Since 1981 is CATALANO an owner-managed trading and manufacturing company. At January 1st, 2005 the sole proprietorship changed to a public limited company.
We work with explicit principles and objectives.
Current machine tools have to meet sophisticated requirements. For this reason we offer for several years innovative machines with a constant high quality. We are turnkey supplier for professionals, who want more.
Since 1994 we also have an own fabrication of heavy lathes (4 – 20 tons). We offer several models with swing diameters from 700 to 2,500mm, turning lengths from 1,000 to 20,000mm and tube drillings from Ø 105 to 310mm.
We have an extensive product range, that permits you to resolve every task quickly, economical and safely. With us you’ll find exclusively inspected quality products. For any questions our Sales engineers are you disposal at any time.
http://www.findamachine.com/machine_tool_dealer/Catalano_Werkzeugmaschinen
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Friday, September 26, 2008
ES Technology Announces Sale of 1st M2 LaserCUSING Machine in the UK
Following the announcement that it has been chosen by Concept Laser GmbH as the exclusive UK and Republic of Ireland distributor for Concept Laser’s additive manufacturing systems, ES Technology has announced the sale of the first M2 machine to Airbus UK, which becomes the first UK based customer. The aircraft manufacturer will be using the M2 in its material and process projects as part of the company's research and development activities in Bristol. The machine will be on display at the forthcoming TCT exhibition in October, and will then after be directly shipped to the customer for installation.
The M2 LaserCUSING CAD-to-metal machine, has the capability to build component parts and tools in Aluminium and Titanium. The M2 machine can also produce parts in various other materials including, Stainless Steel, Inconel 718, Cobalt Chrome, and DIN standard Tool Steels.
With a build capacity of 250mm X 250mm X 280mm, and build layers from 0.020–0.050mm the machine offers the quality and accuracy expected for the production of finished parts. The M2 machine is one of a suite of machines available from Concept Laser, which provide cost-effective rapid manufacturing solutions for a range of component sizes.
Visit ES Technology Limited and Concept Laser GmbH, on Stand E20 / F17 at TCT – 21st and 22nd October 2008 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
The M2 LaserCUSING CAD-to-metal machine, has the capability to build component parts and tools in Aluminium and Titanium. The M2 machine can also produce parts in various other materials including, Stainless Steel, Inconel 718, Cobalt Chrome, and DIN standard Tool Steels.
With a build capacity of 250mm X 250mm X 280mm, and build layers from 0.020–0.050mm the machine offers the quality and accuracy expected for the production of finished parts. The M2 machine is one of a suite of machines available from Concept Laser, which provide cost-effective rapid manufacturing solutions for a range of component sizes.
Visit ES Technology Limited and Concept Laser GmbH, on Stand E20 / F17 at TCT – 21st and 22nd October 2008 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
Dowding Pursues Wind Turbine Machining with Massive MAG Machine Tools
A long-time contract supplier of fabricated and machined components to a wide range of companies, Dowding Industries is making the leap to large-part production and the transition to the alternative energy economy. It announced today at the International Manufacturing Technology Show the purchase of two massive machining systems from MAG Industrial Automation Systems for production of wind turbine components and large, critical parts for other big-machine makers. A MAG Cincinnati U5-1500 five-axis profiler and a MAG Giddings & Lewis PT 1800 horizontal boring mill are the centerpieces of a new state-of-the-art 35,000 sq. ft. machining facility in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. It is operated by a subsidiary, Dowding Machining. Both machines were delivered earlier this summer and are finishing installation and prove-out.
A family-owned company, Dowding in 2006 began looking for opportunities to grow while avoiding the region's industrial downturn. It was particularly attracted to the potential for wind turbines and alternative energy, according to Jeff Metts, Dowding Machining President. "We saw an opportunity to be part of the 'new energy' solution."
MAG did extensive application and time studies based on wind generator part prints provided by Dowding, according to Jim Foust, sales engineer for VMC Technologies, MAG's channel partner in Michigan. "The detail and thoroughness of the reports were overwhelming," he said. "The studies included machine recommendations, fixturing, set-ups, tooling, cycle times and earnings per hour. MAG addressed the risks and unknowns, giving Dowding the comfort level, as newcomers to large part machining, to make such a major commitment," he stressed.
"All our MAG machines - Fadal, Cincinnati and G&L - are built here in the U.S.," said Metts. "That is another important factor for us. We looked at many different machine tool companies to 'hook our wagon to' so to speak. We were convinced our success was right here in the U.S.A."
While Dowding targeted the wind turbine market, it has already picked up orders from leading construction equipment and mining machinery manufacturers. "This is a case of 'build it and they will come'," said Foust. "If you can machine big parts, there are a number of industries ready to do business with you." In fact, MAG itself will be using Dowding to produce components for large machine tools.
With the new large-part machining facility, Dowding is leading Michigan industries in the transition to alternative energy and the new economy. The new facility will create more than 350 new jobs in Michigan. Assistance was offered through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the city of Eaton Rapids is considering a 12-year abatement to support the program. During a visit to the new facility, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said, "This new manufacturing facility will create good jobs for Michigan workers and anchor Dowding's presence in Eaton Rapids for years to come."
