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February • March 2006 • Vol. XXIV No. 3 • An Arnold Publication |
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Industry News • Executive Hotline |
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Executive Hotline Aerospace Sector Boeing: Moving Ahead Boeing has a different idea of where the future of travel is heading than Airbus, and has launched the all new Boeing 787 for the middle of the market. Airbus is seeking launch aid from the European Union to support a competitor to Boeing’s 787, using government money as a competitive weapon, according to Lewis Platt at the Boeing Shareholder’s meeting in May 2005. In other news, Canada’s Department of National Defense has awarded Boeing a $39 million contract for installation of the second phase of an avionics upgrade for its 78 CF-18 aircraft. The upgrade will add a data link system, a helmet-mounted sight system, new cockpit displays and a new flare-dispensing electronic warfare system to the Hornets. On January 12, 2006, Boeing began its final assembly of the 5000th 737 in the Boeing manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington. In December 2005, sales for the 737 surpassed 6,000. In 2005, Boeing set a new record for total orders of airplanes in a single year: 1002 net commercial airplane orders. “Clearly, 2005 was an incredible year for our customers and for Boeing,” according to Alan Mulally, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO. Boeing Introduces New 737 A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, announced plans for a new 737 signals intelligence aircraft for use in airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and advanced network centric communications. Out of this World On January 19, 2006, NASA’s new Horizons spacecraft was launched on a 9-1/2 year mission to Pluto, propelled by an Atlas V vehicle provided by International Launch Services. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center procured the launch under a long term contract with ILS, a Lockheed Martin joint venture. The New Horizons observatory is the first dedicated spacecraft to explore Pluto and its moon Charon, at the outer reaches of our solar system. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at its destination, 3 billion miles away, in 2015. Lockheed Martin Builds Communication Satellite for Air Force The U.S. Air Force has awarded Sunnyvale, Ca. based Lockheed Martin a contract for $491 million to build a third spacecraft for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (Advanced EHF) program constellation. Advanced EHF satellites will provide global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for all warfighters serving under the U.S. Department of Defense. Northrop Grumman Space Technology, Redondo Beach, Calif., is the payload integrator and provider of the payload processors, nulling antennas, the inter-satellite crosslinks, RF antenna equipment, and phased array antennas. Advanced EHF satellites will also feature an electric propulsion system, provided by Aerojet of Sacramento, Calif. Other Lockheed Martin News The Israeli Ministry of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin an $18 million Foreign Military Funds commercial contract to provide a Flight and Systems Trainer for Israeli F-16I pilot training. The trainer will be used to familiarize Israeli aircrews with the performance of the latest F-16 Block 50 aircraft. The US Government awarded a $99.7 million contract to Lockheed Martin on December 27 for long-lead tasks related to the production of 30 new Advanced Block 52+ aircraft for Greece. The Block 52+ is one of the most modern and capable F-16 versions ever built. The final Greek aircraft will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009. Computers and Electronics HP News HP rolled out its most comprehensive line of digital entertainment products and services in its history at the annual Consumer Electronics Show on January 4 this year: nine high-definition TV’s, four consumer notebooks and a digital entertainment desktop PC, in addition to seven feature-rich, ultra compact digital cameras and home movie service from Snapfish (HP’s online photo service, that allows customers to view, store and share their digital videos online). Leading the lineup for 2006 of high-definition digital TV are nine affordable LCD, microdisplay and plasma models, including the 37-inch HP Advanced Digital Media LCD TV. Viewers can watch high-resolution videos or slideshows with music, all streamed from their PC’s to their TV. HP also plans to remain neutral in the disc format debate. Previously HP supported the Blu-ray Disc format exclusively, and now plans to support the HD-DVD high definition DVD format. HP asked the Blu-ray Disc Association to adopt two customer-friendly technologies: Mandatory Managed Copy and iHD, which are already include din the HD-DVD format. HP believes that both of these are important to fostering the digitally connected how. Microsoft is already planning to integrate iHD into its new Windows Vista operating system. HP Continues to Dominate Total Disk Storage Factory Revenue HP continues to be NO. 1 in the world in the open storage area network (SAN) and iSCSI market with a 25 % market share for the 14th consecutive quarter. During the last