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Trump Budget Would Scrap the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Trump Budget Would Scrap the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Posted by | May 26, 2017 | , |

The Trump administration has released details of its budget proposal and it doesn’t look good for manufacturers.  An Associated Press review showed that only the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs and the Treasury would see funding increases. While State, Education and Justice departments, Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are facing huge cuts, there’s one area that particularly effects the manufacturing sector. Under this new budget, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) doesn’t make the cut. The MEP assists small and mid-sized manufacturers, as well as the Economic Development Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency.  For every dollar...

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Best Practices for Prototyping in the Age of Advanced Manufacturing

Best Practices for Prototyping in the Age of Advanced Manufacturing

Posted by | May 26, 2017 | , |

“Fast prototyping should no longer be the goal. Smart prototyping should be.” When the phrase, “advanced manufacturing,” first burst onto the scene a few years ago, few of us knew what to make of it. Did it apply literally to how things were made, like with CNC machining or 3D printing? Was it a reference to robotics and other trends affecting the changing factory floor like wearables and AR? Or did it mean the increasing amount of new-fangled, high-tech products manufacturers were making? The shift of business operations into the cloud? The coming Industrial Internet of Things? The concern...

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Top Tips OEMs Should Consider When Purchasing Automotive Fasteners

Top Tips OEMs Should Consider When Purchasing Automotive Fasteners

Posted by | May 26, 2017 | , , , |

Automotive OEMs can eliminate or overcome production issues caused by fastening problems by using the design expertise of fastener manufacturers. However, not all fastener manufacturers are created equal. It is essential to choose a manufacturer who not only has the expertise and capacity to meet strict specifications, but also can incorporate design features that save on assembly time and cost, while improving the quality and resilience of completed assemblies. Buckeye Fasteners offers tips to help OEMs collaborate with their fastener manufacturers to optimize the design and production process associated with the installation of their fasteners.   Click Here to...

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Fastener Organization Presidents: Questions with Rosa Hearn of Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI)

Fastener Organization Presidents: Questions with Rosa Hearn of Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI)

Posted by | May 26, 2017 | , , |

“Networking. Educating.​​ Connecting.​​​​” –Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI) New technologies are influencing the future of manufacturing. 3D printing is one of the many examples of opportunities for the fastener industry that exists within the 4th industrial revolution. 2016 was the year with most fastener acquisition deals in 9 years. Global and technology shifts in the industrial sectors are contributing to deals being made. Unless companies can find ways to adapt and grow, the deals wildly rise in numbers. Fastener organizations are playing an important role in educating professionals and furthering the industry as a whole.  Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI) is one of...

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National Security Investigation of Imported Steel Could Be Prelude to Similar Actions Against Other Imports

National Security Investigation of Imported Steel Could Be Prelude to Similar Actions Against Other Imports

Posted by | May 25, 2017 | , , |

On April 20, 2017, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to conduct an expedited investigation of the harmful impact of steel imports on U.S. national security. The investigation, which will be conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, may result in duties, quotas or other measures to restrict harmful imports into the United States. In calling for the investigation, President Trump highlighted other important industries, including aluminum, vehicles, aircraft, shipbuilding and semiconductors, as critical elements of U.S. national security that should be defended against unfair trade practices. Companies that make these and...

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Researchers Replicate Molten Metal Pouring Behavior with Newly Developed Simulation Technology

Researchers Replicate Molten Metal Pouring Behavior with Newly Developed Simulation Technology

Posted by | May 25, 2017 | , |

Fujitsu Limited and Daido University Professor Yasuhiro Maeda have jointly developed new simulation technology that can accurately replicate splash and wave behavior in the surface of molten metals when they are being poured. In the casting process, which is used in component manufacturing in a variety of fields, such as automobiles and IT devices, molten metal is poured into a mold to be cast into a shape. The way molten metal flows through the interior of a mold significantly effects casting quality, but because the interior is impossible to see, there has been a demand for a simulation that...

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Fit To Print: See Firsthand How GE’s Additive Business Is Changing The Way We Make Jet Engines, Jewelry And More

Fit To Print: See Firsthand How GE’s Additive Business Is Changing The Way We Make Jet Engines, Jewelry And More

Posted by | May 25, 2017 | , |

A few years ago, a team of eight GE Aviation engineers decided to give additive manufacturing a whirl and 3D print a helicopter engine. Using a laser beam to weld together hair-thin layers of a metal powder, they combined 900 different parts into just 14, including one engine segment that used to have different 300 components. The printed parts were also 40 percent lighter and 60 percent cheaper. “To make these parts the ordinary way, you typically need 10 to 15 suppliers, you have tolerances, you have nuts, bolts, welds and braces,” said Mohammad Ehteshami, the engineer who led...

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2017 Engineering and Construction Trends

2017 Engineering and Construction Trends

Posted by | May 25, 2017 | , |

Companies in the engineering and construction (E&C) industry have had few safe havens during the past several years. In the oil and gas sector, persistently low oil prices hindered — or stopped — work on most large energy projects. Even though prices have slowly begun to recover, most oil giants are still cautious about new initiatives with major capital expenditures. Investments are projected to increase through 2018, in line with a projected rise in oil prices, but overall spending levels will remain far below the historic highs of 2012 and 2013. The caution is understandable: Having suffered through a...

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Buckeye Fasteners Earns Recognition from Cleveland Southwest Safety Council

Buckeye Fasteners Earns Recognition from Cleveland Southwest Safety Council

Posted by | May 24, 2017 | , , |

Buckeye Fasteners and its member companies under the Fastener Industries, Inc. umbrella have been recognized for their effort in preventing accidents and injuries in the workplace. The Cleveland Southwest Safety Council and Berea Chamber of Commerce have honored the company for their commitment for their above and beyond strides to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.  “At Buckeye Fasteners, the welfare of our employees is our number one priority. We are proud to receive recognition for our commitment to safety across our facilities. We look forward to continuing our safety initiatives and developing new training programs to educate and...

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Wire & Cable Technology International, May/June 2017

Wire & Cable Technology International, May/June 2017

Posted by | May 24, 2017 | , |

  Wire & Cable Technology International, May/June 2017 Featured Articles: Artificial Intelligence in Wire Processing? Case Study: Precision Wire at Its Finest Experience, Innovation & Patented Technology  & More! About Wire & Cable Technology International: Wire & Cable Technology International is a bimonthly international technical magazine for manufacturers, processors, distributors and users of all types of electrical, communication and mechanical wire and cable including fiber optic...

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Google Grant Helps Detroit-Area Students on Path to STEM Careers

Google Grant Helps Detroit-Area Students on Path to STEM Careers

Posted by | May 24, 2017 | , |

The MEZ, a STEM collaboration, aims at getting students interested in pursuing STEM careers. Google grant will increase students to 500 each season. DETROIT – A $250,000 grant from Google will provide more Detroit-area high school students with hands-on science and engineering after-school programs at the Michigan Engineering Zone, located at 3663 Woodward Ave. The MEZ, a collaboration between the University of Michigan College of Engineering, Detroit Public Schools and FIRST Robotics, aims at getting hundreds of students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. As demand for the use of the MEZ grows,...

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Closing the Science Gender Gap: We Need to Increase the Public Presence of Women in STEM by Dr. Megan Sebben, CDM Smith

Closing the Science Gender Gap: We Need to Increase the Public Presence of Women in STEM by Dr. Megan Sebben, CDM Smith

Posted by | May 24, 2017 | , |

by Dr. Megan Sebben, CDM Smith I wasn’t one of those kids who knew what they wanted to do when they grew up. In fact, at 28, I’m still not exactly sure what I want to do.  I’ve always had a passion for solving problems; particularly small ones like saving the planet (it’s a work in progress). Fast track a couple of decades and I’ve somehow completed a PhD in Hydrogeology and am working as a hydrogeologist/ groundwater modeller at the water and environmental services firm, CDM Smith. Like many women working in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)...

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GE Plant Is Not Just Smart, It’s ‘Brilliant’

GE Plant Is Not Just Smart, It’s ‘Brilliant’

Posted by | May 24, 2017 | , |

GE’s efforts to use digital technology has created a process and culture that’s not just smart, but “brilliant,” says plant manager Jeffrey Smith.   GROVE CITY, Pa. – Were this five years ago, Keith Spahn would be busy at his workstation scrawling calculations by hand to determine whether a metal plate used on locomotive engines was fit for service or should be scrapped. The process could take up to 10 minutes. Not only was it time-consuming, he says, it left wide open the potential for human error. One mistake could result in sending a bad part down the line...

