Benteler Automotive Names Walway Supplier of the Year

Walway Enterprises, Holland, MI, a supplier of metal stampings and welded assemblies, recently received a Supplier of the Year award from Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH. Walway, with press lines from 32 to 1000 tons occupying a 95,000-sq.-ft. plant, and the ability to stamp material to 0.375 in. thick, produces structural and chassis parts and assemblies for Benteler. Learn more at www.walway.com.

Stamper Launches Redesigned Website,
with RFQ Form Included

Service Stampings Inc., Willoughby, OH, a supplier of short- and medium-run metal-stamping services, has redesigned its website in order to provide quicker and easier access for potential customers seeking to research and evaluate its capabilities. The site, www.servicestampings.com, describes the firm’s capabilities and industries served, and includes a frequently-asked-questions page. It also features a new interactive Request a Quote form where visitors can submit project details including part description, usage and lead-time requirements, as well as drawings and photographs.

McNeil Industries Website Features New-Product Info,
Latest Industry Cross-Reference Tools

Surf to www.mcneilindustries.com to see expanded product-information sections, useful industry and product reference tools, plus a registration feature that enables users to sign up for access to the latest product news, literature and information on McNeil Industries, Painesville, OH. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of bearings, guide systems, deburring systems, industrial seals and precision manufactured products, with all of these covered in-depth on the new website.

Tandem Transfer Press—4400 Tons of it—
Debuts in Rockford

Rockford Toolcraft, Inc., Rockford, IL, has fired up its new 4400-ton Verson tandem transfer press, featuring a bed area of 6 by 27 ft. The press line can handle coil stock to ½-in. thick and 60-in. wide. Learn more about the 230-person, 275,000-sq.-ft. shop at www.rockfordtoolcraft.com.

Rollformer Earns Customer-Satisfaction Award

Sharon Custom Metal Forming, Farrell, PA, earned a 2008 Best of Farrell Award in the Steel, Bar, Strip, Tube Etc. category from the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA). The program recognizes local businesses throughout the country for providing exceptional marketing and achieving overall customer satisfaction in their local market and business category. Sharon Custom Metal Forming produces custom rollformed shapes and continuous in-line-welded shapes; www.scmf.biz. Learn more about the USLBA and its award program at www.uslba.net.

South Texas Welcomes New
Rapid Response Manufacturing Center

The North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative (NAAMREI) has completed phase of its plan to help south-Texas manufacturers rapidly turn ideas into finished products, with the April 11 opening of the Rapid Response Manufacturing Center at The University of Texas-Pan American, in Edinburg, TX. NAAMREI is an alliance of 60 business, education, economic development, industry, finance and government partners in south Texas. Its new manufacturing center will recruit and train the skilled workforce needed for the advanced manufacturing infrastructure they hope to create. Ultimately, NAAMREI hopes to tie together more than 41 industrial parks across the region. Learn more at www.naamrei.org.

Coil-Processing Seminar Includes Plant Tour

Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL, will host a coil-processing seminar in West Chester (Cincinnati), OH, on June 24 at the Wingate by Windham & Meridian Conference Center. Attendees will learn about blanking and multiblanking, leveling, and slitting, as well as the SCS and EPS processes for hot-rolled black material. Featured speakers include Dean Linders, vice president of marketing and sales for Red Bud; Eric Theis, formerly of Herr-Voss and now a consultant; Al Zelt, an expert in slitting technology; and Kevin Voges, president of The Material Works. The seminar will conclude with a tour of United Performance Metals in Hamilton, OH. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com.

New Editorial Video Shows
Robotic Press Cell in Action

Surf over to our Multimedia Center to check out the latest editorial video from the staff of MetalForming magazine. We recently visited the Trane plant in Tyler, TX, where a brand-new robotic stamping cell turns out louvered HVAC panels from galvanized sheetmetal. The cell features a coil-fed Minster mechanical press for blanking and louvering, and a series of three Macrodyne hydraulic presses for secondary operations. Four Motoman robots move blanks around the cell and stack completed panels 75-high for removal via fork truck. Check out the video now, at www.metalformingmagazine.com/video/ and look for the article in the June issue of MetalForming.

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.

Arizona Fabricator Earns
Military-Vehicle Armor-Kit Contract

LAI International, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, has signed a manufacturing contract to produce armor kits for mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) military vehicles. LAI will produce the armor kits at its manufacturing facility in Westminster, MD, for its customer, Navistar Defense LLC, which received a contract from the Pentagon for 4475 of its 21-ft.-long MaxxPro MRAP vehicles. LAI will shop the kits to the Navistar assembly plant in West Point, MS.
LAI operates five U.S. manufacturing plants, all ISO 9001:2000 and AS9100 certified, and offers precision laser processing, waterjet cutting, five-axis machining and other services. Learn more at www.laico.com.

New Management Software for Automotive Springmaker

NHK Spring Precision of America, Inc. (NSPA ), Louisville, KY, has deployed the Plexus Online on-demand integrated manufacturing software package from Plexus Systems, Auburn Hills, MI. The Plexus software features these functions: enterprise-resource management, accounting and finance; customer-relationship-management features such as order entry and tracking; manufacturing-execution-system functions such as production scheduling; and supply-chain management functions such as supplier quality and traceability. NSPA, which produces springs for engine valves and automatic transmissions, worked with consultants from Plante & Moran to identify Plexus as the ideal hosted solution for its needs. Plante & Moran also led the implementation of the software. Learn more at www.plex.com.

United Performance Metals Launches New Website

Last-year’s merger of specialty-metals suppliers Ferguson Metals and AIM International spawned United Performance Metals, Hamilton, OH, a provider of specialty stainless-steel and high-temperature alloys, and cobalt alloys. Now United has launched a new website, www.upmet.com, which the company says offers enhanced online services, as well as describes its processing capabilities. United Performance serves the aerospace, aircraft, automotive, medical and other industries, and offers slitting, shearing, edging and leveling.

Prototype/Short-Run Metalformer
Welcomes Automated Five-Axis Laser-Cutting Cell

Matrix Metalcraft, Clinton Township, MI, has purchased a model VZ1 five-axis laser-cutting cell from Mitsubishi Laser, equipped with an automated pallet changer to optimize process time and increase capacity. The machine offers a 122-in. x axis, 87-in. y axis and 33-in. z axis. Pallet changes take 60 sec. Matrix specializes in prototype and short-run production using these processes: stamping, three- and five-axis laser cutting, machining, turning and assembly; www.matrixmetalcraft.com. Mitsubishi Laser is online at www.mitsubishi-laser.com.

IMS Engineered Products Expands ISO Certification Scope

Metal fabricator IMS Engineered Products LLC, Des Plaines, IL, has made the transition from an ISO 9001 certification based on basic fabrication processes to a full-scope certification including all manufacturing and design processes. A manufacturer of modular enclosures as well as custom sheetmetal products, IMS recently relocated to, and refurbished, a 300,000-sq.-ft. plant. Expansion included a new wet and dry paint line that now falls under the quality certification. Learn more at www.imsep.com.

Website Showcases Coil Coating

Metal Coaters, Houston, TX, has unveiled a new website at www.metalcoaters.com that includes frequently-asked questions (and the answers to those questions) about coil coating. The company operates Metal Coaters manufacturing plants in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Marietta, GA, and Jackson, MS, and Metal Prep plants in Houston and in Memphis, TN. Metal Coaters of California, Metal Coaters of Georgia, Doublecote and Metal Prep became integrated under the Metal Coaters name on Oct. 29, 2007.

Utah Steel Processor Orders New Leveler Line

Braner USA, Schiller Park, IL, has received an order from Reliance Steel to design and manufacture a hydraulic cassette leveler, servo roll feed and high-speed CTL shear for its Reliance MetalCenter in Salt Lake City, UT. The 300-hp leveler will be equipped with two interchangeable cassettes for leveling material from 72-in.-wide by 24-gauge sheet to 5/16-in.-thick plate of 90,000-psi hot-rolled carbon-steel. Braner is online at www.braner.com.

Bazz Houston Acquires Mexican Operation

Bazz Houston Co., Garden Grove, CA, has purchased Connor Manufacturing Services de Mexico, integrated the company with Bazz Houston Mexico and relocated its facility to La Mesa Industrial Park in Tijuana, Mexico. Bazz Houston makes springs, stampings, wire forms and four-slide parts and offers assembly and tooling services; www.bazz-houston.com.

Stamper’s Name Change Reflects Expanding Markets

The Genesee Group/NY Inc., West Henrietta, NY, a contract manufacturer of precision metalformed parts and assemblies, has changed its name to Genesee Global Group Inc. “The name change highlights the global capabilities of the Genesee brand,” says company president Gerard M. Caschette. Along with the new name comes a new tagline: Integration With Imagination. Learn more at www.geneseeglobal.com.

Fabricator Can Now Laser-Cut Tube and Pipe

Ace Metal Crafts, Franklin Park, IL, has added a Mazak Fabrigear 150 3-D laser-cutting machine to its stable of equipment, to cut tube and pipe as well as I and H beams, C channel, angle iron and other shapes. Included with the machine is automatic tapping capability and automatic load, feed, cut and unload. Machine capacity: 6-in. round or square pipe, and shape lengths to 26 ft. Ace Metal Crafts, which operates a 40,000-sq.-ft. plant, serves customers in the chemical, environmental, food-processing, nuclear, packaging, pharmaceutical and plastics industries; www.acemetal.com.

