Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
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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Maximize Productivity with Speeder Accessories from Platinum Tooling
Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc., the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools and angle heads, offers a variety of products designed to enhance the rpm capabilities of your machine from the largest turning centers to the smallest Swiss-type CNC lathe.
Heimatec speed increasers are now available in a complete range designed for popular live tool lathes and Swiss-style machines, offering gear ratios of 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 with maximum speeds of 48,000 rpm. Design configurations include straight, offset, 90 degree and universal adjustable, while tools can be produced with external or internal coolant. Mounting options include BMT, Swiss-style machine and VDI interfaces to suit a wide range of machine tool setups.
With the growth of medical and other high-precision, high-volume manufacturing and the use of Swiss-style machines, speed increasers have become vital to 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.
Speed increasers for BMT turrets including Nakamura, Miyano, DN Solutions and Haas are also in stock. Additional models are available from factory inventory with short lead times. Engineered for efficiency and precision with the highest quality components, these tools deliver increased productivity, long service life and cost savings for the busy machine shop or OEM production department.
To learn more about the speeder accessories available through Platinum Tooling, as well as other precision 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
Fax: 847-749-2445
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, woodworking, 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 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.
E-Z LOK, a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood, has launched a multiple length coil assortment kit.
E-Z Coil ™ thread repair kits include all the essential items you need to install, and repair tapped holes in softer metal materials such as mild steel and aluminum.
Although economy and standard E-Z Coil™ installation kits were already available, the new multiple length kit allows customers to have a variety of different length inserts on hand along with the tools to install them.
The multiple length repair kits include three different length coil inserts with the same thread size (1D, 1.5D and 2D), as well as the drill, STI tap, installation tool and tang break tool.
Each of these new coil kits are offered in metric and inch threads.
For more information, please contact:
Kyle Lindsly-Roach, Director of Sales & Marketing
E-Z LOK
240 E. Rosecrans Ave
Gardena, CA 90248
USA
Phone: 310-323-5613 x221
klindsly@ezlok.com
www.ezlok.com
E-Z LOK is a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood. Inserts for metal include solid wall and helical wire-thread inserts, while inserts for plastic feature press-in and ultrasonic/heat stake designs. Those for wood are die-cast zinc alloy in hex drives for softwood and brass knife threads for hardwood. A variety of kits are available and feature installation tools, drill bits etc.
E-Z LOK is a third-generation family owned and operated company. Founded in 1956, it primarily sells North American OEM’s, end users and the DIY market through local, regional and national industrial distributors.
Siemens expands its SINUMERIK Run MyRobot platform with the CNC allowing cost-effective KUKA robot part handling and articulation functions directly on the control screen of a SYIL machine tool
Automation for every shop size
Through a technology partnership that breaks new ground in the machine tool industry, Siemens presents an automation solution for the busy, multi-tasking, small to mid-sized machine shop, as it combines a digital twin of the software and programming of its popular SINUMERIK 828 CNC, working in tandem with a KUKA robot, to simplify the operation and programming in part handling for the machine tool operator. Bringing the concept to life during a recent tradeshow, KUKA Robotics Corporation demonstrated the same control and its robot working in tandem with a SYIL vertical milling machine. The machine featured the SYIL R1 machine-tending automation package, developed with one of KUKA’s System Partners, Waybo, which seamlessly integrates the pick-and-place, part articulation and communications with the CNC onboard, all at a very attractive price point.
The goal of the program, according to Frans Buikema, Chief Marketing Officer at SYIL, is to offer the small and mid-sized shops an entry point into automation without major capital investment. Likewise, as Ron Bergamin, Key Technology Manager for Machine Tool Automation at KUKA, adds, the ROI can be very short, as this automation advancement allows the addition of a lights-out second or third shift at job shops of almost any size. Automation is the key and this cooperative engineering venture has opened a new chapter for small to mid-sized machine shops.
Simplifying robotics through the CNC
A bit of history. Only a decade ago, the integration of a robot with a machine tool required a separate learning curve for the shop, as robotics required special programming and teach-in communications, a separate pendant for operation and other challenges that often required outside consultants to implement. For small and mid-sized machine shops, this barrier, combined with the cost involved, resulted in today’s market condition, where less than a quarter of the smaller job shops in America today utilize automation and especially robotics in their workday.