quarter, HP acquired ApplQ and began shipping HP Storage Essentials 5.0 – both serving to further the company’s strategy to unify server and storage management. Microsoft and Growth in China Bill Gates said on January 27th that it would take ten years to beat software piracy in China and India and bring them in line with US and European levels. Nevertheless, Gates said that sales of the company’s software were increasing every year (more than 30% growth in China in recent years) and was hopeful that China and India would join Taiwan and South Korea in adopting proper licensing practices. AMD Signs Technology License AMD signed a technology license for “floating body” silicon-on-insulator (SOI) memory developed by Innovative Silicon Inc. AMD is interested in the Z-RAM technology, a capacitor-less DRAM alternative, for use in its microprocessors. Innovative Silicon claims that the Z-RAM, a Zero Capacitor DRAM, is capable of achieving twice the memory density of existing embedded DRAM technology and five times that of SRAM, yet requires no special materials or an extra mask/process step. This increase in density offered by the Z-RAM embedded memory can enable much larger on-chip microprocessor cache memories resulting in improved performance and reduced I/O power consumption. Google Accepts Chinese Government Censorship Rules In order to gain access to the Chinese booming Internet market, the Google.cn website for China debuted January 25 and adhered to Beijing’s strict limits on web access. In designing its Chinese search engine, Google gathered information on the types of web sites and phrases Beijing finds objectionable, based on information from third parties and by observing how China’s Internet filtering devices operate. Google’s competitor, Yahoo, has come under criticism from human rights groups for cooperating with Chinese limits on Internet use. China has devoted extensive efforts to policing the Internet and jailed dozens of dissidents who have published political criticisms on the web. IBM – Instant Messaging Link to AIM, Yahoo, Google IBM demonstrated its philosophy on innovation again with its enhancements to its secure messaging system “Innovation occurs at the intersection of invention and insight: We innovate when a new thought, technology, business model or serve actually changes society.” IBM’s secure messaging system is used within many of the biggest companies, and now will soon be used to chat with users of instant messaging products from America Online, Yahoo, and Google. Missing from this deal is Microsoft, where customers demand greater security and want IT managers to have the ability to audit what users say. The ability to interconnect the separate instant messaging systems from IBM, AOL, Yahoo and Google is based on an industry standard technology known as Session Initiation Protocol, or SIP. Aviall Unit Gets Smiths Aerospace Deal Aviall Inc., a provider of aftermarket supply-chain management services for the aviation and defense industries, said Tuesday its Aviall Services division received a $2 billion, 10-year contract from Smiths Aerospace LLC to distribute civil aerospace products. Aviall Services will take over full operational responsibility for the aftermarket following a transition period. The Allied Defense Group Receives $900,000 Homeland Security Contract The Allied Defense Group, Inc. ADG announces that its California-based surveillance company, NS Microwave, has received an order for just under $900,000 from an agency of the United States government. The order is part of an extended multi-year $15 million classified contract with this agency. The order is for surveillance hardware and associated equipment to support ongoing mission requirements for this agency. Due to its classified nature, additional details about the contract may not be disclosed. CPI Aero Receives C-5 TOP Order Valued at $5.0 Million CPI Aerostructures, Inc. announced that the U.S. Air Force has released a $5.0 million order under CPI Aero’s C-5 TOP contract. The order includes a variety of panels, fairings and wing tip frames. In May 2004, CPI Aero was awarded a C-5 TOP (wing tips, others and panels) contract by the U. S. Air Force. The contract is valued at up to $215 million over the seven year life of the program. Orders under this program, including this $5.0 million order, to date have totaled $11.8 million. International News Machine Tool Sales Lift Mitsubishi Elec Profits TOKYO - Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Japan’s third-largest maker of heavy electronics products, announces third quarter to December net profit rose 88 pct amid brisk sales of its factory automation systems and gains from cost-cutting. Mitsubishi Electric is ranked top or second to top in most factory automation systems, such as sequencers — programmable computer units for automation processes at plants and factories. “Sales of factory automation systems continue to be brisk because capital investment by automakers and flat panel makers is gaining momentum,” Mitsubishi Electric senior managing director Yukihiro Sato told a news conference. “While sales grew in all operating segments, led by factory automation systems, we also worked hard to cuts costs in order to deal with falling prices of digital consumer products and higher procurement costs,” Sato said.
