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June • July 2005 • Vol. XXIII No. 5 • An Arnold Publication |
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Industry News • Executive Hotline |
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Executive Hotline Boeing Offers Cargo Version of 777, Big Asian Market for Boeing, Airbus Hot Battleground More than 800 jets may be sold in hot Asian market next decade. Its betting on its new 787 Dreamliner for 2008 with Airbus rival betting on their A350. Rising energy costs may force Asian airlines to get more fuel efficient planes. India & China are hot prospects, Air India buying 50 new planes and figures $36 billion to country's airlines over 20 years. Meantime, Boeing is offering cargo version of 777 long-range twin-engine craft with 5000 mile range and 229,000 lb payload. Air France bought 5 of them, with options for 3 more, orders worth $1 billion. Other orders include 18 Boeing 787's for Northwest Airlines, Indonesia's Lion Mentart to spend $3.9 billion for 60 737s and Slovakian airline Skyeurope buying 16 737-700s worth $880 million. Boeing, Lockheed Martin to make rockets in joint venture as sole provider of rocket launches for Air Force, NASA, etc. Joint venture based in Denver, has 3,800 employees in Colorado, Alabama, Florida, Calif., Texas. and is called United Launch Alliance. Aerospace News--NASA, Lockheed-Martin Defense Sec'y Rumsfeld dropped cancellation of C-130J transport. The $4.1 billion 5-yr. contract called for 60 planes by 2008. Lockheed will build 55 more at $66 million each. Lockheed will also build a defense laser as its Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, CA. signed a deal with San Diego's General Atomics to develop laser weapons while Lockheed in Sunnyvale, with 8,500 employees, will develop system's ability to pinpoint & track a target. NASA Offers Prize for 'Space Elevator' NASA sees day when vehicles with cargo and humans climb 62,000 miles into space on ribbon of carbon thinner than paper, powered by beams of pure light aimed upward from Earth. NASA has $400,000 in prize money as of May for competition to stimulate concept. Its called "Centennial Challenges". The cost: $10 billion, a lot less than space station. It could be operative in 15 years. \ Buy & Sell & Merge Activity Keeps Active in '05 Sun Microsystems, Santa Clara, CA., acquiring Santa Cruz' Tarantella, remote access software maker for about $25 million... JDS Uniphase, San Jose, CA., buying Acterna of Germantown, MD., a test equipment maker, for $760 million in cash & stock. Acterna has 1770 employees worldwind and had $440 million in sales for FY ending in March.... JDS also buying Lighwave, Mountain View, CA., for $65 million in cash... Scansoft acquiring rival Nuance Communications for $221 million, Scansoft in Peabody, MA., while rival is Menlo-Park based,.. San Jose's Sirf Technology Holdings acquiring global positioning system chip business of Motorola for $20 million. Phoenix-based Motorola with 40 engineers joins Sirf's 150 engineers... Brocade Commications Systems, San Jose, bought Therion Software, Redmond, WA., for $9.3 million...San Jose's Cisco Systems bought for $70 million Fine Ground Networks, Cambell, CA. Chips Ahoy--Big Demand With New Applications Around Globe Chip sales rose in 1st. quarter as demand rose for cellphones and personal computers. Worldwide sales climbed 0.4% to $55.3 billion in 4th quarter. March sales Sales of $213 billion predicted this year. Global sales rose 14% in 1st quarter. Sales in India & China pushed chip revenue above forecasts. Apple Computer in talks with the chipmaker Intel to use its chips in Macintosh computer line. Apple's long-time supplier has been IBM. Apple sells 3 million computers a year (200 million sold globally) Apple has long used PowerPC microprocessors jointly developed by IBM & Motorola... UT Starcom cuts 1,400 jobs as biggest supplier of wireless phone systems in China as demand drops considerably. Matrix Semiconductor, Santa Clara, CA., developed denser storage method, called Trinity, yields one gigabit chips 10% smaller with twice the memory of original 512-megabit chip.... Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, releasing first PC microprocessors with two computing engines on single chip. Called Athlon 64 X2... Intel introduced first home PC microprocessor with 2 computing engines on single chip. Its Pentium D processor targets home computer users... Santa Clara's Nvidia's profit tripled on rising sales of computer graphics chips. Sales were up 24% to $838 million in quarter ending May 1... Raza Microelectronics, Cupertino ,CA., chipmaker, unviels powerful telecom chips with 150 engineers who created different chip families, called XLR.. Another chip family is Orion that can process voice, video and data traffic simultaneously. Intel rolls out new set of chips for desktop computers used for home computers. Dell, bigger PC maker, selling version of its Dimension computer using new Intel package. Road Munchkins—Computers The Size of Memo Pad New ultra portable notebooks have emerged with screens of 12" or less and light (2 to 4 lb.) to tote for long periods. Some of suppliers include Dell (latitude X1), weighs 2.5 lb. Toshiba Libretto