Economic Stimulus Package
Delivers Huge Benefits to Manufacturers

The Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008, recently signed into law, does more than just benefit individuals and families--it delivers huge tax relief to manufacturing companies, according to a press release issued by AMT—The Association For Manufacturing technology. First, businesses will receive a 50-percent bonus depreciation for new capital expenditures ordered and placed into service during 2008. Bonus depreciation allows businesses an extra one-year boost in how much they can deduct on capital expenditures that depreciate over time. For example, under the old law, according to AMT, a new $100,000 machine could provide a 2008 depreciation deduction of 14 percent, or $14,000. Now, first-year depreciation climbs to $57,000--half of the purchase price plus the 14-percent regular depreciation on the remaining property basis.
The new law also more than doubles the amount that small businesses can write off for new or used equipment purchased during 2008, from $128,000 to $250,000. And, it significantly increases the amount that can be purchased during the year and still allow manufacturers to receive the full benefits of the Section 179 expensing option--from the previous cap of $510,000 to $800,000.
Download a PDF explaining the benefits further at
www.amtonline.org/document_display.cfm/document_id/69613/brand-newpowerfultaxincentivesfornewequipmentpurchasesin2008.

Buffalo Stamper Welcomes 1000-Ton Mechanical Press

P&G Steel Products, Buffalo, NY, has added a 1000-ton mechanical transfer stamping press to its pressroom. The press has a bed size of 120 by 48 in. and will operate in line with a heavy-duty Sesco feed line with sheet-thickness capacity of ½ in. Also on the way to the facility is a 46-in. double-spindle vertical grinder. The equipment additions will help P & G, a metal stamper with more than 25 presses, robotic-welding cells and CNC production-machining capabilities; satisfy requirements for a 4-yr. agreement with a new customer. Learn more at www.pgsteel.com.

Roofing-Panel Maker Orders
Third Red Bud Blanking Line

Petersen Aluminum Corp., Elk Grove Village, IL, manufacturer of Pac-Clad metal roofing panels and other building products and fabricated-metal and rollformed products, has ordered its third precision-blanking line from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The line will include a high-speed hydraulic shear, three-side blank-support drop stacker with automatic part diverter, and a precision grip-feed system for production of blanks with length tolerances of plus or minus 0.005 in. Coil capacity: 50,000 lb, 72 in. wide, 0.135-in. material thickness. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com; take an online plant tour of Petersen Aluminum at www.pac-clad.com/factorytour.htm.

SoCal Stamper Earns ISO Registration

All-New Stamping Co., El Monte, CA, has earned ISO 9001/AS 9100 registration. The firm operates a 40,000-sq.-ft. stamping and fabricating shop with more than 150 employees and high-tonnage stamping presses, automated turret presses, CNC press brakes and other state-of-the-art equipment. Its ERP-system providers, The Attivo Group, Irvine, CA, provided certification consulting services to review, streamline and further automate planning and execution processes in the Macola ERP system (from Exact Software, Andover, MA) at All-New Stamping. From start to finish, registration took 6 months. All-New Stamping is online at www.allnewstamping.com; learn more about The Attivo Group and Macola software at www.attivoconsulting.com.

Illinois Stamper Relocates Mexican Plant

Parkview Metal Products, Lake Zurich, IL, has relocated its Mexican stamping, fabrication and assembly plant to a new 80,000-sq.-ft. facility in Juarez. The plant features servo-fed presses from a 100-ton high-speed model to a 440-ton 10-ft.-bed press. For short-run fabrication, the facility offers CNC laser cutting, turret-press punching and press-brake bending. Value-added fastening and assembly rounds out its offerings; a powder-coating line will be installed later this year. Learn more at www.parkviewmetal/juarez.html.

Fabricator Makes a Pair of Acquisitions

The Thomas Redmer Group, LLC (TRG), Charlotte, MI, has acquired Next Door LLC, also of Charlotte, and Thomas Fabrication, Mason, MI. Randall Redmer, CEO of Redmer Industries, purchased the two companies from his former business partner Dennis Thomas. Charles Kier, Jr. was named corporate president of TRG and will handle its day-to-day operations; David Ross was appointed vice president of sales, marketing and business development for TRG’s Michigan operations—the company also operates in Vietnam. Thomas Fabrication is a sheetmetal fabricator and metal stamper that manufactures hardware, brackets and other products; Next Door LLC, a joint venture between Thomas Fabrication and Redmer Industries, provides, among other products, nuts, bolts and other metal parts, and builds cooling systems for radiators.

Flextronics Flexes Medical-Market Muscle

Electronics manufacturer Flextronics Intl. Ltd. has acquired Avail Medical Products Inc., a privately held manufacturer of disposable medical devices. Avail (www.availmed.com) will become a division of the Flextronics medical segment. Avail supplies medical tubes, drug-delivery devices and other sterile single-use medical devices. Flextronics, headquartered in Singapore, is online at www.flextronics.com.

Stewart EFI Acquires Plating/Metal Finishing Company

Stewart EFI, LLC, Yonkers, NY, a supplier of small precision metal stampings, has acquired the equipment and assets of the plating and metal-finishing division of P&J Industries, Inc., in El Paso, TX (P&J is based in Toledo, OH). The new Stewart EFI subsidiary will remain in its 48,000-sq.-ft. facility and operate as Stewart EFI Finishing, LLC, providing services to the Stewart EFI metalforming operation in El Paso, as well as to other manufacturers. Its capabilities include parts cleaning, deburring, passivation and rack or bulk plating. Learn more at www.stewartefi.com.

EBway Website Updated to be more User Friendly

Metal-stamping company EBway Corp., Fort Lauderdale, FL, has redesigned and updated its website to make it more user friendly for purchasing agents and engineers. The firm developed and runs the Gripflow stamping process that it considers an alternative to fineblanking and traditional progressive or shave dies. Learn all about the process and its ability to create smooth, straight edges at www.ebway.com.

MN Equity Firm Acquires W. Mich. Tool & Die Firm

BlueWater Partners, Grand Rapids, MI, acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Enterprise Tool & Die, Inc., Grandville, MI, in the sale of the company’s assets to a subsidiary of North Central Equity LLC, Minneapolis, MN. Enterprise employs approximately 50 people in the design and build of medium-sized progressive and transfer dies for the automotive industry, as well as for the furniture, appliance and outdoor-equipment industries. The acquisition is the 12th for North Central Equity. BlueWater Partners, a private investment-banking firm, works with companies on sales and acquisitions; www.bluewaterpartners.com.

Rollforming Companies Unite

Roll Forming Corp. (RFC), Shelbyville, KY, has acquired Sharon Custom Metal Forming (SCMF), Farrell, PA, a supplier of custom rollformed and welded shapes. RFC is a member of the Profilform Division of voestalpine AG, Krems, Austria, and operates rollforming facilities in Shelbyville and in Jefferson, IN. SCMF, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, employs more than 50 and has annual sales of $20 million. RFC, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, employs 250 and has annual sales in excess of $70 million. More at www.voestalpine.com/rfc/en

Nucor Sets Strip-Casting Record

Nucor Corp., Charlotte, NC, announced that its Crawfordsville, IN steel plant, which employs the Castrip process, has set a new record for sequence casting. Castrip LLC (www.castrip.com) is a joint venture of Nucor, BlueScope Steel Ltd. of Australia and IHI Corporation of Japan. The company was formed to market and license intellectual property related to the twin-roll casting of carbon and stainless steels developed jointly by its three owners.
The Crawfordsville plant cast 24 ladles of steel, continuously, over a 38-hr. period in late December, 2007. Total throughput for the record-setting period was 2467 tons cast, while producing 2387 tons of prime coils. Nucor chairman and CEO Dan DiMicco said, "This record highlights not only a step change in productivity but also the remarkable strides made in product quality over the past 12 months. We are very proud of the dedication and focus of the Crawfordsville team that continues to push the envelope of strip casting.”
Nucor has a second Castrip facility under construction in Blytheville, AK, scheduled for start up later this year.

Lapham-Hickey Acquires Alabama Facility

Steel service center Lapham-Hickey Corp., Chicago, IL, acquired the Hubbell Steel Div. of Gibraltar Industries, located in Birmingham, AL. The firm also named Jon Manilla, former director of sales for Hubbell Steel, general manager of the plant. Hubbell Steel (www.hubbellsteel.com) specializes in coated and painted products. Lapham-Hickey also operates facilities in Chicago and Madison, IL, Columbus, OH, Pawcatuck, CT, Little Canada, MN, and Oshkosh, WI; www.lapham-hickey.com.

PBS Airs Segment Featuring Midwest Manufacturing

Ultra Tool & Manufacturing., Menomonee Falls, WI, recently was cited on a segment of the PBS program, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. The segment was the second of a series of reports on America’s response to globalization and how U.S. manufacturers are fighting to close the cost gap with global competition.
A metalforming supplier for Harley-Davidson, Ultra Tool and Manufacturing demonstrated how it competes globally by designing products that reduce material costs and eliminate waste. View the complete segment on the PBS website: www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec07/globalization_11-29.html.
Ultra Tool is online at www.ultratoolmfg.com.

CWP Installs Feed Line at Peerless

Peerless Industries, Melrose Park, IL, a manufacturer of audio/visual mounting products, has purchased a 36-in.-wide conventional press-feed line to process brackets for plasma and projection televisions. The line, from Cooper-Weymouth, Peterson (CWP), Clinton, ME, can handle stock 0.030 to 0.164 in. thick in coils to 8000 lb. It includes a ServoMax servo-roll feed, backed-up powered straightener and an exclusive lever-action roll-lift mechanism. The straightener includes a high-speed drive to provide optimum acceleration and deceleration to meet desired production rates without the use of a looping pit. Learn more at www.cwpcoil.com; Peerless is online at www.peerlessindustries.com.

Texas Stamper Earns TS 16949 Registration

ITD Precision, with plants in Houston and Harlingen, TX, attained ISO/TS 16949 certification. The quality management system provides for continuous improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. TS16949 applies to the design/development, production and, when relevant, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. It is based on ISO9000. ITD provides metal stampings, e-coating and other value-added services; www.itdprecision.com.

