Packaging and Display Graphics Leaders Eric Bacourt and Mal McGowan To Share Personal And Professional Success Stories in EFI Connect Fireside Chat Keynotes

FREMONT, Calif. — January 18, 2018 — Electronics For Imaging Inc. has expanded the speaker lineup for its users’ conference, EFI™ Connect 2018, to be held January 23-26 at the Wynn Las Vegas. On January 23, EFI CEO Guy Gecht will moderate a pair of fireside chat keynotes with two innovative print and packaging industry executives: Eric Bacourt, CEO of Hinojosa Packaging Solutions, and Mal McGowan, CEO of McGowans Print. The executives are the very first users of EFI’s groundbreaking single-pass LED inkjet corrugated board digital press, the EFI Nozomi C18000.

Hinojosa: The power of packaging with digital corrugated

Bacourt’s company, Xàtiva, Spain-based Hinojosa, is a leading Spanish packaging group and one of the world’s most progressive users of digital inkjet printing in the corrugated market. The company also is home to the first EFI Nozomi press installation. During the fireside chart, Bacourt will share how his company – which was a leader in digital corrugated production even prior to adding a Nozomi press – achieved even greater digital opportunities and defied expectations by establishing a 24-hours-a-day, five-days-a-week high-volume manufacturing operation with its newest single-pass production technology.

Bacourt has had an extensive career managing and developing some of Europe’s most prominent packaging operations. He has served as CEO of Hinojosa for nearly a decade, directing a high-volume operation responsible for a significant amount of the boxes used in Spanish companies’ agricultural, food, and beverage industries. Prior to his current role, Bacourt was the head of Iberian operations for Europe’s leading cartonboard producer.

McGowans Print: Single-pass print, multiple market opportunities

Dublin, Ireland-based McGowans Print is the site of the world’s second Nozomi press installation. Founder and CEO Mal McGowan is a mathematician by training who started the business more than 25 years ago with a color copier in a small shop in Dublin. As an aggressive adopter of digital print technologies, he and his 100-employee team have built the company into Ireland’s most recognized print solutions provider. Today, in addition to the new EFI Nozomi product, the company operates more than 25 digital presses and is a market leader in Ireland for both cut-sheet and superwide-format digital production printing.

With much of its business centered on high-quality display graphics applications, McGowans Print is able to use its Nozomi press to meet existing demand for corrugated display work, as well as to develop new business producing high-end, full-color corrugated packaging.

“Corrugated packaging and display markets are primed for re-invention with new digital production technologies, and these two industry leaders will explain the tremendous opportunities this type of transformation creates,” said EFI CEO Guy Gecht. “We are delighted to have our first two Nozomi press users speak as part of a strong lineup of industry thought leaders and world-class experts who will make EFI Connect one of the very best print industry events of 2018.”

The industry conference for smarter, better print and packaging operations

With approximately 200 sessions at the four-day conference, Connect gives EFI customers the opportunity to gain vital insights in smart business management. Attendees from all over the world learn the best ways to use EFI technologies and have the advantage of being able to meet with and provide feedback to senior EFI executives and technical development staff.

Additional speakers at Connect 2018 include EFI Productivity Software Senior Vice President Gabriel Matsliach and noted industry economist and first-time Connect keynoter Dr. Joe Webb. A 40-year graphic arts industry veteran, Webb will discuss the economic state of the industry, offering a unique perspective about the trends and challenges ahead, with actionable ideas for competitive advantage and a successful business future, as well as a Q&A session that’s not to be missed.

Webb and print industry veteran Wayne Peterson will also deliver UnSquaring, a series of breakout sessions based on the strategy methodology they developed with RIT professor Chris Bondy in the book UnSquaring the Wheel. Connect’s UnSquaring sessions will showcase leadership actions print businesses can use to develop superior growth and sales strategies, the same tools Peterson is using while serving as executive vice president and COO for one of the nation’s leading publication printers, Vermont-based Lane Press.