U100, ASU:S WSA with built-in web camera, HP Compaq NCA 4200, Fujitso Lifebook P7010, IBM Thinkpad X41, Sony VAIO T350 3-way wireless connectivity, and Sharp Actius MP30. Sun Microsystems buys (for $50 million) rights to use Procom Technology's software that operates storage computers. Sun also unveils "connection" service giving customers automatic downloads of new software updates and help check on health of their computer systems. Its called Sun Connection. Hewlett Packard has the final PA/RISC chip that power high performance network servers. Its end of HP's chip family called PA/RISC. Long term plan is to move customers to its Titanium. Founder Ted Waitt of Gateway, the personal computer maker he founded 20 years ago, resigned. Its in Irvine, CA., and once had 9.1% of U.S. computer business which dropped to 5.8% last year. Microsoft is rolling out Windows OneCare, a subscription service to protect computer users from viruses and spyware and give them tools to make machines speedier. IBM will buy Gluecode Software, El Segundo, CA., to build a big business around open-source like the Linux operating system. People are afraid to buy Online. 62% say on-line requires credit card information. 55% say inability to see item personally. 25% prefer to research online than to buy in store. Seattle gets a wireless signal-Speakeasy, national broadband provider introduced first high speed wireless data service in Seattle in May. Its the so-called WiMax technology. Oracle and Intel teamed up for products based on radio frequency I.D. that uses chips emitting a radio signal to track inventory. Remember RAMAC-Hard Drives Fore Runner was 50 Years Ago Today's iPod toters owe it to some IBM engineers 50 years ago in San Jose developing the Ramac, first system for storing data on magnetic disks. Before then computers stored data on rolls of mag tape or coded punch cards. Retrieving could take hours or days, RAMAC was big success for IBM which made 1000-plus machines over 5 years to establish its dominance in mainframe computing. |
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Industry News Danny Choi Appointed Service Engineer at Clancy Machine Tool
Danny comes to Clancy Machine Tool with 15 years experience in the Machine Tool Industry. Danny Choi apprenticed at Hwacheon Machinery Korea and is a qualified Journeyman in all aspects of machine tool maintenance, with particular efficiency on troubleshooting electrical and control ladders. He has extensive programming abilities and part process capability. MTA International and Spego Inc. Form New Marketing Association MTA International announced a new association with Spego Inc. of Asheville, North Carolina, creators of ‘Americas Barfeed System.’ This association complements the newest additions of equipment to MTA International and its selection of solutions for short, 6’, 12’ and longer automated bar loading and unloading equipment and accessories. Spego Inc. for many years has built and marketed its Turnamics multi-tube hydrodynamic barfeed system and its VersaBot 4-axis, servo-controlled gantry robotic system for loading and unloading, assembly and material handling of manufactured parts. MTA International has 15-plus years of experience serving the manufacturing industry and will now sell and support the made-in-the-USA products from Spego Inc. Fagor Automation Celebrating 30 Year Anniversary with New Feedback Manufacturing Plant Marking the 30th anniversary since introducing their first Digital Readout and Linear Encoders 30 years ago, Fagor has a new Manufacturing plant for Linear & Rotary Encoders. Located just 3 miles from Fagor Automation’s headquarters, the new plant has a total of over 30,000 sqft encompassing 3 levels. The new plant integrates the automated logistic center that provides service to all business within Fagor Automation. The design incorporates multiple white rooms with interlocking doors and rooms with positive pressure that ensures that ability to reach a temperature control of up to plus or minus .1 degree in the most critical areas. This ensures that the individual calibration encoder are obtained under the most demanding and strict metrology standards. In order to guarantee the integrity of the electronics components throughout the whole manufacturing process, all the optoelectronic sections are equipped with antistatic floors that eliminates all electrostatic discharges. Computerized test benches permit individual adjustments of the encoder signal levels to make the product repeatable and homogenous within the defined tolerances. All linear encoders are laser calibrated with the results automatically computerized. Mastercam Launches a New CAD/CAM Certification Program CNC Software Inc., manufacturer of Mastercam CAD/CAM Software, announces a new Certification program that gives a way for today’s programmers to sharpen and validate their skills. A Certification Advisory Committee, along with the help of several school advisory committees, defined the skills necessary for CNC operators and programmers and approved the Mastercam Handbook Curriculum as the first recommended curriculum. It is meant to be taught in 80 to 100 hours of instruction and can be used to produce programmers who can pass a practical certification test. The goal of the certification program is to produce skilled programmers and give certification holders the ability to adapt their talents to the ever-changing technologies in the manufacturing world. Mastercam’s certification program is important in both the educational and industrial markets. Originally meant to create a benchmark for schools, many programmers see Certification as a way to validate the skills they know. This makes it easier for them to get hired, and makes it easier for a shop to know that incoming programmers have what it takes. Clancy Machine Appoints Charley Gilmore Applications Manager
