GMTA Selected for Automotive Gear Projects

General Motors and Ford Motor Company have both selected German Machine Tools of America (GMTA; Ann Arbor, MI) to partner with them on gear projects for automotive applications. General Motors selected GMTA to partner on the CVT 250 project for gear hones, while Ford Motor has selected GMTA as a supplier for Scudding® sun gears on its new transmission lines.

Scudding, and now the Hard Scudding® process, in which hardened gears can be cut and finished on the same machine using unique adaptive software, are fast gaining acceptance in the market. Already the leader in high-precision internal gear processing as a result of the unique Scudding technology that is more advanced than skiving and other methods, GMTA has taken another giant step forward in gear production with the development of Hard Scudding. 

The Scudding process provides excellent results on green or soft gears, while this new Hard Scudding advancement enables the re-machining of hardened gears on the same machine, with a tooth-to-tooth composite error and total composite error in the AGMA 11, DIN 6 range and a surface finish better than 1.5 Ra. This all happens due to the adaptive software used in the machinery.

In other news:

• a new series of operational videos on Arnold lasers in action is now viewable by clicking here.
• The new Mexican office of GMTA, located in Queretaro, is reporting brisk activity,
• owing to the substantial procurement authority in-country now. According to company vice president Scott Knoy, “This contrasts with bygone days when the decision-making and purchasing were largely centered in America and specifically here in Detroit. It’s a whole new ballgame with the Mexican market today, and we believe our new location here in Queretaro is well positioned to serve this dynamic manufacturing environment.” GMTA already has a substantial installed base of machines in Mexico with all their partner companies. At the new facility, machines are in place for demo and test run, plus the facility is fully staffed with application engineering, technical support, after-sale service and parts inventory.
• Sales continue to be brisk on the 9- and 10-speed transmission projects in the automotive market. Scott Knoy, GMTA VP, comments, “We’re seeing a lot of activity here in the States and especially in Mexico, so we know our timing was right with the opening of our new facility there.”
• GMTA attendance at Gear Expo in Detroit was highly productive, with demonstrations of Hard Scudding.
• GMTA now represents Rasoma machining centers that are used primarily in the gear and spline markets, as well as FIMAT, an Italian builder of machining centers. These agreements cover full sales engagement for North America. An agreement has also been signed to represent BvL parts washers exclusively in Mexico. The BvL line now means GMTA can be a single integrating source for machining, part cleaning and laser joining of power transmission products.
• Claudia Hambleton of GMTA recently brought a class of German language students from Saline, Michigan, to Chicago for Christkindlmarket and tours of the Museum of Science & Industry and the new Maggie Daley ice rink.

GMTA represents various top-quality German and other metalworking machine builder companies, including Wera Profilator, Praewema, K + G, Rasoma, FIMAT and BvL, as well as Arnold lasers and other equipment. These machines are sold to the North American market by GMTA, primarily for gear and spline production, as well as other power transmission and various metalworking applications. The company’s target markets include automotive, off-highway, energy and other heavy equipment manufacturing. Machines are provided for gear honing, gear grinding, the patented Scudding and now the game-changing Hard Scudding process for gearmaking, polygon milling, turning, gear tooth pointing and multi-task machining operations, as well as various laser operations or laser line integration.

www.gmtamerica.com