Next Generation Innovation Awards — April 1, 2008
Sign-up to attend "The Next Generation Leaders Day" and vote for your favorite new products and services on the show floor.
There are two awards categories:
Get great exposure for you and your company
Have the opportunity to be interviewed by Brad Kuvin, editor of MetalForming magazine, as part of his post-show article featuring the Innovation Awards event.
Participating Exhibitors are listed below.
Be part of the Next Generation Innovation Awards by signing up to attend the Next Generation Leaders Day at METALFORM
| Bolden Die Supply/Ready Technology | Oneda Corp. |
| Faro Technologies, Inc. | Promess Inc. |
| Miyachi Unitek | Roland Industrial Electronics L.P. |
| New-Form Tools Ltd. |
| CIECO, Inc. | Komatsu America Industries, LLC |
| Engineering Technology Associates (ETA) | Wintriss Controls of Honeywell |
Bolden Die Supply/Ready Technology—Booth: 0806
3939 Royal Dr. NW, Ste. 105
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (770)427-4278
Fax: (770)427-3282
Web: www.readytechnology.com
We are proud to offer our new and expanded line of nitrogen gas springs — DESIGN2-TITE®. Like SuperSpring®, DESIGN2-TITE® is completely engineered by us.
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We believe a better design produces a better product, and we are confident we have met our design goals.
Try DESIGN2-TITE® and experience for yourself the benefits of this superior line of nitrogen products.
We have worked very hard to:
- 1. Simplify the design to improve performance and ease repair.
- 2. Design a more solid construction to extend life and increase safety.
- 3. Research and incorporate only the finest materials to offer the highest quality product on the market.
Back to Best New Equipment/Service.
Faro Technologies, Inc.—Booth: 0706
125 Technology Park
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Phone: (800)736-0234
Fax: (407)333-4181
Web: www.faro.com
FARO Introduces Quantum FaroArm®
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Imagine designing products with ease and precision...
Producing them more efficiently...
Certifying them without long clean-room queues...
Delivering them to customers more quickly...
Quality in production begins with accuracy in product measurements. To achieve the highest levels of accuracy, manufacturers were forced to measure their parts in a controlled environment using large, expensive coordinate measuring machines—until now.
FARO has advanced portable measurement beyond levels previously thought impossible. The Quantum FaroArm® has the power to inspect and perform CAD-to-part analysis in any environment — with an 8ft. volumetric accuracy of up to +/-.0007" (+/-18 microns) — a fifth the width of a human hair!
Back to Best New Equipment/Service.
Miyachi Unitek—Booth: 0144
1820 S. Myrtle Ave.
Monrovia, CA 91017
Phone: (626)303-5676
Fax: (626)599-7906
Web: www.miyachiunitek.com
Miyachi Unitek is pleased to introduce the new LMF-2000 fiber laser marker.
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Both the 10 and 20W versions are capable of Q-switch frequencies of 2-500 kHz for maximum mark quality and speed, and have all the advantages of fiber technology with additional features that enable the user to specify a tailored solution. These features include a PC, touchscreen, stand-alone or pendant operation, intuitive and customizable marking interface, integrated rotary and XYZ motion, LAN connectivity, and an in-line camera option to view the mark and provide a non-intrusive code verification or read capability. In addition to the standard marking software, a number of software options are available to seamlessly integrate the marker into existing and legacy systems.
Miyachi Unitek designs and manufactures a full range of resistance welding and reflow soldering power supplies, heads, monitors and accessories for both large scale and fine spot applications requiring precision metals joining, lasers and laser systems for welding and marking, and hermetic sealing systems, Gloveboxes and environmental enclosures. The company offers applications and process development support at no charge. Company Headquarters is located at 1820 S Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016. Contact Miyachi Unitek at (626) 303-5676 or by email at info@muc.miyachi.com. Miyachi Unitek may be found on the internet at www.muc.miyachi.com.Back to Best New Equipment/Service.