Sheetmetal Fabricator Launches Website

DeWys Manufacturing, Inc., a precision sheetmetal fabricator in Marne, MI, has launched a redesigned website at www.dewysmfg.com. The firm offers cutting, punching, bending, forming, manual and robotic welding, assembly and painting services.

Iowa Heattreater Expanding

Advanced Heat Treat Corp., Waterloo, IA, has completed a 25,000-sq.-ft. addition to its facility, and plans to install three new 3000-lb. atmosphere furnaces in the plant, with the ability to add two more furnaces. The addition also allows the company to add secondary heattreat operations, such as straightening, cleaning and polishing. The firm performs carburizing, carbonitriding, induction hardening, quench and temper, oxidation treatment, cold treatment, annealing, normalizing, stress relieving, tempering/drawing, and age/precipitation hardening. It also operates a complete metallurgical lab and performs failure analysis. Learn more at www.ahtweb.com.

GR Spring & Stamping Expands in Michigan, Mexico

GR Spring & Stamping, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, a producer of metal stampings, springs, slide-formed stampings and value-added assemblies, has added two manufacturing sites to its organization. In Grand Rapids, the firm has procured a 125,000-sq.-ft. building to house full-service assembly, slide forming and spring manufacturing operations, as well as its logistics department. And in Chihuahua, Mexico, the firm has moved metal stamping and assembly operations into a 50,000-sq.-ft. plant.

Ohio Manufacturers Join Forces

Jacobson Mfg.-Tiffin, LLC, an affiliate of Continental/Midland, Jacobson Mfg., MSD Stamping and Minuteman Distribution, acquired the assets of HTG Tiffin, LLC, Tiffin, OH. The move is described as a natural progression of the strategic alliance between the two firms that dates back to November 2005. HTG Tiffin is a full-service cold-forming operation with complementary secondary manufacturing machines; www.horizoninternational.com.

Large-Scale Fabricator Banks on New ERP Software

D&S Manufacturing, Black River Falls, WI, has invested in new enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) software in order to realize “substantial time and cost-savings benefits for our customers through the corporate-wide elimination of needless waste,” says company president Michael Dougherty. The software selected: Vantage, from Epicor Software Corp., Irvine, CA. Vantage houses modules that allow D&S to manager the entire order cycle, from quoting, production and planning to logistics, billing and payroll. D&S supplies large-scale components, assemblies and complete weldments to customers such as Caterpillar, Oshkosh Truck, The Trane Co. and Parkson; www.dsmfg.com. Learn more about Vantage software from Epicor at www.epicor.com.

Canadian Slideformer Acquired and on the Move

Hamond Industries, Concord, Ontario, Canada, has been acquired by Bohne Spring Industries Limited, Toronto, Ontario. Hamond equipment, tooling and personnel will move to the Bohne facility on or before Nov. 30, 2007. Learn more at www.bohnespring.ca.

Stamper, via Acquisition, Becomes a Triple Threat

Keats Manfuacturing Co., a manufacturer of small metal stampings, wire forms and assemblies, acquired the assets of C.C. Tool & Engineering, Oakland Park, FL, and renamed the firm Keats Coastal Stamping, LLC. Keats also operates plants in Wheeling, IL, and El Paso, TX. The Florida facility is home to 16 presses from 15 to 125 tons. Learn more at www.keatsmfg.com.

Laser-Cutting Job Shop Moves, Remodels

RonTro Enterprises, a laser-cutting contract fabricator that processes steel to ¾ in. thick and aluminum to 3/8 in., has moved from Bensenville, IL, to a 12,000-sq.-ft. plant in Wood Dale, IL. The firm is remodeling the facility and will host a grand reopening and open house later this year. Learn more at www.rontro.com.

Maquiladora Stamper Earns ISO/TS Registration

Border Metal Stamping LLC, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, received ISO/TS 16949:2002 registration. The supplier of mid- to long-run stampings supplies the automotive, home and garden, and consumer-products industries, and offers secondary services including subassembly, welding and metal finishing. Learn more at www.elmmachining.com.

Sheetmetal Fabricator Banks on AS9100 Certification

DaveCo Industries, Garland, TX, has achieved AS9100 certification, the quality standard adopted by the aerospace industry. The firm, previously registered to ISO 9001:2000, expects the AS9100 certification to benefit its defense and non-defense customers, since the standard focuses on critical areas important to all industries, such as supply-chain management and process control. DaveCo offers machining, assembly, finishing and sheetmetal-fabrication services—its shop houses state-of-the-art press brakes with programmable backgauges, punch presses, laser-cutting machines and welding equipment. Learn more at www.daveco-ind.com.

Metal-Finishing Job Shop Acquires
Compound-Blending Business

Mechanical Finishing, Inc., a cleaning and deburring job shop in Cincinnati, OH, has acquired the chemical-compound blending and spare-parts business of Rosemont Industries, also of Cincinnati. Mechanical Finishing will make and distribute burnishing soaps, cleaners, abrasives and rust inhibitors previously developed and sold under the Rosemont name. The firm also will manufacture all of the spare parts for Rosemont vibratory finishing machines and cob dryers, including drive systems, bearings, screens and drains. Learn more at www.mechfin.com.

Great Britain Welcomes First SCS Coil Line

Servosteel, a toll processor in Dudley, West Midlands, UK, recently went online with the first SCS coil line to be installed in that country. The SCS line, an environmentally and budget-friendly alternative to pickling and oiling, was designed and manufactured by Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The process employs a controlled brushing off of all surface scale except for a micro-thin layer. Servosteel’s new line can process coils to 72 in. wide of stock to 0.315 in. thick. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com.

Die-Matic Corp., Brooklyn Heights, OH, promoted Edward A. Pietrasz to materials manager, and Marisa Graor-Ports to purchasing and scheduling coordinator. The metal stamper offers automated welding, coating, in-die tapping, stud insertion and assembly services; www.die-matic.com.

Heavy-Duty Multi-Blanking Line Headed for Illinois

Midwest Steel Blanking Inc., Lombard, IL, has ordered a 72- by 0.135-in. by 40,000-lb.-capacity multi-blanking line from B&K, a division of Formtek Maine, Clinton, ME. Midwest Steel Blanking operates a 25,000-sq.-ft. facility and processes 21 million lb. of steel annually. The new B&K line features an uncoiler with an ultrasonic variable-tension brake system, hands-free thread-up, a corrective leveler, dual-sided threading table, four-roll servo feed and a scrap winder to take care of edge-trim material. Its stacker includes a 10,000-lb. by 72-in. by 168-in.-capacity lift table. Learn more about B&K at www.bklevelers.com.

Stamper Named One of America’s Safest Companies

Occupational Hazards magazine has named E.J. Ajax and Sons, Fridley, MN, to its list of America’s Safest Companies for 2007. Eleven companies made the list. The magazine described the 50-employee metal-stamping company as having “no lost-time incidents in 17 years and no OSHA recordables in 4 years, which means its incident rate is zero in an industry where the average is 8.2.”
Congratulations go out to the entire team at E.J. Ajax and Sons; www.ejajax.xom.

PE Fund Invests in Dallas-Based Metals Service Center

Harbert Private Equity Fund II, LLC, Birmingham, AL, has acquired a majority interest in Arbor Metals, LP, Dallas, TX. Arbor, founded in 1984, is a $60-million processor of precision strip and coil stainless steel and other nonferrous alloys, and offers coil slitting and edging, blanking, toll processing and other services; www.arbormetals.com. Learn more about Harbert at www.harbert.net.

Belt-Conveyor Oven Facilitates High-Volume Soldering

Microwave Filter Co., East Syracuse, NY, a manufacturer of passive electronic filter modules, has purchased an electrically heated belt-conveyor oven from The Grieve Corp., Round Lake, IL. The oven—18 in. wide by 96 in. deep by 15 in. tall—heats to 650 F to facilitate the mass-production soldering of formed metal parts. It boasts a pair of 4-ft.-long insulated heat zones with independent recirculated airflow and temperature control and a 12-ft.-long cooling zone. Learn more at www.grievecorp.com.

PE Firm Acquires Stamper with Tenn. and Tex. Plants

Private-equity firm Kachi Partners, Boulder, CO, has acquired Genesee Group, Dallas, TX, a precision metal stamping and fabricating firm with operations in Tennessee and Texas. Learn more about the leveraged-buyout transaction and both parties at www.geneseegroup.com and www.kachipartners.com.

Advanced-Machining/Laser-Processing Companies Unite

LAI International, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, a manufacturer of precision components and subassemblies, has acquired Rich Technology International, a precision contract manufacturer located in Scarborough, ME. LAI supplies customers in the aerospace, armor, automotive, defense, electronics and medical-device industries. Among its services: five-axis laser machining, waterjet cutting and sheetmetal fabrication. Rich, which employs 130, specializes in high-speed CNC machining, five-axis laser processing and EDM. It’s known for producing turbine blades and nozzles for power-generation plants.
The LAI/Rich combined company employs 240 and projects 2007 revenues in excess of $46 million. Learn more at www.laico.com.

Custom Manufacturer Boasts of Capabilities
on Redesigned Website

D&S Manufacturing, Black River Falls, WI, has launched a redesigned website at www.dsmfg.com, with an animated splash page that dramatically displays the firm’s diverse machining, laser-cutting and robotic-welding capabilities. Visitors to the site can see a comprehensive list of equipment, photographs and descriptions of large-scale assembly and weldment projects, and a complete list of contacts at the company.

