Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Once again, September will see the machine tool and related industries gather at McCormick Place, on the lakefront in my kinda town, Chicago. This is the premier event in the industry, attracting nearly 2000 exhibitors and 100,000 attendees. Be sure you bring your team! Our agency will have three clients exhibiting:
We can assist you media moguls in connecting with our clients. Watch for details coming soon.
A recent trend and a flood of social media postings claim trade shows and trade magazines are no long viable ways to attract new business. This is categorically false and we can prove it. Call me anytime to talk. Our 50 years in industrial marketing, coupled with rigorous studies we’ve conducted with trade associations and trade media, have revealed seven avenues engineers and others use to gather information to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. The runaway winners are consistently trade magazines and trade shows, followed at a distance by social media, influencer podcasts, blasts, blogs and other e-media.
Why?
In a word, validation. The magazine publishers have spent decades identifying and verifying the players in an industry, whether by job function or industry focus. As a result, the messages that will benefit your companies most are put in front of the eyeballs of qualified people in your target market. Likewise, trade shows attract people who are working daily in your world, either running companies and shops, designing products, exploring better ways to manufacture leaner, greener and, in our connected global economy, meaner to stay ahead of the competition. Again, these are provable facts.
As I drive to work every morning, I pass the rapid transit stations along the highway and see 90%+ of the people on their phones. There is no doubt we live in a new chapter of the information age. Our PR can literally appear minutes after it’s drafted and released nowadays. Our ads can (and do) generate quality inquiries instantly, plus they drive those quality eyeballs to your websites. Our podcasts, webinars, lunch ‘n learns and other forms of online engagement between sender and receiver are solid and growing methods of communication.
At several shows I attended recently, the crowds were drawn to the same companies who advertise and promote themselves in the “traditional” (not a bad word, youngsters) ways. In the case of print media, that’s because a company’s ad presence in the publications read in someone’s industry or related to their job function have other forces at work, accomplishing branding, product advantage demonstration, market positioning and the rediscovered function of lead gen. (That’s another column completely, amusing to those of us who grew up in the bingo card generation!)
The most recent study we did asked just one question…
How do you get information to do your job?
The runaway winners were still trade magazines and trade shows, followed by the other methods listed above.
We create ad and PR content, the latter including product PR, people announcements, application notes, white papers and the most successful form of PR by a mile, the success story, where we use the time-tested problem-solution-results formula. We recently did a story on the integration of a robot and machine tool, both controlled by a CNC. The story ran in a dozen publications and generated new business for all the parties involved. Another story featured the use of our client’s portal milling machines in the production of automotive body molds. Same result.
Do come to Chicago and see the future of your shop, production department or system integrator operations. I would be remiss not to mention Chicago is still a major manufacturing hub in North America and beyond. Plus, it’s one dynamic, beautiful city in a garden, as our motto says. “Urbs in Horto” for you fellow Latin scholars! As Dorothy said, there’s no place like home!
See you in September!
Tim Daro
President
Bernard & Company
847-934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
www.bernardandcompany.com
Helping Industry Communicate for 50 Years!
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Zimmermann Machining Solutions, a leading global high-tech supplier of portal milling machines, recently sold an FZP27 portal milling machine to Max Eickworth.
Located in Bremen-Arsten, Germany, the company handles test equipment construction, fixture construction, model making, toolmaking, CAD/CAM and metrology. With a manufacturing range both broad and specialized, Max Eickworth designs, manufactures and tests equipment for the automotive, aerospace, wind energy and shipping industries.
Celebrating 106 years of quality, precision and reliability, the company purchased a CNC 5-axis gantry machine FZP27 to expand their production capabilities. Equipped with a machining center for large volume components in aluminum or ureol, the machine features a robust construction with a top travelling gantry for precise material processing. Its working range is 118.11 – 787.40 inches in the X-axis, 98.43 – 157.48 inches in the Y-axis and59.06 – 78.74 inches in the Z-axis. The spindle power is 24 kW at 18,000 rpm with a Heidenhain TNC7 control. Various 2-axis milling heads are available including the S2, C2, C3 and VH10.
Its sophisticated, well-engineered modular system ensures optimum adaptation to every machining case and workpiece size. Applications range from 1:1 models in automotive design to large aircraft parts and boat hulls, all the way to components for railcar manufacturing. The machine can be used for both prototypes and production parts.