New-Form Tools Ltd.—Booth: 0141
232 Lorne Ave. E.
P.O. Box 23018
Stratford, ON N5A 7V8
Phone: (519)272-0921
Fax: (519)272-1996
Web: www.newformtools.com
New-Form Tools, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, will display its patented Quick Change Tube Cutting System at booth #141 during the 2008 METALFORM Show.
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The Quick Change Tube Cutting System has been developed to help Tube and Pipe manufacturers gain valuable production time. Cut-off blades can now be changed in less than 10 seconds and jaw systems in less than 60 seconds. New-Form’s patented Quick Change Systems will increase mill uptimes by as much as 1-2 hours per day, resulting in the added benefit of 300-600 hours of running time per year on each tube mill. These revolutionary systems have an unbelievable payback in weeks! Quick Change blades, jaws, and cross cut systems may be retrofitted into existing On-line or Off-line die sets.
Back to Best New Equipment/Service.
Oneda Corp.—Booth: 0942
4000 Oneda Dr.
Columbus, GA 31907
Phone: (706)569-7030
Fax: (706)561-8596
Web: www.oneda.com
Multi-Part Manufacturing Technique
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Oneda Corporation, located in Columbus GA, has developed tooling technology and manufacturing capabilities that allow us to produce multiple parts within the same process. The advantages of this methodology are significantly reduced tooling expenses, improved overall unit costs, and increased production capacity. We use advanced comprehensive engineering and design experience to achieve this manufacturing technique for our precision metal stampings. Oneda Corporation is a subsidiary of Oneda Electric Corporation Japan serving the automotive, medical, and electronics industries. For additional information please visit us at our booth at the Regional METALFORM in Birmingham or on our website at www.oneda.com.
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Promess Inc.—Booth: 0426
11429 E. Grand River Rd.
Brighton, MI 48116
Phone: (810)229-9334
Fax: (810)229-2510
Web: www.promessinc.com
Promess Introduces Patented "Tweak-O-Matic"® Automated Part Straightening System
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An innovative, automated and patented part straightening system combining high-tech electro-mechanical servo-presses with real-time straightness measurement and feedback has been introduced by Promess, Inc.
Based on the company’s field-proven Electro-Mechanical Assembly Press (EMAP), Promess PRO process monitoring and test system, and sensor technologies all integrated with Promess-developed, Windows-based, icon-driven software, the new "Tweak-O-Matic" straightening system is applicable to sheet metal stampings, machined parts, extrusions, tubular assemblies, and virtually any component or structure that requires straightening.
"The heart of the Tweak-O-Matic is the Promess EMAP," explained Promess president Larry Stockline. "EMAP’s an instrumented electromechanical servo press, which means that ram position is accurately known by the control at all times. We use of pair of EMAPs in the Tweak-O-Matic, one on each side of a part clamping fixture. After the part is clamped, the rams move into contact and their position is communicated to the control via the PRO modules. By comparing the actual part location to a pre-determined standard, we can tell whether or not the part is flat."
"If it is, it’s unclamped and passed down the line," Stockline said, "if it isn’t, we then use the presses in tandem to move it in the appropriate direction. Since there are two rams, and their motion is coordinated, the straightening operation may be &rsqou;push-pull,’ ’push-push,’ or ’pull-push’ with the direction, distance, and force all calculated by the PRO control modules. It’s a repetitive ’move-measure-move’ process with the control using gage feedback and press position information to apply the force necessary to achieve the desired flatness or straightness."
The Tweak-O-Matic system can be configured to handle a broad range of stamped parts and assemblies, including transmission shafts and components, shock absorber towers, construction hammers, saw blades, automotive engine push rods, firearm barrels, shock absorber rods, drive shafts, camshafts, axle shafts, golf club shafts, lawn mower blades, and virtually anything else that needs to be straightened after manufacturing and/or assembly operations.