Florida Stamper Moving to New, Larger Facility

Kramski North America, Largo, FL, is moving to a new 35,000-sq.-ft. facility, more than double its original 15,000-sq.-ft. plant opened less than 5 years ago. The move comes on the heels of new contracts for producing critical insert-molded components for the automotive electronics industry. In development for the firm are two automated workcells that will encompass stamping, overmolding, optical inspection and packaging. The first line is scheduled to begin production by mid-September. Learn more at www.kramski.com.

Metal Spinner Adds Laser Cutting to its Stable

Iowa Metal Spinners, Inc., Cedar Falls, IA, has purchased a laser-cutting machine to further diversify its metalforming and fabricating capabilities. It purchased a large-bed 6- by 12-ft. model CL-707 cutting machine from Cincinnati Inc. Learn more about Iowa Metal Spinners at www.iowaspinners.com.

Shop Online for Small Quantities of Stainless Steel

Brown Metals Co., Rancho Cucamonga, CA, a provider of custom slit thin-gauge stainless steel, has launched an online store that allows material purchasers a convenient way to shop for small quantities of stainless steel. The online store, at www.sidecuts.com, features 300-series stainless steels in 1- to 25-lb. coils in a variety of widths and thicknesses. Mill test reports accompany all orders, and all coils meet ROHS and DFARS requirements.

Laystrom Successfully Integrates
New Facility into Quality System

Laystrom Manfuacturing Co., a 50-yr.-old family-owned metal stamper and fabricator headquartered in Chicago, IL, announced that its facility in Elk Grove Village, IL, was audited and found to be in compliance with ISO 9001:2000 requirements. Laystrom took over the facility from Nitram Metal Fabricators in June 2006, and since then has worked to integrate the plant into its quality management system. Learn more at www.laystrom.com.

Metal Spinning Companies Unite

Metal Spinners, Inc., Angola, IN, acquired Caywood Metal Spinning, Inc., Jasper, GA. Metal Spinners, Inc. has more than 250 employees throughout its operating divisions in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas and Georgia.

Perforated-Metal Maker Buys Midwest Fabricator

Hendrick Manufacturing, Memphis, TN, a manufacturer of perforated metal products and wire screens, has purchased Hagen Metal Products Co., Elgin, IL, a precision sheetmetal fabricator.
Hagen will operate using its existing name as a related company under the Hendrick Midwest, LCC banner. Existing management has been retained, with Bruce Caldwell, formerly Hendrick supply chain manager taking over as Hagen general manager. While concentrating on its existing business, Hagen will expand into manufacturing of perforated metal products to serve a growing customer base in the Midwest, according to Hendrick officials.

Stainless Sales to Add Slitter Line, Bridge Crane

A 60-in. slitter (from Chicago Slitter, Itasca, IL) along with a traveling bridge crane are on their way to stainless-steel service center Stainless Sales Corp., Chicago, IL, for installation later this year. The slitter features three slitting heads and will run a newly purchased shimless tooling system that the firm pledges will quicken setups, improve setup accuracy and produce tighter tolerances. Meanwhile, the firm’s investment in a new remote-controlled 20-ton overhead crane, from T&M Equipment Co., Merrillville, IN, will increase its inventory-storage capabilities.

Auto-Parts Stamper Installs New ERP System

Nagata Auto Parts Canada, Co., Ltd., London, Ontario, is installing new ERP software from ShopEdge Software Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The Nagata stamping and subassembly facility comprises an 8000-sq.-m plant, 90 employees, a pair of transfer presses (250 and 400 ton), a pair of progressive-die presses (200 and 400 ton) and a 300-ton transfer press. It also houses several arc-welding robots and resistance-welding machines, as well as a complete machine shop. ShopEdge software, which integrates the business processes of metal-stamping operations, was recently updated with a remote help feature, which enables ShopEdge to connect directly to its customers' computers to help sort through any problems that arise. Learn more at www.shopedgesoftware.com.

Alabama Stamper Purchases Heavy-Duty Feed Line

Choice Fabricators, Inc., Attalia, AL, a high-volume Tier One automotive stamper and precision fabricator, has purchased a 42-in. by 0.25-in. by 35,000-lb.-capacity press-feed system from Cooper-Weymouth, Peterson (CWP), a division of Formtek Maine, Clinton, ME. The feed line includes a ServoMax servo roll feed with 6-in.-dia. full-width matte chrome rolls, handwheel-adjustable edge guides, anti-backup rolls, an automatic lubrication system, adjustable-height cabinet base and touchscreen operator controls. The straightener has 6-in.-dia. pinch rolls, 4-in. backed-up straightening rolls, powered head adjustment, peeler table and blade, and consolidated pushbutton controls with HMI interface. Other features: 35,000-lb.-capacity uncoiler with full-radius drum mandrels, hydraulic expansion, inching drive, ultrasonic brake control, laser coil alignment, secondary holddown arm with powered rider roll and coil-loading car. Learn more at www.cwpcoil.com. Choice Fabricators is online at www.choicefab.com.

Fabricator/Rollformer Earns Huge Building-Framing Contract

FrameMax, San Diego, CA, a fabricator of steel framing, has been awarded one of the world’s largest light-gauge steel contracts, totaling 4 million sq. ft. and 13,000 tons of material. The project, commissioned by the Algerian Ministry of Defense, includes accommodations and administration buildings, among others, to be completed within an 18-month timeframe. In order to meet the building deadlines and avoid overseas shipping, FrameMax will oversee fabrication being completed in Algeria throughout the project. The firm operates a 150,000-sq.-ft. fabrication facility, with automated rollforming and precision cutting, punching and notching, in Tecate, Mexico; www.framemax.com.

Texas Sheetmetal Fabricator
Announces Recapitalization

Private equity firm TGF Management Corp., Austin, TX, has invested in M&M Manufacturing Co., Fort Worth, TX, and partnered with M&M’s existing ownership to support M&M’s continued growth and geographic expansion. The firm is a fabricator of custom sheetmetal products, serving primarily the air-distribution and ventilation market. It’s online at www.mmmfg.com.

New Steel-Service Center Slated for Iowa (Quad Cities)

Norfolk Iron & Metal Co., Norfolk, NE, will construct a new full-service steel-distribution center in Durant, IA, near the Quad Cities area. The facility, slated to open in mid-2008, will service fabricators in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. It will sit on a 37-acre plot in the Durant Development Park and encompass 250,000 sq. ft.
Norfolk Iron & Metal operates steel-service centers in Norfolk, Emporia, KS, and Greeley, CO. Among its processing services: sawing, shearing, breaking and laser and plasma cutting; www.norfolkiron.com.

Ohio Service Center Launches SCS Cleaning Line

Fulton County Processing has installed an SCS coil line, from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL, at its service center in Delta, OH. The line gives hot-rolled black materials a smooth, clean and rust-resistant finish—a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to the pickling and oiling process. It works by brushing away all of the surface scale except for a micro-thin layer. The 72-in.-wide line handles material to ¼ in. thick and includes a heavy-duty peeler breaker, crop shear, Butech leveler and choppers, and tension-type recoiler. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com.

A Consolidation of Metalformers in Minnesota

BTD Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit Lakes, MN, has acquired Pro Engineering, Minneapolis, MN. Pro Engineering provides metal stampings and employs 29 people. BTD offers design, engineering, prototyping and short-run stamping, robotic and manual welding, finish machining, assembly, heattreating and packaging; www.btdmfg.com.

Consolidation Gives Dayton
Steel-Service Center a Shot in the Arm

The Thompson Companies have announced the consolidation of Thompson Steel Co., Inc., and Dayton Steel Service, Inc., to form the new Thompson Dayton Steel Service. Headquartered in Canton, MA, the company maintains facilities in Boston, MA, Dayton, OH, Paulding, OH, Detroit, MI, Greenville, SC, Rome, GA, and Los Angeles, CA. To improve its efficiency in serving stamping and fabricating customers in the Midwest, the firm is moving its Franklin Park, IL, inventory, key equipment and sales specialists to its Dayton facility.
Thompson Dayton Steel Service supplies coil, sheet and blanked flat-rolled steel; learn all about its products, processes and services at www.thompsondayton.com.

Custom Expanded Metal Press Lands in Oklahoma

Taiwanese press builder Jun En Manufacturing Corp. has delivered a custom-designed and built press, used for expanding steel to 10 ft. long, to the Wewoka, OK, manufacturing facility of Expanded Solutions, LLC, based in Oklahoma City, OK. The firm will use the high-speed press to increase its capacity and move into heavy-steel markets such as catwalks and security fencing, according to company officials.

Precision Fabricator Named Supplier of the Year

Precision sheetmetal fabricator Mech-Tronics, Melrose Park, IL, has been named Machined/Sheet Metal Commodity Co-Supplier of the Year 2007 by Rockwell Collins, an OEM supplier of communication and aviation electronics equipment. Mech-Tronics specializes in chassis, enclosure and panel fabrication, and performs CNC punching, stamping, machining, brazing, MIL-spec welding and photo-chemical etching; www.mech-tronics.com.

ODM Earns TS Certification

ODM Tool & Manfuacturing Co., Inc., McCook, IL, has earned TS 16949:2002 certification. The firm, which offers stamping, welding and assembly services, and maintains a quality laboratory and toolroom, operates out of a 100,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant and a 50,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and shipping facility. It’s also registered to ISO 9002 and QS 9000. Learn more at www.odmtool.com.

Custom Sheetmetal Fabricator Earns ISO Registration

Interlake Industries, Inc., Willoughby, OH, has earned ISO 9001:2000 registration for its Interlake Stamping of Florida facility in Lakeland, FL. The Ohio plant earned registration in February 2005. Together the two plants employ 54 and occupy more than 62,000sq. ft. of manufacturing space. Learn more at www.interlakestamping.com.