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Fastener Professionals Reflect on Mobile Training

Fastener Professionals Reflect on Mobile Training

Posted by | May 23, 2017 | , , , |

The tale of training and upskilling has long been told. Imagine needing this training and having the solution arrive on your doorstep. Imagine the gift comes wrapped in black and turquoise with 18 wheels. The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) mobile training unit is just that and the only imagination needed is for the future of possibilities that it offers. At the 9th annual North Coast Fastener Association (NCFA) Fastener Social on May 18, 2017, fastener professionals had the opportunity to take a look inside of the mobile unit. We spoke to a few of them on their way out.  “I found it to be...

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Fastener News Report, May Edition

Fastener News Report, May Edition

Posted by | May 23, 2017 | , , |

Every month, Fastener Technology International magazine produces the Fastener News Report newsletter. In it is insight into the g;global fastener business and market news. Here you’ll find mergers, acquisitions, market reports, sales & earnings data, contracts, new products, Events & Opportunities, and updates on the industry. May’s Newsletter Highlights: FASTENER TECH ’17: Full Slate of Events & Free Registration Global Aerospace Fastener Market Growing at 7.9%/Year Through 2025  NIFMSE Hall of Fame nominations are open Volt Industrial Plastics celebrate 25 years Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) Down to 50.2 in April Dates & venue Set for Fastener Fair Turkey 2018 Virg Lindstrom Scholars Program Announced...

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Smart Factories and the Modern Manufacturer

Smart Factories and the Modern Manufacturer

Posted by | May 22, 2017 | , |

Capgemini’s Digital Transformation Institute (DTI) and Digital Manufacturing services relay the findings of their Smart Factories report. The report finds that many technologies such as the IoT, Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Robotics, 3D printing and Cloud Computing will impact the manufacturing landscape. Sectors such as industrial manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and automotive and transportation have the largest numbers of manufacturers working towards a culture of smart manufacturing.  Over 70% of manufacturers either already have a smart factory initiative or are working on formulating it, while a mere 14% are satisfied with their level of success. Even lower, 6% of manufacturers are “Digital Masters” who...

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The 2017 North Coast Fastener Association Social in a Nuts (and Bolts) Shell

The 2017 North Coast Fastener Association Social in a Nuts (and Bolts) Shell

Posted by | May 19, 2017 | , , |

May 18th was the 9th annual North Coast Fastener Association (NCFA) Distributor Social at the Crowne Plaza in Independence, OH. About 200 fastener professionals gathered for the occasion. In attendance were also representatives from Emerald Expositions (The National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo) and Mack Brooks Exhibitions, which is introducing its first Fastener Fair USA in 2018.  The event opened with three 15 minute presentations. The first presenter was Alicia Booker, the Vice President of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). Booker highlighted the importance of training and the rise of the younger workforce. She touched upon areas of gaps...

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W.W. Grainger And The Amazon Effect

W.W. Grainger And The Amazon Effect

Posted by | May 19, 2017 | , |

W.W. Grainger’s (NYSE:GWW) business has been under pressure lately by the king of all industry disruptors – Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN). This led to the company releasing a less-than-favorable first-quarter earnings report. W.W. Grainger’s stock price declined by ~11% after the announcement and is down by nearly 20% year-to-date. However, long-term investors should not be alarmed. W.W. Grainger has a very long history of running a profitable business. W.W. Grainger’s longevity extends to its dividend growth. In fact, W.W. Grainger has increased its annual dividend for 45 consecutive years. This qualifies W.W. Grainger to be a member of the Dividend Aristocrats,...

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Stratasys Takes on the Next Additive Roadblock

Stratasys Takes on the Next Additive Roadblock

Posted by | May 18, 2017 | , |

At RAPID, Stratasys unveiled another new concept in 3D printing, the Stratasys Continuous Build 3D Demonstrator. The new platform puts multiple 3D print cells together in a modular unit to produce a continuous stream of multiple products.   After a long, slow build-up, additive manufacturing has come a long way very quickly this decade. New technologies and breakthroughs have made 3D printing easier to use, more stable, and more practical in almost any setting—from grade school labs to jet engines, and everything in between. Meanwhile, new materials and deposition techniques have made 3d-printed objects far stronger more useful than many ever thought...

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Will This Historic Company Be Amazon’s Next Victim?

Will This Historic Company Be Amazon’s Next Victim?

Posted by | May 18, 2017 | , |

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) is an MRO parts distributor with a 90 year operating history that has seen a rapid change in its business over the last decade. The company has done well at shifting its business online, but its share price has languished over fears of Amazon’s (NYSE:AMZN) competition. Although Amazon will continue to be a threat, Grainger is well positioned to maintain its client base and continue to grow market share. The MRO market is highly fragmented, with the top 50 distributors only representing ~30% of the North American market, which is estimated to be $160B. Grainger holds...

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Metal Parts Now 5x Cheaper Thanks to New Development in 3D Printing Plastics

Metal Parts Now 5x Cheaper Thanks to New Development in 3D Printing Plastics

Posted by | May 18, 2017 | , |

Pittsburgh, Wednesday May 10, 2017: 3D Hubs today announces it’s bringing low cost metal parts to market. Using Polymaker’s PolyCast, a new material for FDM printed patterns and a global network of foundries, 3D Hubs will offer cast metal parts up to 5x cheaper than existing methods. Traditionally, the investment casting process uses a machined die to produce wax patterns for casting. 3D Hubs becomes the first company to use FDM castable plastic (PolyCast by Polymaker) to create these patterns. The benefits, besides its low cost, is that FDM printing allows for the production of large, complex patterns that...

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Should You 3D Print That Part? SME Launches ITEAM at RAPID to Answer That Question

Should You 3D Print That Part? SME Launches ITEAM at RAPID to Answer That Question

Posted by | May 18, 2017 | , |

It’s an age old question. Should I use additive manufacturing or another process to create my product? Or as SME puts it…To 3D print or not to 3D print? At RAPID + TCT last week, SME announced that they have partnered with GM and Dr. Michael Grieves of the Florida Institute of Technology to create ITEAM, the Independent Technical Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Consortium, to address that question. ITEAM was formed to develop a web-based evaluation system to aid manufacturers in making better decisions in additive manufacturing. The chief things that ITEAM is concerned with are the following: Is this something I can 3D print? Does it make...

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Rotor Clip Announces Winners of the 2017 Ring-A-Majig Contest

Rotor Clip Announces Winners of the 2017 Ring-A-Majig Contest

Posted by | May 17, 2017 | , , |

2017 was the second time Rotor Clip challenged engineering students all over the nation to flex their skills and come up with a unique device design that incorporated a retaining rings set as the fastening method. This year’s contest threw a bit of a curve ball to students, asking them to also incorporate a functioning wave spring in their designs.  The finished device had to display motion or movement in order to be considered. Four degreed mechanical engineers from Rotor Clip served as judges for the contest. They viewed the five finalist’s presentations and selected the top three winners. The contest was held in...

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It Shoots, It Scores! The FIRST Robotics Competition Inspires The Next Generation Of Engineers

It Shoots, It Scores! The FIRST Robotics Competition Inspires The Next Generation Of Engineers

Posted by | May 17, 2017 | , |

By day, Doug Wildes is a physicist with GE Global Research. But he also mentors robotics students from Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, New York. Coach Doug Wildes knows that no matter how hard you train, sometimes the difference between winning and losing comes down to a toss of the ball. Even when it’s a robot doing the tossing. That was the case at this year’s annual FIRST Robotics Competition. Wildes, who doubles as a physicist at GE Global Research in Niskayuna, New York, has been mentoring a 100-strong team of students from Shenendehowa High School in nearby...

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Webinars for MFG Day Hosts

Webinars for MFG Day Hosts

Posted by | May 16, 2017 | , , |

If you’ve visited mfgday.com lately, you may have noticed that the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has taken charge of Manufacturing Day, giving it a renewed energy and focus as we head into our sixth year. To familiarize potential Hosts with MFG DAY, NAM will be hosting three webinars in May.   Thursday May 18 2 – 2:45 pm EST Register Now Tuesday, May 23 12 – 12:45 pm EST Register Now Thursday, May 25 1 – 1:45 pm EST Register Now If you’re curious about what your options are for hosting an event, how to get people to your...