"The operating principle is highly scaleable;" Stockline added, "there is no need to stop at two EMAPs. I can easily envision a system using a hundred or more presses to straighten or bend a large structure like an aircraft airframe during manufacturing," he said. "And, of course, if it can straighten a part or assembly, it can also bend it to any desired configuration as well. This opens an additional range of applications on parts and assemblies that need to be precisely bent for proper function."
Promess Introduces the Electro-Mechanical Assembly Press "EMAP"
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Unlike older mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic assembly presses, the Promess Electro-Mechanical Assembly Press technology is the foundation for truly intelligent assembly operations, which offer new levels of quality, productivity, and flexibility.
Back to Best New Equipment/Service.
Roland Industrial Electronics L.P.—Booth: 0742
20126 Jefferson Ct.
Strongsville, OH 44149-5610
Phone: (216)344-0508
Fax: (440)846-8632
Web: www.roland-industrial-electronics.com
ROLAND INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS Announces Innovative Weld Seam Detection System SND40 for Tubes, Coils and Wires
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Weld seam detection in tubes has become a critical issue in the production process of hydroformed structural automotive components such as:
Engine cradles, Roll bars, Door intrusion beams, Head rests, Stabilizer bars
Why is the detection and positioning of tubes by their weld seam so important?
- Only if the weld seam is detected and positioned reliably in the tube bending equipment, bended tubes with repeatable geometries will be produced.
- Only bended tubes with repeatable geometries can be properly placed into the cavities of hydroforming dies.
Optical systems for weld seam detection such as photo eyes, cameras and laser based systems all rely on optical tube surface properties which are seldom sufficiently constant to provide the reliability required for automotive component production.
For this reason the Roland Weld Seam Detection System SND40 utilizes only non-optical sensor principles to achieve the desired reliability.
They are:
- Magnetic leaking flux
- Eddy current with pre-magnetization
- Magnetic leaking flux in combination with eddy current
The PC-based Weld Seam Detector SND40 combines the strength of proprietary analog sensor technology with the power of digital signal analysis for optimum performance in weld seam detection.
The Roland Optimizer software program is employed to find the best combination of parameter settings on customer sample tubes and search automatically for the largest signal to noise ratio expressed in decibels (dB). Such parameters are for example test frequency (kHz), magnetization level, filter type, filter limits such as high and low pass, gain levels and others, making it practically impossible to adjust manually for an optimum setting.
While the majority of applications for the SND40 are on welded tubes, it is equally well suited for the detection of weld seams in coils, enabling coil processors to use lower cost welded coils in their operations.
Another application is the detection of joints and butt welds in wires, gas and brake line tubes in continuous production and treatment processes.
Back to Best New Equipment/Service.
CIECO, Inc.—Booth: 0406
2401 Hookstown Grade Rd.
Clinton, PA 15026
Phone: (412)262-5581
Fax: (412)264-9272
Web: www.ciecocontrols.com
CIECO Inc. Clinton, PA will focus attention on their new low cost wireless Efficiency Analysis Reporting System.
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EARS is a complete production tracking system that includes both hardware and software. Eliminate or reduce shop floor accounting and transfer information in real-time from machinery where cabled communication is difficult or unwanted. View productivity status of your machines from your PC and create your own reports in Excel or Access. It can be used on almost any machine regardless of the existing controls and does not require any data entry. You can track efficiency of your labor-time and machine resources and identify areas for making process improvement. Once installed, the EARS system runs automatically without manual data entry.
CIECO also provides a multiple range of pressroom controls starting with stand-alone to fully integrated packages. The product lines are built in the U.S. with CIECO quality and supported by the CIECO Technical Support Team.
Engineering Technology Associates (ETA)—Booth: 0828
1133 E. Maple Rd., Ste. 200
Troy, MI 48083
Phone: (248)729-3010
Fax: (248)729-3020
Web: www.eta.com
Now Available from Engineering Technology Associates: DYNAFORM 5.6— the Complete Die System Simulation Solution.