Cornelius Kiesel, president of North America for Zimmermann said, “This is the fourth portal milling machine Max Eickworth has purchased from Zimmermann. A clear sign of trust, quality and proven cooperation.”
About the company
Zimmermann is based in Germany and is a leading global high-tech supplier of portal milling machines. These are characterized by huge workspaces, substantial machining dynamics and cutting performance. The company, founded in 1933 by Friedrich Zimmermann, now has over 200 employees worldwide. With its product range, our innovative company has one goal above all: to offer the right solution for our customers and thus be able to guarantee high economic efficiency. “Quality made in Germany and supported locally” is our motto. The company’s special machines are used worldwide in the automotive, aerospace, moldmaking, transportation, off-highway and mechanical engineering sectors. The company has its North American headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, near Detroit, where it operates a full tech center, offering engineering assistance, commissioning, parts and retrofit services, as well as multiple machines for demonstration purposes. Zimmermann Inc. is headed by President Cornelius Kiesel.
For more information, please contact:
ZIMMERMANN INC.
30587 Century Drive
Wixom, MI 48393
Phone: 248-956-8511
www.zimmermann-inc.com
Ms. Lena Kiesel, Marketing Manager
lena@zimmermann-inc.com
Today, Zimmermann’s high-precision portal milling machines are complex digital systems. Control systems, industrial PCs and internal networks must be secured in such a way that neither malware can impact nor adjacent company networks are endangered. Cyber resilience is fast becoming an integral part of modern machine tools.
What distinguishes machine security from cyber security? The former protects the operator from hazards posed by the system. Safety features prevent mechanical or electrical risks and ensure that people are not harmed. “Cyber security, on the other hand, affects the entire digital network of a machine,” explains Christian Gaarz, Head of Software Development & Commissioning at Zimmermann. “All networked components with IP addresses must be secured in such a way that no unauthorized access from the outside is possible. Such an intervention could change processes, cause production to fail and have serious consequences go unnoticed – such as data loss or falsified production parameters. This is particularly critical for components that will later be used in safety-relevant applications such as commercial and military aviation.”
Christian Gaarz has been employed by Zimmermann for about four years. In his role, he and his team are responsible for everything that brings the company’s portal milling machine systems to life digitally: from drives to sensor technology and software solutions. In this way, he ensures that mechanical components are turned into a functional, process-reliable overall solution with top-of-mind security in place. Zimmermann is based in Germany and operates under Frieder Ganzle, Managing Director, who has fully supported the integration of cyber resilience into the machines designed and built by the company.
Clear regulatory requirements
The regulatory requirements are clearly defined. The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) stipulates how digital products and systems are to be secured. Together with the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 and the NIS 2 Directive, a clear European legal framework is being created. “For us as a mechanical engineering company, this means that cyber resilience is no longer a voluntary additional service, but a regulatory obligation,” reports Gaarz. “We must meet this binding framework for compliance as early as 2027.”
The requirements already take effect in the development phase of the machines and have a direct impact on design, software architecture and documentation, the company’s key concept being “security by design”. This means machine safety aspects are not added retrospectively, they are an integral part of machine development from the very beginning.
Zimmermann systematically prepares for these requirements. The company is represented among various industry specialist working groups and collaborates closely with control manufacturers such as Heidenhain and Siemens, as well as external specialists. Gaarz notes, “Especially for a medium-sized mechanical engineering company such as Zimmermann, it is crucial to bundle regulatory know-how to develop practical solutions. At the same time, we are adapting internal processes and training our staff in a very targeted manner.”
Structured implementation
A look at the development process shows how Zimmermann implements these requirements in a highly practical way. First, the company analyzes which requirements are relevant for the respective machine configuration. Based on this, network architectures are reviewed, segmented and supplemented by suitable security mechanisms. Industrial PCs as well as the main CNC on the machine are secured, software vulnerabilities are assessed with clearly defined processes for updates and documentation. “We want to minimize digital attack surfaces without impairing the dynamics or precision of the machines,” explains Gaarz.
In special machine construction, complexity remains high. Although each system is based on an existing Zimmermann series, it differs in detail such as milling head, peripherals, automation or other specific motion and material handling equipment. This means that each system is also configured individually. The electrical plan and the respective equipment are used to create a separate topology with several channels, axes, drives and safety functions. Each axis requires precise parameterization. Mechanical differences have a direct effect on the control behavior. Cyber security must therefore be integrated into existing structures and must not limit the performance of the machine.
