Latest Press

EMAG Announces Collaboration with Local College for Training

Leading supplier of machine tools partners with Oakland Community College; $200,000 agreement from Michigan New Jobs Training program to create 21 new jobs

Farmington Hills, Michigan – EMAG L.L.C. announces its receipt of a five-year, $200,000 agreement with Oakland Community College (OCC), through the Michigan New Jobs Training (MNJT) program, for the training of 21 new employees in manufacturing technology, CNC machine tools, mechanical maintenance, electrical and robotics disciplines.

Peter Loetzner, EMAG CEO, accepted the award from Dr. Timothy Meyer, chancellor of Oakland Community College, and J. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive, during the Oakland County Economic Outlook Luncheon, held at the Troy Marriott on April 26, 2012.

Beginning the speeches at the event, OCC Chancellor, Dr. Timothy Meyer noted the critical importance of education and training in the creation and retention of manufacturing jobs in Southeastern Michigan, an area hard hit by the recent economic downturn in the auto industry and other manufacturing sectors of the economy.  He then introduced Oakland County Executive J. Brooks Patterson, who continued this theme, citing the recent creation of 36,000 new jobs in Oakland County as well as other awards made to companies who’ve chosen to locate in the area.

Introducing Peter Loetzner, Meyer then detailed the collaboration between OCC and EMAG, noting how the study of mechatronics would raise the skill level of both engineers and the plant workforce to higher levels of technical competence and multi-functional abilities.

During his remarks, Loetzner recounted his own experience as a student in this now rapidly growing field of mechatronics, where mechanical engineering melds with electrical and electronic engineering to help students better understand the inter-relationship of components on a machine.   Mechatronic engineers and field technicians are now highly valued individuals in many industries, Loetzner noted.  He added that EMAG will have at least 20 openings in engineering throughout the next few years at his company, the result of increased sales and the EMAG commitment to serving the North American market from its expanding headquarters in the Detroit area.  He further commented how such programs have the dual advantages of growing the manufacturing base in the area, as well as raising the skill level of the employees, which in turn attracts more businesses to Oakland County.

EMAG has engaged in training for its employees as well as its customers’ programming, operator and maintenance personnel throughout the company’s history, both in Germany and in America.  The company sells its machines to job shops and original equipment manufacturers’ metalworking departments worldwide, with a heavy concentration in the automotive and off-highway machinery markets.

Loetzner thanked the OCC and Oakland County personnel who helped develop this program, especially Meyer, Patterson and Sharon Miller, the vice chancellor of external affairs at OCC.  He concluded his remarks on a humorous note, “As we say in mechatronics, keep thinking INSIDE the box.”

Sharon Miller next spoke at the event, citing the creation of five new jobs programs in the last year, awarded to companies ranging from the start-up mode such as Oxus, a portable oxygen equipment distributor for the medical industry, to the multi-national truck parts supplier Meritor, who added 63 employees in Troy, Michigan as a result of the MNJT program.

Dr. Meyer concluded the speaking with several observations on the nature of education.  He cited the need for institutions to be more proactive in redesigning their curriculum to better suit the needs of the local manufacturing base, plus the need to partner with more companies in the area, as well as community organizations.  “After all,” he concluded, “community is our middle name!”

EMAG equipment covers the entire spectrum of machining processes in the metalworking industry, offering the latest technological advances in turning, drilling, milling, grinding, gear cutting, electrochemical machining and laser welding for the automotive, oil field, power generation and earth moving equipment industries.  EMAG is a trendsetter in the field of vertical turning centers, multi-spindle machining centers and multi-functional production machines, and has become an important partner in the realization of complete process streams in the manufacture of automotive transmission, engine and chassis components.

Oakland Community College is the largest community college in Michigan, and the 21^st largest in the nation.  With five campuses throughout Oakland County, OCC offers degrees and certificates in more than 160 fields including university transfer degrees in business, science and the liberal arts, as well as workforce training and certificate programs.  Approximately 750,000 students have enrolled at the college since it opened in 1965.

OCC also announced an award to Denso, one of the world’s largest suppliers of automotive components, totaling $2.6 million to support the creation of 169 jobs in e-learning, project management, leadership, quality and engineering at the company’s Southfield, Michigan facility.

For more information:

Kristal Kilgore
EMAG LLC
38800 Grand River Avenue
Farmington Hills, MI 48335
Tel: (248) 875-0313
Fax: (248) 477-7784
E-mail: kkilgore@emag.com
Web: www.emag.com

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MAE Straightening and Wheelset Presses on Display at AISTech 2012

Major German supplier joins with new master distributor for North America; variety of presses to be marketed to iron & steel industry sectors

Ann Arbor, Michigan – During the upcoming AISTech show, May 7-10 in Atlanta, MAE Maschinen-und Apparatebau Götzen GmbH (Erkrath, Germany) will display its various press technologies for the iron and steel industry and related business sectors in Booth 1536.  MAE recently announced its formation of a partnership with American Wera here for representation throughout North America.

