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Innovation Isles Aerospace Park Certified ‘Ready for Accelerated Development’

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), in cooperation with the Golden Isles Development Authority, announced that the Innovation Isles Aerospace Park has earned a “Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development” (GRAD) certification with “Select” status. The site’s new “GRAD Select” status provides an additional seal of approval that makes it especially attractive for future industrial development.

“The Innovation Isles Aerospace Park is a key addition to our GRAD site portfolio for its strategic location,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “The park is adjacent to Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, a regional airport with daily service to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and only a short distance to the Port of Brunswick, a national Ro/Ro hub. Combined with the speed-to-market advantages of a GRAD site, the park is a prime location for manufacturers and aerospace service or R&D companies.”  

The 650-acre Innovation Isles Aerospace Park is located off Innovation Drive and Jetport Road in Brunswick. The site is adjacent to the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport and less than 30 minutes away from the Port of Brunswick, which is one of two facilities that make Georgia Ports Authority the second busiest in the nation for total Ro/Ro trade. 

The site is just over five miles from Interstate 95, the major east coast artery from Miami to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. In addition, Innovation Isles Aerospace Park is less than 10 minutes from Brunswick’s central business district. Existing road access through the adjacent North Glynn Commerce Park will be expanded to become the primary entrance.

“We are thrilled to announce the GRAD certification of our new industrial site, a significant milestone that underscores our commitment to economic growth in the Golden Isles,” said Ryan Moore, CEO and President, Golden Isles Development Authority. “As we market our site and community for investment, it's crucial that our workforce strategies evolve in tandem with our business attraction efforts.”

In 2020, the Golden Isles Development Authority and the Brunswick–Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce launched an effort to develop a community-wide talent development strategy for Brunswick and the Golden Isles facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

The results of these efforts have produced initiatives such as the teacher externship program, allowing middle through high school educators to step out of the classroom and into local industries. This firsthand exposure equips participants with the knowledge to guide students toward fulfilling careers in their community. The student industry tours, led by the CEO of the Golden Isles College and Career Academy and the Talent Development Strategy Leader, are another example of the proactive approach to workforce development in Brunswick and the Golden Isles.

Completing the GRAD certification program with GDEcD is a hands-on way for both community planners and landowners to help catalyze economic growth and industrial development in their regions. To qualify for GRAD status, available sites must meet the program’s due diligence standards, be reviewed by a third party, and earn the final approval of a board of advisors comprised of public and private sector economic development professionals. The GRAD Select status is an indication that a site has met or exceeded more rigorous certification requirements. 

The Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Program offers more than 60 industrial certified sites that are ready for fast-track industrial projects, thanks to extensive prior planning and investment into site readiness. Economic development groups and landowners interested in obtaining GRAD certification for their property are encouraged to visit  www.georgia.org/grad-certified-sites/application.

Manufacturing Remembers Industry Icon, Barry Rogers

Barry Rogers was a man known by many in the machine tool industry as a thought leader and expert marketer. Rogers led the national sales and marketing team at Renishaw, Inc. for more than 20 years. He contributed numerous feature articles to manufacturing publications and provided strategic guidance to several top-tier manufacturers.

Renishaw, Inc. remembers and recognizes the significant contributions of machine tool industry icon Barry Rogers, who passed away suddenly May 18. Rogers’ extensive 50-plus year career in the machine tool industry, included a more than 20-year run in various senior sales and marketing, and engineering roles for Renishaw, Inc.

“Barry had a pronounced influence on our sales and marketing team that continues today,” said Denis Zayia, President Renishaw Americas. “He worked and lived passionately and whether he was creating sales strategies, cooking, hunting or riding motorcycles, Barry did it with a contagious enthusiasm. He was truly one of a kind.”

Rogers started his machine tool career as a Journeyman Tool & Die apprentice with Microswitch, a division of Honeywell. Other career stops included John Deer Harvester and LK Metrology, before landing at Renishaw. After Renishaw, Rogers spent time at Sunnen Products Company and as the VP Global Director of Sales for Haas Automation, before starting his consulting company Alpha Strategies.

Phillips Joins Precision Metalforming Association as New Director of Technical Training

The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) announced the hiring of Dean Phillips as director of technical training. In this role, Phillips will lead the association’s efforts to expand its technical training offerings to help the industry continue to build a high-caliber workforce. 

“Amid the ongoing manufacturing skills gap, workforce development remains a top priority for PMA,” said PMA President David Klotz. “The demand for PMA’s in-plant training services and technical seminars continues to grow, and I am excited to welcome Dean to the staff to manage our technical programs, develop additional training topics and bring more subject matter experts on board to meet our industry’s needs. Dean’s passion for manufacturing and his extensive technical expertise make him a terrific addition to our team.”