The users’ group conference also will have a solutions center featuring new EFI technologies and exhibits from EFI partners, including: 3M™ Commercial Solutions; Aberdeen Fabrics; Duplo; Enfocus; Esko; Kodak™; Konica Minolta® Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.; Motioncutter®; OneVision; The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation; Print ReLeaf; Progress® Software Corp.; Ricoh Americas Corp.; Riso; SpencerMetrics; X-Rite® Pantone®; Xerox; and Zünd®.

Now going into its 19th year, EFI Connect attracts print professionals worldwide for a collection of in-depth, informative training and education on key management and tech challenges for printing and packaging companies. The conference is an ideal venue for open dialogue and idea exchange, giving customers a valuable opportunity to participate in educational sessions, receive hands-on experience, discuss industry trends, network with peers, voice their opinions and learn from others.

Posted January 18, 2018

Source: EFI™

World Of Wipes® International Conference Cultivates Industry Growth 2018 Program Announced And Registration Open For June 5-8 In Chicago

CARY, N.C. — January 18, 2018 — Emerging technologies, new applications, and market insights are the focus of INDA’s World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference 2018. WOW 2018 will deliver up-to-the-second insights for engineering new business growth June 5-8, at the Sheraton Grand, Chicago, Ill.

The full program for the 2018 conference is currently available and registration is open at www.inda.org/events/wow18.

WOW 2018 promises to be the premier conference for over 470 senior wipes professionals during four impactful days of value added content and business connecting opportunities. The program captures the wipes industries latest market trends, developments in preservatives and active ingredients, substrate innovations, point of purchase decision drivers, and flushability.

The industry’s hottest topics for WOW 2018 include:

  • Leading Keynote: “Gen Z Deciphered: Insights and Strategies for Marketers” by consumer psychologist Dr. Kit Yarrow, Professor Emeritus, Golden Gate University, details essential strategies for effectively marketing to this often misunderstood and vexing generation.
  • Preservatives: World-renowned expert, David Steinberg, president, Steinberg & Associates will present the current consumer view of preservatives and a view of what the future holds.
  • Top Beauty Trends: Arlette Palo, Principal, Arlette Palo Beauty Innovation Consulting, LLC, will share her insider’s experience on where to win in wipes innovation and how consumer behavior is driving the beauty wipes category performance.
  • Spunlace Innovations: Matthew Tipper, Operations Director, Nonwoven Innovation & Research Institute, will present the latest processes and parameters for low cost solutions for high and low wet strength for use and disposal.
  • Consumption Junction: Annie Weisbrod, Principal Scientist, The Procter & Gamble Company, reveals the significant trends and possibilities as consumers purchase more goods and the impact on status quo and innovation.
  • Nano Wipes: Sunghyun Nam, Research Materials Engineer, Southern Regional Research Center, will present new research using cotton fibers as a nanoengineering tool producing silver nanoparticles as a powerful antimicrobial wipes agent.
  • Single-use vs. Laundered: Matthew Schiering, Principal, Sheer Strategy, will reveal data and insights into the structure and performance of laundered towels in healthcare for high touch surfaces versus the cleaning and disinfectant efficacy of single-use wipes.
  • Innovation Award: The World of Wipes Innovation Award® recognizes innovations in the wipes value chain that advance the use of nonwovens. Conference attendees will hear from finalists selected by INDA’s Technical Advisory Board and vote their choice, the winner will be announced Friday, Day 3.
  • Premier Training: Come to the conference a day earlier for an in-depth wipes education. INDA’s WIPES Academy is being held in conjunction with the World of Wipes® International Conference. Led by Rob Johnson, PE and Principal of Smith, Johnson & Associates, the Academy is the first and only comprehensive wipes training program for the entire wipes supply chain.
  • Networking: From the welcome reception at The Signature Room at the 95th® in the famous John Hancock Building to a Dinner with Industry Thought Leaders and networking throughout the event, participants will make valuable connections to advance their business.

Posted January 18, 2018

Source: INDA

DSM Appoints Wilfrid Gambade President, DSM Dyneema

GELEEN, the Netherlands — January 18, 2018 — Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition, and materials, today announces that Wilfrid Gambade is appointed as President DSM Dyneema as of January 15 2018.