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Green Bay Welding Classes Spark Interest for Girls

Green Bay Welding Classes Spark Interest for Girls

Posted by | May 16, 2017 | , |

REEN BAY – Just 12 years old, Ivy Durant isn’t in a rush to make a decision on a career path to take when she gets older. The seventh-grader at Franklin Middle School has been tossing around a few ideas, however. “At first, I wanted to be a geologist,” she said. “Then, I wanted to be an astrophysicist, and then I wanted to be an astronomer, and then I wanted to be a geologist again.” Add welder to the list. Make that atop the list after Ivy participated with a few other adolescent girls — and their mothers —...

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A Signal In the Sky: Mobile Manufacturing Training Answers the Call

A Signal In the Sky: Mobile Manufacturing Training Answers the Call

Posted by | May 16, 2017 | , |

Manufacturing Training Where the Jobs Are, the Employers Are, and the People Are When there’s trouble in Gotham, a signal in the sky calls Batman to where he is needed. Much like the dark knight, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) is answering calls for help, but in manufacturing. Manufacturers are looking for ways to train and upscale their workforce. Sometimes, in-house training isn’t always easy to do. Additionally, manufacturers are seeking to inspire talent to enter into the manufacturing workforce. Tri-C has come up with a brilliant solution to this problem. Tri-C’s mobile training unit is a 53-foot long truck. The mobility option allows...

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Pushing Manufacturing Productivity to the Max

Pushing Manufacturing Productivity to the Max

Posted by | May 16, 2017 | , |

Many companies do their best to optimize production processes using established rules of thumb or incomplete data. But at the end of the month or reporting period, they often discover sizeable gaps between actual profits and what they had expected. In our experience, that is because they typically lack precise-enough measures to understand the small, real-time variations in process flows and manufacturing steps that cumulatively erode returns at facilities such as mines, steel mills, or other manufacturing plants. This information, moreover, is rarely shared quickly enough for managers to respond in the tight time frames required. McKinsey’s work across a...

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On The Right Foot: This 3D Printing Incubator Is Liberating Engineers (And Much More)

On The Right Foot: This 3D Printing Incubator Is Liberating Engineers (And Much More)

Posted by | May 16, 2017 | , |

Hailing from the Outer Banks, a long, sandy necklace of islands hanging from North Carolina’s Atlantic coast, Jimmie Beacham knows something about witnessing history. When his grandfather, John, was a small boy, he watched one of the Wright brothers’ first attempts at flight in nearby Kitty Hawk, a feat that ultimately ended up changing how we live. Now Beacham himself is in the vanguard of a revolution, one that is changing how we design and make things. It’s called additive manufacturing, which includes technologies like 3D printing. As chief engineer for advanced manufacturing at GE Healthcare, Beacham, 43, is...

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Pulse Check: Workforce Insights Revealed

Pulse Check: Workforce Insights Revealed

Posted by | May 16, 2017 | , |

This week, Tooling-U SME had an extraordinary opportunity to gather manufacturers together from across the country at their annual tuX event – and get a read on how things are going in the industry related to training and development. Some feedback was not surprising. For instance, a poll of attendees found that nearly everyone (98%) said production is impacted by lack of skilled workers. We all know the skills gap is very real. If companies aren’t building a pipeline of workers and addressing the situation now, they will be in trouble. Fortunately, Tooling-U heard from a number of manufacturers that are...

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Leaner Than Lean: How Digitalization Transforms Manufacturing

Leaner Than Lean: How Digitalization Transforms Manufacturing

Posted by | May 15, 2017 | , |

If you want to see the future of manufacturing, follow the Tama River about 45 kilometers upstream from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to the GE Healthcare facility in Hino, Japan. Inside this outwardly conventional, low-rise suburban business complex is emerging the blueprint for the future of manufacturing, tweak by painstaking tweak. The Industrial Internet meets Kaizen, the Japanese concept of continuous improvement, at GE Healthcare’s plant in Hino, Japan, GE’s most advanced “brilliant factory”. “What we’re doing is applying digital tools, advanced manufacturing solutions, on top of a Lean foundation,” explains Frederick Mauermann, general manager for global lean manufacturing at...

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SME – Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals Certification

SME – Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals Certification

Posted by | May 14, 2017 | , |

Official Co-Sponsor   Learn the Fundamentals of Additive Manufacturing To achieve the Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals Certification, you must show you are able to understand and demonstrate the fundamental concepts and processes of additive. The certification in Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals is the first and only certification validating an individual’s knowledge of industry-standard concepts in additive manufacturing, based on revisions to the Additive Manufacturing Body of Knowledge by the Additive Manufacturing Leadership Initiative (AMLI) in 2016. It is ideal for individuals working in or seeking to work in additive manufacturing roles in automotive, aerospace, and medical equipment. It is also ideal...

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Want to Help NASA Make a FabLab in Space?

Want to Help NASA Make a FabLab in Space?

Posted by | May 14, 2017 | , |

Ever dreamt of designing a makerspace for astronauts to use? NASA is accepting prototypes and applications from the public to put a makerspace aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Many people do not realize that the public can interact with, and more specifically work with NASA. The agency releases public calls for proposals and prototypes all the time. Anyone, including small businesses and individuals, can submit designs for consideration. This time, NASA specifically wants a FabLab, or makerspace, on the International Space Station. They are not planning on packing up crates full of table saws and routers, they need something a little more purpose built....

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The Industrial Future is Coming and It’s Digital

The Industrial Future is Coming and It’s Digital

Posted by | May 13, 2017 | , |

The future of industry will be digital. It’s inevitable, but that doesn’t make it easy. UI LABS was founded to take on grand challenges in this arena: To digitize the U.S. supply chain to make manufacturing more competitive globally, and to rebuild American infrastructure to make it smarter and more effective to improve residents’ lives. These “old school” industries lag behind the consumer sector in the path to digitization. A single player can’t create an app that reaches the hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized manufacturers in the United States in the same way that a consumer app...

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Optimas Solutions Supplies Global Expertise with a Local Touch

Optimas Solutions Supplies Global Expertise with a Local Touch

Posted by | May 12, 2017 | , , |

The phrase ‘global supplier’ creates thoughts of shipping containers travelling the world and large multinational corporations employing highly complex logistical operations; all controlled from a centralized super-hub. However, this is not an entirely accurate reflection of what it takes to be a truly successful supply partner to a global customer base. Traditional global frameworks can be slow to respond to local concerns, while moving products around the world can also be costly and time consuming. Therefore, to effectively service demands with speed at a local level, a global approach must be blended with a local outlook – a scalability...

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Student Teams Submit Prototype Product Designs for Rotor Clip Contest

Student Teams Submit Prototype Product Designs for Rotor Clip Contest

Posted by | May 12, 2017 | , , , |

Rosemary Astheimer challenges CGT 22600 (Introduction to Constraint-Based Modeling) students with a different project every semester, and Rotor Clip’s “Ring-A-Majig” contest provided the inspiration for this spring’s coursework. In the course, students focus on learning how to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and then applying what they’ve learned to create product designs and build prototypes of those designs which incorporate 3-D printed and laser-cut parts. “I like students to experience the challenges they will face when working in industry, including working in groups, coming up with designs that fit the requirements given to them, and then getting firsthand...

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Bolted by Trust, Transparency and Communication: Sundram Fasteners

Bolted by Trust, Transparency and Communication: Sundram Fasteners

Posted by | May 12, 2017 | , , |

At 80 years of age, Suresh Krishna has earned the right to put his feet up and enjoy the pleasures of life. But the Chairman and Managing Director of Sundram Fasteners Ltd is in his office a little after 8 a.m. most days, and keeps up a fairly busy daily routine. Agile and fit, Krishna, an excellent raconteur, has numerous anecdotes to narrate about his company, which turned 50 this year, the lessons he has learnt on this journey and the ease with which he carries the TVS legacy. “The first 25 years of the company,” he says without...

