20 minute read
Announcements/Releases
46929 Magellan Drive Wixom, MI 48393 Phone: 248-668-0100 www.ntkcuttingtools.com/us
Western U.S.A. Territory Update
NTK Cutting Tools is pleased to announce that beginning on May 1st, M.C. Sales will expand their NTK representative responsibilities to California and Nevada.
The team has been servicing the cutting tool industry for almost 20 years with the goal of providing exceptional service in a fast-paced environment. NTK and MC Sales is looking forward to continuing the great relationships with our current customers while making inroads in the manufacturing industry throughout the western United States. The team is dedicated to delivering the knowledge and technical support to ensure manufacturing success using the highest quality tooling solutions.
M.C. Sales & Marketing Western USA Representatives 15581 Computer Lane Huntington Beach, CA, 92649 Territory: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY Contact Info Phone: 714-901-8589 sales@mcsalesmarketing.com
Take The Mystery Out Of Resistance Welding
By Tom Snow
When properly applied, the resistance welding process is the fastest, least expensive and strongest method of joining steel and aluminum sheet metal and attaching nuts and studs.
Commonly called spot, seam and projection welding, the process is often ignored in favor of other methods because it is not widely understood outside of the automotive industry.
The “mystery” of resistance welding is compounded because, unlike arc welding, it’s hard to judge weld strength from appearance alone. Instead, destructive peel or tensile testing is needed on a regular basis to verify quality.
Thankfully, many modern resistance welding controls now incorporate features to monitor the process, provide feedback and ensure quality.
While success with the arc welding process often depends on the skills of the welder, high quality resistance welding results from the welding machine set-up technician understanding and choosing the proper combination of process variables.
Once this “recipe” is understood and programmed into the control, almost anyone can operate the machine successfully.
The three main variables to understand are weld current (measured in amps), the duration of current flow (measured in cycles), and the forging (clamping) force produced by the welder.
Measured in pounds of force applied to the weld joint through the spot welding tips or seam welding wheels, forging force is often the most misunderstood variable because
more force does not usually result in higher weld strength.
Goldilocks would probably understand resistance welding because the force needs to be “just right” in order to get the proper weld heat at the joint.
Since weld heat is generated by the resistance of the material being welded to the flow of welding current, force that’s too low will result in expulsion and force that’s too high will result in low resistance at the joint and weak weld strength.
Although a relatively wide range of machine settings can successfully weld mild steel alloys, it’s a different story when welding aluminum, especially to aerospace specifications. This is because aluminum has a very narrow plastic range. Therefore, even more care must be given to finding the ideal combination of settings.
As mentioned earlier, sophisticated new resistance welding controls have made achieving optimum weld quality much easier. In addition, welders with modern three phase Mid Frequency Direct Current (MFDC) inverter technology are now replacing many Sciaky brand frequency converter spot and seam welders.
However, since the heavy duty mechanics and diaphragm-type air cylinders of a Sciaky brand resistance welder are hard to match, it’s becoming common to retrofit MFDC technology while doing a complete rebuild of a Sciaky machine.
Tom Snow is Chairman of T. J. Snow Company, a manufacturer and distributor of resistance welding machinery and supplies in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In addition, the company offers nationwide on-call service and resistance welding process training.
For more information contact TJ Snow at: 423-308-3165 TomSnow@tjsnow.com, www.tjsnow.com
WOMO Designs produces articulate prototyping at the pinnacle of product development when a machined part is needed fast. At the development stage your competitive advantage is having a reliable source for your accurate and functional machined components. It will mean the difference between the success or failure of a project.
The advantage of sourcing directly with WOMO Designs is twofold: Speed and price. There is a plethora of machining prototyping services available, many of which are brokers. You send them your files, they post your file to their job board, and a covey of small machine shops bid best price and delivery in hopes of a win. The broker then adds anywhere from 25% to 60% commission to the price submitted and fires off their quote. You have just spent 24 to 48 precious hours waiting to make your decision. So now the question is why not go directly to WOMO first?
In addition to saving a good portion of your valuable time and working capital going directly with WOMO Designs provides other advantages. You also get 44+ years of successful product development experience with the package. This experience often translates to critical form, fit and function considerations.