History has advanced. As Tiansu Jing, Product Manager, SINUMERIK CNC systems, explains, “The benefits of this development for the busy job shop are many. Setup, programming, operator interface and diagnostics are all improved with the SINUMERIK Run MyRobot /Handling application, as it easily incorporates the KUKA robot with the SYIL machine tool.” The teach-in functions are implemented through the SINUMERIK Operate HMI system on the control, while the proprietary SINUMERIK Run MyRobot /Handling capability of the CNC seamlessly integrates with the KUKA robot control. Jing further noted that, since there is no need to learn robotic programming, start-up time is reduced and the robot’s separate control pendant is eliminated, simplifying the operator’s task. The SINUMERIK control’s HMI is used to operate both the machine tool and the robot tender, with all commands and operating conditions displayed on a single screen. He also added that the greatest value for the busy job shop comprised the system’s ability to integrate robots on all its machines, while economizing the learning curve for all the operators. This entire cooperative venture between Siemens, KUKA and SYIL made this advancement possible, Jing noted.
From complexity to clarity
The SINUMERIK 828D CNC utilized in this application is designed for the job shop market’s use of turning centers, milling machines and Vertical Machining Centers (VMCs), but it also offers machine builders and end-users the flexibility to enhance the productivity of those machines with this new robotic automation, integrated directly into the control. As Jing points out, “The 828 is scaled to the functionality of the standard machines sold to the smaller job shops. With Run MyRobot /Handling included, programmers can use the same G-code for the robot and the machine tool.”
Designed for the job shop including affordable lights-out manufacturing
As Ron Bergamin of KUKA notes, “Machine builders can now offer robotics from KUKA PLC mxAutomation, a universal PLCopen-certified PLC interface. It allows the user to program and operate all important robot functions directly in a busy shop’s familiar control environment.”
Jing further adds that the Run MyRobot /Handling application allows the machine builder to offer robotics as another option, at a far more affordable price than in the past, as all the engineering effort has been substantially reduced. With the connection of Ethernet and safety cables to the robot, the SYIL customer finds it’s much easier to connect the robot. Bergamin adds that the robot can be up and running in a day, in most cases. “With the addition of a lights-out second or third shift at the shop, the spindles keep turning and the shop makes more money. Plus, the ROI is very fast with this setup.”
Jing concludes, “The machine builder can easily add their own robot specific screens to display the robot tasks and improve the usability. This solves long-time challenges for both the machine builder and end-user alike. Machine tool builders like SYIL can now offer robotic packages to their customers with less price pain and more advantages in the shop.”
Philip Peloso, Business Development Manager for Machine Tool Automation at KUKA, expands, “We saw a resident robotic talent gap as well as price resistance in the smaller machine shop sector and decided we needed to pursue a solution. We turned to our Official System Partner, Waybo, presenting them with the facts. This solution would be an entry-level venture, addressing the 75% of the job shops who currently have no robotic automation on their floors. We sought to present them an easy-to-use, robust system that allowed quick changeover for the busy shop doing multiple jobs or families of parts during the day.”
As KUKA has a longtime relationship with Siemens, their combined support in the field would bring a further benefit to the solution. Once developed, this new system was presented to SYIL, who adopted it as their SYIL R1 solution for the job shop market. Peloso cites the key value proposition. “All meaningful controls and diagnostics were to be displayed on the CNC, thereby reducing or eliminating all the previous roadblocks for the shop personnel.” All the motion control of the grippers, pick-and-place functionality and communications with the CNC on workholding are seamlessly transmitted from an application layer on the KUKA robot, so all commands are configured and programmed to take instructions directly from the CNC.
Ron Bergamin further notes, “Working with Waybo, we developed the automation around the robot. A new interface layer, run through our standard mxAutomation software, allowed the robot control from the Siemens CNC, so a single pendant is all that’s required to run the SYIL machine tool and the robot package. All diagnostics are under the hood,” Bergamin muses.
A new benchmark for machine tool builders
On the tactical business level, Siemens had been providing CNC technology to SYIL globally and brought the concept of robotic integration to KUKA, who worked closely with their partner Waybo to design and implement the package that became SYIL R1 automation.