Calif. Service Center Expands Fabrication Capabilities

Aluminum service center Southern Aluminum Finishing (SAF), headquartered in Atlanta, GA, has installed a new 12-ft. press brake at its new extrusion and sheet facility in Redding, CA. An Accurpress model, the brake features CNC control. The new plant now houses seven press brakes; the firm also offers CAD services, CNC cutting, welding, paining and anodizing. Learn more at www.saf.com.

Prototype Stamper Opens Casting Company

Duggan Manufacturing, Shelby Township, MI, a metal-stamping prototype manufacturer and provider of low- to medium-volume stampings, has established Unified Pattern Division, a new wholly owned subsidiary. The new division will offer prototype and low- to medium-volume casting production capabilities, leveraging its relationships with 14 different foundries and Tier Two machining companies. Duggan is online at www.dugganmfg.com.

Akron Stamper Earns ISO 9001 Registration

Progressive Stamping & Fabricating, a division of Ohio Gasket & Shim (OGS), Akron, OH, has been registered to ISO 9001:2000. The full-service stamper now has its sights set on gaining ISO 14001 registration by the end of the year. OGS stamps parts from 0.001 to 3/8 in. thick, offers laser-cutting and arc- and resistance-welding services, and operates a complete tool-and-die shop. Learn more at www.ogsindustries.com.

Jersey’s C.B. Kaupp & Sons Expands into Indiana

C.B. Kaupp & Sons, Inc., Maplewood, NJ, specialists in hydroforming, metal spinning and deep drawing, has opened a manufacturing facility in Brazil, IN. Named KIHM Metal Technologies, Inc., the new plant is equipped to perform laser cutting, metal spinning, welding and fabrication. Learn more at www.kaupp.com.

Aerospace Supplier adds 12th Laser-Drilling System

Turbo Combustor Technology Inc., Stuart, FL, has installed a six-axis model 790XL BeamDirector Nd:Yag laser-drilling system from Laserdyne Systems, Champlin, MN. Turbo Combustor manufactures combustors and complex sheetmetal fabrications from its 110,000-sq.-ft. facility staffed by more than 350 employees. The new laser-drilling system is the 12th system installed at the firm in the last 14 years. It features an 80- by 40- by 40-in. work envelope and a 16-in.-dia. rotary table. Learn more at www.prima-na.com.

Buhrke Earns Siemens Supplier Award, Again

Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Regensburg, Germany, a supplier of automotive electronics and mechatronics systems, has recognized metalforming company Buhrke Industries, Arlington Heights, IL, by bestowing upon the company its Performance Award for 2006. Buhrke is one of nine Siemens VDO vendors, out of 4100 suppliers worldwide, to receive the award, and the only North American manufacturer honored. The basis for the 2006 award was Buhrke’s overall vendor rating of 93, second highest of all award recipients, while achieving a 0.8 PPM. Buhrke also received a Performance Award for 2005 from Siemens VDO.

Orchid Acquires 6th North American Stamping Operation

Orchid Intl., Brentwood, TN, has acquired R. Reininger & Son Ltd., Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, a third-generation manufacturer providing metal stampings and assemblies. The firm (www.reininger.com), which will continue to operate under the Reininger name as “an Orchid International company,” operates a 204,000-sq.-ft. facility on 30 acres of land, housing more than 25 presses ranging from 100 to 800 tons. The acquisition grows the Orchid stable of North American operations to six—two in Ontario, three in the United States and one in Mexico. Orchid’s other Canadian plant, in Markham, produces assemblies primarily for the automotive industry. The firm expects eventually to consolidate that operation into the Reininger facility. Learn more at www.orchidinternational.com.

Small Prototype Stamper Outgrows its Original Home

Duggan Manfuacturing, Shelby Township, MI, a 7-yr.-old manufacturer that originally built a niche in rapid prototyping of small and medium-sized parts, has purchased a 75,000-sq.-ft. facility on 9 acres in Shelby Township in order to more efficiently provide low- and medium-run production stampings and welded assemblies for its customers. With its 50 presses, three robotic-welding cells, seven CNC laser-cutting machines and six coordinate-measuring machines, it needed a dedicated and consolidated facility in which to efficiently operate, says Duggan CEO Rod Westich.

GR Spring & Stamping Upgrades CAD/CAM Capabilities
for Die Design and Build

A switch from separate CAD and CAM software packages to an integrated CAD/CAM package from VX Corp., Melbourne, FL, has GR Spring & Stamping, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, poised to meet the continuing challenges of quality, volume and lead time presented by its customers in the automotive industry. GR Spring & Stamping operates six facilities in the United States and Mexico, producing custom stampings, value-added assemblies, springs and slide-formed products, as well as the dies used to make those products. Its new VX CAD/CAM package combines 3D solid/surface hybrid modeling and parametric design and drafting capabilities with an integrated CAM package that includes two- through five-axis milling. The company purchased eight seats of VX—six in design and two in manufacturing.
As received, GR Spring & Stamping customers’ part models are oriented as they will function in a vehicle. Then designers go to work on a tool, using reverse engineering. A typical die comprises 150 to 200 separate 3D solid CAD elements, drawn as a solid in VX and then assembled virtually. While 3D solid designs take longer to complete than 2D renderings, the firm finds that for every hour spent designing it gains two hours at the end of the process.
Learn more about VX software at www.vx.com; GR Spring & Stamping is online at www.grs-s.com.

Feralloy Coil-Processing Plant
Invests in Sheet-to-Sheet Cleaning System

A new SCS sheet-to-sheet cleaning system from Layhill Processing LLC, Loudin, TN, will soon be installed at the Feralloy Corp. coil-processing and distribution plant in Berkeley, SC. The line, slated to begin operating in April, will enhance the hot-rolled surface for painting, and substantially increase laser-cutting speeds. It also will decrease cleaning time in painted applications. It can clean hot-rolled sheets in thicknesses from 0.056 to ½ in. and in widths from 24 to 72 in. Feralloy is online at www.feralloy.com; learn more about the SCS system at www.layhillprocessing.com.

ISO 14001:2004 for Micro Stamping’s
Environmental Management System

The Micro Stamping Corp., Somerset, NJ, has earned ISO 14001:2004 certification for its Environmental Management System (EMS). The certification confirms Micro Stamping’s successful implementation and maintenance of its EMS, designed to avoid any potential impact on the surrounding community and also recognizes the company’s commitment to achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance in the future, according to company officials.
The Micro Stamping Group of Companies began with the creation of Micro Stamping Corp. (precision metal stamping) in 1945 and then evolved into the development of Micro Medical Technologies (medical-device development and assembly) in 1986, Micro Medical Technologies Singapore (metal injection molding, casting and machining) in 2004 and Micro Star Innovations (plastic injection and insert molding) in 2005.
For more, visit www.microstampinggroup.com.

Full-Service Die Builder/Stamper Earns ISO/TS Registration

Waukesha Tool & Stamping, Sussex, WI, has attained ISO/TS 16949 registration. The medium- to high-volume producer of metal stampings and assemblies also operates a full-service tool and die division. The firm services the automotive, commercial off-highway, consumer-appliance, small-engine, telecommunications, aerospace and other industries. Learn more at www.waukeshastamping.com.

Oberg Expands to Boost R&D Efforts

Oberg Industries, Freeport, PA, has added 50,000 sq. ft. to its manufacturing facility in Sarver, PA, to provide additional room for research and technology development, including testing of new modular die designs, advanced lubrication systems and in-die production technology such as in-die welding and assembly. The facility, now encompassing more than 100,000 sq. ft., houses more than 25 stamping presses and offers 100-percent visual inspection of parts, and real-time process controls. Learn more at www.oberg.com.

Metalformer Recognized for Quality Performance

Taber Bushnell, Minneapolis, MN, has been included by Quality magazine on its Quality Leadership 100 list of manufacturers, judged on criteria such as scrap and rework as a percentage of sales, warranty costs as a percentage of sales, rejected parts per million shipped, and contribution of quality to profitability. The magazine surveyed 800 companies before naming the top 100. Taber Bushnell provides progressive-tool design and build and metal-stamping production on Minster presses from 32 to 600 tons. Learn more at www.taberbushnell.com.

Chicago Metal Fabricators Consolidate

Accurate Perforating, Chicago, IL, a supplier of perforated materials and assemblies, has purchased sheetmetal fabricator Advance Display Co. (ADC), also of Chicago. ADC becomes Accurate Metal Fabricating, but will remain at its 52,000-sq.-ft. facility that serves the retail, telecommunications, electronic, environmental, medical, military and automotive markets with fabricated-metal products. Accurate Perforating operates out of a 170,000-sq.-ft. facility; www.accurateperforating.com.

Fabricator to Install High-Speed Tube-Cutting Laser

Bauer Welding & Metal Fabrication, Inc., St. Paul, MN, has purchased a model LT712 LaseerTube cutting machine from Italian supplier BLM Adige (BLM Group USA Corp., Wixom, MI), a 2500-W unit capable of cutting round tubing to 6-in, OD and 4-in. square tubing. Bauer, which provides tube-bending, fabrication and welding services, operates draw-, press-, mandrel- and roll-bending equipment, and houses robotic welding and high-definition plasma-cutting cells. Learn more at www.bauerweld.com.

Stamper Relies on New ERP Suite
to Handle Dynamic, Planned Growth

Stewart EFI, Thomaston, CT, a supplier of precision deep-drawn and progressive-die stampings as well as slideformed parts and secondary assemblies, has replaced its customized proprietary ERP software with the Oracle E-Business Suite, to “provide the flexibility to grow without diverse customer and business needs,” says Philip Rejeski, Stewart EFI’s vice president of operations and general manager. The firm turned to Core Services Corp., Morristown, NJ, a Certified Partner in the Oracle PartnerNetwork, to help implement the software package.
Among the benefits of the new software are the inclusion of Oracle Accelerators, “which will help Stewart EFI create lean-manufacturing configurations and processes leveraging demand-driven release management,” says Kirsten Hausserman, vice president of Core Services’ Consulting Group. Additional applications include Oracle Product Lifecycle Management, a quality-analysis program specifically designed for the automotive industry. Learn more at Core Services’ website: www.coreservices.com.

