Iscar introduces LogIQ lines

Hurco celebrates 50th anniversary

Indianapolis, Indiana-based machine tool manufacturer Hurco celebrated its 50th anniversary with an open house featuring machine demos, a 5-axis machining seminar, live radio broadcast, National Hot Rod Association drag racers John Force and Robert Hight, and IndyCar racer owner and driver Ed Carpenter. Hurco President Greg Volovic welcomed Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to the ceremonial cake cutting.

Founded by Gerald Roch and the late Edward Humston in 1968, Hurco – “Hu” for Humston, “R” for Roch, and “Co” for company – became an innovator in computer-controlled multi-axis machining centers and mill-turn lathes.www.hurco.com

Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita State University collaborate

Spirit AeroSystems and Wichita State University (WSU) will partner through the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) to focus on joint strategic research projects, applied learning opportunities for WSU students, and improved aerospace workforce training.

“Strengthening our collaboration with WSU helps Spirit accelerate our advanced research initiatives and improve training opportunities for our workforce,” says Spirit President and CEO Tom Gentile.

Spirit plans to lease space in the Partnership Building 2 on WSU’s Innovation Campus in Wichita to facilitate enhanced cooperation with the university on projects such as advanced composites R&D, rapid prototyping, product development and testing, and additive manufacturing and design.

“This type of university/industry collaboration is exactly the kind needed to strengthen the regional economy and prepare students for careers in the aerospace and manufacturing industries,” says WSU President John Bardo.

Spirit’s previously-announced increased production rates on many of its programs, along with the launch of growth initiatives in fabrication and defense, are driving needs for a higher-skilled workforce equipped for advanced manufacturing. Revamping the workforce training model with WSU, together with other aerospace manufacturers, will improve the pipeline of qualified aviation workers.

Darren Roos appointed IFS CEO

Global enterprise applications company IFS has hired Darren Roos as CEO, replacing Alastair Sorbie, who is retiring after 12 years.

Roos, an enterprise software innovator, has a track-record for establishing and scaling global software businesses. Most recently, Roos was president of cloud ERP business at SAP and, before that, grew international operations at Software AG. www.ifsworld.com

Sandvik Coromant sponsors, participates in Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing’s Machining Research Day

Sandvik Coromant was a sponsor at the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) Machining Research Day in Prince George County, Virginia. The event drew industry experts from manufacturing, academia, and government to discuss machining technologies and challenges.

According to William Durow, manager of Sandvik Coromant’s global engineering project office, “New technologies are often developed in the academic world, but they struggle with finding an avenue for new concepts. Connecting academia with manufacturing allows us to identify opportunities to bring that technology into the manufacturing world.”

Industry experts also included representatives from GF Machining Solutions and Kyocera as well as academics from UNC Charlotte, Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (AMRC), and the Air Force Research Library. Topics included education and the future workforce, and how to determine the biggest opportunities for process optimization in machining, handling new materials with low machinability, the role that process modeling will continue to play, and how hybrid machining fits into the future. www.ccam-va.com; www.sandvik.coromant.com

Marposs acquires aviation tooling supplier BPMA

Global measurement and process monitoring technologies company Marposs has acquired BPMA, based in Le Pin, France, a specialist in the design and manufacture of jet engine tooling and aerospace mechanical equipment.

Established in 1966, the BPMA product line extends Marposs offerings for new aircraft engine programs as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of legacy engines.

Marposs provides the design and manufacture of tooling, fixtures, machine monitoring systems, and automatic inspection machines. Its systems are used for assembly, final inspection, and MRO of modern aircraft engines. http://bpma.fr; www.marposs.com