Page 8 - MetalForming Magazine May 2023

News Fronts
Agreements
Dallas Industries Acquires Controlling Interest in Dixie Machine and Fabrication
Dallas Industries, Troy, MI, a manufacturer of press-feeding equipment and controls, has purchased controlling interest in Dixie Machine & Fabrication (Dixie Fab), Holly, MI, providing the firm with enhanced equipment options for fabricating cabinets and weldments for its coil-feed lines. Says Dallas CEO Willie Chacko, “This move gives a pivotal boost to our company’s capa- bilities and is further expression of the recent growth of our com- pany.” Adds Dallas president Joe Gentilia: “Dixie Fab has offered quality custom fabricating and welding for more than 35 yr. and stocks all sizes cut to shape and length, and has maintained many long-term relationships with customers.”
Metalloid Acquires AccroLube
Metalworking-fluid manufacturer Metalloid Corp., Sturgis, MI, has acquired AccroLube from Accro-Seal Inc, Vicksburg, MI, man- ufacturers of high-temperature Polyurea grease with PTFE. Polyurea is a high-performance grease designed for extending the service life for industrial applications over a wide operating- temperature range. It’s formulated with highly refined mineral oil to help extend the life of the lubricant, and the PTFE lubricating solids help reduce its coefficient of friction.
ITR Economics Partners with FocusCFO
ITR Economics, Manchester, NH, an economic research and consulting firm, has partnered with FocusCFO, Columbus, OH, a provider of embedded fractional CFO services aimed at small and medium-sized businesses in a variety of industries. FocusCOF’s associates aim to empower business owners with sound financial management, forward-thinking insights and tools, and proactive financial strategies to help improve internal cash flow, reduce business risk and increase their value and efficiency.
The partnership is a natural fit, say the companies’ leaders, combining FocusCFO’s financial expertise and ITR Economics’ sales and industry forecasting.
Schuler and AutoForm Collaborate
to Increase Productivity Through Digitalization
Schuler and AutoForm have agreed to collaborate, combining AutoForm’s Digital Twin and Schuler’s Digital Suite technologies and sharing their expertise to develop new digital press-shop solutions. These new solutions, they say, will enable customers to eliminate the gap between the virtual and physical worlds in order to increase productivity.
By combining AutoForm’s finite-element-based simulation tech- nology with sensor data generated by the press, optimal control parameters for each stamped part can be determined, company officials say. Control parameters calculated by AutoForm software then can be transferred to Schuler’s software, and the full range of press-adjustment capabilities can be applied to optimally con- trol the production process. The goal: zero-failure production.
Business Notes
Hobart Opens New Customer Experience Center for Welding Support and Training
Hobart has announced the grand opening of its new, 9000- sq.-ft. Customer Experience Center at its headquarters in Troy, OH. The space has been designed to provide welding cus- tomers and distributors with world-class technical, product and customer-service support, according to company officials. It will allow for onsite and virtual demonstrations of Hobart filler metals, combined with products from other ITW Welding Group companies, including Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Bernard, Tre- gaskiss and Jetline.
The center’s Customer Applications Lab features two robot- ic welding systems, including the new Hercules automated gas- metal-arc welding system from Hobart, Miller and Tregaskiss, along with semi-automatic welding stations and submerged arc welding equipment. It also includes pipe positioners, plas- ma cutters and advanced process equipment.
The center also includes a classroom where distributors and ITW Welding sales team members receive training on filler met- als, new welding technologies, welding best practices and more.
AP&T Offers Factory-Rebuilt Presses
AP&T has added factory-rebuilt presses to its offerings, older machines that the firm’s facility in Tranemo, Sweden, have fully rebuilt and upgraded to meet current performance and safety requirements. During the rebuild process, AP&T technicians dis- assemble and thoroughly examine the press, then replace worn parts and outdated systems and components. They then reassemble the press and perform a test run and safety check. All exchanged parts are covered by AP&T's new-parts warranty, and the machines are delivered with documentation certifying that they fulfill the safety and national standard requirements of each market.
Associations
SMI New Hires
Gary McCoy, executive director of the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI), Oak Brook, IL, has announced the hiring of Phil Sasso as managing editor of Springs magazine and Gabriela Car- rasco as the association’s new communications and administra- tive coordinator. Sasso has more than 25 yr. of experience in mar- keting communications and journalism with a strong background in the automotive aftermarket. As president of Sasso Marketing, his firm develops advertising, public relations, and promotional campaigns primarily for professional service providers and tool and equipment manufacturers.
Carrasco, in her new role with SMI, will help support various aspects of the association’s communications and administrative functions, including social media, to help boost member recruit- ment, engagement and retention.
6 MetalForming/May 2023
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