Charley comes to Clancy Machine Tool with 10 years of job shop experience and 5 years experience in the Machine Tool Service Industry. Charlie is an experienced Journeyman programmer and has an extensive background in part fixturing and machining techniques. Makino Opens California Tech Center to Serve as Regional Sales/Service Office Makino is opening a new California Tech Center in greater Los Angeles to serve as a west coast regional sales, service and applications support facility. This new new 12,300 square foot Tech Center facility will serve manufacturers in the parts production, aerospace, automotive, medical, semi-conductor, die/mold and micro machining markets. The facility will be able to support RAM and wire EDM and high-speed milling requirements in these markets, in a variety of materials.
The new California Tech Center is located at: This new facility becomes the fifth U.S.-based Tech Center location for Makino. Roncelli Plastics Thanked For Their Part in Defense Industry
U.S. Congressman David Dreier recently paid an official visit to the Roncelli Plastics facility and thanked the employees of the company for their hard work in providing components to the defense industry. In particular he cited their work with the C-17 program of Boeing in contributing to the nation’s efforts in the war on terror. Also during his visit Congressman Dreier met with Roncelli management, toured the facility, and spoke to all the employees. Roncelli Plastics, founded in 1969, specializes in precision plastic machining and fabrication. The company has been located in Monrovia, CA since its founding. GBI Cincinnati Now U.S. Master Distributor for Feeler Machine Tools GBI Cincinnati, Inc. announced it has entered an agreement with the Fair Friend Group to serve as exclusive U.S. master distributor for the group’s Feeler Machine Tool line produced in China. With the new agreement in place, GBI Cincinnati now represents a broad line of affordable, high-quality machine tools, including vertical machining centers, CNC lathes, horizontal machining centers, tapping centers, die and mold machining centers, double column machining centers and automation packages. GBI Cincinnati has an extensive distribution network in place in the U.S. with more than 400 sales and service personnel. All U.S. sales, support, service and parts for the Feeler product line will now be handled directly through GBI Cincinnati and their distributor network. GBI Cincinnati is a Tier-One International Distributor of metalworking products and services. Other products handled include Cincinnati Lamb’s full line of vertical machining centers and turning centers, as well as the Trimek line of CMMs and the Danobat line of lathes. Additionally, the company partners with several carefully selected companies to provide applications engineering, conveyors, fixtures, probes, rotary tables, presetting gauges, lean manufacturing, machine optimization and machine tool accessories. Bystronic Wins Gold 2005 Boli Award Bystronic Inc. was awarded the 2005 GOLD BOLI award for their flash website banner ad “MAKE LEAN MANUFACTURING LEANER” as featured on the CNC WEST website. BOLI is an annual award ceremony for “Best on Long Island Advertising” (international and/or domestic advertising) in either print, website, radio or television mediums. For these multiple categories, there were over 10,000 entries. Bystronic Inc. has provided its customers with quality laser cutting, waterjet cutting and press brake systems, training and customer support for over 25 years. Mori Seiki U.S.A., Inc. Names New President
Mori Seiki U.S.A., Inc. recently announced the appointment of Thomas R. Dillon to the position of President effective May 16, 2005. Mr. Dillon brings over twenty years of machine tool industry experience to this position, ranging from sales and distribution to executive management. Mr. Dillon joined Mori Seiki in 2001 as the company’s Executive Vice President, and was later promoted to Chief Operating Officer. As the company grew, Mr. Dillon’s experience and expertise in the area of distribution made him the obvious choice to lead Mori Seiki Mid-American Sales, and was named the sales organization’s first president in 2003. In his new role as president, Mr. Dillon will be responsible for the overall direction of Mori Seiki U.S.A., Inc. including strategic planning, sales, support and marketing for the Americas, and will continue to contribute to Mori Seiki’s global planning and growth strategy. William Tudor Joins DMark Corppration Following 28 years of hands on success in manufacturing, William Tudor has joined the DMark