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GF AgieCharmilles is now GF Machining Solutions

Effective Jan. 1, 2014, GF AgieCharmilles became GF Machining Solutions, a name change that underscores that Georg Fischer AG (GF) is a unified company with three divisions. GF AgieCharmilles has grown to offer a diverse portfolio, including milling, EDM, laser texturing, spindles, tooling, automation, and customer services. The new name emphasizes the company’s role as a total solutions provider.

The change in name will not affect the terms of existing agreements with customers, and the names of the company’s legal entities will remain the same. Due to their rich history and high recognizability in the market, the AgieCharmilles, Mikron, Step-Tec, and System 3R product names will still be used within the umbrella of the GF Machining Solutions portfolio. A new product naming system is in development and will be introduced during the first half of 2014.

The current company website will automatically redirect to a new URL, and GF AgieCharmilles email addresses will continue to be active through December 2014. There will be no changes to telephone numbers. www.gfms.com
 

DMG MORI USA ends Maruka relationship, starts direct operations

DMG MORI USA has concluded its relationship with Maruka, a distributor of DMG MORI machines in six states. While the two companies will sustain an international relationship, each will pursue other opportunities within the United States.

DMG MORI USA customers affiliated with Maruka will have direct access to DMG MORI USA for service, sales, parts, and customer service support. The company is currently adding staff and opening local facilities in Tampa, Fla.; Parsippany, N.J.; Wichita, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Tulsa, Okla. Headquartered in Chicago, DMG MORI USA has offices across the U.S., as well as a U.S. factory, R&D hub, and digital technology lab in Davis, Calif.

One number, 855.DMG.MORI (855.364.6674), will connect with the call center, parts ordering group, and engineering support line. www.dmgmori-usa.com
 

FANUC merges Americas operations

FANUC has officially merged all of its operations in the Americas into a single company named FANUC America Corp. The new company, headquartered in Rochester Hills, Mich., will have 22 locations and offer a range of products and services for robotics, CNC systems, and factory automation solutions. Rick Schneider, previously president of FANUC Robotics America, has been appointed president and CEO. www.fanucamerica.com
 

Yamazen opens Ariz. tech center

Yamazen Inc., distributors of Brother, Matsuura, Mitsubishi, Mitutoyo, and Takisawa machine tool and industrial equipment, has opened its newest technical center in Phoenix, Ariz.

Yamazen currently serves the western U.S. with offices in California and Texas. The latest technical center was opened to better serve the distributor’s Arizona, Southern Nevada, and New Mexico customers. The center includes 3,600ft2 of space and will provide customers with sales, service, engineering, and technical advice. www.yamazen.com

Helping close the mfg. skills gap

The Lincoln Electric Co. has partnered with the Tri-Rivers Career Center, Marion Technical College, and The Ohio State University at Marion, Ohio, to provide robotic welding and fume removal systems for RAMTEC (Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative), located on the campus of the Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion. The new RAMTEC facility is designed to bring industrial robotic and advanced manufacturing skills training to high school and adult students in central Ohio.

“We will continue to help manufacturing facilities and educators by providing solutions that can help engage, excite, and attract skilled workers into the workforce,” says Justin Percio, Lincoln Electric’s business manager of welding automation systems.

Lincoln Electric is helping RAMTEC to provide instruction on several types of advanced automation, including robotic welding, with a virtual reality welding training system. www.lincolnelectric.com
 

DMG MORI USA ends Maruka relationship, starts direct operations

DMG MORI USA has concluded its relationship with Maruka, a distributor of DMG MORI machines in six states. While the two companies will sustain an international relationship, each will pursue other opportunities within the United States.

DMG MORI USA customers affiliated with Maruka will have direct access to DMG MORI USA for service, sales, parts, and customer service support. The company is currently adding staff and opening local facilities in Tampa, Fla.; Parsippany, N.J.; Wichita, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Tulsa, Okla. Headquartered in Chicago, DMG MORI USA has offices across the U.S., as well as a U.S. factory, R&D hub, and digital technology lab in Davis, Calif.

One number, 855.DMG.MORI (855.364.6674), will connect with the call center, parts ordering group, and engineering support line. www.dmgmori-usa.com
 

FANUC merges Americas operations

FANUC has officially merged all of its operations in the Americas into a single company named FANUC America Corp. The new company, headquartered in Rochester Hills, Mich., will have 22 locations and offer a range of products and services for robotics, CNC systems, and factory automation solutions. Rick Schneider, previously president of FANUC Robotics America, has been appointed president and CEO. www.fanucamerica.com
 

Yamazen opens Ariz. tech center

Yamazen Inc., distributors of Brother, Matsuura, Mitsubishi, Mitutoyo, and Takisawa machine tool and industrial equipment, has opened its newest technical center in Phoenix, Ariz.

Yamazen currently serves the western U.S. with offices in California and Texas. The latest technical center was opened to better serve the distributor’s Arizona, Southern Nevada, and New Mexico customers. The center includes 3,600ft2 of space and will provide customers with sales, service, engineering, and technical advice. www.yamazen.com

Helping close the mfg. skills gap

The Lincoln Electric Co. has partnered with the Tri-Rivers Career Center, Marion Technical College, and The Ohio State University at Marion, Ohio, to provide robotic welding and fume removal systems for RAMTEC (Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative), located on the campus of the Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion. The new RAMTEC facility is designed to bring industrial robotic and advanced manufacturing skills training to high school and adult students in central Ohio.

“We will continue to help manufacturing facilities and educators by providing solutions that can help engage, excite, and attract skilled workers into the workforce,” says Justin Percio, Lincoln Electric’s business manager of welding automation systems.

Lincoln Electric is helping RAMTEC to provide instruction on several types of advanced automation, including robotic welding, with a virtual reality welding training system. www.lincolnelectric.com