Hot Off the Press

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American Brazing Orders Two Vacuum Furnaces

American Brazing, Willoughby, OH, has ordered two horizontal-load vacuum furnaces from GM Enterprises. Each furnace offers a work zone of 42 by 42 by 60 in., gross load capacity of 8000 lb. and maximum temperature of 2450 F. The furnaces are expected to be installed in the second quarter of 2006, giving American Brazing nine GM and eight Abar-Ipsen vacuum furnaces to go along with three large continuous hydrogen furnaces. For more, visit www.americanbrazing.com.

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Redesigned Website Focuses on Fieldbus Technology

Pepperl + Fuchs, Twinsburg, OH, offers www.fieldconnex.info, a redesigned website dedicated to fieldbus products and technology. The revamped site reportedly provides easier navigation and includes pages of educational materials, including free downloadable literature and white papers. It also contains links to related standards organizations, industry associations, higher-education facilities and product providers. Also included: an Ask the Expert section that promises a response within one business day.

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German Heavy-Vehicle Manufacturer
Taps AutoForm for Sheetmetal Forming Optimization

MAN Commercial Vehicles Group, a German manufacturer of heavy commercial vehicles, has opted for sheetmetal forming optimization software from AutoForm (U.S. offices in Troy, MI) in its Gustavsburg plant. “We use the forming simulation software for the entire product range that we produce; stamped parts with sheet gauge thickness from 8-12 mm,” says Bernd Güntzel, head of production at MAN. “AutoForm software is used especially during the planning phase when the process layout is defined, and to support the design of die faces.” For more, visit www.autoform.com.

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