Corporation as its field engineer for California’s San Fernando Valley. Tudor brings to the position a new level of practical machining and grinding experience from a career that included engineering and management positions at Accurate Grinding, Allied Signal, Anmar Precision and McDonnell Douglas. The DMark Corporation is the exclusive distributor in Southern California for United Grinding Technologies (Studer, Blohm and Maegerle), Index CNC Lathes, Traub Swiss Screw Machines, Cosen Saws, Moore Jig Grinders and broad line of related machine tool accessories and support products. DoALL Announces New Divisional Structure The DoALL Company has announced a major realignment of the company into two primary business units - DoALL Global Industrial Supply (DGI Supply) and DoALL Sawing Products. The DGI Supply division, headed by Senior Vice President David Crawford, will focus on distributing industrial supplies and providing intergrated supply solutions including commodity management programs. Vice President of Sawing Products, Jim Carey, will lead the DoALL Sawing Products division that will provide dedicated sales and services support for DoALL manufactured products including DoALL band saw blades, sawing machines, cutting fluids, and material handling systems. Commenting on DGI Supply, Crawford said, “In 2004 DoALL made a $650K investment in new commuincations technology for our national call center. We appointed additional regional managers, re-trained support personnel enchanced the warehouse an dlogistics systems to provide one or two-day delivery anywhere in the continental United States.” The DoALL Sawing Products unit will maintain the widely recongnized DoALL brand name and logo. Heartech Precision Inc. (HPI) Appoints New West Coast Rep Organization In an effort to provide better sales and service coverage to West Coast users of tool holders, rotary index tables, presetters and precision air chucks, Heartech Precision Inc. has added Vista, California-based Technical Tool and Gage Company to their national network of manufacturer’s representatives and industrial distributors. Hiro Kaskiwakura, Heartech Precision, Inc. president says, “Heartech Precision is concentrating on being the leading producer in terms of technology, sales and delivery in our specific product areas. What we are finding is that our company and our products are very appealing as a principle for sales organizations and with product lines that are complementary to ours. Recently, we have undertaken a new sales agreement with Technical Tool and Gage Company, a well-known West Coast manufacturer’s representative organization to provide and service our products in that region. Technical Tool also provides West Coast sales representation for Morse Cutting Tools, RTW, Delta Carbide and P.H. Horn grooving systems.” Technical Tool & Gage has serviced California and the West Coast market since 1991. The company has a four-man outside sales organization with two inside sales people. Stork SMT&I Acquires Orbit Testing of Paramount, CA Stork SMT&I announces a transfer of ownership of Orbit Laboratories of Paramount, California to Stork Materials Technology. Orbit Testing is a highly regarded nondestructive testing laboratory, specializing in Ultrasonic, Magnetic Particle Liquid Penetrant, and Passivation testing and inspection methods. Personnel and equipment will be integrated into the Rancho Dominguez branch of Stork SMT&I laboratories, a leading West Coast provider of nondestructive evaluation, product testing, and materials analysis to many local and regional industries, including aerospace, defense and medical.
“We’re excited about this acquisition,” says Steve Senne,
Chief Operating Officer for the Rancho Dominguez location. ‘It will enrich our
approvals Delcam Reseller VIZION Opens Office in Seattle to Target Northwest Aerospace Market Delcam’s largest West Coast reseller VIZION Technologies has opened an additional office in Seattle to target aerospace and other manufacturing companies in the region. The new office will be managed by Dan Collado, a CADCAM industry veteran with more than 18 year’s experience of selling and supporting a wide range of design and manufacturing software. “While Delcam is primarily associated with the mold and die industry, recent releases have targeted a much wider range of applications, including the aerospace industry” claimed VIZION Technologies President, Jerry Saunders. “This new emphasis makes an office in Seattle essential, both to win new business and to provide a high level of support to our existing customers. In particular, the office will allow us to provide more training courses and additional support to help our customers to get even more out of their Delcam products.” “As the developer of both PowerMILL, the world’s leading specialist CAM system, and PowerINSPECT, the leading hardware independent inspection software, Delcam is in a unique position to help aerospace companies to increase productivity, shorten delivery times, improve quality and reduce waste,” he added. “It will be my personal mission to provide VIZION’s customers with the high level of personal and technical service they deserve,” commented Dan Collado.
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