Laser Shop Earns ISO/TS Certification

Prototech Laser, Inc., Clinton Township and Chesterfield, MI, has earned ISO/TS 16949:2002 and ISO 2001:2000 certification. The company offers laser-cutting, metal-fabrication and assembly services. It recently installed its 11th laser-processing system and additional press-brake forming capacity. Learn more at www.ptlaser.com.

Precision Automation Takes New Name, New Identity

To emphasize its contract-manufacturing capabilities in addition to its ability to supply engineered automation systems and integration services, Precision Automation Co., Inc., Clarksville, IN, has changed its name to paco manufacturing. Its sister company in New Jersey continues as Precision Automation Co. Paco manufacturing (www.pacomfg.com) operates a complete machine shop with machining and turning centers, grinders, saws and drills, as well as a sheet- and plate-fabrication department with welding equipment, forming equipment and ironworkers.

Specialty-Metals Supplier and Processor Earns Quality Awards

Almetals, Inc., Wixom, MI, has earned Zero-Defect Quality Awards from two of its customers, Federal Mogul and Borg-Warner. The awards recognize suppliers that demonstrate the ability to meet and exceed customer expectations in delivery, quality and innovation. An ISO/TS 16949:2002-certified company, Almetals supplies stampers, rollforming companies and tube producers all around the world. Learn more at www.almetals.com.

Leadership Changes at Stanley Spring and Stamping

Stanley Spring and Stamping Corp., Chicago, IL, announced that Ronald J. Banas has acquired controlling interest in the firm, a family-owned business founded by Stanley Banas in 1944. Included in the transaction is sister company Stanron Steel Specialties, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Banas assumes the role of chairman of the board; Reb Banas becomes president of the company. Learn more at www.stanleyspring.com.

Four EMG Branches Sold to Samuel, Son & Co.

Samuel, Son & Co., Limited, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has purchased EMG, The Engineered Metals Group of Esco Corp., Portland, OR. EMG, with facilities in Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, Hayward, CA and Portland, OR, is an independent distributor of commodity, processed and engineered stainless-steel products. The acquisition increases to 58 the number of U.S. locations of the Samuel group of companies, which now operates 107 locations throughout North America.

Woman-Owned Stamper Earns Recognition

Universal Die & Stampings (UDS), Prairie du Sac, WI, has received four state and national awards from DiversityBusiness.com, a multicultural-business internet site. UDS was named 5th in the category of Top Women Owned Businesses in Wisconsin; 10th among the Top Diversity Owned Businesses in Wisconsin; and 16th among the Top Small Businesses in Wisconsin. It also placed in the Top 500 in the category Top Women Owned Businesses in America. The firm produces high-speed stampings such as transfer belts, electrodes, washers, motor laminations and clipper blades.

Paulo Products Facility Passes Upgrade Audit

The St. Louis, MO facility of Paulo Products Co. has been awarded accreditation to ISO/TS 16949:2002, recognizing its abilities to continually measure, monitor and improve in order to prevent defects and reduce waste. The firm, a supplier of heattreating, brazing and metal-finishing services, also is approved to the Ford HTX standard and has received the Ford Preferred Supplier Award. Paulo also operates facilities in Willoughby, OH, Kansas City, MO, and Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN. Look online at www.paulo.com.

New Ion-Nitriding Service Center Coming to ‘Bama

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT), Waterloo, IA, announced plans to open its fourth UltraGlow ion-nitriding service center in the spring of 2007, in Cullman, AL. The facility, on Interstate 65 between Huntsville and Birmingham, represents an investment of more than $7 million to bring added surface-treatment capabilities—for production components, tooling and stamping dies—to the region. Learn more at www.ahtweb.com.

Laser Shop Makes Room for its 11th Machine

Prototech Laser, Inc., a contract sheet and plate fabricator specializing in two- and three-axis laser-cutting, has added 6000-sq.-ft. of manufacturing space, to accommodate a new Trumpf 4-kW laser-cutting machine with material-handling capability, as well as a new Accurpress 175-ton press brake. The Trumpf machine is Prototech's 11th laser-processing system. The firm operates two Michigan plants—in Clinton Township and in Chesterfield Township. Learn more at www.ptlaser.com.

ISO/TS Certification for Stainless Sales Corp.

Stainless Sales Corp., Chicago, IL, has earned ISO/TS 16949:2002 certification. The company specializes in supplying precision-slit coil. For more, visit www.stainlesssales.com.

Transfer-System Upgrade
Pays Dividends for Bettcher Amherst

The addition of a Linear Transfer system to an existing T-1 transfer-die press at Bettcher Amherst Metal Stamping, Book Park, OH, has allowed the stamper to increase press speed by more than 30 percent and slash changeover time by a third, according to Jerry Lynch, Bettcher president. Scrap rate and tool damage is also minimized, says Lynch, and thanks to recipe-driven software that controls the transfer system, setup time has been dramatically reduced too. Learn more at www.bettcherllc.com.

Rockford Toolcraft to Automate 27 ft. of Bolster Space

HMS Products Co., Troy, MI, will outfit automation equipment onto a pair of two-slide high-tonnage presses installed in the new stamping-plant addition of Rockford Toolcraft, Rockford, IL. Coming to the stamping plant in Spring 2007: a pair of HMS Series 900HD transfer systems and a between-press parts shuttle, as well as a coil-handling system from Feed Lease Corp., Rochester Hills, MI. The tandem transfer-press line will be able to feed ½-in.-thick material from 60-in.-side coils. The transfer automation will feed in both directions, in tandem or single-press configurations, and can operate in two-axis, three-axis or crossbar-transfer modes.

Lead-Frame Stamper Moves to Larger Facility

Co-planar, Denville, NJ, has moved to a new 33,000-sq.-ft. facility and expanded its manufacturing, engineering and quality-control departments to better serve its customers’ needs. The firm provides high-quality precision stamped components and lead-frames to the semiconductor, electronic, automotive, medical and insert-molding industries. Visit www.co-planar.com.

ITD Precision Breaks Ground on New Plant

Texas metal-stamping company ITD Precision, with plants in Houston and Harlingen, TX, has broken ground on a new 98,000-sq.-ft. facility in northwest Houston, scheduled for completion next summer. The plant will house six press lines, from 45 to 400 tons, as well as a sub-floor scrap-conveyor system, tool-and-die department and administrative offices. It will replace ITD’s current Houston facility.

Thomas Engineering Earns ISO Registration

Metal stamper Thomas Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN, has been registered to ISO 9001:2000. The firm develops and manufactures stampings from the prototype stage through delivery of final assemblies. It specializes in micro-miniature to medium-sized stampings used in electronic components, appliances, copying machines, telecommunications equipment, satellites, automobiles and advanced weaponry.

Bayloff Combines Two Divisions
into One Metalforming Company

Bayloff Die & Machine Co., a metal stamping and die manufacturer based in Belleville, MI, has combined its two separate operating divisions into one new company. Bayloff along with Target Stamped Products, Kinsman, OH, will now operate as a single entity called Bayloff Stamped Products. The new, larger company provides a variety of engineering, tooling and stamping services primarily to the automotive industry.
“Individually we supplied parts to many of the same customers, but on different programs, explains Brian Bayer, general manager of the new company. “By combining our engineering and tool-making capabilities, and with our two plants, we offer everything our customers need from one supplier.”
Bayloff Die & Stamping was formed in 1948, evolving into a supplier to numerous Tier One automotive manufacturers. Target Stamped Products, also founded in 1948, was acquired by Bayloff’s owners in 1997 and specializes in deep-drawn metal stampings and engineering services for the automotive industry.
Bayloff Stamped Products, with approximately 200 employees in two plants, provides engineering, inhouse tool-making, deep-draw stamping, and parts assembly and finishing services to automotive and consumer products manufacturing companies across North America.
For more, visit www.bayloff.com.

F&G Multi-Slide Earns Delphi Recognition

Delphi Corp. recently presented its Pinnacle Award for Supplier Excellence to F&G Multi-Slide Inc., Franklin, OH, for meeting or exceeding Delphi’s quality, delivery, service and competitive-costs expectations. Among award criteria for direct suppliers is a 50-percent improvement in non-conformances, no major disruptions to Delphi manufacturing sites and being active in the Delphi Supplier Suggestion Program. F&G Multi-Slide (www.fgtool.com) offers design and engineering services, prototype development, multi-slide die making, stamping and wire forming.

Metal Finisher Launches Enhanced Website

Miller Products LLC, Grand Rapids, MI, now has RFQ submittal capability on its website, www.millerproductsllc.com. The firm, a supplier of Class A finishing on metal and plastic parts, is a Tier 2 supplier to the North American automotive industry. It offers e-coating, solvent wet coating and powder coating services.

Reich Tool & Design Achieves ISO Certification

Reich Tool & Design Inc., Menomonee Falls, WI, has become ISO 9001:2000 registered. The firm, a supplier of metal-stamping dies and tooling, offers three-dimensional high-speed CNC machining, wire EDM and precision waterjet cutting, as well as part development, prototyping and engineering, die tryout and low-volume production. It’s online at www.reichtool.com.