Virtual parallel world
While cyber resilience strengthens security, Zimmermann also wants to further leverage efficiency potential. To this end, the machine manufacturer plans to use digital twins: The virtual environment allows collision checks, parameterizations and software adjustments to be carried out at an early stage. The time for commissioning on the factory floor is reduced, as some of the tests are carried out digitally, in advance. Risks are minimized and processes stabilized. This results in very concrete advantages for the customer. In addition, operators can be trained in advance. In the event of service requirements, fault status can be reproduced in the digital model, so that causes can be identified more quickly. The digital twin supports both machine productivity and process reliability.
AI as a digital assistant
Artificial intelligence (AI) complements this development. Zimmermann is building an internal knowledge database that will be evaluated with the help of AI. “In pilot projects with control manufacturers, we are investigating how AI can support us in programming or analyzing error messages more quickly,” says Gaarz. “In the future, recurring tasks can be accelerated and proposed solutions generated.” The technical responsibility remains with the engineer. Zimmermann understands AI is an assistance system whose results must be checked and validated. Transparency and traceability are crucial. AI could also be used to create a digital twin more quickly. This also makes it possible to implement the structural development process of a machine more efficiently.
The guiding principle “Beyond Precision” describes this claim comprehensively, as Zimmermann shows how traditional precision is redefined in a networked industry – as an interplay of mechanics, intelligence and digital responsibility. For North American President of Zimmermann, Cornelius Kiesel, “This development is an expression of technical responsibility.”
When components are manufactured that will later be used in highly sensitive applications, this concept underlines the importance of holistically conceived precision. With the consistent integration of cyber resilience, simulation and AI, the machine manufacturer is strengthening its role as a technology partner for high-precision, large-scale machining and creating the basis for long-term investment security in an increasingly networked industry.
“We see precision not only as a mechanical quality feature, but also as a holistic claim that combines cyber safety, digitalization and engineering expertise,” Kiesel sums up.
About the company
Zimmermann is based in Germany and is a leading global high-tech supplier of portal milling machines. These are characterized by huge workspaces, substantial machining dynamics and cutting performance. The company, founded in 1933 by Friedrich Zimmermann, now has over 200 employees worldwide. With its product range, our innovative company has one goal above all: to offer the right solution for our customers and thus be able to guarantee high economic efficiency. “Quality made in Germany and supported locally” is our motto. The company’s special machines are used worldwide in the automotive, aerospace, moldmaking, transportation, off-highway and mechanical engineering sectors. The company has its North American headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, near Detroit, where it operates a full tech center, offering engineering assistance, commissioning, parts and retrofit services, as well as multiple machines for demonstration purposes. Zimmermann Inc. is headed by President Cornelius Kiesel.
For more information, please contact:
ZIMMERMANN INC.
30587 Century Drive
Wixom, MI 48393
Phone: 248-956-8511
www.zimmermann-inc.com
Ms. Lena Kiesel, Marketing Manager
lena@zimmermann-inc.com
The Platinum Tooling team recently traveled to Europe to meet with several partners. Their first meeting with Heimatec took place at an offsite conference center located in Appenweier, Germany. Preben was joined by his U.S. and Canadian sales representatives for technical and sales training. The following day, PT traveled to Renchen to visit Heimatec’s offices and do a plant tour in the morning. Upon returning to Appenweier in the afternoon, they met with Henninger management Dominik Kerres and Benjamin Tschampel (pictured) who shared information about speeders and custom solutions for machining centers.
After a productive day, the Platinum Tooling and Heimatec teams enjoyed a traditional meal at Vollmer’s Mühle, a restaurant/mill in the Black Forest over 250 years old.
Platinum Tooling’s trip in Germany continued with a visit to Hommel & Keller in Aldingen with a deep dive into the world of precision knurling and marking technology.
The weeklong trip ended at REV in Northern Italy. There, Platinum Tooling improved their knowledge of precision broaching tools.
Check out these memorable moments from the trip!
About the company
Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. in Prospect Heights, IL, near Chicago, serves its growing North American customer base with an extensive inventory of machine tool accessories. Its experienced staff provides the most innovative tooling and technology. Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. serves the auto, aero, medical, firearms, composites and other industries, as well as an ever-increasing number of machine tool OEMs, through its network of manufacturers’ representatives. Platinum Tooling is the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools and angle heads, Henninger speeders for milling, Tecnicrafts Swiss-type collets and guide bushings, Hommel + Keller QUICK knurling and marking tools and REV broaching tools in North America, as well as other lines of machine tool accessories such as shrink fit tooling and custom request tooling for application-specific customer needs.