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Newest release 5.6 has many new features and includes a new module called Die System Analysis (DSA).
DYNAFORM allows the organization to entirely bypass soft tooling, reducing overall tryout time, lowering costs, increasing productivity and providing complete confidence in die system design. It also allows evaluation of alternative and unconventional designs and materials for an optimal solution. The most cost-effective and accurate solution available, DYNAFORM is the clear choice among progressive organizations seeking to streamline the die analysis system.
Komatsu America Industries, LLC—Booth: 0222
199 E. Thorndale Ave.
Wood Dale, IL 60191
Phone: (630)860-3000
Fax: (630)860-5680
Web: www.komatsupress.com
Komatsu Introduces New Visual Inspection System (VIS)
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The Komatsu Visual Inspection System (VIS) is software that measures the slide position, speed, load in tons, working energy, and other press parameters. Sensors incorporated in the press feed this data through the built in communications port in order to display and control such data on a remote computer. This operation not only makes it easier to manufacture and adjust the dies but also to control the accuracy of formed parts and reduce defects.
Exact digital data removes the guesswork - no more intuition or trial and error. Seeing exactly what's happening in the press cycle allows you to optimize the press motion and speed to the match your application - eliminating wasted slide motion, improving thru put and part quality. You can "see" exactly where there are any secondary or unwanted vibrations or shock occurring in the cycle, precisely time when the strippers engage. You can analyze the entire cycle or any part of the cycle - in degree segments or inches from BDC.
Komatsu engineers developed the VIS system for use in Komatsu Mechanical Servo Presse. With available capacities from 35-ton single point to 3000-ton multipoint straight side designs, Komatsu Servo Presses always offer the right press for the right job.
Komatsu VIS and Servo Technology provide the optimum solution - only from Komatsu.
Wintriss Controls of Honeywell—Booth: 0100
100 Discovery Way
Acton, MA 01720
Phone: (800)586-8324
Fax: (978)263-2491
Web: www.wintriss.com
HONEYWELL ANNOUNCES NEW JOB-SCHEDULING MODULE
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Job Scheduler Expands Capabilities of LETS Production-Reporting Software
The new scheduling module enables users to create a prioritized list of jobs to run on each machine throughout the factory, using a Web browser interface to select the appropriate part number(s), part quantity and due date for each job. The module then uses historical efficiency and changeover data that LETS has collected for each tool to estimate job completion dates and times, and highlights jobs that are estimated to complete after the due date.
When a machine calls for a new job, the scheduling module automatically sends the quantity of parts required, as well as the next tool, part, and/or job number, to machine-mounted SmartPAC 1, SmartPAC 2, or LETS Machine Interface (LMI) controls, using the LETS Ethernet connection with these units.
“The new scheduling module allows us to offer an expanded LETS solution to customers who are looking for a total machine automation solution,” said Jim Finnerty, product manager, Honeywell Wintriss.“The scheduler complements the strong data-collection, report-generation and real-time machine-monitoring features that have already made LETS a popular solution.”
The scheduling module can be used in group-scheduling environments, routing the highest-priority job in a single prioritized list to the first available machine in a work cell. If a machine in the group goes down for an extended period, LETS automatically reroutes those jobs to available machines.
LETS is a scalable, flexible software package featuring an OLE for Process Control (OPC) Server that accommodates a wide range of available“plug-in” device drivers and components for the industrial sector. Critical information logged to the LETS SQL database can easily be fed to enterprise resource planning (ERP) or manufacturing execution systems (MES) software. LETS users can schedule automatic generation of a variety of production and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) reports and, via the browser-based Factory Viewer, monitor the status of all machines in a plant in real time.
For more information about the Honeywell Wintriss job-scheduling module and other Honeywell solutions that can improve business performance, visit www.honeywell.com/ps.