Acquisitions, shifting sales models, community outreach

United Grinding expands customer, community outreach for 2021
Further expanding its outreach to manufacturers and the greater Dayton region, United Grinding North America has announced several new programs, including those already underway and events planned for 2021. The company launched a new web-based video series, initiated a scholarship program for local students and prepared an online presentation that conveys the need for digitization in today’s manufacturing world.

“United Grinding North America prides itself on partnering with customers and the community through education,” says company President and CEO Markus Stolmar. “With the new web series, scholarship program and other forthcoming resources, we continue to stand by our brand promise to contribute to the further growth of manufacturing and to helping our customers increase their competitiveness.”

The new video series, titled In the Shop With United Grinding, is published on the company’s YouTube channel and is part of a wide-ranging initiative by United Grinding North America to reinforce its longstanding commitment to partnering with its customers. The series premieres Tuesday, January 12 with an episode about the best practices for preparing grinding wheels for tool and cutter grinding applications. Hosted by United Grinding Assistant Production Manager Kevis Mitchell, the first episode of the new series also includes Application Engineer Chad Mahurin and Tool Division General Manager Simon Manns discussing the optimal way to build, dress, balance and measure wheel packs for tool grinding applications.

Each new episode of In the Shop will focus on key topics that machine operators deal with on a daily or weekly basis. United Grinding North America will then offer knowledge, insight and best practices from its technical and application experts, many of whom garnered extensive first-hand shop experience prior joining the team at United Grinding North America. In addition to those experts, there will be special guest appearances from coolant suppliers, abrasives manufacturers and other United Grinding partners who will weigh in with advice and subject-matter expertise.

To encourage even more subject-matter expertise – and promote careers in manufacturing – United Grinding North America has established its Gearing Up For the Future scholarship for students pursuing degrees, diplomas or certificates in manufacturing and engineering-related technical fields. Organized through the Dayton Foundation, the scholarship will award four individual students each spring with financial aid that will help them attain their educational goals and become productive members of the manufacturing community.

Applied Industrial Technologies acquires Gibson Engineering
Applied Industrial Technologies has acquired Gibson Engineering Company Inc., a provider of automation products, services, and engineered solutions focused on machine vision, motion control, mobile and collaborative robotic solutions, intelligent sensors, and other related equipment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Neil A. Schrimsher, president & chief executive officer for Applied, commented “We are pleased to announce the addition of Gibson Engineering and the continued expansion of our next generation automation offering and footprint. Gibson is a leading provider of emerging automation technologies across the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. They bring established customer and supplier relationships, along with an experienced team highly regarded for their technical and engineering expertise that aligns with our growth strategy, market focus, and value proposition.”

Based in Norwood, Massachusetts, Gibson’s team of more than 40 associates operates from one location and serves customers across life sciences, medical device, electronics, plastics, and various industrial and consumer industries.

Schrimsher adds, “Following three acquisitions in the past 16 months, we are making solid progress in growing our specialized automation offering and accelerating Applied’s growth opportunities into calendar 2021 and beyond. We welcome Gibson and look forward to leveraging their capabilities across our leading technical industry position as we continue to support our customers’ most critical assets and operational requirements.”

GF Machining Solutions shifts sales model in several states
As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to providing unmatched access to resources and an optimal experience for its customers, GF Machining Solutions announced that it will transition in phases to a direct sales and support model in several key states. Effective January 1, 2021, GF Machining Solutions will directly support California, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota Washington and Wisconsin, which were previously served by Ellison Technologies.

“GF Machining Solutions and Ellison Technologies have enjoyed a successful partnership over the years and this transition was a mutual decision on the part of both companies,” says Phil Hauser, president and head of market region North & Central America for GF Machining Solutions. “We are excited to take these important steps to be closer to our customers. Our entire team is dedicated to helping manufacturers across North America improve their operations, compete at a higher level and achieve sustainable success.”

Orders placed before December 31, 2020 are being handled by Ellison Technologies in cooperation with the GF Machining Solutions direct sales team. All new orders taken after January 1, 2021 will be accepted and supported directly by GF Machining Solutions.

The expansion of GF Machining Solutions’ direct sales and service support organization is backed by its growing team of world-class sales managers, field service engineers, application engineers and phone support associates. The company’s after-sales service team will be further strengthened over the coming weeks, and all support efforts will be streamlined and coordinated through GF Machining Solutions’ customer service organization.

Customers in affected states have been contacted directly by GF Machining Solutions, and additional information will be provided throughout the course of the transition.