January 2011 Industry News
October U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $387.13 million, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 2.5% from September but up 154.9% when compared with the total of $151.86 million reported for October 2009. With a year-to-date total of $2,477.06 million, 2010 is up 83.2% compared with 2009.
These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program. “Never in the history of the USMTC have we seen a post-IMTS October rival September so closely,” noted Douglas K. Woods, President of AMT. “Increased Sec. 179 expensing and 50% bonus depreciation enacted in late September helped offset the declines we normally see after a show. Looking ahead, enactment of the pending tax package would give U.S. manufacturers a big boost heading into the New Year.”
The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.
U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.
Northeast Region
With a total of $97.59 million, October Northeast Region manufacturing technology consumption was up 51.0% when compared with September’s $64.62 million and up 277.5% when compared with October a year ago. At $461.40 million, 2010 year-to-date was 75.9% higher than the comparable figure a year ago.
Southern Region
Manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region in October stood at $40.01 million, 40.2% less than September’s $66.92 million but 84.3% more than the October 2009 total. The year-to-date total of $349.01 million was 86.3% above the comparable figure for 2009.
Midwest Region
October manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwest Region totaled $116.66 million, down 3.3% when compared with the $120.67 million total for September but up 147.5% when compared with October a year ago. The $746.43 million 2010 year-to-date total was 92.2% higher than the total for the same period last year.
Central Region
At $92.45 million, October manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region was 18.7% less than September’s $113.72 million but up 167.7% when compared with last October. The $651.50 million 2010 year-to-date total was 101.2% above the 2009 total at the same time.
Western Region
Manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region in October stood at $40.41 million, 29.4% higher than the September total of $31.24 million and 78.6% higher than the total for October 2009. With a year-to-date total of $268.73 million, 2010 was up 40.9% when compared with 2009 at the same time.
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AMTDA
Gibbs and Associates has announced that its GibbsCAM suite now supports SolidWorks® 2011 3D CAD software. The combination will make geometry machinable and generate NC programs for all configurations of mills and lathes, including Multi-task machines (MTM), Swissturn machines, and 5-axis machining centers. The GibbsCAM interface also helps the SolidWorks 2011 user by providing an easy-to-learn and easy-to-use interface developed with language and icons that manufacturing engineers, NC programmers and machinists understand.
SolidWorks 2011 optimizes core design functions so that users can more quickly and intelligently achieve their goals. It also includes hundreds of new enhancements specifically requested by customers. The new version of SolidWorks improves designers’ and engineers’ productivity with new capabilities like rapid dimensions, enhanced mirrored components, and heads-up mouse gesturing. These capabilities let designers and engineers work smarter and faster while minimizing menu navigation.
“Engineers, NC programmers and machinists don’t have time to worry about software complexity or the problem of integrating data between separate applications,” said Nick Iwaskow, SolidWorks Manager, Alliances. “Combining GibbsCAM’s CNC programming, toolpath verification, machine-tool simulation, and post processing with SolidWorks 2011 3D CAD enables engineers, NC programmers and machinists to focus on innovation, quality, and productivity instead of how to use the software.”
Manufacturing engineers and NC programmers will use GibbsCAM to generate NC programs for all types of CNC machine tools from design models created in SolidWorks software, with seamless transition. GibbsCAM opens SolidWorks models so that the NC programmer can analyze and optimize them for machinability, and generate toolpaths for the chosen or available CNC machine tool. GibbsCAM verifies the toolpaths with gouge detection and interference checking, then dynamically and visually simulates them on virtual machine tools, and accurately postprocesses them to generate optimal NC programs. The manufacturing engineer and NC programmer can use various GibbsCAM features to eliminate scrap, reduce cycle times, and maximize efficiency, safety and profits.
“A high percentage of our customers use SolidWorks for 3D CAD,” said Bill Gibbs, president and founder of Gibbs and Associates. “They will be as pleased as we are to have an easy-to-use CAM solution that supports accurate and efficient use of SolidWorks 2011 models to easily and productively generate programs for their CNC machines, from the simplest to the most complex.”
A SolidWorks Certified CAM Partner Product, GibbsCAM allows users to open SolidWorks models, and use the model geometry to generate efficient programs to drive CNC machine tools of all types, including multi-axis machining centers and multi-spindle, multi-turret Swiss machines. The combination of GibbsCAM and SolidWorks 2011 covers the design through manufacturing cycle in the production machining environment of multiple industries. Whether parts have simple geometry needing only simple milling or turning, or complex geometry requiring use of 5-axis machining, MTM or Swiss-style turning centers, the SolidWorks-GibbsCAM combination accommodates the manufacturing process.
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GibbsCAM
Solid Works
Mazak has announced that SME Tooling U, the leading provider of online manufacturing training programs, has been named the newest member of Mazak¹s Value Inspired Partners (VIP) program. Created from a desire to provide manufacturers with total solutions, the VIP program promotes higher levels of cooperation among companies offering complementary manufacturing products.
"SME Tooling U is very excited to be part of the Mazak VIP program," says Chad Schron, SME Tooling U Division Manager. "We work with Mazak to train employees all over the world on manufacturing topics and Mazak technology specifically."
Mazak launched its VIP program in August 2010. Inclusion in the VIP program requires a company to provide products and services that transcend traditional supplier relationships and meet the following criteria:
- Be a recognized leader with unique, innovative and high quality products.
- Provide extensive pre- and post-sales support.
- Add value to customer processes and provide system solutions.
- Maintain a culture of ethical business standards and practices.
"SME Tooling U represents an excellent candidate for participation in the VIP program," says Brian Papke, president of Mazak Corporation. "Given the continuous investments that Mazak makes in training seminars and events, we have a great respect for what SME Tooling U has accomplished and value the working relationship we have with them. We are pleased to welcome them to the program."
Members of the VIP program will work with Mazak in product development and the creation of training events and seminars spanning a broad range of topics.
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Mazak
CNC machine tool manufacturer Okuma America Corporation and distributor Hartwig, Inc. will host a New Technology Showcase at the Okuma Technology Institute at Davis Applied Technology College on February 8 & 9, 2011. Seminars will focus on using new technology from Okuma and members of Partners in THINC to drive increased productivity, improved quality and reduced costs.
Machines on display will include: the new MB-5000H horizontal machining center featuring an expandable 110-tool matrix magazine, horizontal lathes, multi-tasking lathes and a vertical machining center. All machines will be cutting parts and will utilize the THINC control to connect to peripheral equipment and software. Members of Partners in THINC will be on hand representing tooling, workholding, gauging, software and other machine tool accessory equipment.
Featured seminars will be presented by Koma Precision and new tooling partner Exsys-Eppinger. Other presenting companies will combine classroom seminars with a hands-on look at Okuma machines.
Additional equipment and technology on display will include Citizen L20, Hexagon Global 7.10.7, Romer Arm and an Okamoto surface grinder.
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Okuma
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