Built on three pillars:  The MAE product portfolio

In the last decades, MAE has developed increasingly from a manufacturer of standard hydraulic presses to specialists for select niche markets.  The company has established a leading market position with innovative products in the fields of straightening machines, hydraulic presses and assembly machines, serving metals producers, rail, heavy equipment, energy and marine markets.

Straightening– MAE has the broadest portfolio of manual and automatically controlled straightening machines for handling round, profiled and complexly shaped workpieces available worldwide. Press forces from 15 to 25,000 kN make it possible to straighten workpieces with lengths from 40 mm to 30 m and weights from 5 g to 20 tons. Straightening accuracy to 0.01  mm is possible. In addition to the conventional bending-straightening method, MAE also offers peening-straightening for through-hardened workpieces and torsion-straightening for twisted section bars. The MAE straightening controller for the manual straightening presses in the S-RH and P-H RH Series guarantees precise and repeatable metalworking and does not necessitate specially trained operators. Measurement and straightening in one setting ensures optimal cycle times. The M-AH, ASV and ASRU Series enable automatic straightening of small, large and complex shaped workpieces. The software of the RICOS straightening controller is the result of decades of experience with various applications. Innovative MAE design ideas are further making the straightening process increasingly more powerful and faster. Various interlinking concepts allow continuous operation with low manpower requirements.

Hydraulic presses – The broad range of hydraulic standard presses in the S and DS Series with C- and O-frames as well as the four-column presses in the VS Series are based on a modular system. By recombining and adapting the individual modules, MAE finds an inexpensive, individually optimized solution with press forces up to 25,000 kN for customer needs. Hydraulic presses are exposed to considerable stresses in daily use. With 60 years of experience, MAE has a reputation for sturdy dimensioning on all components. Comprehensive calculation software in design, including the finite-element method, is a  further guarantee of exceptionally strong machine construction.

Assembly – Whether you want to assemble gear parts, rotor shafts or wheelsets, MAE offers many suitable solutions. The MAE machine Series S and M-S with hydraulic or mechanical servo drive are robust machines tailored to customer application. The OPUS controller with flexible software that can be modified to fulfill customer-specific requirements guarantees control and documentation of the entire assembly process. Our horizontally acting wheelset presses in the RADS Series with forces up to 8,000 kN are the industry choice for mounting and dismounting wheelsets from railway vehicles. They stand out primarily for their innovative underlying concept, rational interlinking systems and extensive control functions.

Service – An innovative and high-quality machine is only the basis for high customer satisfaction. Equally important for continuous duty with high availability are quick-response service from experienced technicians and spare parts available immediately from stock. North American installation and service is provided by American Wera service technicians in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Queretaro, Mexico.  Additionally, with our optimally staffed service centers at our headquarters in Erkrath, Germany and Beijing, China, we are able to respond quickly worldwide. Telephone support and remote diagnostics onboard the machines usually allow MAE to correct minor problems without complication or onsite service.  In partnership with American Wera, our North American master distributor, MAE seeks to continue as a powerful force in the industry.

During AISTech, the following individuals will be present to assist visitors:

Robert Singer, MAE Sales Manager for North America

Joseph Kemple, MAE Product Manager for North American distributor American Wera

For more information, please contact:

GMTA (German Machine Tools of America) Formerly AMERICAN WERA, Inc.

4630 Freedom Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone:  734-973-7800
Fax:  734-973-3053
Web:  www.gmtamerica.com
Email:  joseph@american-wera.com
Attention: Joseph Kemple, MAE Product Manager
Facebook: GMTA
Twitter: @GMTA_US

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Siemens Helps Detroit-Based Diesel Engine Manufacturer Reduce Energy Costs and Slash CO2 Emissions

Summary

A Detroit-based manufacturer of workhorse diesel engines for trucks that run millions of miles tests the durability and performance of each engine with dynamometers. This testing burns more than two million gallons of fuel each year and generates tremendous amounts of heat that is released through cooling towers in the roof. In a pilot project using Siemens Sinamics^® variable frequency AC drives to control two dynamometers, the company is capturing the wasted heat energy and returning it to the factory grid, saving about $150,000 a year in utility costs. Once deployed across all 30 test stands, this solution could save $2.2 million and reduce CO₂ emissions by 15 metric tons each year, making the operation more sustainable, more compliant and more profitable.