Ice Industries to Stamp Parts for Raybestos

Ice Industries, a metal stamping and assembly company headquartered in Sylvania, OH, recently signed an agreement to provide Raybestos Products Co. with parts for its wet friction operations. The three-year agreement calls for Ice to provide Raybestos with 4.4 million stamped components annually. The work will be conducted at the ICE facility in Grenada, MS. The 258,000-sq.-ft. Grenada plant has capabilities including metal stamping, rollforming, manual and robotic welding, buffing and assembly. Additional work under this contract will be completed at the Ice Deerfield Manufacturing plant in Mason, OH. Ice will acquire a press from Raybestos for a portion of the program.
The components will be used in a variety of applications including powershift transmissions, wet brakes and power take-offs, predominantly for the off-highway market.
For more, visit www.iceindustries.com.

Batesville Tool & Die Invests
in Web-Based Operations-Management Tool

Plexus Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI, will help Batesville Tool & Die, Inc. manage its stamping operations at its plants in Batesville, IN, and Queretaro, Mexico. The Plexus Online (www.plex.com) collection of more than 350 functional modules will integrate Batesville’s administrative, engineering and production operations. The system is accessible through a web browser and allows users to link to their business data and track operations. It supports lean activities such as Kanban scheduling, pull systems and Kaizen. Batesville Tool & Die provides stampings and welded assemblies with presses to 1200 tons, primarily for the automotive market.

Stripmatic Upgrades Quality-System Registration

Metalforming company Stripmatic Products, Inc., Cleveland, OH, has upgraded its quality-system registration from QS9000 to ISO/TS16949:2002. The company specializes in a unique stamping process that forms tubular-shaped parts, as an alternative to machined or cut-off tube.

Rome Tool & Die Expands Coil-Handling Capabilities

GSW Press Automation, El Segundo, CA, has sold a heavy-duty servo-feed line to Rome Tool & Die, Rome, GA. The cradle-straightener-feeder combination unit handles coils as large as 72-in. dia. and 17,600 lb., to support production on an 800-ton press. The unit will feed high-strength steel strip as wide as 20 in. and up to ½ in. thick.

Suburban Steel Supply Honored for Safety Record

Steel supplier and fabricator Suburban Steel Supply, Gahanna, OH, has been recognized by the Safety Council of Greater Columbus, in conjunction with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, for its recent safety record. Suburban won the 100% Award and the Group Award from the council for having the lowest incident rate in its group and for achieving one year without a lost-time injury or illness. The awards were determined by semi-annual injury and illness reports submitted by each company participating in the council.
For more on company capabilities, visit www.suburbansteelsupply.com.

Illinois Service Center Retrofits Cut-to-Length Line

JDM Steel Service (formerly Northern Industries), Chicago Heights, IL, has upgraded its cut-to-length line with a Red Bud (Red Bud, IL) servo-hydraulic grip-feed system, heavy-gauge edge trimmer and variable-rake shear. The upgrade resulted from an increased demand for closer length and squareness tolerances in the firm’s hot-rolled market. The line can run material as thick as 0.312 in. in a deep loop, and thicker material in a start-stop mode.

Hess Launches New Spinforming Business Unit

Hess Industries, Inc., Niles, MI, a manufacturer of metalforming and press-automation equipment, has launched a new spinforming and flowforming business unit, Formitt Metal Labs. Formitt Metal Labs offers prototyping and short- and production-run metalforming services to produce hollow symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes, fabrications and assemblies from flat stock and tubing. Learn more at www.formitt.com.

MISA Acquires Building-Products Manufacturer

Marubeni-Itochu Steel America (MISA), New York, NY, has acquired Quality Edge, Inc., Walker, MI, a rollforming company that manufactures roofing, siding and rainware finishing products—fascia, soffit, drip edge, steel siding etc. Quality Edge joins Clark Western Building Systems as part of the MISA Building Products Group. MISA, a joint venture between the steel divisions of Japan’s two largest trading groups, is the parent organization for an integrated network of affiliates in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Learn more at www.misteel.com.

Rollformer Completes ISO
Surveillance Audit with Zero Findings

American Roll Form, Painesville, OH, has recently completed its semi-annual ISO 9001-2000 surveillance audit, with zero findings. A supplier of rollformed components, the firm also operates turret punch presses, press brakes, powder-coating equipment, robotic-welding cells, stamping presses, and assembly and packaging lines. Learn more at www.arfpcorp.com.

Florida Stamper Ramps Up Motor-City Marketing Efforts

Kramski North America, Inc., , Largo, FL, a precision metal stamper and injection molder, has contracted with a manufacturers’ rep agency, The Campbell Co., Bloomfield Hills, MI, to market its manufacturing capabilities to automotive OEM and Tier One companies in the areas surrounding Detroit. Kramski supplies manufacturers of relays, switches, connectors, fuel-delivery systems and other products; www.kramski.com.

Laystrom Mfg. Acquires Metal Fabrication Company

Metal fabricator, stamper and tooling manufacturer Laystrom Manufacturing Co., Chicago, IL, acquired all of the manufacturing assets of Nitram Metal Fabricators, Inc., Elk Grove Village, IL. Laystrom will continue to operate the Nitram facility, a 24,000-sq.-ft. plant that includes a 4000-w CNC laser-cutting machine and a laser-turret punch press.

Metal-Spinning Companies Consolidate

Metal Spinners, Inc., Angola, IN, has acquired Texas Metal Spinning, Inc., Saginaw, TX. Olin Wiland, president and CEO of Metal Spinners, announced that Wayne Boeckman, head of Texas Metal Spinning, will serve as president of the firm’s Texas Metal Spinning Division. Metal Spinners, Inc. employs more than 200 throughout its operating divisions in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina and Texas. Learn more at www.metalspinners.com.

Bazz Houston Expands Capabilities

The Bazz Houston Co., Garden Grove, CA, has completed a major modernization of its facilities to upgrade its capabilities for providing tooling and prototype and short-run production of springs, metal stampings, wire forms and assemblies. Its tool room is equipped with new state-of-the-art EDM machines, surface grinders and mills. The firm also operates presses, shears and press brakes. Learn more at www.bazz-houston.com.

Coil-Slitting and Packing Lines
Slated for Lafayette Steel Sales

Lafayette Steel Sales, Indianapolis, IN, has ordered a turret-head coil-slitting line and automatic slit-coil-packaging line from Braner USA, Inc., Schiller Park, IL. The slitting line, capable of speeds to 1000 ft./min., will process 0.015- to 0.250-in.-thick coil weighing to 60,000 lb. in widths to 72 in. the packaging line will handle slit coil weighing to 10,000 lb. in widths from 1 to 24 in.
For more on Braner USA equipment, visit www.braner.com.

New Parts Washer at Bettcher Amherst

Bettcher Amherst Metal Stamping, Brook Park, OH, has added a new parts washer, from Walsh Mfg. Corp., Cleveland, OH, part of the company’s ongoing plan to rework the facility’s layout to improve material flow.
“Our new washer is 33 percent larger than its predecessor and is capable of processing more parts per hour to help meet our customers’ needs,” said Jerry Lynch, company president.
The new washer features a four-step cycle to ensure that each part is washed, rinsed, coated with a rust-prevention solution and dried. The washer was placed strategically on the plant floor to reduce material handling and improve product throughput.
For more on Bettcher Amherst, visit www.bettcherllc.com. For more on parts washers and related equipment from Walsh Mfg., visit www.walshmfg.com.

Stamper/Rollformer Earns OSHA Recognition

Elrae Industries, Inc., Alden, NY, a supplier of stamped and rollformed components, custom assemblies and retail-ready products, has been accepted into the national Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). The program recognizes small employers that operate exemplary safety-and-health management systems. Companies accepted into SHARP are exempt from programmed OSHA inspections for a given period of time, and can renew their exempt status via an on-site visit to ensure continued exemplary status.

Stamper Invests in New Online
Shop-Floor Management System

Su-Dan Corp., Rochester Hills, MI, will soon implement the Plexus Online Manufacturing System from Plexus Systems, Auburn Hills MI, to manage its entire enterprise of five manufacturing plants. Su-Dan provides precision metal stampings, plastic-insert, injection and over molding, welding, riveting, staking, spinning and assembly services to automotive-industry customers. Plexus Online will advance Su-Dan’s ability to track and manage its supply business in real time by integrating all operations—electronic data interchange, sales, purchasing, production, quality, shipping and accounting. Learn more at www.plex.com.

MI Tool Company Allies with Chinese Trio

Synergis Technologies Group, Grand Rapids, MI, has formed a strategic alliance with three of China’s leading tool and die manufacturers in order to deliver high-quality low-cost tooling to its North American automotive customers. The four companies have formed a management company called Synergis China Automotive Die Group, Ltd., each with a 25-percent stake and with Synergis serving as the entry/exit point for customers. Die design, engineering changes, quality integration and final die buyoff will occur in the United States, and Synergis will assume production/product risk and travel requirements. For more information, visit www.synergis.us.

Mammoth Spinforming Machine Installed

MJC Engineering and Technology, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA, has manufactured and delivered what it says is the most powerful CNC machine in its configuration ever built for a U.S. fabricator. Weighing nearly 50 tons, the new Model SP 78200-3 spinform lathe, designed and built for Glenn Metalcraft Inc., Princeton, MN, boasts a 200-hp spindle, 100-hp hydraulic system and three-station automatic turret. Prior to commissioning the new lathe, the company was limited to spinforming materials no thicker than ½ in. The new machine can handle mild-steel blanks
up to 80-in. dia. and 1-3/8 in. thick.