Gambade is an experienced senior leader who joined DSM in 2009 and was responsible for the Composite Resins business in Europe and then from 2011 moved into the role of President Composite Resins & Synres. For the past three years, he was very successful in turning around DSM’s Personal Care business and integrating DSM’s Aroma Ingredients business into a comprehensive Personal Care & Aroma Ingredients organization, which will allow synergies and is prepared for future growth.

Gambade, a French national, holds a B.Sc. in Polymer Chemistry from ITECH, Lyon and brings nearly 25 years of international experience in general management and sales and marketing in the cosmetics and chemicals industries (such as textile and coatings).

Posted January 18, 2018

Source: DSM Dyneema

Velcro Companies Hires New President For Latin America

BOSTON, Mass. — January 18, 2018 — Velcro Companies today announced that it has hired Paulo Garutti to serve as president of Latin America. He will be the company’s senior business leader for the region, responsible for developing and executing its strategy, and will be based in Canelones, Uruguay.

Garutti will report to CEO Fraser Cameron, who said: “In the past two years, our business in Latin America has made great strides. It has developed strong customer relationships, opened a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and identified promising areas for growth. This provides a solid foundation on which Paulo and his team can build to take the business to the next level. His main focus will be developing our business in the region by serving new and existing customers. He will also ensure that we continue to provide excellent customer service, maintain high levels of product quality and identify opportunities for innovation and growth.”

Over the past six years Garutti started the Brazilian business for Branson Ultrasonics, a division of Emerson Electric, and later was placed in charge of marketing and sales for its Latin America region. Prior to that he was the head of sales for the Southern Cone at Anixter and worked for 16 years at Swiss manufacturer Komax AG, where he ultimately served as general manager for its Brazil operations.

Garutti succeeds Dirk Foreman, who was named president of the company’s North American region in June, 2017.

Posted January 18, 2018

Source: Velcro Companies

Simplifying Moisture Measurement To Improve Quality Of Powders And Bulk Solids

kett-moisture-analyzerwcap
Handheld devices now are available that allow less-skilled personnel to take lab-quality moisture measurements.

Instantaneous, “point-and-measure” handheld analyzers that can be operated by virtually any technician deliver lab-quality moisture readings in seconds

By Del Williams

In industries that produce powders and bulk solids, controlling moisture content can impact the purchase price, shipping costs, material handling and, perhaps most importantly, the quality of the final product.

When processing dry bulk solids such as food ingredients, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pigments and minerals, the amount of moisture in the product can have a wide range of effects. A product’s quality, as well as transactions based on weight, can be adversely affected by improper moisture contents. Furthermore, the satisfaction of legal requirements that are present in many industries is a determining factor influencing a company to measure moisture content.

However, until recently conducting frequent moisture content tests throughout the process or in the field has been difficult. In many cases, the primary barrier has been the expertise and time required to conduct such tests. Often sophisticated moisture measurement devices must be operated by trained personnel that can properly calibrate the equipment. Many also require meticulous sample preparation and disposal.

Fortunately, handheld devices are now available that allow everyone to take lab-quality moisture measurements. These “point-and-measure” options allow moisture readings to be quickly taken at any stage of the process, as well as at loading docks, on trucks, at suppliers, or in bins, vats or vessels.

By simplifying the process, powder and bulk solid producers can increase the quality of their products from raw material receipt and formulation to end product manufacturing and distribution.

The Many Benefits Of Moisture Readings

Although the reasons for measuring the moisture content of powders and bulk solids can vary, the primary motivation is to improve product quality and the bottom line.

Monitoring moisture content in all stages of production ensures the most efficient processing. From measurement of incoming materials to mid‐process measurement, the optimization of plant resources and product quality will be ensured.

A prime example is extending the shelf-life of powders in particular food ingredients.  When moisture content is too high, mold can develop; when it’s too low, the product can become stale and the taste altered from ideal.

Establishing the moisture content is also very important when mixing two substances together. If the mixing is not done at the proper moisture levels, the way the two products react can be affected. This includes any chemical reactions that might take place, the way the two are blended together, or the amount one substance is dissolved into another.