The Challenge

Burning more than two million gallons of diesel fuel a year should do more than simply heat the skies above Detroit, Michigan.

For years, though, that was all one leading manufacturer of diesel engines was getting from the heat produced during virtually non-stop operation of a diesel engine testing facility the size of a major league stadium. Then the company had a brilliant idea: Why not capture the energy generated by its testing and put it back into its own grid to lower its utility costs?

As part of one of the largest truck manufacturing companies in the world, the engine maker produces diesel engines for trucks, heavy equipment and other applications requiring lots of horsepower over long time periods. Its truck engines are the 600 horsepower workhorse engines that power big semi-trailer truckson the nation’s highways. They are designed to run millions of miles and non-stop testing helps ensure they can go the distance.

To test the durability and performance of these engines, its engineers use test stands in a huge, ventilated facility adjacent to its manufacturing plant. A test stand consists of a diesel engine coupled to a dynamometer that applies a load to the engine that is equivalent to pulling a 40-foot, fully loaded trailer weighing 20 tons or more.

Although there are different types of dynamometers, this diesel engine producer uses one with an eddy-current clutch, which puts an electrical flux around the rotor of a motor providing resistance to the engine. The test beds are cooled via a water-to-air cooling system that circulates cool water through the hot machinery. The rotational force generated by the engine is used to pump the heated water up to the cooling towers on the roof where it the cool Detroit air absorbs the heat. After the cooling towers, the water is ready to be used to cool the system again.

According to thefacilities manager in charge of the testing labs, the 30 test stands run constantly except when a new motor is being connected for testing. The lab’s testing procedures consume about 2.5 million gallons of fuel each year — the equivalent to what about 4,000 cars would burn a year.

In 2008, and the testing labs’ facilities manager and environmental engineering manager began discussing the possibility of recovering the energy produced by the engines and feeding it back into the facility’s own grid. They thought the electricity generated internally could help offset the 2.1 megawatts of electricity it buys each year from the local utility.

The Solution

With the help of AEM, Inc., a long-time Siemens channel partner, the diesel engine producer developed a pilot solution based on recovering the wasted energy by replacing the eddy-current dynamometer of two test stands with an induction motor and four-quadrant Sinamics^® S150 variable frequency drive (VFD). The motor will be holding back against the customer’s test engine and thus generating energy. The S150 VFD has an “active front end” design that provides regeneration capability to recover the energy previously wasted as heat and return it to the company’s own power grid.

Planning and designing the solution using Siemens variable frequency drives began in 2008 and the deployment occurred in mid-2009.

 The Results

While the pilot solution is a significant departure from the company’s existing test bed technology, the expected maintenance and environmental savings has the facilities team considering a full migration to the Siemens solution.

The two test stands using the Siemens solution are expected to save about $150,000 a year in utility costs, a payback of less than four yearsbased on energy savings alone. The payback is even faster once the costly maintenance of eddy-current clutches and the cost of cooling the water used to dissipate heat generated by the old eddy current clutches are eliminated.

Given economies of scale in converting the rest of the test stands, the recovered energy will make this Siemens customer more energy self-sufficient. And the energy cost-savings would add up to potentially an additional $2.1 million a year. The company would also prevent about 15 metric tons in CO₂ emissions each year.

For further tech detail on the Siemens S150 drives, please visit:

http://www.automation.siemens.com/mcms/large-drives/en/converters/low-voltage-converters/sinamics-s/sinamics-s150/Pages/sinamics-s150.aspx

For further information on this story, please contact:

SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
DRIVE TECHNOLOGIES
MOTION CONTROL
MACHINE TOOL BUSINESS
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-640-1595
Fax: 847-437-0784
Web:  www.usa.siemens.com/cnc
Email:  SiemensMTBUMarCom.sea@siemens.com
Attention:  John Meyer, Manager, Marketing Communication

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SiemensCNC or Twitter:  www.twitter.com/siemens_cnc_us.

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Siemens Industry Sector is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products, solutions and services for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services Divisions as well as the Metals Technologies Business Unit. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/industry.

The Siemens Drive Technologies Division is the world’s leading supplier of products, systems, applications, solutions and services for the entire drive train, with electrical and mechanical components. Drive Technologies serves all vertical markets in the production and process industries as well as the infrastructure/energy segment. With its products and solutions, the division enables its customers to achieve productivity, energy efficiency and reliability. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/drivetechnologies.

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Heimatec Relocates, Offers New Literature

Tooling supplier expands headquarters, offers specific machine tool brand product lines, detailed in new full-specification catalogs

Heimatec, Inc., the North American operation for a world leader in live tools, angle heads and multi-spindle drill heads, today announces it has relocated to substantially larger headquarters near Chicago.