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Five Ways 3D Printing is Changing Manufacturing

Five Ways 3D Printing is Changing Manufacturing

Posted by | May 11, 2017 | , |

As 3D printing is becoming a major part in manufacturing in production. No longer just for prototyping, the industry has to make adjustments for this shift. Today only 0.01% of all manufacturing output is 3-D printed. Instead, the technology is predominantly used to produce prototypes, which enables companies to transform and tweak product models much more easily and cost-effectively than by using traditional manufacturing methods. But 3-D printing is beginning to make small yet significant inroads that are taking it beyond prototyping and onto the manufacturing floor and production process. The industries making this happen are diverse. For example, aircraft manufacturer...

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Meet the Winners of the This Old House Generation NEXT Casting Call

Meet the Winners of the This Old House Generation NEXT Casting Call

Posted by | May 11, 2017 | , |

After launching a nationwide search for three apprentices to work alongside their expert This Old House crew, This Old House has found their winners! Get to know them before they make their TOH TV debut next season as they work on a home in Newton, MA. Bailey Beers, 18 | Hermon, ME PHOTO BY ERIN LITTLE   Bailey Beers will complete her first year of college as a building construction student before she heads from Hermon, Maine to Newton for her apprenticeship with TOH. The 18-year-old keeps a busy schedule: her day begins with a job at Home Depot in the mornings...

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Three Reasons Why Manufacturing Jobs are Suited to Millennials

Three Reasons Why Manufacturing Jobs are Suited to Millennials

Posted by | May 11, 2017 | , |

The manufacturing industry has a considerable employment hole to fill due to a looming skills gap. This is a daily fact we are coping with and are well aware of. One of the best ways to combat this issue is by putting more emphasis on what a great industry it is for young people to enter. Since the younger generation loves lists, here is a top three list of reasons to give millennials on why manufacturing is a great career choice. Reason 1 – Well paying positions. According to the NTMA (National Tooling & Machining Association), those in a...

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Innovative Solutions Within Your Workforce: Day 3 of the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo

Innovative Solutions Within Your Workforce: Day 3 of the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo

Posted by | May 10, 2017 | , |

Transform from the inside. Sometimes, the most valuable solutions are the ones that already exist within your organization. This principle was pointed out by keynote speaker, Billy Ray Taylor, the Director of Commercial Manufacturing for Goodyear, using a graphic of workers pushing a wagon with square wheels. The graphic depicted the struggle of pushing this wagon. However, the wagon was already carrying circular wheels. The workers were so distracted with the work that they neglected to notice the shape on the circular wheels on the inside. Companies tend to work so hard to try to get a project done that...

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Apple Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Support Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in the U.S.

Apple Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Support Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in the U.S.

Posted by | May 10, 2017 | , |

Apple says that it intends to bolster the U.S. manufacturing sector by creating a $1 billion “advanced manufacturing fund” — with some of that initial money going toward a company the tech giant is prepared to partner with, chief executive Tim Cook said. The announcement, which Cook made Wednesday on CNBC, comes after months of focus by President Trump on jobs, manufacturing and the global economy. Cook did not appear to suggest that his company’s decision was influenced by Trump. But the president has showered praise on companies such as Carrier, SoftBank and Charter Communications for promising to hire more American workers...

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Evaluation Leads to Innovation: Exploring Day 2 of the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo

Evaluation Leads to Innovation: Exploring Day 2 of the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo

Posted by | May 9, 2017 | , |

While technology’s possibilities might seem frightening, they offer a lot of possibilities for manufacturers. By breaking down an organization and seeking how to improve inside functionality, a company can also expand what it offers to its customers and its employees. Day 2 of the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo (M&T Show) gave attendees a glance into how their companies can improve and what practices are available in order to provide them with a competitive advantage. Dr. Ken Washington, the Vice President of Research and Advanced Engineering at Ford, opened the second day with a presentation on how Ford...

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Get Involved With Apprenticeship Forward

Get Involved With Apprenticeship Forward

Posted by | May 9, 2017 | , |

Apprenticeship Forward, May 4th-5th, 2017 Conference program now available! Apprenticeship Forward is a national conference that will help chart a path toward a future where millions more American workers and businesses reap the benefits of a high performing apprenticeship system built through the collaboration of the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.  Date: May 4th-5th, 2017 Location: Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009 Sponsoring Partners:  National Skills Coalition, New America, AFL-CIO Working for America Institute, Advance CTE, Jobs for the Future, National Association of Workforce Boards, National Fund for Workforce Solutions, National Governors Association, and Urban Institute (list in formation).  With the support of Annie E. Casey Foundation, Joyce Foundation, The JPB...

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You’re Dependable, Loyal, Driven and Ready For Your Next Mission in Manufacturing

You’re Dependable, Loyal, Driven and Ready For Your Next Mission in Manufacturing

Posted by | May 9, 2017 | , |

YOU’VE SERVED YOUR COUNTRY—NOW SERVE YOUR CAREER Manufacturing companies are looking for talent like you. To be on the front lines of innovation. Making a better future. Literally. Do you have what it takes? Operation Next is a hybrid virtual and lab-based learning program that will give you the skills and credentials you need.     Manufacturing Is a Career. Not Just a Job. Operation Next gives you foundational training to prepare you for one of the two most in-demand jobs in the country: CNC machining and Industrial Technology Maintenance. From here, you can advance within these jobs or...

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Tooling U-SME Introduces Additive Manufacturing Training Solutions Including Industry-First Certification and Apprenticeships

Tooling U-SME Introduces Additive Manufacturing Training Solutions Including Industry-First Certification and Apprenticeships

Posted by | May 9, 2017 | , |

(CLEVELAND, May 2, 2017) — Additive manufacturing is a rapidly developing market, and the evolution of this technology is outpacing product design and development. As a result, there is a critical need for continuous training and development to ensure the manufacturing workforce keeps up with the latest advancements. Tooling U-SME — the workforce development arm of SME — has launched a portfolio of additive manufacturing learning and development solutions that includes access to specialized training packages, apprenticeship programs and the industry’s first certification — all to support manufacturers that want to increase additive manufacturing operations at their companies/organizations and schools looking to...

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Innovation on Display: Day 1 of the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo

Innovation on Display: Day 1 of the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo

Posted by | May 8, 2017 | , |

Blink and you might miss something in manufacturing. The fast, evolving world of technology is playing a large role in how manufacturing and all of its sectors function. From quality, to monitoring, training, and every facet you can imagine, manufacturing is no longer the old, dirty factory that might come to mind. Now it’s wearables, 3D printing, robots, and training right outside of your door. At the Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo (M&T Show), all of these influencers come together to give attendees a peak inside what could be for their customers and for them. These technological advancements...

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Construction Asks, ‘Where’s the Infrastructure Program?’

Construction Asks, ‘Where’s the Infrastructure Program?’

Posted by | May 8, 2017 | , |

As President Trump passes the milestone of his first 100 days in office, his most effective tool so far has been what he calls “the sledgehammer”—the pen he has used to sign about 30 executive orders, plus memos and pieces of legislation, that knock down a wide range of Obama-era rules and decisions. Among Trump’s construction-related actions are measures to ease contractor disclosure mandates, narrow federal authority over dredging near bodies of water and remove Obama’s roadblocks of  high-profile energy pipeline projects. But the sledgehammer hasn’t been effective in advancing Trump’s legislative priorities. GOP-drafted legislation to abolish President Obama’s...

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Aerospace Suppliers Spending Huge Sums to Boost Capacity

Aerospace Suppliers Spending Huge Sums to Boost Capacity

Posted by | May 7, 2017 | , |

The shop floor at Cobalt Enterprises in Lake Stevens is abuzz with activity as half-million-dollar machine tools turn metal blocks into airplane parts. The company has expanded at breakneck speed in recent years — consistently growing for several years until 2016, when it doubled in size. The aerospace supplier expects to do about $25 million in sales this year. With airplane makers cranking up production and military spending on the rise, there is plenty of work for Cobalt and other aerospace suppliers. To win it, suppliers are under intense pressure to keep costs down, quality high and deliveries on...

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Mastering the Digital Advantage in Transforming Customer Experience

Mastering the Digital Advantage in Transforming Customer Experience

Posted by | May 6, 2017 | , |

Improving customer experience delivers real benefits to companies that successfully execute customer-centric strategies. Across sectors, satisfied customers spend more, exhibit deeper loyalty to companies, and create conditions that allow companies to have lower costs and higher levels of employee engagement. In that dynamic of value creation and durable competitive advantage, delivering digital services and operations has emerged as a prime mover in reshaping customer experience in almost every sector. As digital pure plays such as Amazon, Apple, and Uber continuously reinvent themselves by delivering simple, immediate, and individualized experiences, even traditional business-to-business players in sectors such as chemicals and steel...