It is also important to know the precise moisture content in any raw materials prior to beginning the manufacturing process.  Otherwise, the product’s time in the dryer, the dryer temperature, the conveyor belt speed, and many other factors must be modified each time a new shipment of the product is introduced.

Another benefit of frequent moisture measurement is for products sold based on regulated moisture content. Prescribed percentages must be met in order to comply with these specifications. In certain industries, heavy fines could be levied, while in others, the product or substance will not be accepted by the regulating agency.  These industries include gypsum and pharmaceutical manufacturers, among others.

There may even be legal ramifications, if the acceptable moisture content of a product is decided prior to purchase or shipping.  Fees can be levied on companies that do not ship at the agreed moisture level or the product could be rejected outright.

Finally, since moisture content contributes significantly to the weight of such materials, properly drying a substance to acceptable limits before it is transported can dramatically reduce shipping and disposal costs.

Simplifying Moisture Measurement

Although traditional laboratory and online based moisture measurement techniques are useful in the right settings, they have lacked the simplicity and flexibility required for frequent spot checks.

One common test is Loss on Drying, which measures the total material weight change after drying.  However, such tests typically require a sample to be prepared and brought back to the lab.  The test takes at least 15 minutes to several hours to perform, which is too slow when more immediate measurements are required.  It also requires the sample to be altered or destroyed.

Kett-portable-moisture-meter
Kett’s KJT130 Handheld Portable Instant Moisture Meter

As a result, secondary test methods have typically been used to deliver faster results.  This type of test uses an indirect method and a single conversion to achieve accurate results.  Secondary measurement techniques are routinely accepted as equal to the gold standard method.   Examples are speedometers, common infrared and liquid thermometers and most pressure gauges. If there is a disadvantage, it is that the instrument must first be calibrated to ensure accurate results.  In some cases, calibration could only be performed by trained staff familiar with the equipment.

In response, industry innovators have developed a simplified approach that allows even less-trained personnel to take portable, instant moisture readings of powdered bulk product as needed.

The approach involves moisture meters that utilize Near-Infrared (NIR) light, a highly accurate, non-contact secondary measurement method that can deliver immediate, laboratory quality moisture readings.

“NIR moisture meters allow very accurate instant measurement of solids and liquids without contact or sample preparation, so there is no contamination in handheld and online models,” said John Bogart, managing director of Kett US, a manufacturer of a full range of moisture and organic composition analyzers.  “Once the meter has been calibrated against the lab or production standard, the calibration is stored in the device so no calibration is required in the field.  Measurements are fully traceable to the original measurement method.”

In addition, because the process is non-destructive, samples remain unaltered so they can be used for additional tests or put back into the product stream.

“NIR moisture meters follow the principle that water absorbs certain wavelengths of light,” said Bogart.  “The meter reflects light off the sample, measures how much light has been absorbed, and the result is automatically converted into a moisture content reading.”

Unlike complex laboratory equipment, portable NIR equipment is designed for ease of use.  For example, with Kett’s KJT130 Handheld Portable Instant Moisture Meter, the user simply points the instrument at the product and the moisture content is instantly shown on a digital display, with results accurate to .01 percent in a 0 to 100 percent measurement range.

Because no direct contact or sample alteration is required, particle size variation and unusual textures are not an issue.  This can be important when used with a range of powder and bulk solid materials in different settings.

For ease of use, the unit is operated via user friendly menu commands.  The unit, which is the size of a camcorder, is designed for frequent spot checks wherever necessary, on both stationary and moving (process line) products.  Moisture measurement data may be stored in the instrument, downloaded continuously, or manually recorded.

“The goal is for any staff member to be able to successfully use the moisture meter wherever it is needed, with minimal required training,” said Bogart.  “This allows powder and bulk solid processors to have the certainty that what they are producing is of the highest quality.

“The key is to cost-effectively be able to conduct as much testing as required, with full confidence in the results, each and every time,” adds Bogart.

Editor’s Note: Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, Calif.

January 17, 2018

Looking Ahead: Spinners Optimistic

Jim-Phillips-colorBy Jim Phillips, Yarn Market Editor

Overall, many spinners were satisfied with the state of their businesses in 2017. The year started slowly, but business picked up considerably at the end of the first quarter and stayed relatively steady for the remainder of the year.