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By Glen Guillemette, President of Guill Tool & Engineering Co., Inc., West Warwick, RI
Extrusion can be an inherently expensive activity and it is important to perform tool maintenance to minimize costs as much as possible. Extrusion processors need to be aware of the following factors in their attempts to be profitable:
■ Materials often cost more than labor.
■ Running a product oversize to hold the minimum tolerance can waste valuable material.
■ Downtime due to poor or damaged tooling is costly.
■ It is expensive to keep an extruder running if it is producing scrap.
Appropriate tool maintenance addresses all the above issues. New tips and dies are machined to a determined specification, ensuring concentricity and alignment. It is important to remember that minor misalignment of the tools may result in major problems in the final product.
Another adverse effect of unnecessary die adjustment is the stress introduced to the extrude caused by unbalanced flow. The net effect is the final product retains memory of this imbalance and unpredictable die swell occurs.
Dirty, neglected and improperly adjusted tools contribute to excessive material use. In turn, this complicates the die’s ability to maintain a minimum thickness tolerance. The excess material results in unnecessary costs that directly affect the profitability of the company and may in turn harm a valuable relationship with your customers.
Maintenance and cleaning of tooling is necessary and, when you are fully prepared for it, relatively easy. This is an important, controllable function that ensures a quality extruded product – one that meets dimensional specifications, maintains the specified minimum tolerance and delivers an economically produced end product.
Preparing For Proper Maintenance
Use a dedicated work cart exclusively reserved and equipped for extruder head maintenance. This cart should have a supply of spare components and hardware. Create a clean, organized work area with soft and clean renewable work surfaces. The work cart should include:
■ A vise with jaws of a soft metal, such as copper.
■ Special equipment, such as tip-removal tools.
■ Standard tools such as wrenches and soft-faced hammers.
■ A supply of soft, clean rags.
■ Spray bottles of cleaning solutions.
■ Spare parts suggested by your tooling supplier, properly organized and stored. The operator’s manual contains a list of these.
■ The repair and maintenance manual, provided with your equipment.
■ A small surface plate for a true, flat surface.
Cleaning Your Equipment While It Is Still Hot
In a die, the core tube goes to the back of the head and is adjustable. It is drawn in and out to adjust the gum space when the material is drawn out of the head. A careful cleaning is critical to ensure a smoother flow transition of the material.
Select tools and materials for cleaning:
• Brass pliers to grip material and aid in pulling.
• Brass scrapers, available in different widths for cleaning flat exposed surfaces.
• Brass bristle tube brushes, available in diameters from 1/16” to 1”, in 1/16” increments, ideal for cleaning holes and recesses.
• Brass rods – different diameter rods are good for pushing material out of flow holes.
• Copper gauze for cleaning and polishing exposed round or conical surfaces.
• Copper knives for removing residue from recesses and other hand-to-reach areas.
• Polishing compound to restore polished surfaces.
• Compressed air, which is more effective for releasing plastic but also aids in rubber removal. Be careful not to force debris into recesses with compressed air.
• Cleaning solutions may be useful – remember to use fresh, clean rags, as used rags often have metal chips embedded in them, which may scratch polished surfaces.
Make sure you have all the proper lifting aids available, including overhead hoists and hydraulic lifts. In most situations, the head and tooling are still at high temperatures. Therefore, properly lined gloves are needed when handling. Get help for moving heavy parts in awkward situations. Surfaces and edges are hard and therefore somewhat brittle, so dropping a part or striking parts together can result in damage.
Store you tools properly in a dry, clean area. A dedicated spot for each tool is best. These areas should have soft surfaces and each instrument should be covered after cleaning. Tools should be segregated so that they do not come in contact with each other. Clean all instruments thoroughly before storage.
For disassembly of tooling, it is imperative to use purpose-built tools to facilitate disassembly. These should be available from your tooling supplier but if they are not, consult with a reputable tooling house for replacement.
Check Your Operator’s Manual
Follow the guidelines outlined in your operator’s manual. Individual tools may have specific recommendations, so contact your supplier if anything is unclear. They understand that optimum performance relies upon proper care and maintenance, so they’ll be happy to help. Here are some useful tips:
• Clean your equipment while it is still hot, since residue will be easier to remove. It helps to remove and clean one piece of tooling at a time, to maintain elevated temperatures.
