SW SOUTHWEST SE SOUTHEAST NE NORTHEAST MW MIDWEST W WEST Okuma America Corporation Launches Factory Automation Division Senior executives at Okuma Amer-ica Corporation, a builder of computer numeric control (CNC) machine tools, controls and automation systems, have announced the launch of a new business segment created to recommend, sell and support manufacturing production line systems comprised of Okuma CNC ma-chine tools and integrated automation technologies. The new division is based at the Okuma America Corporation headquarters in Charlotte, NC. The decision to launch the Okuma Factory Automation Division was in di-rect response to increased demand from manufacturers seeking automated ma-chining systems and cells for their opera-tions to address labor shortage issues and to increase production capacities. With the launch of this new division, Okuma is optimally positioned to offer customers a broad range of Okuma machine tools and automation system pairings. Solutions will include both proprietary and seam-lessly integrated automation systems, in-cluding automated material loading and unloading systems, machine tending and industrial robotics, automated workpiece pallet changers (APC), flexible manufac-turing systems (FMS), smart manufactur-ing systems and beyond. Jim King, President and Chief Oper-ating Officer for Okuma America Corpo-ration, shared his perspective about the new division: “The launch of the Okuma Factory Automation Division is a strate-gic milestone in the company’s 125-year history of creating products and services that meet customer needs of the day. Manufacturing has significantly evolved over the last five years with the broad adoption of automated technologies and changes in workforce trends. With our newly created Factory Automation Divi-sion, we are well positioned to advise and provide customers of all sizes with manufacturing systems to optimize their operations.” To support the new business seg-ment, company leaders have appointed Wade Anderson as the division’s new General Manager. Anderson has worked for Okuma for 17 years in a variety of roles, including engineering, technical sales, sales leadership, product manage-ment and technology partner relation-ships. Additional organizational resources will be appointed to support the division’s infrastructure and customer applications. “For 125 years Okuma has always been on the leading edge of manufactur-ing technologies,” said Anderson. “As we set our sights to the future, the creation of the Okuma Factory Automation Division will foster the development and delivery of the most user-friendly OEM and indus-try leading partner automation solutions on the market. We have proven that auto-mated processes deliver the highest ma-chine tool utilization, which ultimately yields higher profits for our customers. With our goal of creating ‘Automation for All’ solutions, coupled with Okuma’s well-known quality, expertise, service and support infrastructure, there is no limit to the solutions we can provide for our val-ued customers.” For more information contact: Okuma America Corporation 11900 Westhall Drive Charlotte, NC 28278 704-588-7000 www.okuma.com M ANUFACTURING N EWS Reaching Metalworking Manufacturing Decision Makers Every Month MW MIDWEST M ANUFACTURING N EWS Serving Since 2007 Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin NE NORTHEAST M ANUFACTURING N EWS Serving Since 2005 Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont & West Virginia WA MT OR ID WY NV CA UT CO SD NE KS OK IA IL MO IN KY NC TN AZ NM TX AR MS LA FL AL GA SC ND MN WI MI PA OH MD DE ME VT NH NY MA RI CT NJ WV VA W WEST M ANUFACTURING N EWS Serving Since 2012 Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington & Wyoming SE SW SOUTHWEST M ANUFACTURING N EWS Serving Since 1997 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee & Virginia M ANUFACTURING N EWS Serving Since 1965 Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana & New Mexico SOUTHEAST For more information: 800-375-8488 or info@mfgnewsweb.com GROSS PUBLICATIONS, INC. 1133 Airline Drive, Suite 2100 • Grapevine, TX 76051 P.O. Box 847 • Grapevine, TX 76099-0847 817-488-8488 • Fax: 817-488-7813 E-Mail: info@mfgnewsweb.com John W. Gross, Publisher/CEO jgross@mfgnewsweb.com • Ext. 101 Ruth M. Gross, Editorial Director rgross@mfgnewsweb.com • Ext. 105 Brad J. Gross, Managing Editor/President bgross@mfgnewsweb.com • Ext. 109 Jody Estes, Associate Publisher/Vice President jestes@mfgnewsweb.com • Ext. 111 Jenny McDonald, Associate Editor/Vice President jmcdonald@mfgnewsweb.com • Ext. 108 Danelle Gross, Billing Coordinator dgross@mfgnewsweb.com • Ext. 107 Katy Bynum, Editorial Coordinator kbynum@mfgnewsweb.com • Ext. 104 Closing date for editorial: 45 days before issue date. Closing date for advertising: 30 days before issue date. Published 12 times annually. No charge for subscriptions to qualified recipients. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified recipients in the U.S.A. $56.00. Copyright © 2023 by Gross Publications, Inc. United Grinding Precision Summit May 24-25, 2023 UNITED GRINDING North Amer-ica will host industry leaders and man-ufacturing professionals at the first ever Precision Summit in Miamisburg, OH, on May 24-25, 2023. “We are very excited about this new opportunity for our current and future customers to expand their knowledge of our product line and find answers to their questions in a friendly, relaxed atmos-phere,” said Markus Stolmar, President and CEO of UNITED GRINDING North America. “It is a ‘must attend’ event for anyone interested in elevating their man-ufacturing processes to the next level.” Attendees will be able to view ma-chine demonstrations, displays and tech-nical presentations designed to equip and educate the industry. With 16 ma-chines on display, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the latest pre-cision grinding equipment, wheels and accessories in person. This includes four recent additions to the lineup designed for specific industry niches. “We always listen when our cus-tomers tell us what they need,” said Stol-mar. “These four machines are the direct result of that partnership and we are pleased to put them in the spotlight dur-ing The Precision Summit.” The following machines will be dis-played in North America for the first time: • STUDER S36: A cylindrical grinding ma-chine for the EV, hydraulic, pump and toolmaking sectors • STUDER S100: An entry-level machine for grinding geometrically defined basic forms and contours • BLOHM PLANOMAT XT Essential: A 3-axis entry-level machine for high pre-cision surface and profile grinding. Along with machine demonstrations, technical sessions will show how UNITED GRINDING’s state-of-the-art technology can be tailored to support multiple indus-tries, including EV/automotive, job shops and others. “Experts will also be on hand to advise job shop managers on how the company’s machines can help make their operations more productive and efficient,” said Stolmar. A highlight of the event will be the keynote address by Harry Moser, Presi-dent of the Reshoring Initiative. His topic will be “Exploring Ways Companies Can Take Advantage of the Reshoring Trend.” “With all of our experts on the floor along with 16 machines on display, this will be one of the premier events in the grinding industry this year,” said Stol-mar. “Make your plans now to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to learn how we can help you overcome your toughest business challenges.” www.mfgnewsweb.com 4 May 2023 • SOUTHWEST MANUFACTURING NEWS • www.mfgnewsweb.com
Southwest Manufacturing News May 23: Page 4