Note 1: It is nearly impossible to see on the photo above, but this little high-tech part has .010” cross drilled holes in the minute feature at the top! WOMO Designs also has years of experience in producing precision production tooling and assembly fixtures for the medical and optical industries.
Give WOMO Designs a call today – phone 253.735.6707 or email files to info@womodesigns.com to receive your rapid response.
Look for our ad on page 13. New WOMO customers, please mention you found us in A2Z Manufacturing – West Coast.
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ROB KROHA
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Optimas Re-Opens Columbus, IN Quality Lab to Meet Growing Demand for Regional Performance Testing Services
Bramac Machinery Adds Two New Lines To Its Portfolio, NEXA3D & DanoBat
Improves and Adds New Capabilities with VisioinLab Inspection Equipment, PPAP Evaluations
Optimas Solutions, a global industrial manufacturer/distributor and supply chain solutions provider, announced today the re-opening of its Quality Lab in Columbus, IN. This move is an outcome of the company’s Forward Faster strategy introduced last year to be closer to and more intimate with customers.
“Over the last two years, we’ve gathered key learnings, many of which include quality services, which has helped us
Bramac Machinery, Inc. is pleased to announce that it recently added two new manufacturers to its product line - NEXA3D and Danobat.
Bramac CEO Martyn Bramhall says, “We selected NEX3D for our additive manufacturing product because they make the world’s fastest polymer 3D printers accessible to businesses of all sizes. Their printers are capable of continuously printing at speeds of up to 8 liters per hour. This represents up to 20x productivity He added, “We also added the Danobat line to our portfolio. Danobat is a superior manufacturer of high value-added solutions in the field of grinding, turning, punching and bending.” The company headquartered in Spain, belongs to the MONDRAGON Corporation, with a 65 year track record in the development of high precision systems and in the research and application of technologies geared towards manufacturing.
Bramac Machinery provides world class equipment to the Plastics, Metal Working & Metal Fabrication Industries.They support customers thorughout Southern California, Arizona, Southern Nevada and the bordering Maquiladora Region of Northern Mexico.
develop our Forward Faster strategy. Based on customer requirements, it made sense to re-open the lab and provide fast, costeffective quality lab services closer to our customers’ locations, ” said Daniel Harms, President of the Americas for Optimas. “Our foundational aspect of Forward Faster is to be ‘one’ with our customers and to do everything we can to make them more successful. This move is another effort to do that in this region and beyond.”
According to Gabriela Gallegos, Vice President of Quality for Optimas, the quality lab conducts general parts inspections and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) evaluations. The goal is to offer faster quality lab services by localizing capabilities. “With the Columbus quality lab, we can apply world-class equipment and expertise to validate quality and offer solutions to performance issues. This keeps parts local, deepens relationships at production facilities, saves times and costs, and is convenient for customers,” Gallegos said.
This quality lab offers additional inspection tools/capabilities with localized service. For example, Optimas installed the latest VisionLab general inspection equipment, a 3D inspection device for first piece inspection and PPAP. In addition, upgrades have been made to an existing VisionLab system used for angles and O rings. Both machines provide hands-off inspection of fasteners which are more accurate. The lab also offers the ability to check torque specs with torque guns, conduct harness testing and check the porosity of section parts.
Kevin Coryell, Optimas’ Senior Manager, Quality Control, points out that the lab averages over 200 PPAPs per month, including new products, kitting, and engineering changes. PPAP is a framework of requirements used in the automotive supply chain to establish confidence in suppliers and their manufacturing processes. Developed by AIAG (the Automotive Industry Action Group), PPAP is integral to the comprehensive Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) approach.
With these resources and more, Optimas can now get source release parts (prototype parts) turned around much faster in Optimas’ regional location. For this process, it can inspect and ship within 48
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hours of receipt. All of this helps customers speed their development and production cycles.
“Feedback from our customers about the quality lab capabilities has been very positive,” Harms continued. “Our Forward Faster strategy manifests itself in our innovation, best practices and elevated results for customers.”
About Optimas Solutions Optimas is the leading global industrial manufacturer/distributor and service provider specializing in fastening and supply chain solutions for manufacturers seeking to improve efficiency and profitability. We take care of the details so customers can focus on manufacturing cutting-edge products—giving them an unparalleled competitive edge. Visit optimas.com and follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/ company/optimas-solutions/ and Twitter @Optimas_S.