• When cleaning dual-compound crossheads, such as plastic and rubber, always clean the plastic tooling first and the rubber tooling second.
• Never use steel tools such as scrapers or screwdrivers. These can scratch and mar the tooling.
• Do not use open flames. This generates excessive heat, especially in thin sections, which can affect hardness, concentricity and tolerances of components.
• Cleaning oven – use for plastic only, not rubber. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation. If no temperatures are specified, do not exceed 850°F and do not quench the tooling to cool, because this could affect the hardness, concentricity and tolerances of the tool parts.
• Cleaning materials – several compounds are available to purge the extruder screw and barrel of residual polymer. This helps considerably in the final cleanup.
Die components, especially those with sealing and locating surfaces, are a key to the performance and successful end products. These surfaces received the most care and attention during manufacturing and are the control surfaces that ensure uniformity throughout. Precision-machined alignments are affected by even a speck of dirt measuring only a couple thousandths of an inch. A human hair is about three thousandths of an inch in diameter and, since there are many such surfaces in a high-quality tool, cleanliness is critical.
It is important to check tools for deformities. Burrs, scratches, and scrapes are usually a result of careless handling and/or storage of equipment.
When compared to single-layer heads, all multi-layer extrusion heads pose an even greater challenge for maintenance. The number of sealing and centering surfaces multiplies and can magnify the result of dirty tools.
During changeovers, the head may be disassembled to change compounds and/or tips and dies.
Foreign matter is usually introduced at this time and residual materials must be thoroughly removed.
Physical tool damage often occurs during this phase due to mishandling and poor storage techniques. These are highly precise parts but can also be heavy and bulky to remove by hand.
Make Repairs As Needed
Examine all surfaces for any irregularities such as burrs and scratches, since these must be repaired before the head is reassembled. Most manufacturers recommend using a hand polishing stone to remove the burrs present. Follow stoning with a application of a 600-grit emery cloth if necessary, but avoid rounding edges that are intended to be sharp.
Flat sealing surfaces can be cleaned using a stone, followed by a 600-grit emery cloth. Place the cloth on a clean, flat surface, preferably a surface plate, then apply friction in a circular hand motion until the area is clean and even. The parts in question should all be hardened steel alloys and will not be adversely affected using these methods. Inconel, Monel and Hastelloy are typically not heat-treated, requiring special care and handling to avoid any damage.
Putting It All Back Together
Working from your dedicated tool cart, follow the die manufacturer’s instructions for reassembly. Give each component a final wipe down with a clean rag before installing. Even the smallest amount of grit, dirt and residual material must be removed.
Use either mechanical or manual assistance for heavy and awkward components to avoid unnecessary mishaps. Reapply anti-seize compound to all fasteners, if required.
Tighten fasteners to the manufacturer’s recommended specification, as well as in the recommended sequence. This fastening sequence should be specified in the manual and is generally in a star pattern, tightening gradually until the proper torque is achieved. This prevents distortion of the tooling.
One of a die manufacturer’s main goals is to form a concentric cone of compound as quickly and accurately as possible in the primary section of the die, when the extrudate first emerges from the die’s distribution capillaries.
A properly designed and manufactured die has even distribution close to the extrudate entrance point, but this effort is negated once the die is adjusted, shifting the extrudate off to one side. An eccentric cone is formed in the primary area and a concentric cone exits at a point in the process, rather than a smooth, continuous flow path with decreasing volume. A properly manufactured and aligned extruded head, along with well-maintained tooling, should require little or no adjustment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Guill Tool & Engineering Co., Inc.
10 Pike Street
West Warwick RI, 02893, USA
Tel: 401-828-7600
Email: sales@guill.com
www.Guill.com
About the company
Guill is a leading Extrusion Tooling Designer & Manufacturer, with over 65 years of experience. Our engineers specialize in polymer extrusion tooling design, utilizing the most advanced technology available. We draw on our years of experience to tailor tooling and die design for your industry, helping you increase efficiency and decrease production cost when operating your extruders. From extruding PVC pipe and wire & cable jacketing to complex profile co-extrusions for multi-layer and multi-lumen medical tubing, we are committed to helping customers produce the best end products possible. Guill designs, engineers, machines, tests and delivers our equipment worldwide to the extrusion market. The company also runs a full rheology and test extrusion lab.