Prior to joining PMA, Phillips served as a production enhancement engineer at Link Systems in Nashville, TN, for nearly 20 years. He also is the founder of Longevity Industries, a manufacturing media company, and the host of PMA’s Destiny of Manufacturing podcast which features interviews with industry thought leaders who provide insights into the future of manufacturing.

Phillips succeeds Peter Ulintz who is retiring. Ulintz will continue working with PMA as a consultant, presenting at PMA seminars and conducting in-plant training on his topics of expertise.

“I thank Pete for his outstanding work as technical director and look forward to his continued involvement with PMA as a consultant,” said Klotz. “Pete has been an invaluable member of PMA’s team since 2015. Not only did Pete provide instruction at technical seminars, FABTECH conferences and in-plant training, he was instrumental in the development of PMA’s METALFORM EDU online training platform and also authored MetalForming magazine’s Tooling by Design column.”

For more information, visit www.pma.org/training.

Durkin to Lead NAM International Policy Team

The National Association of Manufacturers announced that former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs Andrea Durkin is joining the NAM as the new vice president of international policy.

“Andrea brings a wealth of expertise to the job, with more than three decades of service in both the public and private sectors. As a leader in international trade negotiations, her deep understanding of international policy will enhance the NAM’s strategic objectives significantly as we continue to build off of successful engagements with our counterparts across Europe and the North American continent,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.

“As manufacturers in America look for new ways to reach global markets and the 95% of customers that live outside the borders of the United States, Andrea is set to lead an ambitious expansion of the NAM’s international policy operation. She will work to uphold our commitment to shaping a global trade strategy that opens new markets with our allies and trading partners around the world, which, in turn, will create vast opportunities for manufacturers in the U.S. to create well-paying jobs, innovate and achieve new milestones in improving the quality of life for everyone.”

Durkin is one of the nation’s foremost experts on international policy, drawing from decades of experience serving in Democratic and Republican administrations. As a senior executive in the Office of the President, she led trade negotiations and U.S. policy at the WTO and was responsible for committees on industrial subsidies, technical barriers to trade, government procurement, trade facilitation, customs and others. She was also the U.S. senior official for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Trade Committee, G7 and G20 trade tracks.

In years prior, Durkin served in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, where she led a variety of negotiations, including free trade agreements in the Western Hemisphere, sectoral initiatives in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and trade-related aspects of United Nations’ multilateral environment and public health agreements.

For more information, visit www.nam.org.

SME Announces Partnership with BlueForge Alliance to Build and Strengthen the Manufacturing Workforce

As the U.S. Navy continues to increase investment and commitment to building the resiliency of our nation’s shipbuilding industrial base and supply chain, two non-profit organizations have joined forces to attract and train more individuals to fill critical gaps in the manufacturing workforce and bolster our nation’s defense capabilities. This new partnership will support the Navy Submarine Industrial Base Program’s efforts to recruit, train, and hire more than 140,000 skilled workers in the next decade to meet the Navy’s demand for building new submarines and sustaining the current fleet.

SME, a national nonprofit that accelerates manufacturing technology adoption and builds North America’s manufacturing talent and capabilities announced a partnership with BlueForge Alliance (BFA), a national non-profit integrator established to reinvigorate the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. This partnership will assist in filling the critical gaps in the defense manufacturing workforce and help bolster our nation’s defense capabilities.

“Our nation’s industrial workforce, in terms of size, capabilities, and talent is in dire need of a collaborative and national strategy to fill its pipeline and solve the growing skills gap,” said Jeannine Kunz, SME’s Chief Workforce Development Officer. “SME is leveraging its strengths and approach of ‘thinking nationally and acting locally’ to aggressively increase the supply of talent to meet industry demands. By joining forces with BlueForge Alliance and its talent efforts across the country, we can collectively grow, optimize, and scale workforce initiatives, driving impact on a national and regional level.”

The new collaboration between BFA and SME will:

• Provide defense industrial base employers with training, certification, and support to upskill their current workforce.  
• Increase awareness of industry career pathways and exponentially grow the supply of ready-to-hire talent for manufacturing jobs through the SME Manufacturing Imperative - Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC).
• Inspire and prepare the next generation of manufacturing talent through the SME Education Foundation’s SME PRIME® (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) program.

“The partnership with BlueForge Alliance is an excellent example of aligning missions, resources, intent and action,” said Kunz. “For example, the recent launch of SME’s Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge started with SME and 25 community and technical colleges and technical schools across 17 states coming together to solve their communities and the nation’s talent challenges with a goal to attract 75,000 or more qualified workers in pursuit of manufacturing careers over the next three years. Now with support from BlueForge Alliance, we can strengthen, grow, and accelerate this collaborative program.”

