Page 8 - MetalForming March 2014

News Fronts
Association
FABTECH Canada to Feature Panel Discussion on Workplace Diversity
Women in Manufacturing, the Precision Metalforming Association and MetalForm- ing magazine will host a diversity-focused panel dis- cussion to kick off the three- day conference accompany- ing FABTECH Canada, scheduled for March 18-20 in Toronto. The opening-day panel discussion, Diversity in the Workplace: Embracing Women in Manufacturing, begins Tuesday, March 18 at 8:30 a.m. with a keynote address by racecar driver Jessi Combs.
Participating in the panel discussion: Natalie Panek, mission systems and opera- tions engineer with MDA Space Missions; and Karin Lindner, founder of Karico Performance Solutions. To learn more and register to attend, visit www.fabtech- canada.com.
Facilities
German-Based Metalformer Expands U.S. Presence in SC
Stueken, LLC (Hubert Stuken GmbH), a producer of deep-drawn and progressive- die stampings, announced plans to expand its facility in Fountain Inn, SC. The $3.2 million expansion will add at least 27 new positions, to meet increased demand for automotive fuel-injection and braking systems, as well as parts for the pharmaceutical, medical-device, electronics and consumer-goods indus- tries, say company officials.
After the expansion is com- pleted (in spring 2014), the plant will encompass more than 110,000 sq. ft. and employ more than 100 associates.
Serapid on the Move
With an additional 18,000 sq. ft. of space, the new home of quick-die-change equipment supplier Serapid, Sterling Heights, MI, will include a sales showroom and a research and develop- ment lab. The company expected to move into its new digs—noted for its use of clean building materials such as low-VOC ceiling tiles and a white EPDM roof—in February 2014.
Waukesha Metal Products Finalizes Mexican Acquisition
Further expanding its NAFTA-region footprint, metal stamper and fabricator Waukesha Metal Products, Sussex, WI, has inked its deal to acquire Revstone Fabrication, San Luis Potosi, SLP Mexico. The facility includes stamping presses rated to 600 tons, and a host of sheetmetal-fabricat- ing equipment including man- ual and robotic-welding cells.
German Auto-Parts Supplier Commissions Huge Servo Press
A 25,000-kN 8- by 2.5-m servo-transfer press has entered production at auto- motive supplier Paul Craemer GmbH, Herzebrock-Clarholz, Germany, for production of structural parts, primarily car- seat shells. The press, the largest servo-transfer model every built by Schuler AG, replaced a two-press produc- tion line linked by three
automation systems. Schuler Automation engineered a tri- axis transfer system for the new press that spans more than 10 m.
Everything’s Big in Texas, Including the New Metalloid Facility
Metalloid Corp., Sturgis, MI, a manufacturer of green metalworking fluids and other specialty chemical products, has moved to a new larger facility in Jack- sonville, TX. The 54,000-sq.- ft. facility includes a laborato- ry, office and manufacturing capabilities.
Tri-Con Adds New Coil Line and Controls to 300-Ton Komatsu
Coe Press Equipment, Sterling Heights, MI, has commissioned a SpaceMas- ter CCL-S3-11024 compact coil line on an existing Komatsu 300-ton press at Tri-Con Industries, Lincoln, NE. Tri-Con manufactures seat components and assemblies for motorcycles, ATVs and automobiles. Also added to the press: an OmniLink 5100-APC con- troller from Link Systems. The Coe compact coil line combines unwinding, straightening and feeding; handles coils 3- to 24-in wide and 64-in. dia.; and includes AC digital-control servo drives and motors on the coil reel and feeder-straightener.
Formtek Maine Adds CNC Turning Center
Coil-handling and process- ing equipment manufacturer Formtek Maine, Clinton, ME, has expanded its manufac- turing capabilities by adding an Okuma LB4000 turning center to its shop. The cen-
ter can turn work to 16.93-in. dia. by 59 in. long, and fea- tures live tooling and a bar- stock feeder with 12 spindle liners.
Dengensha Invests
to Support Customers in Mexico
Resistance-welding equip- ment manufacturer Dengen- sha America Corp., Bedford, OH, has opened a customer- service and support center in Leon, Mexico. The manufac- turer of projection- and spot- welding machines, guns, feeders, controls and con- sumables will use the Mexi- can center to also support customers throughout Cen- tral and South America.
LaserCoil Opens Tech- Development Center
A 12,000-sq.-ft. facility in Perrysburg, OH, is the new home of a LaserCoil Tech- nologies technical center, col- located on the property of toll processor Precision Strip as part of a 100,000-sq.-ft. expansion of its existing 300,000-sq.-ft. facility.
LaserCoil operates a coil- fed laser-blanking system at the development center (30- ton coil capacity) to run pro- totype parts, low-volume pro- duction and to perform test-part runs. Precision Strip expects to commission a second LaserCoil line during the second half of 2014.
Gudel Moves Manufacturing to U.S.
Swiss-based Gudel Group has transitioned manufactur- ing of its third-generation robot tracks for domestic markets to its U.S. headquar- ters in Ann Arbor, MI. The newly redesigned TrackMotion tracks now boast a frame
6 MetalForming/March 2014
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