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Platinum Tooling, the importer and master distributor of live tools, angle heads, Swiss machine products, knurling tools and marking tools manufactured by various international suppliers has partnered with a new sales representative firm. Located in Murrieta, California, Technical Tool & Gage, Inc. has over 100 years of combined experience offering tooling from multiple manufacturers. The firm will sell Platinum Tooling products in Arizona, Southern California, Colorado and New Mexico.
In business for 40+ years, Technical Tool & Gage, Inc. serves aerospace, defense, space, semiconductor, EV and automotive industries. Its Owner/President Troy Morace, has served the company’s principles for over twenty years, maintaining strong end user and distributor relationships across industries and serving as the New Mexico representative. The sales team includes Chris Ochoa (Southern California), Oscar Cordero (Southern California) and Randall Martin (Arizona and Colorado).
Chris Ochoa is a Technical Applications Specialist supporting manufactures in the counties of Northen LA, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo. He works closely with CNC machine shops and aerospace manufacturers to identify opportunities for cost savings, cycle time reduction, and process improvement. Additionally, Ochoa helps customers evaluate their current machining processes and implement practical solutions that increase productivity, improve tool life and drive measurable results on the shop floor.
Oscar Cordero has worked for over five years at Technical Tool & Gage, Inc. as a Technical Applications Specialist, covering South LA, South Bay, Orange counties and Riverside County. He has 40+ years of machining experience as a CNC machinist of which twenty-five years were spent as a Mill and Lathe Programmer, Shift Lead and Shop Manager in high and low production machining and prototyping of parts in aerospace, medical, automotive device machining environments.
Arizona native, Randall Martin, provides local support to manufacturers and suppliers in the Phoenix metro area as well as all of Arizona and Colorado. Martin provides valuable insight into cost savings and process improvement by drawing from his previous experience in aerospace manufacturing, lean manufacturing, automation, and machine tooling.
Regarding his decision to work with Platinum Tooling, Morace said he was eager to work with Rob Aldama, the Platinum Tooling West Coast Regional Sales Manager. “When he introduced me to Preben it was a slam dunk. Not only does Platinum Tooling have the best live tooling on the market, but the complete product offering is also awesome. The customer support team and response time is fantastic.”
For further information, please contact:
Preben Hansen, President
PLATINUM TOOLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
16 E. Piper Lane
Suite 128
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
Phone: 847-749-0633
Fax: 847-749-2445
Email: phansen@platinumtooling.com
About the company
Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. in Prospect Heights, IL, near Chicago, serves its growing North American customer base with an extensive inventory of machine tool accessories. Its experienced staff provides the most innovative tooling and technology. Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. serves the auto, aero, medical, firearms, composites and other industries, as well as an ever-increasing number of machine tool OEMs, through its network of manufacturers’ representatives. Platinum Tooling is the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools and angle heads, Henninger speeders for milling, Tecnicrafts Swiss-type collets and guide bushings, Hommel + Keller QUICK knurling and marking tools and REV broaching tools in North America, as well as other lines of machine tool accessories such as shrink fit tooling and custom request tooling for application-specific customer needs.
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Total Solutions from Platinum Tooling, All on Display at IMTS 2026
At IMTS 2026, Booth 432201, Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc., the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools and angle heads, will display a variety of complementary products designed to enhance the capabilities of Swiss CNC lathes, including such popular brands as Citizen, Star and Tsugami. In addition to the live tooling and angle heads, Platinum will display speed multipliers in gear ratios of 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 with max speeds to 48,000 rpm to significantly boost production in the busy shop. Live and static tools and speeders for Swiss machines are in stock at Platinum Tooling in Chicago and many supply chain outlets to serve the North American machine tool market.
Swiss-type tooling from Platinum is manufactured with high spindle bearing technology and ground gear components. Tooling includes straight and 90º heads, woodruff key cutters, thread whirling tools, multiple spindle heads and adapters.
With the growth of medical and other high-precision, high-volume manufacturing with the use of Swiss-style machines, speed increasers have become vital to this segment of the machine tool industry. As components get smaller, the cutting tools required also get smaller, necessitating higher rpm to provide maximum performance. Heimatec speeders for Citizen, Tsugami and Star machines are in stock at Platinum Tooling. These speeders are known for the stability and the enhancement of precision cutting tool performance.
In addition, the company offers Hommel + Keller QUICK® knurling and marking tools. Cut and form knurling tools are used for applications such as barbells, hand tools and dental instruments. Marking tools assist with part identification and traceability, critical in many industries today. Part numbers, logos and other production data can be marked reliably in less time than laser marking.