A number of companies enter 2018 with considerable optimism.  “We feel good about where we are, and, if economic conditions continue to improve, we expect 2018 to be even better,” said one spinner. “We’ve had a steady stream of business since March of last year. It has gotten a little better with each month.” Added another spinner: “We were solid last year. We see no reason that 2018 will not be similar or better. Consumers are beginning to let go of some of their discretionary income, and that is always good for us.”

Indeed, consumer confidence in November was at a 17-year high, according to the Consumer Confidence Index published by The Confidence Board. And December’s index was almost as good. Consumer confidence reached 128.6 in November and fell only slightly to 122.1 in December. “Despite the decline in confidence, consumers’ expectations remain at historically strong levels, suggesting economic growth will continue well into 2018,” Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said in a release. Confidence has been fueled by a few factors: the job market, the soaring stock market and promised tax cuts.

“Business continues to be good,” said a yarn broker, “and I am anticipating that 2018 will be fine as well. But, it all depends on what you are trying to sell. Few U.S. spinners can compete in commodities. Those that do have tremendous production capacities. But a lot of smaller companies are doing exceptionally well by focusing on particular niches in the marketplace, such as yarns for specialty applications, medical textiles, technical textiles, yarns for industrial fabrics and similar things.”

“What we need,” said one industry insider, “is more ring-spinning capacity. Over the past few years, we have had numerous instances where getting a position in ring-spun yarns was very difficult.

An increase in capacity is coming. Keer America, which already has an open-end (OE) plant near Fort Mill, S.C., plans to start production in its new-ring spinning plant in May. According to the company, the plant — Phase II of Keer America’s plans — will have a production line of 70,000 spindles of ring-spun yarn, cover KPRS and CPRS, slub, core spun yarn, count range from Ne6 to Ne40, carded and combed. Annual production capacity will be around 40 million pounds.

The Phase I plant, which began operation in February of 2015, currently produces 1.1 million pounds of yarn per week of OE yarn. Phases III and IV, according to Keer, will be designed to produce cotton/synthetic blend spun yarns. The company anticipates groundbreaking in 2019.

NAFTA

Little progress was made in the latest rounds of NAFTA renegotiations, with the United States and Canada still at loggerheads over several issues.  Negotiations were set to resume later in January in Montreal. As of this writing, the Canadian government is steeling itself for a possible U.S. exit.  If that occurs, the two countries would have to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement. The United States already has a bilateral agreement with Mexico.

Cotton Prices

For the week ending January 11, the price for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets measured by the USDA averaged 76.84 cents per pound. The weekly average was up from 75.96 the previous week and from 71.46 cents reported for the corresponding period a year ago.

Daily average quotations ranged from a low of 75.61 cents Friday, January 5, to a seasonal high of 79.96 cents Thursday, January 11. Spot transactions totaled 148,565 bales. This compares to 75,044 bales reported the previous week and 89,020 spot transactions reported for the corresponding week a year ago. Total spot transactions for the season were 1,067,016 bales, compared to 873,030 bales for the corresponding period a year ago. The ICE March settlement prices ended the week at 82.65 cents, compared to 79.25 cents the previous week.

YarnMarketchartJan18

January 2018

December 2017: Textile Activity At A Glance

BFDec17

December 2017

Grossman Marketing Group Acquires New York Promotional Products Distributor

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — January 17, 2018 — Grossman Marketing Group, a 108-year-old, fourth-generation, promotional products and print company, has acquired Logos in Print, a promotional products distributor headquartered in New York. The new acquisition is the fourth in the past four years, fueling Grossman’s full-service marketing operations and client base in the Northeast.

The acquisition of Logos in Print comes on the heels of three other recent acquisitions: ASAP, a Norwalk, CT promotional products firm; Fleet Business Products of East Hartford, CT; and Premier Marketing Group of Manchester, ME.

