Hot Off the Press

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Esab to Develop Friction-Stir Welding for Stainless

Esab Welding & Cutting Products, Florence, KY, has signed an agreement with MegaStir giving Esab worldwide license to manufacture and distribute friction stir-welding machines using MegaStir technology. MegaStir technology expands the use of friction stir welding to higher-melting-point alloys such as ferritic and duplex stainless steels and nickel-phase alloys. MegaStir is a strategic alliance between SII Megadiamond, Inc., North Provo, UT, and Advanced Metal Products, West Bountiful, UT. For more information, visit www.esabna.com.

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Worthington Steel Recognized by Deere & Company

Deere & Company named Worthington Steel, Columbus, OH, a Partner-level supplier for 2007, the company’s highest supplier rating. Worthington Steel also was named a 2007 Enterprise Supplier of the Year in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. Worthington Steel supplies the John Deere Harvester Works plant in East Moline, IL, and the John Deere Ottumwa Works plant in Ottumwa, IA, with hot- and cold-rolled cut-to-length steel sheets. Learn more at www.worthingtonsteel.com.

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German Stamper Orders Second
Servo-Drive Blanking and Forming Press

Noting a 40-percent increase in output compared with its conventional eccentric presses, German metalformer Saxonia-Franke has been so pleased with the performance of its first Schuler servo direct-drive mechanical press—installed early in 2007—that is has ordered a second identical press, to be installed later this year. The company makes components for the automotive, electrical and construction industries. The Schuler presses are 400-ton models with a bed size of 3.05 by 1.4 meters. Learn more at www.schulergroup.com/us/.

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