12 minute read
Announcements/Releases
Epic Finance – Focusing on the Buyer AND Seller
Epic Finance (Golden, CO) is taking a modern approach to the machine tool financing industry. Led by Chris Frans (President), Epic’s goal is to provide the most optimal customer service to both the customer and the distributor or OEM that is selling the equipment, all while providing aggressively low rates.
Chris Frans has been in the equipment finance industry for a decade and has provided financing to thousands of customers around the US. He has a great understanding of the manufacturing industry, the equipment, and what is needed to meet each individual customer’s needs. Please reach out to Chris with any financing inquiries that you might have. Email him at: chris@ epicapprovals.com.
Military Veterans Make a Difference at Mazak
Mazak North America credits veterans as essential to its ongoing hiring efforts and its ability to move past the skills gap that challenges companies throughout the manufacturing industry. With 18 new veteran hires in 2021, the Mazak staff now includes 87 veterans in departments ranging from field service and parts to production and purchasing.
“We’re constantly impressed with the strong work ethic, focused time management, adaptability and practical problem solving that veterans bring throughout our organization,” said Mazak Human Resources Director Bill Weier. “Their dedication, creativity and can-do attitude set an example of how to excel and advance.” Mazak is committed to providing these veterans with the training and development they need to build thriving, sustained careers with the company.
Many veterans become Mazak Field Service Technicians, providing onsite troubleshooting, maintenance and repair on Mazak machine tools at customer facilities. The electrical and mechanical training that these veterans receive in the military meets many of the prerequisites for these jobs, enabling many of them to train and then enter the technician ranks in a mere six months. Managers praise these veterans for their diagnostic skills and their ability to reason through solutions without relying solely on documentation. Throughout the organization, veterans contribute their accountability, seasoned perspective and mature outlook to make Mazak an even better place to work. Mazak values veterans and continues to seek future employees from the ranks who have served.
Veterans who are interested in manufacturing careers can apply for one of the many positions on the Mazak career page: www.mazakusa. com/about-mazak/careers/
Hurco North America Announces New Apprenticeship Program
Hurco North America announced the launch of a new apprenticeship program. The Field Service Apprenticeship (FSA) is a 2-year program that starts with a 12-week industry training that merges hands-on training and repair of CNC machines with classroom materials.
Cory Miller, General Manager of Hurco North America, said, “We are fortunate to have a tenured service and support team at Hurco. The knowledge they have amassed is extremely valuable and the FSA program will allow them to transfer that knowledge to the next generation of service engineers with intensive training about the machine tool industry, how they are built, the technology that powers our CNC machines, how to diagnose issues, and service machines.”
While candidates with a degree or working toward one are encouraged to apply, candidates who are mechanically inclined with no industry or engineering experience are also encouraged to apply for the FSA. “We know there are people outside our industry who would excel at a career as a service engineer for machine tools, but might not have been exposed to our industry. We believe the FSA will be important to bridge the skills gap and introduce more people to the machine tool industry, which benefits the industry as a whole,” said Miller.
“If you have a strong work ethic, like to learn how things work, like hands-on training, and want a career instead of a job, this apprenticeship is for you,” said Mark Gilmore, Service Manager
for Hurco North America.
Field service engineers will ultimately be ambassadors for Hurco Companies, Inc.—working to provide technical support, training, and service of state-of-theart CNC machines at customers’ facilities across the country. Continuous training on emerging technologies in CNC controls, robot integration, 5-axis machine and multispindle lathe installation, repair, and applications will also be provided long after completion of the apprenticeship.
The FSA program will take place at Hurco’s headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. For additional information and to apply, please visit Hurco.com/Apprentice.
NTMA’s Engage Summit West 2022 Registration Now Open
Monday, March 21-Wednesday, March 23
Let NTMA equip you and your business with the tools you’ll need to succeed! Join NTMA at Engage Summit West - offering business development sessions, educational speakers, as well as highly rated roundtable discussions and networking event. Don’t miss this great chance to strategize and revitalize in 2022! Contact Kristen Hrusch (khrusch@ntma.org) to stay informed and learn more about Engage Summit West.
A CONTROL FOR EVERY GENERATION.
The Hurco Control has the flexibility you need for the high mix of parts that comes through your shop.
Equally powerful for NC and Conversational Programming (with the added bonus of
NC/Conversational Merge), the Hurco Control reduces setup time so you can make more chips.
Whether you’re a baby boomer, a millennial, or a Gen X-er, time is money. Even though
Bob (left) and Charley (right) are from different generations, they are both machinists who appreciate the importance of CNC technology that’s designed to make shops more productive and more profitable. Check out their video series.
Watch the series at Hurco.com/mygeneration
Double Column Boring Mills Horizontals 3-Axis Vertical 5-Axis Double Column Bridge Turning Centers
(303) 466-3777 FoothillsMachinery.com
Hurco Companies, Inc. | One Technology Way | Indianapolis, IN 46268 | 800.634.2416 | info@hurco.com | HURCO.com | Machines shown with options. Information may change without notice.
A2Z-Foothills-Machinery_Hurco_Every-Gen_November-2020.indd 1 10/1/2020 10:06:37 AM
R & R Transportation Can Support All of Your Logistical Needs
“Working as an agent for Landstar, R & R Transportation has been servicing its customers’ logistical needs for over forty years. With a vast array of specialties, and a variety of equipment, we find solutions to your supply chain problems both big and small. A family owned company with family values imparting knowledge through shared experiences.”