Components such as collets and guide bushings are also available for numerous Swiss machine brands and various material processing, under the Tecnicrafts and Dunner brand names, also carried in stock by Platinum Tooling.
Videos are provided on the company website. www.platinumtooling.com
About the company
Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. in Prospect Heights, IL, near Chicago, serves its growing North American customer base with an extensive inventory of machine tool accessories. Its experienced staff provides the most innovative tooling and technology. Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. serves the auto, aero, medical, firearms, composites and other industries, as well as an ever-increasing number of machine tool OEMs, through its network of manufacturers’ representatives. Platinum Tooling is the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools and angle heads, Henninger speeders for milling, Tecnicrafts Swiss-type collets and guide bushings, Hommel + Keller QUICK knurling and marking tools and REV broaching tools in North America, as well as other lines of machine tool accessories such as shrink fit tooling and custom request tooling for application-specific customer needs.
To learn more about these Swiss machine tool accessories, please contact:
Preben Hansen, President
PLATINUM TOOLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
16 E. Piper Lane
Suite 128
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
Phone: 847-749-0633
www.platinumtooling.com
info@platinumtooling.com
Zimmermann, a leading global high-tech supplier of portal milling machines, will feature a 5-axis portal milling machine for lighter weight machining applications aimed at large structures at its booth. IMTS will be held September 14-19, 2026, in Chicago.
With FZU22, Zimmermann adds a machine that’s capable of machining various workpiece shapes, sizes, and materials. Aluminum, plastic, wood and other substrates can be processed, as well as finishing carbon fiber reinforced and other composite materials. The overhead gantry provides precise production of models and molded parts. A standard machine includes a toolchanger for 24 tools and a CNC from Siemens or Heidenhain for full motion control and tracking, while a specially developed 5-axis milling head with a 15kW spindle can mill complex contours and tight pockets in large molds.
The FZU22 boasts a substantial working range, from 71″ to 98″ in the X-axis, 118″ to 138″ in the Y-axis, and 49″ in the Z-axis. A feed rate of 2,756ipm in the X- and Y-axes is standard while the acceleration on the machine is max. 118 in/sec2 to 197in/sec2. With a compact footprint of 11ft x 15ft, the machine fits in any small space available in a shop with minimal foundation requirements. ISO 230-2 accuracy is provided. A choice of milling heads is offered on the machine to suit a variety of applications.
Optional equipment includes touch probe, tool measuring system, work area cover, tool changer, chip conveyor, mist/dust extraction system, minimum quantity lubrication and a vacuum system.
The machine to be displayed at IMTS also features an ultrasonic system for cutting aerospace insulation.
Visit Zimmermann at IMTS 2026 in the South building, Level 3, booth 339336.
About the company
Zimmermann is based in Germany and is a leading global high-tech supplier of portal milling machines. These are characterized by huge workspaces, substantial machining dynamics and cutting performance. The company, founded in 1933 by Friedrich Zimmermann, now has over 200 employees worldwide. With its product range, our innovative company has one goal above all: to offer the right solution for our customers and thus be able to guarantee high economic efficiency. “Quality made in Germany and supported locally” is our motto. The company’s special machines are used worldwide in the automotive, aerospace, moldmaking, transportation, off-highway and mechanical engineering sectors. The company has its North American headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, near Detroit, where it operates a full tech center, offering engineering assistance, commissioning, parts and retrofit services, as well as multiple machines for demonstration purposes. Zimmermann Inc. is headed by President Cornelius Kiesel.
For more information, please contact:
ZIMMERMANN INC.
30587 Century Drive
Wixom, MI 48393
Phone: 248-956-8511
www.zimmermann-inc.com
Ms. Lena Kiesel, Marketing Manager
lena@zimmermann-inc.com
Guill Tool, a global leader in extrusion tooling, is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Ovren as the company’s sales manager. The announcement was made by Chuck Paull, Chief Marketing Officer, at the company’s West Warwick, Rhode Island headquarters.
Ovren obtained an M.B.A from the University of Miami Florida and his B.S. in Industrial Technology and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polythetic.
Prior to Guill, Ovren was a Senior Business Consultant at GES/GRB Consulting and General Manager at ATW Companies. The former organization provides strategic partnership through team extension to the Submarine Industrial Base, while the latter is a supplier of precision tubing and fabricated metal components for the medical, aerospace, telecommunications, industrial and defense sectors.
On March 23, 2026, Ovren became the company’s Sales Manger for the Extrusion Division. His responsibilities include sales, marketing and customer service.