The MI-WPC has already gained national attention from the White House, the Department of Education, State Manufacturing Associations, and the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) for its innovative and collaborative approach to optimize education and industry partnerships and accelerate the education and skill development needed to place individuals in family-sustaining industrial base jobs. Realizing the urgency and need for collaboration, these schools have leaned-in to share best practices and ideate on new pathways, policies, and processes to prepare learners for open positions, while gaining the engagement and support of their local industry partners. Findings will help other programs replicate and scale innovative solutions to grow local economies, reduce barriers to employment, and fill vacant manufacturing jobs.

“I am inspired by the passion, resolve, and investment by these colleges in stepping up, and with BlueForge Alliance also joining and supporting the MI-WPC, we are poised to do more, faster and better together for local and national impact,” said Kunz. “This type of collaboration is required if we are going to win the war on talent.”

With missions equally aligned to implementing not just immediate, but also long-term solutions to sustaining the workforce of the industrial base, SME and BlueForge have also recognized a need to advance career and technical education in high schools across the nation. The collaboration will provide funding to support new SME PRIME schools in key defense industrial base locations. SME PRIME partners private industry with academia to build comprehensive and custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country — providing equipment, curriculum, teacher training and student scholarships along with funding for manufacturing-related extracurricular activities and program sustainability.

The new SME PRIME locations will increase awareness, aptitude and skills in technologies such as additive manufacturing, welding, robotics, metrology, and CNC machining that support advanced manufacturing and submarine shipbuilding.  

“SME PRIME is currently implemented in 110 schools across 23 states, serving more than 10,000 students annually,” said Kunz. “With over 90% of SME PRIME seniors pursuing manufacturing post high school—either through a manufacturing-related degree or by directly entering the workforce, we can further build the talent supply for manufacturing and focus the educational systems on the advanced technical skills needed to support today’s military and defense industrial needs.”

“The new collaboration with SME marks merely the initial phase in a broader vision and long-term partnership aimed at advancing the objectives of both our organizations and the U.S. Navy/Department of Defense,” said Rob Gorham, BlueForge Alliance Chief Executive and Co-Founder. “Together, we are not just filling jobs; we are deploying a scalable and systematic approach to advancing careers, enhancing lives through family sustaining wages, and driving national economic growth tailored to local requirements.”

For more information, visit SME.org or www.BlueForgeAlliance.us.

Razorleaf Wins Boeing Contract for C-17 Aircraft PLM Software Upgrade

Five-month IT project will migrate digital maintenance and training to a 3DEXPERIENCE platform. 

Razorleaf Corporation, a leading PLM consulting and systems integrator, announced that they have secured a contract to upgrade the digital maintenance and training software systems that support the global Boeing C-17 Globemaster III fleet.

Razorleaf is providing product lifecycle management (PLM) software and support services. Boeing has been using PLM solutions for more than a decade and is employing the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to deepen end-to-end digital collaboration, design, engineering, analysis, manufacturing planning and shop-floor execution capabilities throughout the enterprise.

Eric Doubell, CEO at Razorleaf, said, “Razorleaf specializes in providing expertise that unifies diverse software tools into cohesive PLM systems that boost productivity for companies of all sizes. In the case of the C-17, we are pleased to be able to support Boeing’s ongoing commitment to modernization and embracing innovation.”

For more information, visit https://www.razorleaf.com.

Wauseon Machine Celebrates Joe Gemma, Recipient of the Prestigious Joseph Engelberger Robotics Award

Wauseon Machine, a leading provider of automation solutions, tube forming technologies, precision machining, and fabrication, announced that Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Joe Gemma, was awarded the prestigious Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award for 2024, recognizing his exceptional leadership and contributions to the automation industry.

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) recognized Joe Gemma alongside two other industry pioneers for their significant impact within the field. This award, named after the late Joseph F. Engelberger, who is widely regarded as the father of industrial robotics, celebrates excellence in technology development, application, education, and leadership in robotics.

Established in 1977, the award has been presented to 139 leaders globally and is often referred to as the "Hall of Fame" for the robotics and automation sector. The award was presented at the Automate conference in Chicago on May 8, 2024.

Joe Gemma's recognition in leadership underscores his profound impact on the automation sector throughout his distinguished career. His tenure includes pivotal roles as a board member of the Robotics Industries Association (RIA), currently known as A3, and as the president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, commended this year’s Engelberger Robotics Awards honorees, stating, “Joe Gemma’s valuable leadership and contributions over the last 35+ years have been instrumental as we bring greater innovations to users worldwide.”