According to company president Preben Hansen, “We made this move to increase our inventory and our staff to better serve the growing ranks of our customers, both end users and distributors alike.”  The new location is in Prospect Heights, Illinois, previously home to Heimatec.

It represents a 50% increase in the office and warehouse capacity for this growing supplier to the North American machine tool market.  Hansen anticipates hiring new staff for the facility soon.

In related news, Heimatec has introduced complete lines of tooling, each designed for specific brands of machine tools, including the major builders of turning machines used in the North American market, such as Haas, Okuma, Mazak, Spinner, Miyano, Nakamura and others. This full-specification literature by machine brand is immediately available from the company in print and online pdf versions. Interested parties should contact the company.  Heimatec also offers its new corporate capability brochure, in which all lines are presented.

For further information on this news release, please contact:

Preben Hansen, President
HEIMATEC INC.
16 E. Piper Lane Suite 129
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
Phone:  847-749-0633
Fax:  847-749-2445
Email: info@heimatecinc.com
Website: www.heimatecinc.com

Connect with Heimatec Inc:  

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Heimatec is an international tooling manufacturer, based in Renchen, Germany. Its experienced staff is dedicated to providing customers the most innovative tooling technology possible. In 2010, the company opened Heimatec Inc. in Prospect Heights, IL, near Chicago, to serve its growing North American customer base with sales and service, plus an extensive inventory of products. Heimatec serves the auto, aero, medical, off-highway, rail, energy, woodworking, composites and other industries, as well as an ever-increasing number of machine tool OEM’s worldwide.

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Vertical Conveyor Oven from Grieve

No. 959 is a 300ºF, electrically-heated, vertical conveyor oven from Grieve, currently used for curing electronic parts at the customer’s facility.  Workspace dimensions of this oven measure 36” W x 89” D x 115” H.   40KW are installed in Incoloy-sheathed tubular elements to heat the oven chamber, while a 6000 CFM, 5-HP recirculating blower provides vertical downward airflow to the workload.

This Grieve vertical conveyor oven features 4” insulated walls, aluminized steel interior and exterior, motor-operated vertical lift door at the loading/unloading opening and two (2) independent doors for access to the workspace.  Twenty-seven (27) product carrier trays, each 30” wide by 14” long, supported at each side by a heavy-duty roller chain, driven by a ½-HP drive motor, controlled by a variable frequency drive, are also included.

Controls on No. 959 include a digital temperature controller, manual reset excess temperature controller with separate contactors, recirculating blower air flow safety switch, plus a tower light to indicate machine status.  The oven is built to exacting JIC/NEMA 12 electrical standards.

For more information, please contact: THE GRIEVE CORPORATION, 500 Hart

Road, Round Lake, Illinois 60073-2835 USA.  Phone: (847) 546-8225.  Fax: (847) 546-

9210.  Web: www.grievecorp.com. Email: sales@grievecorp.com. Attention: Frank

Calabrese.

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AMSAW® Carbide Saws Return To AISTech 2012

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Large-volume Walk-in Oven from Grieve

No. 850 is a 500ºF, electrically-heated walk-in oven from Grieve, currently used for curing composite parts at the customer’s facility.  Workspace dimensions of this oven measure 6’ W x 10’ D x 6-1/2’ H.   80KW are installed in Incoloy-sheathed tubular elements to heat the oven chamber, while a 10,000 CFM, 7-1/2 HP recirculating blower provides horizontal airflow to the workload.

This Grieve walk-in oven features 4” insulated walls, aluminized steel interior and exterior, plus 2” insulated floor with integral truck wheel guide tracks for easier loading and unloading.  All safety equipment is included for processing flammable solvents in the oven, including explosion-venting door hardware.

Controls on No. 850 include a digital programming temperature controller, manual reset excess temperature controller with separate contactors, recirculating blower air flow safety switch and 10” diameter circular chart event recorder.

For more information, please contact: THE GRIEVE CORPORATION, 500 Hart

Road, Round Lake, Illinois 60073-2835 USA.  Phone: (847) 546-8225.  Fax: (847) 546-

9210.  Web: www.grievecorp.com. Email: sales@grievecorp.com. Attention: Frank

Calabrese.

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Hi-temp Inert Atmosphere Cabinet Oven from Grieve

No. 855 is a 1250ºF electrically-heated, inert atmosphere cabinet oven from Grieve, currently used for heat treating at the customer’s facility.  Workspace dimensions on this oven measure 38” W x 26” D x 38” H.   40KW are installed in Incoloy-sheathed tubular elements to heat the oven chamber, while a 1500 CFM, 1-1/2 HP recirculating blower provides horizontal airflow to the workload.

