Medical design and manufacture news round-up

Lee Spring acquires M & S Spring

© Lee Spring | https://www.leespring.com

Lee Spring, a global leader in stock and custom springs, has acquired Fraser, Michigan-based M & S Spring, specialists in rapid prototype custom springs that require quick turnaround with quantities ranging from a single piece to higher volume pilot runs.

“The acquisition of M & S Spring expands our manufacturing capabilities in support of continued growth, particularly within the quick prototyping side of the spring business. M & S Spring has an outstanding reputation for fast turnaround of high-quality parts earned over 60 years of operation. They have a highly skilled team of employees that specialize in engineering, design, and spring manufacturing. Their expertise in short-run prototyping of custom springs and their extensive knowledge of flat springs are a great fit with our business,” says Steve Kempf, CEO of Lee Spring. “M & S Spring will continue to serve customers from their existing facility in Fraser, Michigan, plus they will now also have access to a wider range of capabilities through Lee Spring’s global manufacturing operations. This acquisition enhances the offering available to Lee Spring customers worldwide with this manufacturing and expertise expansion.”

BIG KAISER presents fifth annual donation to NRL

© BIG KAISER/NRL | https://www.us.bigkaiser.com

Customers of BIG KAISER helped to raise $6,275 to benefit the National Robotics League (NRL) – the fifth annual contribution to the program. 

The donation is a 2% match of all qualified orders from National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) member companies during the final two months of the calendar year. Manufacturers placed orders for cutting tools, tool holders, workholding and tool measurement systems, earning funds for the NRL at the same time. 

The National Robotics League (NRL) is a manufacturing workforce development program of the NTMA that organizes student teams to design and build remote-controlled robots (Bots) to face-off in a gladiator-style competition. Through the process of Bot building, students gain practical knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) – all essential skills for manufacturing careers.

“We’re not just fighting a skills gap in our workforce, we have an ‘interest gap’ too. The NRL helps create excitement about manufacturing technology and STEM careers,” says Roger Atkins, president at NTMA. “We appreciate BIG KAISER’s continued support year over year, and of course all of the NTMA members who participate in the program to support the NRL.” 

“I’m really happy we could make this contribution to NRL despite the really difficult year. We need to be there for these kids and stay engaged in all types of programs to promote manufacturing careers,” says Chris Kaiser, BIG KAISER executive advisor. 

Applied Manufacturing Technologies Hires Steven R. Johnstone

Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North America’s largest independent automation engineering company supporting manufacturers, robot companies, systems integrators, line builders, and users of robotic automation worldwide, has hired Steven R. Johnstone as director – Controls Application.

“Steve is an industry professional with a proven track record of leadership in automation and brings added strength to our controls and automation team as we continue to grow,” says COO Craig Salvalaggio. “With AMT’s growth in systems integration and controls solutions, Steve will work to provide additional group and project leadership as we grow our presence within new industries. In addition to his business leadership, he will support the sales team with estimating and the execution team with project management. Steve is an industry pro and will work to represent AMT’s technical ability and ethics to serve our industry.”

Johnstone brings nearly three decades of experience in a wide variety of roles in the industrial automation and control systems industry to his new role at AMT.  Johnstone’s most recent position was senior electrical engineer at a large packaging products and systems company where he oversaw capital projects and supported plant operations. For 25 years prior to that, Johnstone owned and operated JS Controls, Inc., which specialized in automation and systems integration for the Southeast Michigan region.

Johnstone holds a variety of certifications and training, including Schneider Unity Pro PLC Programming certification and Horner Automation’s OCS Training for PLCs / HMIs, as well as being a member of the Sandler Sales Institute’s President’s Club.  To his new role at AMT, Johnstone experience with all major industry brands, including Rockwell Automation, Allen Bradley, Siemens, SquareD, Modicon, Telemecanique, General Electric, Horner, and Unitronics. 

Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association announces new members

© AMGTA | https://amgta.org/

The Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA), a global trade organization created to promote the environmental benefits of additive manufacturing (AM), announced that eight additional leading AM organizations have joined the trade group to advance sustainability in AM, bringing its membership ranks to twenty members.

Joining as a new Founding Member is ExOne, the pioneer and global leader in industrial 3D printing systems using binder jet 3D printing technology. As a Founding Member, ExOne will serve alongside existing Founding Members Sintavia LLC, a designer and 3D printer of a new generation of flight and launch components, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (one of the operating companies under Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation), a supplier of stable industrial gases to a wide variety of global industries; and QC Laboratories Inc., an advanced non-destructive testing laboratory focused on AM components. These four co-founders will determine the strategic direction of the AMGTA, provide governance oversight, and consider future research projects that members may vote to commission.