At Wauseon Machine, Joe Gemma has been a pivotal figure since joining in 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his time working for both system integrators and robotics OEMs. His responsibilities as CRO focus on leading the front end of the business, building on his extensive background in engineering, project management, business development, and sales management.

Upon receiving the award, Joe Gemma expressed his gratitude, saying, “This recognition goes out to all the people I have worked with through the years. It is an honor to accept this award on their behalf. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to share the passion that many of us have for what automation means and what it does for manufacturing, for people, and for the world in general.”

For more information, visit www.wauseonmachine.com/automation.

Verisurf, Scantech Sign Solutions Agreement

Verisurf Software, Inc. and Scantech Digital, Inc. have entered a metrology solutions agreement. Under this agreement, Verisurf will offer complete metrology solutions by combining its popular model-based inspection, measurement, and reverse engineering software with training and live technical support, along with award-winning Scantech 3D scanners and optical trackers. Customers can now receive single-source consultation, quoting, transactional support, and relationship management for complete best-in-class solutions for inspection and reverse engineering applications.

Verisurf software, combined with Scantech 3D scanners and optical trackers, delivers optimized, time-saving workflows with repeatable process control, a major tenet of quality management. Verisurf is the only measurement software built on a full-featured 3D CAD/CAM platform committed to intelligent Model-Based Definition (MBD). This enables users to perform metrology workflows in a seamless CAD environment and maintain model-based digital continuity. Verisurf supports all Scantech 3D scanners and optical trackers, plus all other brands and models of stationary and portable CMMs, including CNC CMMs, scanners, arms, and laser trackers, used to measure and collect data for metrology applications.

Verisurf will bundle its popular metrology application suites with each Scantech 3D scanner or optical tracker. Application suites provide customers immediate access to high-quality scan data analysis for inspection and quality reporting, mesh-to-surface, and solid modeling for reverse engineering workflows. Key benefits include:

• Automated data extraction and GD&T reporting
• Reverse engineering 3D meshes to intelligent 3D CAD models
• 3D cloud and mesh editing tools, including feature recognition and auto-surfacing
• Legacy part recreation for Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
• Alignment and analysis optimization to reduce scrap and improve efficiency

“We are intimate with the performance, functionality, and quality of the Scantech product line and are excited to work closely with their team to offer our bundled solutions. The capabilities and ease of use of the Scantech devices, when paired with Verisurf, provide our customers with optimized workflows, application flexibility, and process control required for growing metrology challenges,” said Nick Merrell, Verisurf’s Executive Vice President.

Scantech offers a diverse range of 3D scanners and optical trackers with ranging technology tailored to various applications and requirements utilizing photogrammetry tracking, laser line, infrared laser, and structured light-based scanning technologies, including wireless and automated 3D systems. The Scantech product line has been developed to provide the maximum accuracy, flexibility, and reliability to meet growing dimensional metrology challenges.

“The power of Verisurf software adds value to every measurement product we make,” said Paul Zhang, Sales Director for Scantech Digital, Inc. “The flexibility of the software, ease of use, and proven workflows, paired with expert support, ensures that every customer investing in Verisurf metrology solutions has an excellent experience and successful implementation. We look forward to our continued relationship with Verisurf, providing the very best metrology solutions.”

For more information, visit https://www.verisurf.com or https://www.3d-scantech.com.

Stäubli Appoints New Robotics Director for North America

Stäubli announced the nomination of Christopher Clark as Stäubli Robotics Director for North America, effective May 1, 2024.

Christopher joins Stäubli with more than 20 years’ experience in Robotics and Automation from several industry leading systems integrators and OEMs, most recently from Chicago Electric Sales where he transformed the company into a leading systems integrator now called BHS Robotics. In his new role, Christopher will continue to provide industry leading sales, service, and support for the full range of Stäubli customers in North America.

"We are delighted to welcome Chris as our new leader for the North American Robotics team," says François Masbou, Managing Director North America. "His energy, knowledge of the robotics industry, goals orientation and people empathy are the right ingredients to drive our business strategy in the region."

For more information, visit staubli.com/robotics.

Cobot Systems Announces UR+ Partnership with Laser Welding Cobot System

Cobot Systems announced that it is now a UR+ Partner with their showcase Laser Welding Cell system. This distinction marks a significant milestone in the company's journey to provide automated workforce solutions that are broadly accessible. This approval highlights Cobot Systems' dedication to providing innovative solutions compatible with Universal Robots (UR) products, ensuring seamless collaboration and increased productivity with the all-in-one Laser Welding Robot.