Frans Buikema of SYIL details this development from the machine builder perspective.
“We’ve long had automation in our company’s vision and road map for the future. As we focus on the small and mid-sized machine shop world, we constantly encounter the lack of skilled labor, the price resistance and the shortage of robotic knowledge in this sector of the machine tool market.”
Wesley Wang, Managing Director for SYIL in North America, adds, “We have recently partnered with Titans of CNC to market our machines here and we feature the SINUMERIK 828D CNC on most of our equipment, as it offers great motion control, monitoring and communications capability, plus the onboard capacity to engage machine tending robotics, which opens the 24/7 running option to our customers in ways they have not imagined in the past.
Real results on the shopfloor
Buikema cites some hard numbers. “We believe we can tell our customers that automation is accessible today in new and exciting ways. It is decidedly not too complicated nor is it a major capital investment. For a $60,000 package, they can be looking at a payback period of a year or less.” Wang adds, “It’s all about knowing your options today and how different they are from the not-too-distant past in the machine tool world.”
Expanding the vision
SYIL currently designs and builds CNC milling machines, CNC turning centers and CNC Swiss type lathes. According to Buikema, “This development with Siemens and KUKA represents our own entry into robotics and we plan to expand the use of such packages onto all our machine offerings very soon.” He calls the implementation of the SINUMERIK 828D CNC with Run MyRobot/Handling “… a real game changer, because it enables us to start creating more automation packages and make them accessible to our audience, the small to mid-sized machine shops.” The SYIL R1 automation package utilizes the same technology integration shown by Siemens and KUKA during recent tradeshows in the industry.
Commenting on the relationship between SYIL and Siemens, Buikema observes, “It grew from supplier to strategic partner very quickly. The engineering support at Siemens collaborates with our own machine tool engineers at SYIL on virtually all new machine developments at our company. This enables us to expand our machine range much faster and better than we could do on our own. That’s true synergy.”
Of equal importance, Buikema cites the support his company gets from Siemens in the North American market. “The help they provide to our dealers in Canada, the United States and Mexico is invaluable. It allows our dealers not only the ability to sell a higher level of machine and automation, but also the software support to fulfill the needs of all our end-users.”
The SYIL R1 machine tending system, incorporating the KUKA robotic technology, is currently offered as a standard package by the machine builder, for parts up to 3kg (6.61 lbs.), a payload of 6.7kg (14.77 lbs.) and a reach of 901 mm (35.47 in). It offers an IP65/67 rating for harsh operating environments. It facilitates the loading and unloading of metal parts from the cutting zone and workholding devices being utilized, plus it is quick to install and easy to operate from the SINUMERIK 828D control. The R1 system from SYIL removes the manual and repetitive tasks for a CNC machine operator by automating the load/unload process. It is an ideal solution for high-mix, low-volume tasks and can be fully integrated with parts conveying systems, bins and pallets. The R1 system is offered with a standard workholding package, featuring pneumatic clamping force block design, as well as a dual gripper option when the finished part has a differing final shape from the blank.
In addition, the SYIL R1 system features an “everything on one screen” format, integrating the robot’s programming and operation in the SINUMERIK 828D control, using NC G-code and robot teach-in function for programming. This makes it very easy for machine tool operators to learn and use. All the robot diagnostic data is shown on the same HMI as the machine, allowing the entire automation cell to be monitored without the need for a second pendant.
According to Buikema, the SYIL R1 automation package can be installed and fully operational in less than one day. The system is expandable with custom solutions and various pallet drawers provided.
The future of shopfloor automation
Increasingly more job shops and machine operators are seeing that automation is an important asset when striving to achieve consistent workpiece quality and more flexibility on the shopfloor. Digitalization facilitates the higher level of automation needed and the networking
of the components involved. With this new development, Siemens is offering a cost-effective solution that incorporates the KUKA robot functionality with a line of affordable machine tools, in this case, the SYIL brand of machining centers and lathes for small to medium job shops.
From the KUKA perspective, Ron Bergamin comments, “KUKA offers machine tool builders and end-users alike the ability to incorporate advanced robotics into their equipment and onto their shopfloors, with the goal of optimizing productivity and reducing operator workload. Our partnership with Siemens has resulted in the synergy that brought this development to life.