ICE Industries Receives Quality Award

ICE Industries, Sylvania, OH, a metal-stamping and machining company, has received a Master Quality Award from automotive supplier Yorozu America Corp. Yorozu recognized ICE for providing outstanding quality during 2005 for products manufactured at the ICE Industries stamping and assembly plant in Grenada, MS. In recent months, the Grenada plant has expanded its relationship with Yorozu, acquiring additional stamping work that was done previously in Mexico and Japan. In addition, the ICE Grenada plant provides parts to Nissan North America, and finalized a relationship this month with PK U.S.A., an automotive supplier that manufactures vehicle parts for Nissan and Subaru. The agreement calls for ICE to produce an additional 36 parts in Grenada. To accommodate the new business, ICE Industries recently purchased three 1000-ton presses and two 600-ton presses, and plans to hire additional employees for its second shift and open a third shift.

Oberg Acquires Mexican Stamper

Oberg Industries, Freeport, PA, a $125-mliion manufacturing company offering product and progressive-die design, stamping and other services, acquired First Latin American Corp. (FLAC) and its wholly owned subsidiary Troqueles de Presicion Del Noroeste, SA DE CV. FLAC operates a 30,000-sq.-ft. stamping and deep-drawing shop in Tecate, Mexico, near Tijuana, and employs 60 people. Certified to ISO 9001, it provides progressive and transfer stamping and hydroforming with presses from 30 to 200 tons. Oberg is online at www.oberg.com.

Rockford Toolcraft Recognizes Congressman's Efforts

Congressman Donald Manzullo (R-Ill. 16th) visited metal stamper and tool-and-die manufacturer Rockford Toolcraft, Rockford, IL, on Wednesday, April 18, to tour the facility and see its new 1000-ton Minster HeviBlanker press. During the visit, Rockford Toolcraft’s president and CEO Gerald Busse (right) and vice president Tom Busse (left) presented Mr. Manzullo with a laser-cut stainless-steel plaque recognizing his efforts in Washington, D.C. on behalf of U.S. manufacturing companies

Ramcel Earns Quality Certs.

Ramcel Engineering Co. has earned TS 16949:2002 and ISO 9001:2000 quality certifications at its Northbrook, IL, facility. The company supplies custom metal stampings, tooling and assemblies to various industries.
For more, visit www.ramcel.com.

Ownership, Technology Changes at Trueline

Trueline, Inc., La Crosse, WI, designer and manufacturer of Class A progressive dies and automated special machines as well as a contract stamper, is now under the sole ownership of Terry Trueblood, president, after he purchased the outstanding company stock shares from his brother Tim Trueblood. Tim has left Trueline.
Terry Trueblood, in announcing the ownership change, also outlined plans to expand corporate administrative offices as well as project management, quality control and inspection departments.
Beyond that, he announced the company’s increased use of in-die sensing and in-die measurement. That allows for automatic adjustment of forms in the die to maintain dimensional features and permits 100-percent inspection of critical features. Also, the company has designed a die feature that allows in-die lubrication of all moving components to extend die life.
For more, visit www.trueline-inc.com.

Niles Expanded Metals Adds Foil Line

Expanded-metal and grating-product manufacturer Niles Expanded Metals & Plastics, Niles, OH, has installed a new expanded-metal line for fabricating precision metal foils. The 16-in.-wide line, from Bender GmbH, Siegen, Germany, can expand, flatten and slit stainless steels and aluminum, titanium and nickel alloys—most any ductile foil material. With its new expanded-foil line, the firm targets customers in the battery, fuel-cell, electronic, medical and automotive industries. Learn more at www.nilesexpandedmetals.com.

Hi-Lex Controls Names Duggan Mfg.
Prototype Supplier of the Year

For meeting quality, delivery and cost objectives, as well as providing a level of customer service that “sets them apart,” Duggan Mfg., Shelby Township, MI, has been named Prototype Supplier of the Year by Hi-Lex Controls, Inc. Hi-Lex manufactures automotive window-regulator assemblies, mechanical cable and power lift-gate systems. Duggan designs, engineers and stamps prototype and low-volume parts. Says Jeff Trottier, advanced purchasing buyer for Hi-Lex Controls: “Our level of confidence in making commitments to our customers is insured because we know Duggan Manufacturing is there to back us up.”

MW Industries Partners with Connor Mfg. in China

MW Industries (MWI), Inc., Logansport, IN, a manufacturer of springs, fasteners and stampings, has signed an agreement with Connor Manufacturing Services, Redwood City, CA, to source precision stampings and tooling from Connor’s facility in Suzhou, China, to service MWI’s customers in the Asian market. In turn, MWI will supply springs and other components to Connor, to serve its Asian customers. Learn more at www.mw-ind.com and www.connorms.com.
MWI also has opened a sales office in Shanghai, China, to service its U.S.-based customers sourcing components and locating production and assembly operations in China, as well as sell to China-based manufacturing companies.

Glen Metalcraft Earns CoC Small Business Award

Glen Metalcraft Inc. (GMI), Princeton, MN, has been named a recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Small Business Award. The award, part of the chamber’s Small Business of the Year selection process, honors companies that show excellence in business history and commitment to customers, employees and the community. On March 15, seven finalists will be selected from the group of 60 Blue Ribbon Small Business winners.
GMI supplies components to John Deere, Case Global and other OEMs. For more, visit www.glenmetalcraft.com.

Atlantic Tool & Die Expanding in 2006

Atlantic Tool & Die, Strongsville, OH, will open a new $9.3 million plant in Seville, OH, by September 1, 2006. It’s investing $3.94 million in land and in a 51,000-sq.-ft. building, and another $5.36 million in machinery and equipment. In all, Atlantic plans to spend $20 million in 2006 for expansion projects, capitalizing on 17 consecutive years of growth..

Ebtec Installs New Laser-Drilling System

Laserdyne Systems, Champlin, MN, has delivered a Nd:YAG drilling system to Ebtec Corp., Agawam, MA, a supplier of parts to various North American industries. The Laserdyne 790XL BeamDirector is a six-axis laser driller with a work envelope of 40 by 40 by 40 in. and a 25-in.-dia. high-accuracy rotary table. Its software component helps deliver parts in rapid cycle times with improved flow consistency, according to Laserdyne officials.
For more from Ebtec, visit www.ebteccorp.com.

Meyer Stamping & Manufacturing Recognized
for Health and Safety Management

Meyer Stamping & Manufacturing, Fort Wayne, IN, has been recognized as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Site by OSHA. The honor indicates sustained excellence in all areas of safety and health management at the company. Meyer Stamping & Manufacturing is one of only 32 worksites in Indiana to receive this honor.
On February 1, 2006, Miguel Rivera, State of Indiana commissioner of labor, presented the company’s employees with the VPP flag.
For more on company capabilities, visit www.meyerstamping.com.

Dane Mfg. Expands and Hires

Dane Manufacturing, Dane, WI, has added 15,000 sq. ft. to its manufacturing facility to make room for a new laser-cutting machine and additional assembly operations, a finished-goods warehouse and shipping docks. And, the firm, a precision metal fabricator and stamper, added eight new high-paying manufacturing jobs with benefits—in engineering, laser cutting, stamping, forming and general assembly operations. Website: www.danemfg.com.

Adjustable Pass-Line Height Just One Feature
of New Servo Feeds Installed at ODM

ODM Tool & Manufacturing, McCook, IL, a contract stamper and welding shop, has installed two new electronic servo press-feed units from Dallas Industries, Troy, MI. The feeds—a 36-in. model rated for stock to 0.40 in. thick and a 42-in. model rated for material to 0.375 in. thick—feature a motorized cabinet base that allows for up to 10 in. of vertical adjustment of pass-line height. A hydraulic quick clamp secures the cabinet to the press. Entry rolls can be adjusted individually or simultaneously--for self-centering procedures. ODM also had the feeds equipped with out-of-stock sensors and automatic lubrication systems. Learn more about the feeds (models DRFM-636 and DRFH-642) at www.dallasindustries.com.

Buhrke Receives Recognition from Siemens VDO

Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Regensburg, Germany, has recognized metalformer Buhrke Industries, Arlington Heights, IL, for outstanding performance in 2005 by presenting the company with its Performance Award for 2005. Buhrke, one of 10 vendors honored out of 1500 total suppliers worldwide, was selected due to its overall vendor rating of 92, second highest of all of the award recipients, while achieving a performance level of 6 PPM for the year.

Medical-Device Manufacturer has New Name

Wright Laser, Inc., Waverly, MN, has changed its name to Vitaldyne, Inc., to better reflect the company’s expanded range of manufacturing capabilities. A contract manufacturer specializing in the manufacture, assembly and packaging of medical devices and components, Vitaldyne operates 10 laser-processing systems and also provides adhesive and solvent bonding, soldering and packaging services. Its lasers drill precision holes as small as 0.0005-in. dia., as well as weld and ablate. It employs 20 technicians in a 5000-sq.-ft. shop. Learn more at www.vitaldyne.com.

Macsteel to Add Heattreat Capacity

Macsteel will be adding a fourth quench and temper line with induction heating, similar to three existing lines, at its heattreat operation in Huntington, IN. The new line, to be completed early in 2007, is part of $6.2 million plant expansion that will add 16,000 tons of bar and tube capacity.
For more, visit the website of Macsteel’s parent company, Quanex Corp., at www.quanex.com.

Wisconsin Short-Run Stamper Expands in NC

Dynamic Stampings Inc., Sussex, WI, a short-run stamper specializing in production lots of 50 to 50,000, has opened a plant in Chapel Hill, NC, named Dynamic Stampings of North Carolina. It will service the firm’s customers in the Carolinas as well as in Georgia and Virginia. Learn more at www.dynamicstampings.com.

Ultratech Tool & Design Awarded ISO Cert.

ISO 9001:2000 certification has been awarded to Ultratech Tool & Design, Inc., Fond du Lac, WI. The firm produces and designs progressive, draw, compound and station dies. It also offers prototype development, fixture build, precision machining and die tryout with press capacity to 500 tons.