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Enjet Aero’s Most Recent Acquisition Broadens Its Geographic Reach
Enjet Aero manufactures complicated machined and fabricated parts and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers of commercial and military aviation engines.
By Christian McDonald –
Intern, Kansas City Business Journal
The Kansas City area is home to
a sleeping giant in the aerospace industry.
Enjet Aero, an Overland Park-based aerospace company, acquired Integral Industries Inc. for an undisclosed amount earlier this month. The acquisition will increase Enjet Aero’s manufacturing presence to nine locations throughout North America, increasing capacity and strengthening Enjet’s position on premier engine platforms. Portland, OR Medford, OR Kent, WA Spokane, WA
(877) 398-6061
www.coastaluminum.com
Enjet Aero manufactures complicated machined and fabricated parts and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of commercial and military aviation engines.
The company aims to be the preferred supplier of aviation engines to OEMs. A few of the companies Enjet services are Boeing, GE Aviation, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce and a slew of other businesses.
Adding Integral Industries to the mix, which follows a similar manufacturing methodology, will continue to support Enjet Aero’s goal of being a world-class aero engine component-maker. Integral Industries is based in Newington, Connecticut.
Integral Industries President Ed Mascolo said it made sense to sell to a bigger corporation.
“Over the past few years, it became clear to me that at some point, Integral Industries would need to partner with a larger organization,” Mascolo said in a release. “As I evaluated our options for the right partner to continue Integral’s legacy of high performance for our customers and focus on our employees, I decided on Enjet.”
Mascolo will be president of the new operation, called Enjet Aero Newington. Enjet Aero has completed nine acquisitions in its six-year history. Company
Orange EV Sees New Nationwide E-Truck Rental Program As An Inroad To More Sales
An Orange EV yard truck is ready to roll off the production line at the company’s facility in the Horizons Industrial Park in Riverside, Missouri.
Production and Custom Fabrication
WE MAKE MAGIC!
By James Dornbrook – Staff Writer, Kansas City Business Journal
Founded in 2012, Riverside-based Orange EV was the first U.S.-based manufacturer to sell 100% electric yard trucks, and now it’s the first to launch a nationwide rental program for the vehicles.
Orange EV produces electric terminal trucks, also known as yard trucks or mules, which are small semi-tractors that move trailers around a cargo yard. The company started out retrofitting older diesel trucks and electrifying them. Now, it focuses primarily on new trucks built from scratch.
The company has more than 450 electric yard trucks in service, including more than 40 in its growing yard truck rental fleet. Orange EV has been offering rental services on a trial basis for awhile and found customers liked it, so the company decided to expand the program and offer it nationwide.
“There’s a big market in this industry that just does rentals and now we can offer that too,” said Kurt Neutgens, president and co-founder of Orange EV. “There are different reasons for rentals. It can be seasonal work or it can be someone who has a new location and is going to ramp up quickly. They tend to rent awhile before they buy.”
Electric rentals good for the company because they are a better deal than their diesel Neutgens said. Electric trucks save money on fuel and maintenance, and they’re more reliable.
“Most of the time, the rentals out there aren’t great at uptime, so you rent a diesel truck and it’s down a lot,” Neutgens said. “The difference is our trucks are a much more reliable rental vehicle. When you have 99% uptime, then things tend to go pretty well. We’re able to keep those up and running.”
Neutgens sees those rentals as an inroad for future sales. Maybe a customer has never considered buying an electric truck but might be willing to rent one.
“They might rent one for a year and see what happens, then that can turn into sales,” Neutgens said. “We hope it can really be a great path to new customers.”
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The US Department Of Labor Announces $3.4M
In Grants To Expand Job Opportunities For Women
Women serve in all branches of the U.S. military and make up about 16% of America’s armed forces. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 14% of all the men in America are veterans, but only 1.5% of women are. That can make it harder for women veterans to connect with one another.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a funding opportunity of $3.4 million for up to nine grants to attract and keep women in Registered Apprenticeship Programs and industries where they are underrepresented such as manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare.
Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh explained the WANTO grant program’s importance at an event today at the Chicago Women in Trades center.
“As part of our effort to build an economy that works for everyone, the department has applied a worker-centered approach to address barriers for women entering apprenticeship programs and non-traditional occupations,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh.