According to the company, Cobot Systems developed the industry-first Laser Welding Cobot System, which is designed as a complete engineered package for automating welding processes typically done by MIG/GMAW or TIG/GTAW. The Cobot Systems Laser Welding Robot combines the usability of the Universal Robots UR10e collaborative robot with the speed of the IPG LightWELD laser.

"Our pre-engineered welding package is a laser welding system built around the Universal Robots UR10e collaborative robot,” says Brian Knopp, co-founder of Cobot Systems. “By integrating the handheld laser with the cobot, companies can take advantage of the higher speeds and maximize quality through the precision positioning capabilities of the cobot.”

The UR+ Laser Welding Cobot System enables businesses to:

• Increase welding efficiency while decreasing processing time
• Reduce manual touch time and training
• Diversify their welding capabilities to include new materials
• Achieve flawless results with minimal distortion, deformation, undercutting, and burn-through.

UR+ partners are companies like Cobot Systems that exhibit seamless compatibility and streamlined workflows with Universal Robots products.

For more information, visit https://cobot.systems.

Hurco, IndyCar Team Extend Partnership

Hurco Companies, Inc. and Indianapolis-based race team Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) recently announced a continuation of their long-standing partnership.

Hurco recently equipped ECR with two new machines, a TM10Mi lathe with live tooling and a high-speed, 5-axis VMX42HSRTi mill. Additionally, Hurco provides ECR unparalleled support and service from its Indianapolis headquarters, located less than one mile from ECR’s race shop.

ECR President Tim Broyles explained how the team uses their Hurco machines to elevate competitiveness. “The racing industry necessitates a wide range of machining requirements, with quick turnaround time from design to manufacturing an absolute must. We rely on our Hurco machines for a variety of projects, including suspension set-up jigs manufactured from aluminum, support equipment utilizing exotic materials, and chassis components created from alloy steels.” Broyles continued, “Our Hurco machines allow us to react quickly with precision, efficiency and accuracy required in our ever-changing, highly competitive environment.”

Scott Camloh, general manager of Hurco North America, emphasized the importance of racing in the company’s culture. “Being headquartered in Indianapolis, Hurco fully embraces the passion for racing shared by our customers, employees, neighbors, and community as a whole. As Hoosiers, we are proud to host ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ in our own backyard every year. The Hurco family enjoys cheering on Ed Carpenter Racing and is honored to have our technology involved in the highest level of the sport.”

ECR is led by Ed Carpenter, the only individual who handles both the responsibility of driving the racecar and owning his own team. ECR is in their 13th season of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition and fields two full-time entries, the Nos. 20 and 21. Carpenter, an Indianapolis native, races the No. 20 Chevrolet during the oval events, while reigning INDY NXT champion Christian Rasmussen competes in the road and street course events. Rinus VeeKay is the longest-tenured full-time driver in ECR’s history and remains behind the wheel of the No. 21 for a fifth consecutive year.

For more information, visit http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/ or www.hurco.com.

US Cutting Tool Orders Totaled $212.4 Million in March 2024, Bringing the Year-to-Date Total Up 2% From 2023

March 2024 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $212.4 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was down 1.1% from February’s $214.6 million and down 5.8% when compared with the $225.6 million reported for March 2023. With a year-to-date total of $631.5 million, 2024 is up 2% when compared to the same time period in 2023.

“Despite the troubles at Boeing, cutting tool shipments to aerospace and defense-related manufacturing remain quite strong,” declared Jack Burley, chairman of AMT’s Cutting Tool Product Group. “First quarter data indicates that consumption of cutting tools and tooling remains on pace with current industrial production at a modest level. This may be an indicator of somewhat sluggish activity.

“New projects are available in most industries, but many customers are reluctant to move forward, possibly because they are worried about inflation and election results. Despite the downward trend in new machine tool orders, I find it very interesting that cutting tools and related accessories to keep shops running are still performing reasonably well.”

Steve Stokey, executive vice president and owner of Allied Machine and Engineering, agreed that inflation remained an industry concern.

“The first quarter of 2024 is up slightly over the first quarter of 2023, but the long-run trend has turned negative for the first time since March 2021, when the industry began to recover from the COVID-19 downturn,” Stokey said. “Stubbornly high inflation appears to be a drag on the industry as the number of units shipped has shown a more sluggish trend than the value of shipments. The remainder of the year could end flat or slightly down from 2023 if these patterns continue.”

The Cutting Tool Market Report is jointly compiled by AMT and USCTI, two trade associations representing the development, production, and distribution of cutting tool technology and products. It provides a monthly statement on U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of the primary consumable in the manufacturing process – the cutting tool. Analysis of cutting tool consumption is a leading indicator of both upturns and downturns in U.S. manufacturing activity, as it is a true measure of actual production levels.