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Makerspace: Professor Aims to Help Students Succeed by Failing

Makerspace: Professor Aims to Help Students Succeed by Failing

Posted by | May 6, 2017 | , |

With new 3D printer, laser cutter, CNC mill, you can “fail early and often, and quickly learn from your mistakes.” Professor is teaching kids valuable, hands-on lessons through the use of a makerspace. A Knox College faculty member recently installed some high-tech equipment designed to help students fail. Nicholas Gidmark, assistant professor of biology, installed a 3D printer, laser cutter, and computer-controlled milling machine—supported in part by a grant from the Scripps Foundation—to create a “science makerspace.” “Makerspaces provide the hands-on technology that enable you to test and improve your ideas,” Gidmark says. “This equipment makes it possible to...

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10 Social Media Marketing Strategies for Companies

10 Social Media Marketing Strategies for Companies

Posted by | May 5, 2017 | , |

Social media is crucial to the success of any company’s digital marketing strategy. Despite this, brands of all kinds and sizes are not using this tool to its full potential. Although the number of “follows”, “likes” and “shares” is still important, the credibility of a brand is distinguished by far more than just this. Today, social media requires a unique set of skills whereby brands need to fully understand the needs of their audience. To help you out, this author has put together 10 social media strategies you need to implement this year, whether you are a young entrepreneur or a...

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3D Hybrid Solutions & Multiax Launch the World’s Largest Metal 3D Printer

3D Hybrid Solutions & Multiax Launch the World’s Largest Metal 3D Printer

Posted by | May 4, 2017 | , |

Also offers Metal Printing Tools for any CNC machine Pittsburgh, PA:  3D Hybrid Solutions Inc., a provider of metal printing tools for any CNC machine announced today a joint venture with Multiax to offer the world’s largest metal 3D printer at RAPID + TCT on May 9th 2017.  The collaboration with Multiax, a large format 5 axis CNC machine tool builder offers a printable and machine-able space in excess of 500 cubic meters. It will also be one of the fastest metal 3D printers with speeds beyond 20 pounds per hour.  The addition of a metal printing tool to...

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Robots Keep Valley Manufacturers Competitive Even as Jobs Threatened

Robots Keep Valley Manufacturers Competitive Even as Jobs Threatened

Posted by | May 4, 2017 | , |

Advanced technology in robotics has stirred a sense of uneasiness in the workforce. While robots eliminate some jobs, it has also prolonged careers. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Toward the rear of QFM Stamping Inc.’s plant in Salem, a brightly painted yellow robotic arm zips back and forth, stopping at programmed intervals to weld portions of a component used in the rail car industry. The bed that holds the part lifts and turns as the automated arm adjusts and prepares for its next targeted weld. “We can program it to weld just about anything we need to, as long as we have the...

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April 2017 Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®

April 2017 Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®

Posted by | May 3, 2017 | , |

PMI® at 54.8% New Orders, Production and Employment Growing Supplier Deliveries Slowing Inventories Growing   (Tempe, Arizona) — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April, and the overall economy grew for the 95th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The report was issued today by Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: “The April PMI® registered 54.8 percent, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points from the March reading of 57.2 percent. The New Orders Index registered 57.5 percent,...

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Get 16x Fast Print Speeds with 3D Platform’s Newest HFE900 Extruder

Get 16x Fast Print Speeds with 3D Platform’s Newest HFE900 Extruder

Posted by | May 3, 2017 | , |

The HFE900 is the absolute fastest spool-fed extruder available on the market. Roscoe, Illinois, USA – May 4, 2017 – 3D Platform (3DP), www.3dplatform.com, a global leader in manufacturing large-format, industrial-strength 3D machines, has introduced a High Flow Extruder (HFE900) that provides 16x more volumetric throughput of 3DP’s vs. 2.85 mm filament extruders, making it the absolute fastest spool-fed extruder on the market. This new line of HFE900s: Provides 16x the volumetric throughput of 3DP’s previous generation of extruders to 273 mm3/s (59.9 in3/hr). Produces maximum output with high reliability. Comes as an Optional upgrade for 3DP’s 300 and...

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Deloitte Foundation Supports Base 11 to Create National STEM Career Accelerator Model

Deloitte Foundation Supports Base 11 to Create National STEM Career Accelerator Model

Posted by | May 3, 2017 | , |

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2017 — The Deloitte Foundation announced a grant to Base 11 that will help create a nationally scalable STEM career accelerator model. The model will offer high school students a project-based learning program that encompasses multiple engineering disciplines. The objective of the program is to encourage students who have an inherent interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to pursue a college degree in one of those fields and help alleviate the STEM workforce shortage. Research shows that experiential learning helps retain students’ interest in the STEM fields that are the gateway to STEM degrees...

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NCDMM Appoints Rob Gorham as New America Makes Executive Director

NCDMM Appoints Rob Gorham as New America Makes Executive Director

Posted by | May 2, 2017 | , |

Ed Morris, NCDMM VP and America Makes Director to Retire on May 31, 2017 Youngstown, Ohio — May 1, 2017. The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) is pleased to announce Rob Gorham will become the new America Makes Executive Director effective May 1, 2017, replacing Ed Morris. Ed will be retiring from NCDMM on May 31, 2017 and will continue to provide active transition support until his departure.    Rob joined NCDMM in February 2013 as the America Makes Deputy Director for Technology Development and has served for the past two and half years as the...

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OJT (On the Job Training) Best Practices: Part II

OJT (On the Job Training) Best Practices: Part II

Posted by | May 2, 2017 | , |

Last week, Tooling-U started looking at best practices for on-the-job training (OJT). With an incoming pipeline of unskilled workers, OJT is more important than ever. Manufacturers that are out in front of the skills gap are formalizing — and validating — the transfer of knowledge from seasoned employees to younger members of the workforce. Scenarios differ – some companies are fending off the “silver tsunami” of retirements. Others are opening new facilities and need additional workers to support their growth. Last week, we talked about three best practices: Standardized Tools, Train the Trainer, and Clear Progression Models. Here are three...

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How 3D Printing May Influence the Fastener Industry and Bring New Opportunities

How 3D Printing May Influence the Fastener Industry and Bring New Opportunities

Posted by | May 2, 2017 | , , |

3D printing is the process of manufacturing an end piece from a digital file. Also known as “additive manufacturing,” 3D printing starts with a virtual file or CAD (Computer Aided Design). The file can be designed or it can be scanned into the program using 3D scanning technologies. The object is then made into a 3 dimensional object. It’s like your every day printing, but with a little more technology, design, and difficulty. Pros and Cons by 3D Hubs Although 3D printing has its cons, these are slowly being resolved to create better ways to utilize 3D printing. Its benefits are...

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Associations Work to Tackle Industry Workforce Shortages Head-On

Associations Work to Tackle Industry Workforce Shortages Head-On

Posted by | May 2, 2017 | , |

The following article is by Emily Bratcher, an Associate Editor for Associations Now. Over here at Associations Now, we hear from a lot of associations about how their industries are facing workforce shortages. The scarcity of workers is sometimes because the current pool is preparing to retire; sometimes it’s because there’s a stigma surrounding a certain industry; and sometimes it’s simply because youngsters don’t know about certain careers. Take landscape architecture, for instance. “Most people still don’t really know what landscape architecture is,” said Shawn Balon, career discovery and diversity manager at the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). To be...

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Millennials More Upbeat On Manufacturing’s Future

Millennials More Upbeat On Manufacturing’s Future

Posted by | May 2, 2017 | , |

A more optimistic outlook among millennials about the future of manufacturing could bode well for an industry that is contending with an ongoing skills shortage. Nearly half of U.S. millennials (47 percent) think there will be enough qualified professionals to fill manufacturing job demands in the next 10 years, according to a survey by digital manufacturer Proto Labs. That’s a marked increase from the only 35 percent of Generation Xers and baby boomers who think the jobs demand will be met. The rosier outlook may be linked to millennials’ changing perceptions of manufacturing. According to the survey, 37 percent of...