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In 2005 Haas Sold and Shipped 10,000 Machines In 2005 Haas Automation, Inc. built, sold and shipped more than 10,000 high-quality Haas CNC machines, all from its manufacturing facility in Oxnard, California. The sales record represented an increase of more than 22% over 2004, and more than 200% over 2003. “I know of no other machine tool builder in the world that has done this,” states Haas general manager Bob Murray. Murray added that the company reached this goal during a period of widespread plant restructuring and expansion. Increasing production by 200% in only two years has required a lot of hard work from a lot of people, says operations director Richard Mountain. “Every area of the company has contributed,” he says, “But it’s what we do. We set a goal and we make it happen. People have always worked hard at Haas, and that’s not going to change. We are constantly implementing more and more technology, and continually reviewing our processes. It’s not just a matter of taking what we do and multiplying it by some factor. It’s about innovation.” “Through innovation,” Mountain continues, “we expect our efficiencies to continually grow. The opportunities are there, and it’s our responsibility to figure out the right way to make things happen.” Fullerton College Hires Dan O’Brien Fullerton College in Fullerton, California has just hired Dan O’Brien as a new full time instructor to guide the machining program. Dan and his father’s company, D.F. O’Brien & Associates, have been featured in past issues of CNC West. Dan comes to Fullerton College with extensive experience in both conventional and CNC machining, CNC programming, Surfcam, and the real world experience of running a manufacturing business in today’s competitive climate. Big Kaiser Expands Regional Representation in Western States
Big Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. has opened a west coast location and assigned a new sales manager of tool measuring systems to provide local factory service and sales support for customers and the existing sales network in eleven western states. This investment in a new location provides several benefits to west coast customers including time-savings related to travel and more immediate on-site service and sales response. The local sales manager, Olaf Stoffels, brings Big Kaiser and Speroni factory expertise to a local level. Hydromat Forms Edge Technologies Hydromat Inc, a world leader in precision rotary transfer machine technology, announced the formation of Edge Technologies. This new division will represent the line of FMB bar feeders, the Dürr Ecoclean Series of parts cleaning systems, as well as potential future product offerings. Hydromat Inc. has been supplying the North American market with metal cutting solutions for more than 26 years. “The Hydromat name has become synonymous with bar feed technology,” says Kevin Meehan, general manager, Edge Technologies. “We have twenty years experience in the technology, and when we established an exclusive distributorship with an Italian bar feeder company in 1986, we put in place a sales and service network nationwide that was second to none. In fact, that company’s name recognition and market share were largely driven by our sales and support system. However, now that we’ve moved on to work with FMB, that same sales, service and support network is still in place.” Of the Dürr Ecoclean Series of parts cleaning systems, Meehan observes that the line was a natural fit. “We now can provide the means to feed the stock and then clean the finished parts for shipment—no film, oil, grit, dirt or chips, just dry and clean parts ready for use.” Bystronic Appoints ACC Machinery Co in Arizona
Bystronic Inc., a leading supplier of laser
and waterjet cutting systems, press brakes and system software, has signed ACC
Machinery Co. Inc. as distributor for the Arizona sales region. ACC will also carry Bystronic’s PR Series press brake with IPC (Integrated Process Control) technology. Reorganization Strengthens Agie Charmilles Group To provide even higher levels of value to the North American market, Agie Charmilles Group has announced a reorganization of its subsidiaries in the region. Effective January 1, 2006, the US divisions of Mikron, Charmilles and Agie have been joined together as one legal entity, Agie Charmilles Corp. While the brands retain their individual identities and sales channels, greater efficiencies will be achieved through shared leadership, philosophies and practices. Harry Moser, current president of Charmilles US and Mikron US, is now president of Agie Charmilles Corp. Moser has served as president of Charmilles US for more than 20 years. As president of Agie Charmilles Corp. he will focus on the continuation of this positive momentum. ”My number one priority is the sustained delivery of value to our North American customers,” says Moser. “Under this reorganization, we will be able to offer the highest levels of quality and value to both the EDM and HSM markets.” Glynn Fletcher, current president of Agie US, has been named executive vice president of Agie Charmilles Corp. Alain Dubois has assumed responsibility of all service organizations within Agie Charmilles Corp. Dubois’ diverse background includes 28 years of service experience with Charmilles, including stints in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. Under the reorganization, Harry Moser and Mal Sudhakar, vice president of Mikron US, will lead the continued growth of Mikron. Sudhakar has 20 years of experience in the machine tool industry and brought Mikron’s high speed machining centers to the US in 1998. Surfware Appoints New Executive Management Team Surfware, Inc., developer of SURFCAM CAD/CAM systems, announced recently the appointment of a new executive management team. Effective immediately, Ron Dougherty will serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Jonathan