Historical data for the Cutting Tool Market Report is available dating back to January 2012. This collaboration of AMT and USCTI is the first step in the two associations working together to promote and support U.S.-based manufacturers of cutting tool technology.

NSL Analytical Services Relocates Metallurgical Testing Laboratory to New Facility

NSL Analytical Services, an independent analytical and metallurgical testing services company serving U.S. and global customers, announced a significant milestone in its growth trajectory with the relocation of one of its two Cleveland-area testing laboratories

NSL has successfully completed the move of its metallurgical testing laboratory to a new facility at 4564 Johnston Parkway, Cleveland. The strategic move to the 20,000 sq. foot complex approximately doubles the size of its prior metallurgical lab operation in Cleveland and provides the comprehensive infrastructure to support growth as one of the nation's leading independent materials testing services companies.

The new metallurgical laboratory reflects the company's commitment to serving the needs of global customers, who turn to NSL for its high level of speed, accuracy and white-glove responsiveness. In fact, the construction of the new lab is a direct response to client requests for NSL to grow its high-performance, metallurgical testing capabilities. NSL now offers high-temperature stress rupture testing services for aerospace, additive manufacturing, space and other manufacturing clients.

"This move represents the next chapter of growth for NSL Analytical Services," according to Ed Herderick, Vice President of Science and Technology Development. "Our new ANAB- and Nadcap-accredited metallurgical testing lab has meaningfully expanded both NSL's testing capacity and testing capabilities. We are thrilled to be offering our customers a more expansive line of metallurgical testing solutions and look forward to supporting their future testing needs with excellent service that they have come to expect from NSL," Herderick added. 

The new facility, which opened in late March, includes new office space and also supports operations at NSL's analytical laboratory, located approximately two miles away in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. Approximately 70 percent of NSL's clients utilize the services of both testing laboratories, underlining NSL's versatility in handling a wide spectrum of client needs.

For more information, visit www.nslanalytical.com.

Manufacturing Technology Orders Jump in March 2024 as Southeast, West Regions Soar

Orders of manufacturing technology, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, reached $435.7 million in March 2024. Orders grew nearly 25% above the February 2024 level. March orders are typically a large increase from February, as many builders of manufacturing technology end their fiscal year in March. Although the typical bump over February was seen in the data, March 2024 orders were 21.3% below those of March 2023. Year-to-date orders reached $1.13 billion, an 18.6% decline from orders in the first quarter of 2023.

Forecasts from the beginning of the year relied at the time on the widely accepted belief that the Federal Reserve would reduce interest rates three times over the course of 2024. As time went on, inflation remained stubbornly high, the labor market retained its strength, and the probability of rate cuts dwindled. This led to the Federal Reserve’s “higher for longer” interest rate strategy, which has been limiting growth and causing some hesitation for business investment. Despite this general unease, there remain several pockets of opportunity driven by government spending and technological advancement.

• Orders from contract machine shops increased in March 2024 to their highest level in the last year. Despite this increase, average monthly orders from contract machine shops are 11.3% lower in 2024 than in 2023. Customers ordering parts from contract machine shops have increasingly turned away from longer-term procurement cycles in favor of placing month-by-month orders or making sporadic, one-off purchases. As a result, machine shops have been hesitant to make additional machinery investments.
• Electrical generation and power transmission equipment manufacturers helped drive the increase in orders from February to March 2024, which reached their highest level since March 2023. Orders from this sector had been on an upward trend since September 2023 because of government investment in new energy technologies. This sector is positioned to become a reliable source of growth in the future from the increasing need for energy as our economy becomes more digitalized and AI begins to play a larger role in daily life.
• Bucking the national trend, both the Southeast and West regions showed growth in manufacturing technology orders when comparing the first quarters of 2023 and 2024. Orders in the Southeast were driven by a massive increase in orders from the aerospace sector as military investment in projects increased in recent months, and some manufacturers relocated from states with less favorable business environments. Growth in the West was driven by orders from computer and electrical equipment manufacturers as government and private investment in semiconductor manufacturing comes online.

For more information, visit https://www.amtonline.org/article/manufacturing-technology-orders-jump-in-march-2024-as-southeast-and-west.

Arroyo Joins Verisurf Software in Northwest

Verisurf Software announced that Erik Arroyo has joined the company as a sales engineer in the northwest region. In his role, Erik works closely with customers to assess their metrology needs and provide the best products and workflows for their applications.