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The Nuts and Bolts of Newton’s LigerBots

The Nuts and Bolts of Newton’s LigerBots

Posted by | May 2, 2017 | , |

The workshop at Newton South resembles a true inventor’s studio brimming with springs, gears, and metal parts — even a sewing machine. Here, teens from across the city tinker with parts, aspiring to make the best high school robot in the country, maybe even the world.   The LigerBots robotics team first started in 2008 and combines students from Newton North and South. Students work six days a week creating a robot. “I joined because I was interested in robotics and was interested in engineering,” said Arushi Singh, a junior. “I didn’t not think I would be as committed...

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Würth Industry of North America (WINA) Posts Impressive First Quarter Results

Würth Industry of North America (WINA) Posts Impressive First Quarter Results

Posted by | May 1, 2017 | , |

Würth Industry of North America (WINA) announced impressive first quarter results (April 27, 2017). WINA’s 2017 Q1 sales were $179.2 MUSD, an 8.3% increase from Q1 2016. “Our mission to provide an innovative solution for our customers and the response continues to be positive,” says EVP Marc Strandquist. WINA consists of a cohesive network of 11 companies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that provide customizable inventory management solutions for assembly fastener components and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO). Strandquist credits WINA employees for the successful quarter. “Success is dependent on having a strong team,” says Strandquist. “We are...

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10 Reasons to Attend the IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Show

10 Reasons to Attend the IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Show

Posted by | May 1, 2017 | , |

The countdown is on to IndustryWeek’s Manufacturing & Technology Show, happening May 8-10 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Manufacturing & Technology Show (M&T Show) is a gathering of manufacturing information and trends to help you understand actionable approaches and seize new opportunities in the industrial world. At the show you’ll be able to learn more about the latest technologies and how you can adopt them, reshoring initiatives, mastering the millennial workforce, and an array of relevant topics that can and will influence your business. M&T Show is organized by IndustryWeek, a resource that explores the issues, strategies, trends, and more which influence manufacturing. IndustryWeek...

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Design Tips: Fasteners for Printed Circuit Boards

Design Tips: Fasteners for Printed Circuit Boards

Posted by | May 1, 2017 | , |

When specifying hardware for printed circuit board applications, many designers may still turn either to loose fasteners or broaching fasteners. While both provide the necessary functionality, each carries potential risks that may impact the production process, the integrity of boards, and even disassembly, if required. Loose hardware typically specified for boards includes spacers (plastic or metal columns to offset two boards), nuts, and screws, which will usually require secondary installation-related operations performed manually. These secondary operations can consume considerable time, due to the painstaking work necessary to align all parts, often on both sides of a board. Then, with...

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All About the Fastener Expo’s New Location: The Las Vegas Convention Center

All About the Fastener Expo’s New Location: The Las Vegas Convention Center

Posted by | May 1, 2017 | , |

The National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo (NIFMSE) is North America’s largest expo in the fastener and fixing industry. In 2016, attendance at the NIFMSE increased by 18% from the previous year. This year, the Fastener Expo is moving to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). Some of the largest conventions and trade shows in the world come to Las Vegas and choose the LVCC. The center can handle the size and flow of traffic to shows at its location. LVCC can accommodate millions of square feet of floor space, outdoor exhibit space, meeting rooms, training rooms and plenty of parking. Its...

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As Army Aviation Looks to the Future, Modernization of Existing Aircraft Continues

As Army Aviation Looks to the Future, Modernization of Existing Aircraft Continues

Posted by | Apr 30, 2017 | , |

While the Army is continuing work on the next generation of engines and aircraft, modernization of existing platforms, like the UH-60 Blackhawk, AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook is continuing. Since the Army has said they want to fly those platforms for many years, prime contractors like Boeing and Sikorsky are working to improve those aircraft to keep them relevant.  An example is the CH-47F. The current production model is the Block I, and earlier this month, the Block II hit milestone B, allowing it to proceed into the development phase.    Click Here to Read the Full...

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B2B Content Marketing 2017 Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends—North America

B2B Content Marketing 2017 Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends—North America

Posted by | Apr 30, 2017 | , |

  Welcome to the 7th Annual B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends—North America report. The organizers have made quite a few changes to their annual survey this year to reflect the maturing content marketing industry. This year’s research paints a brighter picture than the last few years, indicating that content marketing is alive and well! Content marketers are on track—with 62% reporting that their organizations are much more or somewhat more successful with their overall content marketing approach compared with one year ago. Like last year, those who are further along with their approach are the most successful, while...

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With Manufacturing on the Decline, Small Makers Still Get It Done

With Manufacturing on the Decline, Small Makers Still Get It Done

Posted by | Apr 29, 2017 | , |

Manufacturing is a beast of a subject, and [the Santa Fe Reporter] set out to cover it from the perspective of those who make things. The idea: tour factories with assembly lines and report on people who work on them, timed by bells. They hit a wall. According to the state Economic Development Department, manufacturing employment is down 9 percent in New Mexico during the past five years, which means a loss of nearly 3,000 jobs. Computer and electronic products, furniture and textile mill manufacturing decreased by more than 20 percent during the same time period.  Broadly defined, manufacturing...

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Aviation and Aerospace Fasteners: Why it Pays to Buy Legit

Aviation and Aerospace Fasteners: Why it Pays to Buy Legit

Posted by | Apr 28, 2017 | , , |

The little unsung heroes. They’re tough, durable, and can stand up to extreme environments. They have to, otherwise, who will? What will keep together all we hold dear? Those reasons are why aviation and aerospace fasteners are made to rigid, uncompromising standards. That’s also why they undergo an inspection process on a level akin to a surgeon about to perform an operation before becoming available on the market. Otherwise you risk losing expensive equipment, machinery, or even lives for that matter. These fasteners undergo strict regulations for several reasons, but before we get into those, let’s take a look...

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Industrial Vending at 24: Industry Sees Widespread Application & Global Adoption of Technology

Industrial Vending at 24: Industry Sees Widespread Application & Global Adoption of Technology

Posted by | Apr 28, 2017 | , , |

MASON, OH, April 27, 2017 — The first industrial vending machines were used to automatically distribute tools and other items used in the manufacturing process for the Ford Motor Company in 1990. Moving light years beyond the traditional world of candy, snack and beverage vending, these early hardwired, pre-Internet machines have morphed into today’s Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled solutions. Nearly 200,000 of industrial vending devices have been deployed around the world for tens of thousands of companies. “The need for companies to improve productivity and decrease costs has only increased in urgency since the first industrial vending devices were deployed...

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Industry Leader in Fasteners & Fabrication Reaches Organizational Milestone

Industry Leader in Fasteners & Fabrication Reaches Organizational Milestone

Posted by | Apr 28, 2017 | , , |

A leader in the fastener industry, FASTENation, Inc. celebrates its 20th anniversary milestone   April 27, 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of FASTENation, Inc., the premier distributor, converter, and manufacturer of adhesive based fasteners to customers around the globe. From humble beginnings in 1997, FASTENation, Inc. has grown into an industry leader in the adhesive fastener arena, offering a wide range of in-house converting and manufacturing services from the nation’s leading brands, including VELCRO® Brand, 3M™, Scotch®, Glue Dots International, AFTC, and Adhesive Applications. Today, FASTENation operates out of two locations and offers an impressive depth of knowledge and...

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Fastener Organization Presidents: Questions with Larry Kelly of the North Coast Fastener Association (NCFA)

Fastener Organization Presidents: Questions with Larry Kelly of the North Coast Fastener Association (NCFA)

Posted by | Apr 27, 2017 | , , |

“It is our goal to consistently grow as an organization and be of assistance to our members by helping them stay abreast of the events taking place in the fastener industry.” -The North Coast Fastener Association (NCFA) New technologies such as 3D printing are influencing the future of manufacturing, even for things as small as spare parts. Global market shifts continue to impact the fastener industry. In 2016, an overwhelming 49 acquisition deals were completed. This makes 2016 the year with the most acquisitions in 9 years. Fastener organizations are playing an important role in educating professionals and furthering the industry as a whole.  The North Coast Fastener...

