Industry Watch: Business

QUAKER CHEMICAL CORPORATION (CONSHOHOCKEN, PA) . . .
joined the Partners in THINC program with Okuma America Corporation (Charlotte, NC). “Quaker’s broad industry experience, technical expertise and extensive service make them a terrific fit for the Partners in THINC program as we bring complete machine tool and manufacturing solutions to companies across the U.S.”, stated Jeff Estes, the director of Partners in THINC. A global provider of process chemicals and services, Quaker is focused on creating more value for the customer. By working intensely on a few areas in heavy manufacturing industries, they achieve a high level of understanding of their customers, their processes, and their needs. Their history and understanding help them develop metalworking fluids and services that not only solve today’s problems but help create a more profitable future.

The principal industries served by Quaker include automotive, steel finishing, heavy equipment, aerospace, tube and pipe, and bearing manufacturing. By providing a combination of process fluids, services, and technical expertise that helps manufacturers reduce costs, improve performance, and achieve a safe work environment, the Quaker business model is an ideal fit for the Partners in THINC concept. Quaker Chemical products can be seen and demonstrated at the Partners in THINC facility in Charlotte and at the Okuma Tech Centers in Chicago and Houston. www.quakerchem.com, www.partnersinthinc.com

JETCAM INTERNATIONAL S.A.R.L. (MONACO) . . .
signed Softprod Tecnologia (São José dos Campos, Brazil) as a reseller for its aerospace range of products to the Brazilian market. Softprod is one of the most important industrial and research centers in Latin America and develops process engineering services and manufacturing software solutions with a high degree of competitiveness for aerospace customers, mainly in composites and machining areas. “The signing of Softprod Tecnologia coincides with the continued growth in the Brazilian aerospace sector, and our own increased expansion into this market over the last decade,” explained Martin Bailey, the general manager of JETCAM. “With their extensive software experience and understanding of composite manufacturing processes, they are ideally placed not only to assist new clients but also provide service and support to many of our existing customers in the region.”

Amauri Correa, the managing director of Softprod Tecnologia, added, “We are extremely pleased with this partnership. We want to offer to our customers the best software solutions for manufacturing. Having had direct experience of JETCAM and similar products previously I already know that they are the best choice for the sheet metal and composites industry. With their high efficiency, robustness and technology and with the support closer to the users in their native language, we believe that we will meet the needs of the new and the existing costumers.” Softprod Tecnologia will offer the complete JETCAM Expert and CrossTrack range of products for aerospace covering CAM, nesting and order, nest, material and material life management. www.jetcam.net

EMH, INC.® (VALLEY CITY, OH) . . .
broke ground for a major expansion of its manufacturing facility in Valley City. The addition will increase the size of the plant by 50 percent to over 60,000 sq ft and feature higher ceilings and higher capacity cranes, which will allow EMH (Engineered Material Handling) to more efficiently build large bridge and gantry cranes up to 500 tons in capacity. According to company president Edis M. Hazne, “With the upgrade to our facility, we will be able to expand our product range, and still maintain our service level for the standard product line.”

The company expects the plant expansion to be completed in September, 2011. Contractor for the project is Campbell Construction of Wooster, OH. EMH was founded in 1988 and manufactures a complete line of cranes, crane kits, standard and engineered wire rope hoists, end trucks and other components for overhead material handling applications. The manufacturer is a member of the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), and certified to ISO 9001:2008 Standards. www.emhcranes.com

MAZAK CORPORATION (FLORENCE, KY) . . .
certified Seco Tools, a leading provider of metalcutting solutions for milling, turning, holemaking and toolholding, as a new member of its Value Inspired Partners (VIP) program that was created to inspire and foster higher levels of cooperation among producers of complementary products to provide manufacturers with total solutions. Unlike other partnership programs in the industry, the VIP program is highly selective and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to providing its customers with total manufacturing solutions. To provide increased value to customers, membership in the VIP program requires a company to provide products and services that transcend traditional supplier relationships.

Collaborating on R&D and integration efforts, the VIP program was created in August 2010 to foster a high level of cooperation and technological integration that moves well beyond individual pieces of equipment. Stemming from Mazak’s commitment to meet the need for more comprehensive solutions, the VIP program brings together producers of complementary manufacturing technology to create more innovative products and processes. The program also fuels development of comprehensive training solutions for manufacturers across all market segments. “When selecting a company to participate in the VIP program, we look for those in the industry who have truly gone above and beyond what is expected,” said Brian Papke, the president of Mazak. “Seco Tools is a well-respected company that prides itself on building close relationships with customers to effectively understand and address their needs. We are proud to add them to the VIP program.”