It substantially expands the ability of the small and mid-sized shops to utilize robotics in their work environment.”
To watch a video of this system in action, please visit:
http://usa.siemens.com/kuka-syil
For more information on this technology story, please contact:
Siemens
Tiansu Jing or John Meyer
tiansu.jing@siemens.com
john.meyer@siemens.com
KUKA
Ron Bergamin or Philip Peloso
ron.bergamin@kuka.com
philip.peloso@kuka.com
SYIL
Frans Buikema or Wesley Wang
frans@syil.com
wesley@syil.com
E-Z LOK, a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood has expanded their E-Z Fin™ brass threaded inserts for soft wood, thermoplastics and thermoset plastics.
Also known as Finserts, they offer a blend of strength and precision for thermoset plastics. Designed with one, two or three OD fins that distribute stress over a greater surface area to minimize the possibility of cracking and protect against thread erosion, Finserts are available with internal thread sizes ranging from #6 to 5/16.
Finserts for thermoplastics are specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with thermoplastic components, ensuring a reliable bond that can withstand the demands of various applications.
Installation in thermoset plastics requires nothing more than a straightforward press-in action. The design ensures a smooth insertion process, making them ideal for a variety of applications.
Installing Finserts into thermoplastics is a straightforward process that ensures components benefit from enhanced durability and thread integrity. Designed to be installed “cold”, the brass threaded inserts are pressed into placing using anything from a simple hand tool to an arbor press.
When used for thermoset plastics, their innovative design significantly reduces the risk of damage like splintering, a common issue. They are synonymous with durability, providing a firm, lasting connection that enhances the longevity of the plastic products they are used in. Easy installation saves time and effort. These inserts are suitable for a wide range of applications within the thermoset plastic industry, from small-scale projects to large industrial uses.
The brass threaded inserts for thermoplastics ensure a secure, tight fit that significantly reduces the risk of thread stripping. In addition, Finserts are engineered to distribute load evenly, minimizing stress on the base material and extending the lifespan of the component. Their compatibility with a wide range of thermoplastics enhances design flexibility, enabling the use of lighter, more cost-effective materials without compromising strength.
For more information, please contact:
Kyle Lindsly-Roach, Director of Sales & Marketing
E-Z LOK
240 E. Rosecrans Ave
Gardena, CA 90248
USA
Phone: 310-323-5613 x221
klindsly@ezlok.com
www.ezlok.com
E-Z LOK is a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood. Inserts for metal include solid wall and helical wire-thread inserts, while inserts for plastic feature press-in and ultrasonic/heat stake designs. Those for wood are die-cast zinc alloy in hex drives for softwood and
brass knife threads for hardwood. A variety of kits are available and feature installation tools, drill bits etc.
E-Z LOK is a third-generation family owned and operated company. Founded in 1956, it primarily sells North American OEM’s, end users and the DIY market through local, regional and national industrial distributors.
Guill Tool, the global leader in extrusion tooling, announces its 10-Day Program. This program applies to eligible tips and dies that will be shipped within 10 business days of receiving the purchase order from the customer.
Guill high-quality precision tips and dies have been manufactured in the U.S. for over 65 years. All Guill extrusion tools are produced using certified and documented quality steel material, specifically qualified for the polymer to be extruded. Furthermore, Guill designs tips and dies for any application the customer requires. These feature multi-lumen, stripe, multiple stripe, wire and cable, hose, pipe, tube, fiber optic, blown film, corrugated tube and profile. Dies include face seal, shouldered, snap-together, floating, die plate, interchangeable die plate and custom dies. Available tips include single and multi-lumen, threaded style, snap-together, fixed-center shoulder, profile, tapered style and custom.
To learn which tools are eligible for the program, check with the company or local Guill sales representative. For all other parts, company personnel will review the customer’s drawing to determine eligibility for the program.
Eligible tips and dies for this program must have a diameter less than 1.5” and a length less than 4.75.”
Guill proudly manufactures its products in the U.S. under the quality standards of ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100:2016.
For more information, please contact:
Tom Baldock, Sales Manager, Extrusion
Guill Tool & Engineering
10 Pike Street
West Warwick, RI 02893
USA
Phone: 401-465-5526
tbaldock@guill.com