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A Distributor’s Strategy to Competing Against Amazon

A Distributor’s Strategy to Competing Against Amazon

Posted by | Apr 27, 2017 | , |

Watsco Inc., a distributor of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning products with $4.2 billion in sales last year, has its eye on competitors like Amazon.com Inc. But it’s not afraid of e-commerce or digital technology. Instead, it’s investing about $23 million a year in e-commerce, mobile apps and upgraded warehousing and fulfillment systems to help differentiate Watsco from its online as well as offline competition, executives said on a first quarter earnings call yesterday with stock analysts. Watsco is spending $23 million annually on innovative technologies to transform our business. Albert H. Nahmad, chairman and CEO After Watsco’s executives noted...

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This Is The Latest Nuts-And-Bolts Warning For Industrials

This Is The Latest Nuts-And-Bolts Warning For Industrials

Posted by | Apr 27, 2017 | , , |

Big player, Grainger, had its stocks crash to a 14 month low. This could be a big warning for other industrials. Grainger (GWW) shares are plummeting Tuesday after issuing worse-than-expected first-quarter results and shrinking sales and earnings expectations for the year, the latest nuts-and-bolts warning for industrial and construction markets. Earnings at the industrial-products supplier fell more than 9% to $2.88 a share as revenue notched up 1% to $2.54 billion, below Street expectations for $2.99 a share and $2.56 billion in sales. A “stronger-than-anticipated customer response” to pricing actions in the U.S. weighed on results, said CEO D.G. Macpherson in...

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The Proto Labs “Industrial 3D Printing For Dummies” eBook ExplainsAM’s Role in Product Development

The Proto Labs “Industrial 3D Printing For Dummies” eBook ExplainsAM’s Role in Product Development

Posted by | Apr 27, 2017 | , |

Need to know more about 3d printing? Just starting out? The Proto Labs “Industrial 3D Printing For Dummies” book explains how additive manufacturing can accelerate and augment product development—from prototype through production. Learn about new and existing technologies, available materials, and how 3D printing is being used for commercial applications in nearly every industry....

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Ready For Takeoff: Apprenticeship Program Is Launching Jet Engine Factory Jobs For Small-Town Kids

Ready For Takeoff: Apprenticeship Program Is Launching Jet Engine Factory Jobs For Small-Town Kids

Posted by | Apr 27, 2017 | , |

Chip Singleton has lived his whole life in Canton, North Carolina, a small town tucked in a narrow valley in the state’s mountainous western corner. He met his wife, Patty, at the Pisgah High School — the only high school in town — and 25 years later, they both teach there; she drafting and he metal shop. But Singleton’s Great Smoky Mountains roots didn’t stop him from seeking inspiration in faraway places. He specifically zeroed in on Germany, Europe’s economic dynamo famous for its rigorous apprenticeship programs that prepare teenagers for manufacturing jobs. Students in these programs split their time...

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It’s Time to Start Building: Infrastructure Week 2017

It’s Time to Start Building: Infrastructure Week 2017

Posted by | Apr 27, 2017 | , |

Infrastructure Week is a national week of education and advocacy that brings together American businesses, workers, elected leaders, and everyday citizens around one message: It’s #TimeToBuild. From May 15-19, leaders and citizens around America will highlight state of our nation’s infrastructure – roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports, water and sewer systems, the energy grid, and more – and encourage policymakers to invest in the projects, technologies, and policies necessary to make America competitive, prosperous, and safe. Now is a great time to start planning how you’re going to PARTICIPATE during this year’s Infrastructure Week. Become an Affiliate, Plan an Event, or Tell Your Story,...

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The Heirs Of Gutenberg: GE Is Adding The Next Chapter Of Its 3D Printing Push In Germany

The Heirs Of Gutenberg: GE Is Adding The Next Chapter Of Its 3D Printing Push In Germany

Posted by | Apr 27, 2017 | , |

When the German inventor Johannes Gutenberg developed the printing press during the Renaissance, he set words, and ideas, free. Six hundred years later, his compatriot Frank Herzog is taking printing to a new dimension, using it to liberate designers and reinvent manufacturing. Herzog is the founder of Concept Laser, one of the leading makers of industrial 3D printers. Whereas Gutenberg used movable type and sheets of paper to make books, Herzog’s machines fuse together fine layers of powdered metal with a laser beam and print three-dimensional objects directly from a computer file. With few limits on the final shape, the method...

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Fastener Seminars: Expanding Knowledge of Heat Treating, Fastening Technology, and More

Fastener Seminars: Expanding Knowledge of Heat Treating, Fastening Technology, and More

Posted by | Apr 26, 2017 | , |

Staying updated on fastener training is important in staying competitive. Seminars for Engineers is offering two seminars that will educate engineers and technical personnel. These two seminars will train on the complexities of mechanical joining with fasteners as well as why and how fasteners are heat treated and plated or coated. Fastening Technology & Bolted/Screwed Joint Design When: August 22-23, 2017 Where: Detroit, Michigan Courtyard Detroit Metro Airport   Fundamentals of Heat Treating and Plating Fasteners and Other Small Components     When: New Date Coming Soon Where: Detroit, Michigan Courtyard Detroit Metro Airport   About Seminar for Engineers: Founded in 2003, Seminars for...

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New Trump Laws Will Support Women in STEM Fields

New Trump Laws Will Support Women in STEM Fields

Posted by | Apr 26, 2017 | , |

President Donald Trump has signed two bills aimed at increasing the number of women who pursue entrepreneurial endeavors and space-related STEM careers. “Currently, only 1 in every 4 women who gets a STEM degree is working in a STEM job, which is not fair and it’s not even smart for the people that aren’t taking advantage of it,” Trump said in remarks during the signing. “It’s unacceptable that we have so many American women who have these degrees but yet are not being employed in these fields. So I think that’s going to change. That’s going to change very rapidly.” The Promoting...

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3M Young Innovators Challenge Inspires Original Thinking

3M Young Innovators Challenge Inspires Original Thinking

Posted by | Apr 26, 2017 | , |

The 3M Young Innovators Challenge has been created to inspire the next generation of original thinkers and encourage pupils to consider careers based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. The challenge has been run in the Loughborough, Leicestershire, area in partnership with the town’s local newspaper since 2013 and this year the contest has been extended to schools across the Bracknell Forest and Wokingham district in Berkshire, home to 3M’s head office in the UK. During the week, more than 130 students from 13 primary and secondary schools will be presenting their entries for judging in four Young Innovators...

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It’s Time to Educate the Next Generation– Manufacturing Competitions Receive Support from Companies at SkillsUSA

It’s Time to Educate the Next Generation– Manufacturing Competitions Receive Support from Companies at SkillsUSA

Posted by | Apr 25, 2017 | , |

Written by Max Egan, a junior at Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio this fall.   Without the chance to see for themselves what a job in the manufacturing sector could hold, many young people like myself (I’m 16 and completing an internship at Gardner Business Media this summer) are said to be turning their heads away from the industry entirely. According to the 2015 Skills Gap survey conducted by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, “only 37 percent of respondents in the 2015 study indicated they would encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career,” even though most respondents agreed that manufacturing is essential to our national...

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Early Verdict of Hannover Messe 2017? Absolutely Gripping!

Early Verdict of Hannover Messe 2017? Absolutely Gripping!

Posted by | Apr 25, 2017 | , |

Hannover Messe is the world’s leading industrial tech show, the equivalent to manufacturing’s San Diego Comic Con, but with few to no attendees dressed as Sailor Moon. The industrial machines, though, are sometimes even crazier than what’s appearing in the latest Hollywood sci-fi flicks. Have you seen Festo’s OctopusGripper? What the holy frickin’ future is going on? Along with releasing the robo-kraken, the show has put the Internet of Things front and center. Europeans of course call it Industrie 4.0, but they also spell “color” with a “u” and think soccer is called football, so what can you do? Either way,...

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Community Colleges Changing Career Training for Future Jobs

Community Colleges Changing Career Training for Future Jobs

Posted by | Apr 25, 2017 | , |

Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders recently approved a plan to repair our state’s aging roads and bridges bringing economic and workforce issues to the forefront of the conversation. Modernizing infrastructure deserves to be a top public priority, but for workers to benefit and prosper in our economy, they must have access to necessary skills. A generation ago, high school graduates could aspire to apply for jobs at local manufacturing or warehouse facilities, work there for their entire careers, and earn wages that would allow them and their families to maintain a middle-class lifestyle. This is no longer the...