“We had the good fortune to work with Erik previously as a customer. He came to know the software very well and would always take the time to contribute suggestions for improvements,” said Nick Merrell, Executive Vice President. “Needless to say, when he became available, we wasted no time bringing him on board.”

Erik brings 18 years of experience in dimensional metrology and is an inspection and tool-building applications expert using portable arms, laser trackers, and 3D scanners. Beginning his career in aerospace manufacturing, Erik has worked in measurement and inspection, quality assurance, and CMM programming for leading companies, including AMRO Fabricating, Hexagon Metrology Services, Advanced Integration Technology, and Northrop Grumman.

“I am a people person motivated by solving technical challenges,” said Erik. “Joining the Verisurf team gives me the opportunity to help customers implement automated measurement solutions using the latest CAD/CAM-based metrology software paired with the best measurement hardware for their applications.”

According to the company, this is important as Verisurf is the only metrology software built on a full-featured 3D CAD/CAM platform with intelligent Model-Based Definition (MBD). This ensures data integrity and lets users perform metrology workflows in a seamless CAD environment while maintaining model-based digital continuity. Verisurf software supports all CAD file formats, and the Verisurf Device Interface (VDI), with virtual CMM display, communicates with and operates all programmable and portable CMMs for universal compatibility. The software’s modular design, ease of CMM programming, and built-in productivity tools let users quickly create measurement routines using efficient and repeatable workflows.

For more information, visit www.verisurf.com.

Viam, KUKA Partner to Launch New Viam Driver for KUKA Robotic Arms

Open-source platform Viam has announced a new partnership with global robotics supplier KUKA. The collaboration will focus on the integration of Viam’s software platform with KUKA’s robotic arms through the development of a new Viam driver. The driver will provide users with advanced control and automation features, including real-time data analytics and intuitive programming interfaces. 

Viam’s decision to partner with KUKA was driven by the company’s desire to expand the accessibility of its platform, particularly within the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Through the new driver, Viam will offer multiple-language programming and hardware interoperability, enabling a wider range of engineers to work with KUKA arms. 

Viam and KUKA will also work together on a series of joint research and development projects following the driver’s initial release. The companies have not yet disclosed specific details regarding these projects.

Through the partnership, Viam and KUKA aim to help manufacturers and innovation teams drive business efficiencies and broaden the reach of KUKA robotic arms. According to Viam, the new driver will also advance smart automation and offer expanded technical capabilities for KUKA arms. 

Viam’s open-source platform is designed to simplify the building, monitoring, and data management of smart machines. The company’s software can be deployed across a range of devices, from industrial robots to IoT sensors. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with Viam and bring our customers even more powerful, adaptable, and efficient ways to extend the power of their KUKA equipment,” says Pjeter Lulgjuraj, Sales & Marketing Operations Manager at KUKA. “With Viam, engineers can now easily add smart functionality to our robotic arms, and then seamlessly update and evolve them to their unique needs.”

KUKA provides intelligent automation solutions across a range of industries, including automotive, consumer goods, and healthcare. The company has previously highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving its growth and innovation strategies. 

Argonne, Toyota Launch Battery Recycling Collaboration

The collaboration aims to reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign sources of battery materials.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory is teaming up with Toyota to explore new ways to recycle and reuse battery components. The collaboration specifically focuses on the recycling of cathodes in lithium-ion batteries, with the ultimate goal of reducing the country’s reliance on foreign sources of battery materials.

The new partnership will involve Argonne, the Toyota Research Institute of North America, and Toyota’s Battery Lifecycle Solutions group. The three organizations will work together to develop a direct recycling process for cathodes made of nickel, manganese, and cobalt. This process will build on the innovative techniques already being explored by the Argonne-based ReCell Center.

One of the key differences between traditional recycling methods and the direct recycling approach is how the chemical structure of the battery components is treated. In traditional recycling, the structure is broken down into raw materials for the manufacturing of new batteries. Direct recycling, on the other hand, aims to extract and reuse the components without altering their original structure. This can potentially make the recycling process more efficient and cost-effective.

As part of the collaboration, Toyota will provide Argonne with a supply of its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Argonne researchers will then apply the lab’s direct recycling process to extract and regenerate the cathode material from these batteries. The team will assess the performance of the recycled cathodes at each stage of the process, from small coin cells to larger pouch cells.

“In most battery recycling today, the chemical structure of end-of-life battery components is broken down into the raw materials used in manufacturing,” the press release stated. “Unlike this traditional approach, a technique called direct recycling carefully extracts components from spent batteries. The components’ original structure is retained. If done well, manufacturers can re-use the components, reducing costs and waste.”