Grossman Marketing Group boasts a “who’s who” client list, including major sports teams (Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins), hospitals and health care entities (Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, athenahealth, Novocure) and businesses (Hewlett-Packard, John Hancock, L.L. Bean, Zipcar), as well as The International Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Ben Grossman, co-president of Grossman Marketing Group, said the acquisition of Logos in Print enhances the company’s growing presence in health care and education, particularly in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Logos in Print has won many prestigious awards, including Promotional Products Association International’s Golden Pyramid Awards for creativity and excellence.

Said Grossman: “Logos in Print is a great fit for us and will complement our existing products and services, which include full-service graphic design, a network of company-owned warehouses and production facilities, multi-media solutions, and a dedicated technology team building best-in-class e-commerce programs for our clients.”

As a premier promotional products distributor, Logos in Print has working relationships with more than 3,000 suppliers, offering hundreds of thousands of promotional items — from apparel, bags and drinkware to writing instruments, golf and fitness products, and high tech accessories.

Since 1972, Cecile and Michael McBride, owners of Logos in Print, have been providing promotional products to major hospitals, universities and businesses in the New York Tri-State Area. The McBrides said they are thrilled their company has been acquired by such a well-respected company as Grossman Marketing Group.

Said Michael McBride: “Grossman shares our mission, which is to help businesses create long-lasting relationships with clients through the power of promotional products. These products, a $21 billion industry, leave a lasting impression on customers at a far better cost per impression than almost every major marketing vehicle.”

Posted January 17, 2018

Source: Grossman Marketing Group

Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 With Patented, Dual-Action Technology:
Innovative Odor Control Function For Polyester Textiles

GREENVILLE, SC — January 16, 2018 — SANITIZED AG, the worldwide leader in antimicrobial hygiene function, is releasing Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 featuring a dual-action technology that prevents permastink and minimizes odor intensity during wear. “This new Odor Control Function creates not only tangible added value for consumers, but also a competitive differentiating advantage for global marketing,” says Urs Zihlmann, the company’s product manager.

How Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 Prevents Permastink:

“Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 marks the end of permastink in polyester textiles,” says Darrell Burnette, sales manager for SANITIZED (USA), Inc. who is a chemist by training with more than 20 years of textile/specialty chemical experience. “Manufacturers of functional polyester textiles from all over the world face the same challenge. Freshly washed garments develop an unpleasant odor even after a short wearing period. The cause of this undesirable effect is not the human perspiration itself, but the bacteria that break down the perspiration. This process of decomposition generates the characteristic sweet, pungent smell. Once the bacteria, or the odor molecules, have penetrated the surface of the polyester textile, they remain permanently. Machine wash cycles and special detergents never completely eliminate them. The bacterial colonization produces a biofilm on the polyester, which not only causes unpleasant odors, but also has a negative impact on the properties of the material.”

According to Burnette, this is where the revolutionary dual-action technology comes into play. The surface of the textile is “coated” with Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 during the manufacturers’ padding process thus creating an anti-adhesive protective film on it. The bacteria use this protective film as the basis for docking onto the garment where the bacteria can be completely washed out in a normal wash cycle. This is what prevents any biofilm from forming. An anti-adhesion test method was developed in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) to prove this Wash Effect.

How Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 Minimizes Odor Intensity during Wear:

“The second part of this dual-action technology is that Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 has a high adsorbing effect,” Urs Zihlmann says. “Odors are ‘trapped’ and removed during a normal wash cycle. The odor adsorption action was identified using the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) test. This new product is the result of a technology that has been further developed and was given the Swiss Technology Award.”

The Odor Control Function is still going strong even after 50 wash cycles. This is still the case if garments are washed at 30°C/86°F, either by hand or in the machine, meaning consumers save on water and energy. In addition, the clothing item will continue to look great for a longer time.

Sanitized® Odoractiv 10 can be combined with other Sanitized® products, in particular those based on zinc pyrithione. This treatment does not influence the feel of the final treated textile.

As with all its other products, SANITIZED does not use any nano technology. The Hohenstein Institute has awarded the company the rating Skin Friendly, the bluesign® registration is underway. The product also bears the label Eco Passport by OEKO-TEX®.

As with all other products, the service provided by SANITIZED includes technological advice before and during production, in the definition of the verified efficacy, and in the use of the Sanitized® Ingredient Brand for promotional purposes.