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IMPO Onsite: Workshops For Warriors Facility Fills Needs Of Veterans, American Advanced Mfg

IMPO Onsite: Workshops For Warriors Facility Fills Needs Of Veterans, American Advanced Mfg

Posted by | Apr 25, 2017 | , |

There is a lot of talk going around about the skills gap — the more than 2 million advanced manufacturing jobs that will go unfilled due to a lack of skilled labor and an aging workforce. In an effort to fill those jobs, some companies are investing in apprenticeship programs or paying headhunters to find skilled workers. However, one training facility in California may have found a better solution. Take 2.3 million advanced manufacturing jobs that are expected to go unfilled over the next decade, add the more than 1 million veterans transitioning out of the military over the...

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Manufacturer Uses the Internet and Radio to Become a “Broadcaster” of Both Information and Forging Services

Manufacturer Uses the Internet and Radio to Become a “Broadcaster” of Both Information and Forging Services

Posted by | Apr 24, 2017 | , |

April 2017 – All Metals & Forge Group (AM&FG) built its reputation on superior quality and short turnaround times for its bars, blocks, gear blanks, flanges, forged discs, cylinders and custom shapes. But the Fairfield, New Jersey-based company does more than merely shape and form metal. Owner Lew Weiss is using the Internet and radio waves to forge closer relationships with a broad cross section of manufacturers by delivering mission-critical information.  Weiss has worked in the industry for 56 years, since he was 18 and studying marketing at Queens College in New York City. He landed in metals because “I needed...

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Study: Women Hold The Key To Closing The Skills Gap

Study: Women Hold The Key To Closing The Skills Gap

Posted by | Apr 24, 2017 | , |

Manufacturing needs people. More specifically, manufacturing needs women. Manufacturing executives around the world rank talent the top driver of manufacturing competitiveness, but at the same time, the U.S. manufacturing industry faces an estimated two-million-worker shortfall over the next decade. Women can be a solution to the industry’s skills gap problem through increased visibility for female leaders, flexible work practices and other important industry-wide changes. Women bring a fresh perspective to the diverse and fulfilling roles the industry has to offer. There are vast career opportunities available – from engineering to design to marketing. There’s a place for everyone in this industry....

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Rize to Display the New Rize™ One 3D Printer at RAPID + TCT 2017

Rize to Display the New Rize™ One 3D Printer at RAPID + TCT 2017

Posted by | Apr 24, 2017 | , |

WOBURN, Mass. April 24, 2017 – Rize Inc., maker of the world’s most versatile industrial 3D printing technology providing the industry’s fastest turnaround on manufacturing parts, announced today that, for the first time, RAPID + TCT 2017 visitors will have the opportunity to see the new Rize One 3D printer first hand in Rize booth #1010.  In addition, Rize President and CEO, Frank Marangell, will give a presentation, “3D Printing: The Impact of Post-Processing” during a track on Post Finishing on May 9 at 10:15AM. Suitable for the additive manufacturing lab or the engineering office, Rize One uniquely produces watertight and isotropic thermoplastic parts,...

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NASA Selects Small Business, Research Projects for Advancement

NASA Selects Small Business, Research Projects for Advancement

Posted by | Apr 23, 2017 | , |

Washington, D.C. – NASA has selected 399 research and technology proposals from 277 American small businesses and 44 research institutions that will enable NASA’s future missions into deep space, and advancements in aviation and science, while also benefiting the U.S. economy. The awards have a total value of approximately $49.9 million. The agency received 1,621 proposals in response to its 2017 solicitation for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. From those, NASA selected 338 SBIR and 61 STTR Phase I proposals for contract negotiations. The SBIR Phase I contracts last for six months and STTR...

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Makerspaces Are Making Maker Businesses

Makerspaces Are Making Maker Businesses

Posted by | Apr 22, 2017 | , |

Makerspaces start here! The Grommet’s free ebook provides lessons and inspirations from Makers, inventors, and entrepreneurs.    A makerspace can take many forms and serve many purposes.  They could be embedded into a school to teach kids about robotics and STEM or they could be a standalone facility like Artisan’s Asylum which is a makerspace where makers come to start a business or just create something for fun.  There have been many success stories about makers using a makerspace to craft something out of nothing and turn it into a company. There are many ways these days that makers can make a product...

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Fastener Expo Young Fastener Professional Award Nominations Coming Soon

Fastener Expo Young Fastener Professional Award Nominations Coming Soon

Posted by | Apr 21, 2017 | , |

The ‘Young Fastener Professional of the Year’ recognizes and honors a young professional under the age of forty who made significant contributions to the betterment of the fastener industry. Do have a young professional amongst your company or know of a young professional within the industry that you feel deserves to be recognized and honored at the next event?  Here is your chance!  The recipient will be recognized at a special event during the National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo and receive a commemorative plaque. Last year, Ryan Kertis of Stelfast Inc. was honored with the first ever Young Fastener...

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National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo Hall of Fame Nominations are Open

National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo Hall of Fame Nominations are Open

Posted by | Apr 21, 2017 | , , |

Nominations for the National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo (NIFMSE) Hall of Fame are now OPEN! The NIFMSE ‘Hall of Fame’ was established in 1982 to recognize and honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the betterment of the fastener industry. Individuals are not selected based solely upon their personal achievements, tenure, or the financial success of their respective businesses but, rather, what they did to further the industry as a whole. Nominees will be considered based upon contributions to their business, to industry education, to industry associations, patents, government involvement, and community service among others.  Last year’s...

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CPG Manufacturers Need a Comprehensive Strategy for Digitization

CPG Manufacturers Need a Comprehensive Strategy for Digitization

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 | , |

The relentless hype around digital in consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) manufacturing has left many leaders disoriented and paralyzed by the many buzzwords and the promised benefits of digital tools. At the same time, their efforts to gain traction with digital are hindered by legacy systems, processes, and capabilities. A recent McKinsey survey of senior CPG leaders found that most consider digital technologies to be a priority, but few have defined a clear strategic vision linked to actions. The major obstacles cited were a lack of skilled resources, out-of-date software models and an inadequate IT infrastructure, the absence of data standards, and obsolete...

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Engineering is Elementary Founder Christine Cunningham Speaks on K-12 Engineering Curriculum, Equal Access to STEM Education

Engineering is Elementary Founder Christine Cunningham Speaks on K-12 Engineering Curriculum, Equal Access to STEM Education

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 | , |

“Learning doesn’t stop when the school bell rings or when the school vacation begins, so we’re really excited that here we can work with students, with teachers, and with their families to create an ecosystem of learning where everybody is constantly thinking about how science and engineering constantly intersect with their lives.” -Christine Cunningham, Founder of Engineering is Elementary   In 2003, engineering for elementary education was a radical concept. But Christine Cunningham, an expert in engineering education, knew that the fundamentals of engineering can be taught at an early age—on the playground, in the classroom, or even at...

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Additive Manufacturing Standards to Support Industry Accreditation

Additive Manufacturing Standards to Support Industry Accreditation

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 | , |

  Fifteen newly-proposed standards from ASTM International’s committee on additive manufacturing (F42) will help companies in that industry comply with a new checklist for accreditation by the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP). The checklist is available through the Performance Review Institute. Experts, auditors, and others interested in certification related to metal powder bed fusion, a type of 3D printing involving laser and electron beams, are encouraged to join the nearly 600 members of F42 and its subcommittee on materials and processes (F42.05). “The development of a NADCAP accreditation checklist for additive manufacturing technologies is a critical...

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Wohlers Associates to Partner with Materialise on a Design for Additive Manufacturing Course in Belgium

Wohlers Associates to Partner with Materialise on a Design for Additive Manufacturing Course in Belgium

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 | , |

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, USA, April 18, 2017—Wohlers Associates, Inc., a consulting firm focused on additive manufacturing and 3D printing worldwide, today announced a three-day course on design for additive manufacturing (DfAM). It is being held in collaboration with Materialise, an industry-leading provider of 3D printing software and services. The course is May 31 – June 2, 2017 at the Materialise headquarters location in Leuven, Belgium. Wohlers Associates has twice offered a similar course for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, which received high marks for its effectiveness. “We are very happy to collaborate with Materialise, a company with an outstanding reputation and extraordinary...

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