In addition to spending time with his family, Ovren enjoys business, technology and music. His hobbies include sailing, boating, travelling and sports.
Commenting on this new hire, Paull said, “We’re thrilled to have Stephen on our team. His previous experiences in tubing as well as work in the submarine industry are an asset.”
For more information, please contact:
Chuck Paull, Chief Marketing Officer
Guill Tool & Engineering
10 Pike Street
West Warwick, RI 02893
USA
Phone: 401- 589-6883
cpaull@guill.com
With more than 60 years of experience, Guill is a recognized leader in the design and manufacture of extrusion technology for numerous applications including medical tube, multi-lumen and multi-layer, profile products and fiber optics. Also included in our suite of products is extrusion tooling for automotive hose & tube, industrial hose & tube, pipe, blow molding, food, pelletizing, rubber & silicone, wire & cable and wood composite.
Our engineers specialize in custom extrusion tooling design, utilizing the most advanced technology available. We draw on our years of experience to tailor tooling and die design for your industry, helping you increase efficiency and decrease production cost when operating your extruders. Guill designs, engineers, machines and delivers our equipment worldwide to the extrusion market. Based proudly in Rhode Island (USA), we also maintain a European sales office to better serve our partners in the EU.
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International Technologies, Inc., a distributor of technologically advanced metal fabricating machinery, now offers the NK23 MySpot resistance spot welder from Koyo Giken. Designed to overcome the limitations of traditional resistance welding systems, the MySpot delivers superior weld quality without time-consuming setups and surface marring that often requires extensive post-weld finishing.
The MySpot is ideally suited for applications including switchboard panels, NEMA enclosures, steel furniture, tool chests, food display cases, vending machines, signboards, compressor housings and automotive components such as car doors.
The NK23 series features a newly redesigned horizontal welding gun that enables access to deep boxes and narrow channels that were previously difficult—or impossible—to weld. Dual-arm models include a vertical gun optimized for stud and nut welding as well as tall, deep and narrow weld points. The copper tables are equipped with a new lifting function that simplifies the use of jig electrodes that conform precisely to the shape of the workpiece.
Ergonomics and ease of operation are central to the NK23’s design. The load required to move the welding arm has been reduced by up to 53%, while the effort needed to insert the H-gun has been reduced by up to 91%, significantly reducing operator fatigue and improving productivity.
The ergonomic “floating” welding guns allow operators to effortlessly position the welding tip at the desired weld location. The intuitive design makes the machine easy to learn and virtually eliminates the need for complex fixturing and setup, further increasing throughput.
MySpot’s unsurpassed weld quality is enhanced through high-speed welding technology, which delivers a 0.001-second burst of current to minimize heat and burning. This process produces welds with nearly invisible marks, dramatically reducing marring and indentation for a clean, high-quality finish. High-speed technology is available on all MySpot models and is offered standard on the NK23 series, along with 3.8 kN high-pressure welding power.
The MySpot CNC automatically sets welding parameters based on material type and thickness. The new NK23 EZK touch panel adds advanced features such as barcode scanning for offline part design, weld sequence optimization and production management. A graphical display of optimal weld locations helps reduce operator error, while weld history storage supports maintenance, inspections and traceability across customer applications.
Watch this video for more details on the EZK touch panel: https://international-technologies.com/new-myspot-welder-ezk-control/
Watch this video for more details on the Spot Welder:
See all the videos on the lines offered by International Technologies here:
https://international-technologies.com/category/product-videos/page/2
For more information, please contact:
Al Gildemeister, President
International Technologies, Inc.
400 Frontier Way, Suite A
Bensenville, Illinois 60106
Phone: 847-301-9005
Email: agildemeister@international-technologies.com
Web: www.international-technologies.com
or
Bob Prokop, Vice President of Operations & Marketing
International Technologies, Inc.
400 Frontier Way Suite A
Bensenville, Illinois 60106
Phone: 847-301-9005
Email: bprokop@international-technologies.com
Web: www.international-technologies.com
International Technologies, Inc. in Bensenville, IL, near Chicago, is a North American distributor of technologically advanced metal fabricating machinery. The company provides customers with a high-quality, broad line of production machines including busbar processing equipment, corner forming machines, electric and hydraulic press brakes, folding machines, hardware inserting machines, spot welding machines, spinning and flow forming machines, multiple axis flat sheet and tube cutting fiber lasers as well as pre-owned machinery.
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