The ultimate goal is to demonstrate that the direct recycling process can produce high-performing cathodes in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.

“Our goal is to prove that the process can make high-performing cathodes cost-effectively while reducing energy use and emissions,” said Albert Lipson, Principal Materials Scientist at Argonne.

In addition to the technical development of the recycling process, the collaboration will also include an analysis of the economic and environmental impacts. The team will use Argonne’s EverBatt model to evaluate the costs and benefits of applying the recycling process to Toyota’s batteries.

RoboGeorgia Launches to Make Georgia a Leader in Robotics, Automation Innovation

RoboGeorgia, a coalition of industry leaders, academic institutions, and community organizers, announced its founding Executive Committee and mission to establish Georgia as the world’s leading hub for robotics and automation innovation.

Robotics and automation are integral to the future of today’s global economy. Whether for manufacturing, supply chain logistics, healthcare delivery, or agriculture, robotics is poised to upend how we live and do business. And significant momentum is building as industry, academia, and government invest significant time and resources toward this future.

Looking to build on Georgia’s position as the #1 state to do business, RoboGeorgia launched to enhance the visibility and connectivity of Georgia’s robust robotics and automation ecosystem. The organization aims to foster a thriving community representing all segments of this expansive technology landscape and advance innovation through collaborative projects, industry events, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Guiding RoboGeorgia’s formation are its founding Executive Committee members:

• Jeremy Fultz, Marketing Manager, Mujin US
• Milton Walker, Technical Sales Specialist for Robotics, Americas, Intel
• Robert Herrig, Director of Supply Chain and Advanced Manufacturing, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
• Tom Sammon, Technology Project Manager, GaMEP, Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Ward Broom, Robotics Startup Catalyst , ATDC, Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology

“These leaders have been instrumental in laying the groundwork for RoboGeorgia’s success, bringing together their diverse backgrounds and unwavering commitment to shape the future of the robotics ecosystem in Georgia,” said Ward Broom, RoboGeorgia’s inaugural Executive Committee Chair.

In addition, RoboGeorgia has secured multiple membership commitments from high profile corporations in the ecosystem. Membership groups will consist of a governing Board of Directors, Advisory Board Membership, General Membership and Startup Memberships. To become a member of RoboGeorgia, visit https://robogeorgia.org/contact/. For more information, visit https://robogeorgia.org.

Renishaw AM Systems Added to National GSA Procurement System

Renishaw’s additive manufacturing (AM) systems have been added to the General Services Administration (GSA) procurement system for government applications in the United States. The measuring and manufacturing systems company is now officially recognized as a provider of AM solutions to federal, state, and local governments. Machine Tools USA will assist with marketing Renishaw metal AM systems to government entities.

Machine Tools USA’s existing contract with the GSA allows Renishaw AM systems to be included under the multiple awards scheme (MAS) for 3D printing and AM solutions. The MAS scheme allows government bodies to access commercial products at competitive price points. As part of this, Renishaw AM systems are listed in the GSA e-library, a centralized online resource used by federal, state and local governments to assist in the research and identification of businesses who can provide products and services under a GSA contract.

To be eligible, products listed on the GSA procurement system must meet strict criteria including commercial availability, competitive pricing and compliance with Trade Agreements Act (TAA), the Buy American Act and environmental and labor standards. Machine Tools USA has been appointed as a distributor of Renishaw’s AM products to the US Government and will help to ensure that these products continue to meet these requirements.

“GSA contracts are issued for a 20-year period, and we are currently halfway through our second contract, so we understand the value of this agreement,” said Marianne Ross Burroughs, President at Machine Tools USA. “A GSA contract is a key asset to gain access to this market. As we go into the 45th year of our company, we are eager to expand our expertise and assist Renishaw in this journey.”

“Adding our equipment to the GSA procurement system is testament to Renishaw’s commitment to provide innovative AM solutions to various applications,” said John Laureto, AM Business Manager at Renishaw Inc. “Our collaboration with Machine Tools USA has been integral to listing our products under the MAS scheme and we have valued their expertise on this new venture. By helping us meet the stringent criteria for inclusion, the team at Machine Tools USA has helped us showcase the value of our systems for government agencies.”

Through the e-library, agencies can explore Renishaw’s RenAM 500 series of metal additive manufacturing systems that provide solutions for a range of research and production applications, from a single laser system (RenAM 500S) to a four-laser system (RenAM 500Q). The systems have automatic or flexible (Flex) powder and waste handling and use the same industry-leading gas flow system, safety features, and precision digital optics for applications ranging from material proof of concept to volume production.

For more information, visit www.renishaw.com/en/renam-500-metal-additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-systems.