Joining the AMGTA as new Participating Members are: BASF 3D Printing Solutions, a provider of 3D printing solutions along the entire additive manufacturing value chain under the brand Forward AM; DyeMansion, the global leader in automated post-processing workflows for industrial polymer 3D-printing; Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT), one of the world’s leading research institutes in the field of laser-based additive manufacturing; HP Inc., a global leader of 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions for sustainable production; Rusal America, a subsidiary of Rusal, the world’s leading producer of low-carbon aluminum; TRUMPF, one of the world’s leading companies for machine tools, laser technology, and additive manufacturing for industrial applications; and 6K, a leading metal powder producer that is setting a new AM “green” standard by leveraging sustainable sources as feedstock for premium powder production with its UniMelt platform.

These new Participating Members will serve alongside existing Participating Members AMEXCI AB, a resource for futureproofing Nordic Industries, accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies; Danish AM Hub, Denmark’s focal point for the additive manufacturing ecosystem; EOS, the world’s leading technology supplier in the industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers; GE Additive, a world leader in additive design and manufacturing, a pioneering process that has the power and potential to transform businesses; Materialise, the backbone of 3D printing, incorporating three decades of experience into pioneering software solutions and services; National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, a group of industry-led manufacturing R&D facilities transforming skills, productivity, and innovation in Scotland; Siemens Digital Industries Software, a driver of design, engineering and manufacturing transformation with its Xcelerator digital enterprise portfolio; SLM Solutions Inc., the leading provider of industrial metal 3D printing machines focused on metal additive manufacturing and multi-laser technology; and Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies.

“I’m excited to officially welcome ExOne aboard as a new Founding Member company of the AMGTA, as well as each of our new Participating Member organizations,” says Sherry Handel, executive director of the AMGTA. “Their dedication to support our trade group’s mission well-positions the AMGTA for continued growth and helps to fund new sustainability research projects in additive manufacturing. I am looking forward to working with all of our members as we expand the AMGTA as a key industry resource in advancing sustainability in the AM industry this year and beyond.” 

THK Celebrates 50 years of innovate linear motion products

© THK | https://www.thk.com/

As the pioneers in linear motion products, THK has introduced innovations in high-quality, precision motion components for the past five decades, setting the benchmark for the industry.

In 1971, THK was established in Meguro-ku, Tokyo, under its first name, Toho Seiko Co., Ltd. In 1972, THK became the first company in the world to develop a method of linear motion with rolling contact and began manufacturing and selling the commercialized result: Linear Motion (LM) Guides. In 1977, THK's Kofu Plant, the first full-scale LM Guide production plant, was established. This was THK's first step in expanding production facilities. From there, THK took operations worldwide and expanded to North America and Germany. As THK set out on growing globally, it did so with a spirit of innovation and the determination to solve customer dilemmas with cutting-edge solutions. The product line expanded to include Ball Splines and Ball Screws, LM Guides, Actuators and Cross-Roller Rings. A commitment to innovation led to the development of THK’s patented Caged Ball design. Consisting of a plastic structure that provides a pocket in which the metal balls roll and stay separated, this design reduces wear and friction, retains lubricant that provides longer service life for the bearings and gives the customer superb noise reduction during operation.

Innovative products, along with knowledgeable sales, engineering, and mechatronics departments, have made THK the world leader in linear motion components. In fact, in the last ten years alone, THK has sold enough LM Guides that if lined up would circle the globe at the equator.

Pioneers in linear motion guides since 1971, THK continues that same spirit in 2021. Recently, THK introduced a variety of innovations to meet the needs of customers in an ever-changing world. Their products can be found in robotics, manufacturing machinery, medical/surgical devices, packaging, semi-conductor manufacturing and much more. “We are proud of all we have accomplished over the past 50 years,” commented Ed Johnson, vice president of sales, THK America, Inc. “We are the components that go inside of what you build, and we are pleased that so many of our customers have honored us as a valued partner. We all have the need to move forward and whether you measure that movement in sub-microns or in meters, THK will continue to listen to your needs and provide the solutions to exceed them. The only limitation is your imagination, because if you can think it, we can assist you in designing and building it.”

THK manufactures the widest range of linear motion products, including LM Guides, Ball Screws, Mechanical Actuators and Ball Splines, Cross-Roller Rings and more. All THK products have been designed and manufactured to meet the strictest requirements. THK’s experienced Global Engineering Team can provide customized linear motion solutions from their standard linear motion products as well as from mechatronics products for the most demanding applications.