Romeyn will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer. “I am extremely excited to join a true industry pioneer with such unbelievable forward momentum,” said Dougherty. “Surfware has a sound strategy and incredible assets, including its revolutionary Velocity product line and patent-pending TrueMill toolpath technology, which position it to become the leading CAM solution provider for manufacturing customers worldwide.” Prior to Surfware, Dougherty has more than twenty years experience in business management and reengineering of Fortune 500 and privately held corporations. Romeyn’s corporate management experience extends over a decade. At one of the nation’s top consulting firms, Romeyn worked to expand global presence and strengthen operating procedures with various public and privately owned companies. His expertise in the manufacturing arena includes aerospace, automotive, military and industrial grade electronic markets. Sodick, Inc. Receives Technology Innovation of the Year Award The recipient of the 2005 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation of the Year Award in the machining applications for medical devices and aerospace industry is Sodick, Inc. By creating innovative technology and providing total manufacturing solutions, Sodick has grown consistently in some of the most challenging markets across the globe. A case in point is the electric discharge machine (EDM) with linear motors; Sodick was the first to introduce this concept in the industry. Sodick’s linear motors are direct drive and eliminate the need for any couplings between the motor and table. The motors eliminate backlash, and unlike ball screw drives, linear motor drives will never have to be replaced. Sodick’s linear motor technology uses 10 nanometer glass scale feedback guaranteeing the best part and positioning accuracy. Some of Sodick’s recent innovations include: the 3D Qvic³ control, which simulates the entire EDM process in 3D modeling, thus eliminating programming errors. HR Machinery Expands Service Capabilities in Northern California HR Machinery, a division of MTI, now offers an additional service to its Northern CA customers. Effective immediately, HR service personnel can calibrate and repair mitutoyo CMM’s. After undergoing extensive training in MTI’s Aurora IL. facility, HR staff completed the required course of training necessary to install and calibrate to ANSI standards the manual and CNC coordinate measurement machines manufactured by its parent company, Mitutoyo. HR sent all of its specialized tools to Aurora for calibration and traceability. Additionally, HR also invested in the proprietary software and computer system required by MTI to calibrate CMM’s. Only a few dealers in the country are authorized by MTI to perform this service Boeing’s William J. Geary Named SME President William J. (Willy) Geary, of Renton, Wash., has been elected president of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) for 2006. He is chief engineer, aircraft interiors, 737 program, at The Boeing Company in Seattle, Wash. Geary joins three other officers and three directors to form the Executive Committee. As a strategic thinker, Willy provides valuable insight and invokes the voice of the individual member and companies into our decision-making,” says Nancy S. Berg, SME executive director and general manager. Geary has served on the SME Board of Directors since 2001 and, most recently, as SME’s president-elect. He has served on SME’s Regional Chairs Committee, the Strategic Planning Task Force, and as chapter chair. In 2005, Geary chaired the Audit and Budget Committees. In 1990, he received the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. Tru Tech Appoints Tornquist Dealer in Southern California and Arizona Tornquist Machinery who is celebrating 60 years in the machine tool business in 2006 is now the distributor for Tru Tech Systems. Tru Tech designs and manufactures high precision grinding machines that are made in the USA. The TRU TECH line of 3-Axis CNC Precision Grinding Machines is offered in three different models, depending on the amount of cross-travel desired. Standard is the 6" travel, and optional is the 7-1/2" and 9" travel. . The TRU TECH 3-Axis system consists of the patented TRU TECH precision grinding unit and work holding accessories, mounted to a sturdy 6 x 18 precision grinder base, complete 3-axis CNC controls, operator station with Pentium IV computer and the Windows-based TRU TECH Pick-N-Place Talking Software. Tru Tech bought Harig grinders in 2002 and Tornquist will handle the Harig line as well. Harig is one of the most well known makers of surface grinders in the industry. Tornquist has locations in southern California and Arizona and also represents Star CNC, Walter Grinders, Enshu and Emco Maier. Special Events at Westec 2006 and The Total Manufacturing Experience From Westec, North America’s largest annual manufacturing and metalworking event, to world-class technical sessions and networking-focused SME member programs, The Total Manufacturing Experience is designed for you. Immerse yourself in a 360° learning experience. You can move from classroom, to exhibit floor, to networking, professional development, and industry recognition activities, designing an event program that includes the highest value activities for you! Opening Reception - “Sky’s the Limit” presented Monday, March 27. WESTEC attendees, exhibitors and SME members unite for this unique event featuring Astronaut Buzz Aldrin and interactive exhibits of NASA’s latest technologies. Hear Aldrin talk about his passion for space and NASA’s new technologies. SME International Awards Gala - Tuesday, March 28. 28. Recognizing those who have contributed significantly to our industry - through technology, process, design and more. Meet manufacturing’s “movers and shakers” at this prestigious event.
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