“The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants will increase workforce pathways for women entering the building trades at a crucial time, as the Biden-Harris administration is heavily investing in infrastructure to create jobs in the clean energy, technology, and manufacturing sectors,” Walsh added.
WANTO grants support women’s participation in fields in which they have traditionally been underrepresented, such as finance, technology, construction, manufacturing, energy, and transportation.
A portion of the grants will provide support services such as childcare, transportation, tuition, and work-related gear.
While women make up nearly half the U.S. labor force, they comprise only 13 percent of Registered Apprentices.
8/22/22 2:58 PM
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and in high-growth, high-wage STEM occupations.
Registered Apprenticeships are a pathway for workers to the middle class. They also help employers to recruit, develop, and retain a highly skilled and diverse workforce. While this earn-while-you-learn model has a long history in skilled trades, such as construction, emerging and high-growth industries like manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare are increasingly using Registered Apprenticeships to strengthen their workforce.
The Power Of Female Mentors
Mentors provide guidance and support, whether around a specific need or ongoing development. They listen to their mentees’ experiences and give constructive, direct and honest feedback. Mentors play a critical part in both professional and personal development.
Still, traditional mentoring relationships have not been available or understanding of women’s needs. In general, women must balance personal and professional responsibilities to a greater extent than men and consequently deal with higher levels of isolation, imposter syndrome and unconscious biases.
FACT
Women who are mentored: • Are better prepared for promotions and have higher success rates; • Stay with their organizations longer; • Feel more satisfied with their jobs and careers; and, • Rate higher on performance measures.
FACT
Women who are mentored are more likely to pay it forward than men, making woman–woman mentorships a great multiplier. In fact, 65% of mentored women are now developing others at work, and 73% of women who are developing new talent at work are assisting women.
ASKING MEN TO LEAN IN AS SPONSORS
Sponsors are advocates who actively work to advance the career of their “sponsoree,” touting their professional accomplishments, recommending them for new opportunities and connecting them to others in their network. A sponsor’s goal is the career progression of the sponsoree. Woman–woman mentoring relationships can help address the challenges women face in their personal and professional roles. Mentors give women an avenue to practice their communication skills in a safe environment by focusing on growth and improvement. Mentors help build social capital for women, particularly in male-dominated settings. Mentors also help develop a leadership pipeline and successors. Mentors help new hires acclimate to company culture more quickly.
US Steel Talks About The Latest In Contract Negotiations
By Paul J. Gough – Reporter, Pittsburgh Business Times
With a week to go before its four-year contract expires Sept. 1, United States Steel Corp. and United Steelworkers International have negotiated toward a new contract but the two sides are apart on wages, benefits and a commitment to investment in its facilities.
U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) has offered employees 11% in base wage increases over the four-year contract as well as $7,000 per person in bonus payments immediately after the contract is ratified. It’s also retaining its profit-sharing program, which could have earned each employee up to $41,000 last year as the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker achieved record earnings, $4.1 billion for the full-year 2021. The 2018 contract, which was ratified in November 2018 for 16,000 USW members at 14 U.S. Steel facilities, was for a 14% wage increase over the life of the contract that followed a three-year agreement beginning in 2015 with a wage freeze that had been in a low time for the steel industry.
The picture for U.S. Steel and the domestic steel industry is stronger today, given a rebound in American manufacturing and a recognition that domestic supply chains and industry provide a leg up amid international tensions and pandemic-related disruptions. That’s shown even in U.S. Steel’s results: The $4.1 billion earnings on $20.2 billion in revenue was a big turnaround from a loss of $1.16 billion and $9.7 billion in revenue in 2020.
“We are really talking to the USW bargaining unit ... about our strong belief in rewarding performance,” Melnkovic said of the employees. “That’s why we say when we do well, you do well.” He said the company’s contract offer positions U.S. Steel and its employees best for success in the future. The union, however, is focused on what it calls a level playing field between companies.
U.S. Steel has set out its side on a website with details of the July 26 proposal for the collective bargaining agreement. United Steelworkers has their own regular updates on its website.
Melnkovic said that U.S. Steel unionized employees are among the best-paid in the industry. The average U.S. Steel employee represented by USW earned more than $133,000 in wages, overtime and profit
