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Contest offering schools a chance to win force & stress testing system

ADMET is accepting entries from educational institutions for a contest to win an eX5M manual mechanical force/stress testing system. Launched to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary, the contest is open to all U.S.-based schools of any size, including secondary schools, technical schools, colleges, and universities. The materials testing system, valued at up to $5,000, will be equipped with a digital indicator and include the necessary grips and fixtures for the planned application. All entries must be received by May 31, and the contest winner will be announced on June 30, 2014.

The eX5M can perform a variety of tests, including tensile pull-to-break, compression, bend, adhesive peel, shear, and pull out. With these capabilities, users can determine a wide range of mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, toughness, adhesive strength, resistance to sliding, strain rate sensitivity, and ductility.

“We think the best way to celebrate is to provide a tool that can help the next generation of engineers learn about the mechanical properties of materials,” says Richard Gedney, CEO, ADMET. “We are gifting an eX5M Manual Tester to a school who proposes to use the tester in a way that provides the most effective means of teaching students about the properties of materials and structures.” More information and a contest application form are at www.admet.com.

Champion licensed to produce aero-derivative OEM engine stands

The Champion Co. will design and manufacture items under license from an unnamed major manufacturer for all of its commercial aerospace and aero-derivative engine platforms.

“This agreement allows us to further develop our product lines and secure Champion’s recognition as one of the top ground service equipment suppliers worldwide,” says Vice President and General Manager Todd DeVore. Champion is currently developing an engine stand that will offer improved functionality, ease of transport, and heightened personnel safety, DeVore adds. www.champion.us.com

Methods Machine Tools adds Maruka USA to dealer network

Methods Machine Tools Inc. has added a new dealer to its network. Maruka USA will represent the Nakamura, Fanuc RoboDrill, Kiwa, Feeler, and YASDA lines in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Long Island, New York City, and the New York counties of Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, and Columbia. Maruka’s presence in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, as well as in Florida, compliments Methods’ coverage in these markets. www.methodsmachine.com; www.marukausa.com

EMAG launches Mich. apprentice program

EMAG LLC has launched an apprentice training program, together with the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Oakland Community College, and Henry Ford Community College. The program provides graduates with an advanced Associate’s Degree.

Over three years, the students will rotate semesters at the colleges with practical learning on the shop floor of EMAG. “The participating colleges asked companies for their input to develop a real world curriculum, making it truly tailored to the needs of the industry,” says Mike Kjorli, EMAG shop floor manager and designated mentor to the company’s apprentices.

Rebekka Neumann, hired by EMAG as an apprentice mechatronics technician, adds, “This program takes a different approach. You apply everything you learn at your job then graduate with a degree, a job and no student loan debt.”

Two applicants, Matthew Combs and Neumann, were hired by EMAG at the start of the program. After completing their first educational semester, both joined the EMAG team in January 2014 to begin the practical rotation of their apprenticeship.

EMAG CEO Peter Loetzner says, “We at EMAG are very proud to participate in this important program, which not only benefits us, but Michigan and the Detroit area, in particular.” www.emag.com

MC Machinery launches mobile-ready website

MC Machinery Systems Inc. has launched a website designed to be more accessible on mobile devices while increasing functionality.

Taking advantage of the latest web design best practices and technologies, the flexible site features responsive design, to automatically optimize the layout for desktop, laptop, or mobile viewing. It contains technical articles, case histories, testimonials, and guest contributions to augment product pages.

An improved consumable section offers online calculators, such as the Taper Angle consumables selector and wire selector, and a specific selector tool designed to more easily find and request information about consumable products. www.mcmachinery.com

National Math & Science Initiative events, keynote during IMTS 2014

Gregg Fleisher, chief academic officer, National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at the Smartforce Student Summit at the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 (IMTS) in Chicago. NMSI prepares students for success by building strong foundations in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through programs that transform teaching, schools, and education in the United States.

“The Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS introduces educators, students, and parents to exciting new innovations in manufacturing technology,” says Greg Jones, vice president, Smartforce Development, The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT). “The Student Summit is designed to allow young people to interact with today’s manufacturing industry so that they can translate their STEM education into real-world results within high-tech and high-value careers.”

The NMSI College Readiness Program is now in more than 550 schools in 22 states across the country. The average first year increase in the number of students passing AP math, science, and English scores at NMSI schools is 72% – 10 times the national average, and those results are sustained throughout the program’s three-year duration. By 2025, the program is expected to increase the number of students passing AP math and AP science exams from 440,000 in 2013 to 1.5 million.

The Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2014 will be held from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sept. 8-13, 2014, at McCormick Place, Chicago. www.imts.com/student

Liebherr partners with Koepfer America

Liebherr Gear Technology Inc., Saline, Mich., has added Koepfer America LLC, South Elgin, Ill., to its sales and support team for the Wenzel GearTec products for Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and the U.S. east coast region.

Liebherr Gear Technology is Wenzel’s exclusive GearTec product line sales partner in the United States and Canada.

Koepfer America has worked with the Wenzel GearTec products in the past, and brings sales support to the Wenzel/Liebherr partnership, and also offers service, calibration, and applications support to the team.

The Wenzel GearTec product line includes the WGT range of granite air-bearing gear testing machines and can also offer 4-axis gear measuring technology on any Wenzel CMM frame, providing customers gear and traditional CMM measurement on the same platform. www.liebherr.com

Jenoptik Metrology introduces ‘The Better Parts Challenge’

Jenoptik Industrial Metrology has launched The Better Parts Challenge, which invites U.S.-based manufacturers to bring their part quality challenges to its experts. These demonstrations will take place at road shows across the U.S., showing how Jenoptik measuring devices and software can help them make better quality parts and potentially reduce the cost of production.

“We’re challenging customers and potential customers to let us show them how our tools can help them produce their specific parts to a higher quality, at a lower cost,” says Peter Ackroyd, sales manager.

In addition, Jenoptik will conduct seminars on the fundamentals of surface finish and form.

Companies can bring their part to a stop on The Better Parts Challenge, which will tour the U.S. until November 2014. Road sow attendees will be entered to win prizes. www.betterpartschallenge.com

Siemens named the only PLM supplier as a top tier partner for Digital Lab

Siemens has been named as the only product lifecycle management (PLM) software supplier to serve as a top tier partner for the recently announced Digital Lab for Manufacturing in Chicago.

“Siemens is proud to be both a technology partner and investor in the Digital Lab, which is designed to drive innovation and America’s manufacturing resurgence,” says Chuck Grindstaff, CEO of Siemens PLM Software.

The Digital Lab, bolstered by a Department of Defense (DOD) award of $70 million, is to be leveraged by $250 million from industry, academia, government, and community partners to form a $320 million institute. It will be the nation’s flagship research center for digital manufacturing and design innovation, applying cutting-edge technologies to reduce the time and cost of manufacturing, strengthen the capabilities of the U.S. supply chain, and reduce the DOD’s acquisition costs. www.siemens.com/plm