Hot Off the Press

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PA Service Center Installs its
Third Waterjet-Cutting Machine

Jacquet Mid Atlantic, Pottstown, PA, a processing and distribution center specializing in stainless steels and nickel alloys, installed its third waterjet-cutting machine. The new machine, from Jet Edge, Inc., St. Michael, MN, boasts a 21-by-13-ft. work envelope and twin abrasive-waterjet cutting heads. Other features: a mirroring package, independent programmable Z carriages, programmable height sensing, remote pendant and closed-loop water-filtration system. The firm stocks 19 different grades of alloys, and uses the cutting machines to cut near-net-shape parts for its customers with no heat-affected zone and little or no need for secondary finishing operations. It’s online at www.myjacquet.com; investigate waterjet-cutting machines at www.jetedge.com.

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Tower Automotive Enters the Solar-Energy Business

Stirling Energy Systems (SES), Scottsdale, AZ, has contracted with Tower Automotive for the production and assembly of the mirror facet components of its new SunCatcher concentrating solar-power system. Tower’s experience in producing automotive exterior and structural stampings matched well with the needs of SES, company officials said. Each SunCatcher dish includes 40 mirror facets, with each facet comprised of three major components—a stamped rib support and metal substrate, and the mirrors. Learn more about SES and the SunCatcher at www.stirlingenergy.com.

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Beckhoff Automation Expands in the Carolinas

Beckhoff Automation LLC, Burnsville, MN, a supplier of PC-based controls, industrial PCs, automation controllers, servo drives and motors, opened a new sales and engineering center in Charlotte, NC. It hired Ron Pryor, customer service engineer, and Les Queen, application engineer, to work at the new center, a 3000-sq.-ft. facility that includes a training room. It’s the firm’s seventh regional office in North America; www.beckhoffatomation.com. .

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