Seco provides powerful machining solutions to leading companies around the world. The company deploys its highly specialized machining competence and materials-focused tooling innovations to the aerospace, oil and gas, power generation, automotive and medical industries, among others. “We are honored to have been selected for the VIP program and see great benefits for both our and their customers as a result,” said Mike Parker, the director of marketing and product development at Seco. “The partnership allows for providing customers advanced cutting tools paired with innovative machine tool technology for complete optimized manufacturing solutions tailored to their specific machining needs.” www.mazakusa.com/vip

ERIEZ^® (ERIE, PA) . . .
developed an eco-certification designation for a variety of its magnetic separation and recycling equipment and small feeders. The self-certified program was put in place in October 2010 and will expand into other product categories after an internal analysis. Equipment identified by for the Eco-Certified designation has met several criteria:
• The products have a positive impact on recycling processes and the recycling industry
• They are manufactured with energy-savings features, including the use of energy-free permanent magnets
• All equipment is built in an Eriez facility that focuses on recycling consumables, driving down energy usage and drastically reducing solid landfill waste
• An electronic, paperless format is used when promoting the selected equipment; when marketed using hard copy, promotional material is printed on recycled paper
• Eriez has incorporated a completely digital workflow, both internally and externally, to reduce its dependence on paper.  Customers can now access most product information via the company website and print only what they need.

The Eco-Certified equipment comprises magnetic separation products, including the entire line of plate and grate magnets, liquid line traps and ProGrade^® Magnetic Separators. Plate Magnets are available in five magnetic strengths and are typically installed in chutes, feed tables and over conveyor belts. Grate Magnets are designed for simple installation in steep-sloped hoppers, odd and irregular-shaped hoppers, floor openings, vertical closed chutes and ducts. Liquid Line Magnetic Traps fit pipelines as small as ½ in (13 mm) diameter up to pipelines measuring 18 in (457 mm) diameter.

The Eco-Certification also extends to high-end recycling equipment, either as individual units or complete systems, including the ProSort, ProSort II and FinesSort™ Metals Recovery Systems and Eddy Current Separators for the most efficient and economical processing of municipal solid waste, co-mingled recyclables, shredded automobile, electronic scrap, glass cullet, plastic (PET), foundry sand and many other resource recovery operations. Hi-Vi Electromagnetic Feeders are now Eco-Certified. These feeders, with their totally enclosed patented magnetic drive, can feed practically any bulk material from micron size to bulky chunks. Solid-state controls operate the feeders with “watch-like” precision while keeping power consumption to a minimum to save energy. Eriez has standard models for the majority of applications, ranging from its Model 6C with feed rate up to 1,600 lb per hour to a Model 52A with feed rate up to 25 tons per hour.

In other news, May 19 marked 1,000 days that company headquarters employees had worked without a lost time accident. “This milestone achievement distinctly demonstrates the personal accountability our employees take when it comes to safety,” says Tim Shuttleworth, the president and CEO of Eriez. The Erie plant’s previous record for days worked without a lost time accident was 259. “We credit our improved safety record to increased employee awareness,” says Shuttleworth. “We have made a number of changes to better integrate safety into every aspect of our day-to-day operations.”

Recent modifications included the revamping of its new employee safety orientation to emphasize safety, increased safety training for all employees and the incorporation of safety into the company’s health and wellness program. “Our goal is to really engage employees,” says Shuttleworth. “We now present safety updates at our company meetings and mounted a large sign that clearly displays the number of days our plant has worked without a lost time accident.” To recognize the remarkable achievement, of 1,000 days without a lost time accident, the company held a celebration at its headquarters on June 1 that was attended by state and local officials as well as 300+ employees. It featured a cookout lunch, complete with steak served up to employees by the management team.

Process/Safety Manager Tina Myers acted as the event emcee. Several city and state officials addressed the crowd to congratulate the team on their accomplishment and thank the company for its commitment to the Erie area. Shuttleworth expressed his appreciation to the employees for their dedication to maintaining a safe work environment. The Erie City Council and the Erie Mayor’s office acknowledged the extraordinary safety record by issuing proclamations to the company. The City Council proclamation was presented to the company at the June 1 Erie City Council meeting, while the Mayor’s office proclamation was presented by Fred Rush, Coordinator of Community Initiatives for the City of Erie, during the safety celebration. www.eriez.com