Posted January 17, 2018

Source: SANITIZED AG

Baker Industries — New Five-Axis Machining Giant Hits the U.S. to Tackle Massive Aerospace Machining Projects

MACOMB, Mich. — January 17, 2018 — Baker Industries has finished the ground work for its Emco Mecof PowerMill. This five-axis machining center is notably the first of its kind to enter the United States, and will be one of the largest and most versatile milling centers in the Midwest Region. This acquisition is the next step in Baker’s planned approach to expanding its capacity in servicing OEM and Tier 1 customers largest machining projects with the same level of experience, quality and precision that customers have come to expect from Baker.

Virtually No Limits.

With 38 versatile CNC machines on the roster already, the PowerMill was primarily purchased for the machining of large-scale assembly tools, bond tools and other colossal components. The open structure of the machines moving gantry allows for more convenient loading and handling of these very large tools. The spacious 52′ x 20′ x 10′ envelope, is large enough to fit seven full-size SUVs or two semi-truck trailers on its platform. This unique design enables Baker to process parts up to a maximum weight of 2.6 million pounds on the stationary table. In other words, the PowerMill is only limited by the size of the job.

Power and Major Versatility.

The new five-axis machine will come equipped with several automatically changing heads that allow for universal direction machining. In addition to the sizable 14-meter (46 feet) X-axis travel, the PowerMill offers travel of 6 meters (20 feet) in the Y-axis and 2.5 meters (8 feet) of travel in the Z-axis. In order to maximize productivity, the new PowerMill speeds around the work area with rapid travel and feed rates of 30m/min.

Aside from the flexibility, capacity, and high-speed functionality, the new PowerMill delivers an unprecedented level of rigidity and machining performance, which is ideal for the heavy duty cutting of invar, steel, aluminum, cast iron, composites and other alloys that are generally difficult to machine on a large scale. The heavy-duty machining potential of the new PowerMill is exemplified by the unique bifurcated cross rail with ram and saddle riding, and guiding inside the cross rail. This is complemented by a 6,000 rpm (42 kW) main spindle motor that has a torque output of 1200 Nm, which retains exceptional power output throughout the complete speed range.

Working in synergy with the spindle motor is a CAT50, HSK63 and HSK100 spindle taper that accommodates large cutting tools. The spindle nose is supplied tools via an automatic tool changing system that gives Baker Industries the capacity to process a complete variety of jobs with minimum set-up time.

From Rough to Finish.

The PowerMill is capable of taking each job from rough to finish, all on one machine. For the machining of large components and tools up to and beyond 16 meters, this will provide paramount precision, repeatability and overall lead times.

Building a Strong Foundation.

To prepare for a machine of this size and stature, Baker began construction on the site last June. The company removed approximately 436,000 pounds of 10-inch thick concrete in 4′ x 4′ sections. The total excavation of the 45′ x 75′ x 7′ pit, including concrete and 450 yards of clay, weighed close to 1.2 million pounds.

Once the contents of the pit were removed, roughly 1.94 million pounds of crushed stone and concrete were poured into the pit, spread and tamped down. All concrete was poured within the same day to eliminate any seams in the foundation; nearly 60,000 pounds of steel reinforcement framework was also added to support the structure.

Including construction, the company’s total financial investment for this acquisition is $3.4M. “Our willingness to proactively make investments to support our customer’s needs, has allowed us to achieve continuous growth year after year. The PowerMill is just one of many investments that we have made in 2017 and will continue to make in years to come,” Baker Industries President Kevin Baker says.

At the forefront of innovative manufacturing for 25 years, Baker Industries is a manufacturing partner delivering productivity to aerospace and automotive customers through machining, tooling, fixtures, molds and 3D printing that address today’s needs for dependability, cost, weight reduction and speed. Every day 275 employees in Macomb, Michigan are helping OEM and Tier-1 customers address tough challenges to stay competitive.

Posted January 17, 2018

Source: Baker Industries, Inc.

1...1,4361,4371,438...2,520Page 1,437 of 2,520

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2025 Quarterly Issue Number II

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.