245 West Crossroads Square, S. Salt Lake, Utah 84115 801-487-9700 Trustworthytechnologyforprecise We Specialize in Close Tolerance Precision Grinding and Small Parts Manufacturingmeasurementatanaffordableprice! Celebrating 28 Years In Business Grinding Capabilities: Grinding & Swiss Machining Capabilities:
√ OD,ID Centerless Plunge and Thru Feed (OD Between Centers up to 72” L x OD Swing up to 24”) (ID - 9” depth x 10” LD) √ Surface, Angled and Blanchard √ Long Bar Grinding for Screw Machines √ We grind all types of Industrial Blades √ CNC Universal Grinding Capabilities of 5” x 24” √ We Have 4 Swiss Turning Centers with Diameter capabilities up to 32mm √ CNC Circular Blade Grinding up to 20” Diameter
Announcing AS9100 Revision D Certification!
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WE’RE GROWING! We Added a 2nd Supertech CNC Universal Grinder, We’ve Hired New Machinists and More!
Announcements Continued
R&R Team member Ryan Frankovich says, “We support our customers with the following services:
- Transportation / Logistics - Manufacturing / Engineering - Private / Government - Specialty / Logistics
To learn more: Contact: Ryan Frankovich; Landstar SAM / SLC Office: 801-747-2607; ryan.frankovich@landstarmail.com Web Page – rrtransslc.com Instagram – LandstarSAMSLC
Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Steady in January
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the January 2022 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) today. The index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $900 billion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 63.9, unchanged from the December index. When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Jim DeFrank, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Isuzu Finance of America, Inc., said, “It’s all about supply chain right now. There is demand for equipment, but manufactures are having a hard time satisfying the demand due to parts shortages, workforce issues, etc. Once the supply can match demand, we will see a nice increase in finance and leasing volumes. Hopefully, by the second half of 2022.” January 2022 Survey Results: The overall MCI-EFI is 63.9, unchanged from the December index. • When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 25.9% of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, a decrease from 34.6% in December. 70.4% believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, up from 61.5% the previous month. 3.7% believe business conditions will worsen, unchanged from December. • 25.9% of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans
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Announcements Continued
to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, down from 26.9% in December. 70.4% believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, a decrease from 73.1% the previous month. 3.7% believe demand will decline, up from none in December.
• 21.4% of the respondents expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, up from 19.2% in December. 78.6% of executives indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, a decrease from 80.8% last month. None expect “less” access to capital, unchanged from the previous month.
• When asked, 39.3% of the executives report they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, down from 42.3% in December. 60.7% expect no change in headcount over the next four months, an increase from 57.7% last month. None expect to hire fewer employees, unchanged from December.
• 14.8% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “excellent,” a decrease from 19.2% the previous month. 81.5% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “fair,” up from 76.9% in December. 3.7% evaluate it as “poor,” unchanged from last month. • 29.6% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, an increase from 19.2% in December. 63% indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, an increase from 61.5% last month. 7.4% believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, a decrease from 19.2% the previous month.
• In January 50% of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, up from 46.2% the previous month. 50% believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, down from 53.9% in December. None believe there will be a decrease in spending, unchanged from last month.
ABOUT THE MCI Why an MCI-EFI? Confidence in the U.S. economy and the capital markets is a critical driver to the equipment finance industry. Throughout history, when confidence increases, consumers and businesses are more apt to acquire more consumer goods, equipment, and durables, and invest at prevailing prices. When confidence decreases, spending and risk-taking tend to fall. Investors are said to be confident when the news about the future is good and stock prices are rising.
ROBO R Flex
Tooling
ISO 9001 : 2015 Certified AS9100 Rev D Certified Serving The Front Range Since 1977
7956 South Potomac St. Centennial, CO 80112
Call for Speakers: Manufacturing & Technology Show 2022
Planning for the 2022 Manufacturing & Technology Show, an IndustryWeek Leadership Event, is underway, and we invite your participation.
This conference and expo will be held October 18-20, 2022, at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The Manufacturing & Technology Show is designed to help manufacturing executives and leaders improve their operational efficiency and thrive in an industry that demands constant change. This event provides a unique and immersive educational experience that reveals best practices in advanced manufacturing, leadership, workforce development and continuous improvement, via workshops, keynote presentations, concurrent breakout sessions, networking events, and a robust exhibit hall. How can you contribute? Here’s how: The IndustryWeek speaker selection committee invites manufacturing industry professionals to submit speaking proposals for the 2022 Manufacturing & Technology Show. We welcome your expertise to help make this show a success. Specifically, we seek speaking proposals from industry professionals with practical experience in developing, implementing, and overseeing leading-edge advanced manufacturing implementations, leadership and workforce best practices, and continuous improvement strategies in their organizations.
Boulder Robotics Startup Acquired By International Company Building ‘Social Robot’
A Colorado startup that spun out of Sphero and has been making at-home robots for people since 2017 was acquired by an international robotics company. Boulder-based Misty Robotics announced that it has been acquired by Furhat Robotics, a Swedish company that has created theadvanced social robot “Furhat.” Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed but Misty’s Boulder location will serve as the U.S. headquarters for Furhat. Misty Robotics was founded in 2017 after it spun out of Sphero, where it was known as the company’s advanced robotics division. At the time, Sphero cofounder and CTO Ian Bernstein led Misty and was joined by Tim Enwall. Since its founding, Misty has been making personal robots intended for use within homes and offices.
