PM Blog

The invitation and registration documents for EMO Hannover 2019 are currently being sent out to companies in about 60 different countries. "We contact almost every company in the world that does international business and that has some connection with the manufacture of machine tools, tools, components, software and automation for industrial production," says Carl Martin Welcker, general commissioner of the show. From September 16 to 21, 2019, EMO Hannover will once again be providing a platform for innovative solutions, industrial applications and future technologies in the field of metalworking. "It includes the entire international production technology value chain, covering everything from cut-to-length machines to cylinder saws. That's exactly what makes it so attractive," Mr. Welcker says, describing the advantages of the event.

About 2,200 exhibitors are expected, more than half of them from outside Germany. According to the organizers, EMO exhibitors have responded well to the early-bird discount, which runs until October 15 this year. "Not only does it provide planning security, it’s also a great offer—especially for companies with large stands," explains Mr. Welcker.

Registering 51.6 for July, the Gardner Business Index (GBI): Precision Machining moved several points lower during the month, indicating little additional industry expansion, but expansion nonetheless. Compared with the same month one year ago, the index declined by 3 percent. The last time the index experienced a year-over-year decline was in mid-2016.  Gardner Intelligence’s review of the underlying data indicates that only supplier deliveries lifted the averages-based business index higher. The index’s average-based calculation was decreased by production, employment, exports, backlog and new orders. However, a single month’s results don’t make a trend.

The latest data indicated significantly slower growth in production and employment as compared with a month ago. For the first time since mid-2016, both backlogs and new orders reported contraction during the same month. For the first time since at least 2011, new orders were the fastest contracting component of the index. In addition to new orders, Gardner’s survey data reported that backlogs and exports also contracted during the month. 

Many parts cut on CNC Swiss-type lathes can be made on CNC multi-spindle lathes at a significantly lower cost. While initially more expensive, CNC multi-spindle machines can turn and mill parts up to six times faster and from standard barstock.

While Diana leads Symbol Training Institute by providing hands-on training and job placement through her institution, she strongly advocates for women's equality in manufacturing by promoting the profession to women. In fact, Diana founded and is currently president of Manufacturing Next, a 501c3 organization that was created to promote manufacturing careers to women and youth. She also serves as the current co-chapter president of Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Illinois chapter and oversees spearheading the growth of that organization.

Since Symbol's emergence in 2005, Diana's persistence has helped place thousands of Symbol's graduates into high paying, high demand jobs and has expanded the course curriculum to better serve the manufacturing industry. In 2013, through Diana’s efforts, Symbol was designated a Manufacturing Sector Center for all of Cook County. Symbol has also been the No. 1 ranked National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credentialing provider in the nation.

Workholding is a challenge for many shops dealing with the high-mix, low-volume world that is metalworking. Where mass production rules, custom fixtures is justifiable because it can be amortized across the production run.

For shops that don’t have high volume work to rely on, workholding that accommodates frequent job change-over is required, and it is often a constant search to find. The article “Magnetic Workholding for Production Parts” features one working system that can be an answer to the need for accommodating parts of various geometric configurations.