This Grieve cabinet oven features 10” insulated walls comprising 2” of  1900ºF block and 8” of 10 lb/cf density rockwool insulation, Type 304, 2B finish stainless steel interior with continuously backwelded seams, plus inner and outer door gaskets with the inner gasket sealing directly against the door plug while the outer gasket seals directly against the face of the oven.

Full inert atmosphere construction further includes a pressure regulator, flow meter, pressure gauge, internal high-temperature gasket, all welded expansion connection in doorway throat, air jacket on inner oven for cooling, ½” thick silicone rubber atmosphere seal, blower shaft seal, positive latching door hardware, adjustable offset door hinges, outlet with pressure relief, interior seams welded gas-tight and all wall penetrations fitted with compression fittings.  A 325 CFM blower pulls air through the air jacket on the inner oven for cooling.

Controls on No. 855 include a special heating/cooling temperature controller to control heating elements for heating and modulating damper on cooling blower for cooling.  The oven also has an SCR power controller and circular chart recorder onboard.

For more information, please contact: THE GRIEVE CORPORATION, 500 Hart Road, Round Lake, Illinois 60073-2835 USA.  Phone: (847) 546-8225.  Fax: (847)546-9210.  Web: http://www.grievecorp.com. Email: sales@grievecorp.com Attention: Frank Calabrese.

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Siemens Introduces the New Compact Sinamics G120C Inverter

The ideal solution for industrial-grade applications

Siemens Industry, Inc. released today the new Sinamics G120C, a compact inverter designed for various industrial applications such as pumps, compressors and fans, as well as mixers, extruders, conveyor belts and materials handling machines.  With a rated power range of 0.75 to 25 hp (0.55 to 18.5 kW), the Sinamics G120C sets new standards in the industry with its compact dimensions, fast commissioning times, simple operation, ease-of-servicing and highly-integrated functionality.

This compact inverter offers one of the highest power densities in its class.  Compared to conventional systems on the market, the Sinamics G120C requires up to 30 percent less space, with up to 40 percent higher power output.  Quick-connecting plug-in terminals allow faster installation.

An optional operator panel may be mounted to the inverter for commissioning.  A port for inserting a memory card is also available for faster inverter commissioning.  It can be configured using a PC, via USB interface, as well.  Standard protective coatings on the PC boards make the unit extremely robust in hostile or corrosive environments.  The new Sinamics G120C is designed for ambient temperatures of up to 140^ºF (60^ºC).

Each Sinamics G120C inverter features Safety Integrated as standard. The unit is equipped with dual safe inputs to control the STO (Safe Torque Off) function without the need for external devices. The G120C offers users the performance of the Siemens Sinamics platform, enabling precise, cost-effective control and more energy-efficient operation of induction motors.

For network communications, this new Sinamics G120C supports Profibus.  It can also be directly integrated into other widely-used communications structures via USS protocol, ModBus RTU and CAN Open.  The default setting on each G120C enables field bus operation without time-consuming configuration.

See the SINAMICS Drives video on YouTube here.

For more information about the Sinamics G120C, visit www.usa.siemens.com/drives.

For specific product information and inquiries, call (800) 879-8079 ext. Marketing Communications or send an e-mail to: SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com.

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New Sinamics DC Master Base Drive 
for New Installations and Retrofits

Cost-efficiency and flexibility in one complete panel

Siemens Industry, Inc. introduced today its new Sinamics DC Master (DCM) Base Drive as a result of increasing demand for base drive panels using the Sinamics DC Master converter.

This pre-wired solution is offered complete and fully tested with all necessary components mounted onto a back panel. Sinamics DC Master Base Drives are an extremely flexible and cost-effective solution for new installations and retrofits where space is limited.  They are ideal for end-users and third-parties such as system integrators and Siemens solution partners.

Sinamics DC Master Base Drives offer more power per panel in the same footprint as compared to the previous two generations of base drives.  These base drives are rated from 15A–850A continuous current.

Standard features of the new SINAMICS DCM Base Drive include — input fuses, output DC fuses (regen only), control transformer, AC line contactors, PROFIBUS, BOP20, UL508A Certification and 65KA SCCR rating.  They are ready-to-order with deliveries available after February 2012.

For more information about the Sinamics DC Master Base Drive, visit our web page www.usa.siemens.com/motioncontrol.

For specific product information and inquiries, call (800) 879-8079 ext. Marketing Communications or send an e-mail to:  SiemensMTBUMarCom.industry@siemens.com.

 

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