Soprec, Dannemarie Sur Crete (France); Interplex Mexico, Guadalajara, Jalisco (Mexico); Interplex Sunbelt, Tamarac, FL; and Interplex Metals, Warwick, RI. The International Automotive Task Force (IATF), which consists of an international group of vehicle manufacturers, plus national trade associations, wrote ISO/TS 16949:2002 in conjunction with ISO. The specification aligns existing QS-9000, VDA6.1 (German), EAQF (French) and AVSQ (Italian) automotive-quality-systems standards within the global automotive industry. Together with ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949:2002 specifies the quality-system requirements for the design/development, production, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. It does not replace QS-9000; it is an optional document that will eliminate the need for multiple certifications. Clients registered to ISO/TS 16949:1999 had until the end of 2003 to upgrade their registration to ISO/TS 16949:2002.

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Indy Metalworker Opens New Tool and Die Shop

IMC Corp., Indianapolis, IN, supplier of precision sheetmetal and small machined parts and assemblies, has opened a new 17,000-sq.-ft. machine shop and tool-and-die operation less than a half-mile from its production facility. The new shop will allow IMC to meet growing demand for its machining services and will free up space for fabrication and assembly at its 50,000-sq.-ft. production center. The move is in response to the firm’s 14-percent sales growth in 2003. Learn more at www.imc4cnc.com.

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AISI Elects new Chairman

The Board of Directors of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has elected David Sutherland, president and chief executive officer, IPSCO Inc., to a one-year term as chairman. Sutherland succeeds Daniel R. DiMicco, vice chairman, president and CEO, Nucor Corp., who will serve this year as a vice chairman. Also, the board elected the following to one-year terms as vice chairmen: Guillermo F. Vogel, H., vice chairman of the board, Tubos de Acero de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.; and Thomas J. Usher, chairman and CEO, United States Steel Corp. Visit the AISI website at www.steel.org.

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