About MAG Industrial Automation Systems
MAG Industrial Automation Systems is a leading machine tool and systems company serving the durable-goods industry, worldwide, with a large portfolio of highly-recognized and well-respected brands. With manufacturing operations on five continents, MAG ranks as a leader in the global metalworking capital equipment market.
A family-owned company, Dowding in 2006 began looking for opportunities to grow while avoiding the region's industrial downturn. It was particularly attracted to the potential for wind turbines and alternative energy, according to Jeff Metts, Dowding Machining President. "We saw an opportunity to be part of the 'new energy' solution."
MAG did extensive application and time studies based on wind generator part prints provided by Dowding, according to Jim Foust, sales engineer for VMC Technologies, MAG's channel partner in Michigan. "The detail and thoroughness of the reports were overwhelming," he said. "The studies included machine recommendations, fixturing, set-ups, tooling, cycle times and earnings per hour. MAG addressed the risks and unknowns, giving Dowding the comfort level, as newcomers to large part machining, to make such a major commitment," he stressed.
"All our MAG machines - Fadal, Cincinnati and G&L - are built here in the U.S.," said Metts. "That is another important factor for us. We looked at many different machine tool companies to 'hook our wagon to' so to speak. We were convinced our success was right here in the U.S.A."
While Dowding targeted the wind turbine market, it has already picked up orders from leading construction equipment and mining machinery manufacturers. "This is a case of 'build it and they will come'," said Foust. "If you can machine big parts, there are a number of industries ready to do business with you." In fact, MAG itself will be using Dowding to produce components for large machine tools.
With the new large-part machining facility, Dowding is leading Michigan industries in the transition to alternative energy and the new economy. The new facility will create more than 350 new jobs in Michigan. Assistance was offered through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the city of Eaton Rapids is considering a 12-year abatement to support the program. During a visit to the new facility, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said, "This new manufacturing facility will create good jobs for Michigan workers and anchor Dowding's presence in Eaton Rapids for years to come."
About MAG Industrial Automation Systems
MAG Industrial Automation Systems is a leading machine tool and systems company serving the durable-goods industry, worldwide, with a large portfolio of highly-recognized and well-respected brands. With manufacturing operations on five continents, MAG ranks as a leader in the global metalworking capital equipment market.
JANA Fails to Invests into Shenyang Machine Tool (Group)
Guan Xin, board secretary with Shenyang Machine Tool Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 000410), a listed arm of Shenyang Machine Tool Group, confirmed the story, adding that the main reason was that the deal did not gained approval from concerned Chinese authorities. However, industry experts do not think so. In their opinion, it was the US fund's capital shortage that led to the failure in cooperation.
Founded in 2001, JANA is a large-sized hedge fund with over USD 7 billion under management. Companies it bought into included Valero, Time Warner Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Co. and etc. Unlike other US hedge funds, JANA mainly earns profits via restructuring business of target companies. So far, it has invested as much as USD 20 billion in companies worldwide, with a compound 24% yearly return on investment. Stung by the US subprime crisis, hedge funds worldwide reduced their investment sizes in markets overseas to a largest extent. And there is no exception to the US hedge fund.
Founded in December 1995, Shenyang Machine Tool Group is one of the largest machine tool manufacturers in China. In order to fuel expansion, it made a decision to introduce strategic investors. And in April 2007, it put a 49 percent stake on sale via the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange. It first planned that a 30 percent stake would be sold for CNY 1.01 billion; and then, the remaining 19 percent stake would be sold for CNY 640 million.
JANA, a San Francisco-based hedge fund, defeated top Chinese engineering machinery manufacturer Sany Group Co., Ltd. and finally put the 30 percent stake in Shenyang Machine Tool Group into its own bag in last June. The fund, which also expected to acquire the other 19 percent stake, had been preparing documents for a second bidding till January this year. Notably, it hoped that the Chinese government could agree to its plan to restructure Shenyang Machine Tool Group with other two companies.
Founded in 2001, JANA is a large-sized hedge fund with over USD 7 billion under management. Companies it bought into included Valero, Time Warner Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Co. and etc. Unlike other US hedge funds, JANA mainly earns profits via restructuring business of target companies. So far, it has invested as much as USD 20 billion in companies worldwide, with a compound 24% yearly return on investment. Stung by the US subprime crisis, hedge funds worldwide reduced their investment sizes in markets overseas to a largest extent. And there is no exception to the US hedge fund.
Founded in December 1995, Shenyang Machine Tool Group is one of the largest machine tool manufacturers in China. In order to fuel expansion, it made a decision to introduce strategic investors. And in April 2007, it put a 49 percent stake on sale via the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange. It first planned that a 30 percent stake would be sold for CNY 1.01 billion; and then, the remaining 19 percent stake would be sold for CNY 640 million.
JANA, a San Francisco-based hedge fund, defeated top Chinese engineering machinery manufacturer Sany Group Co., Ltd. and finally put the 30 percent stake in Shenyang Machine Tool Group into its own bag in last June. The fund, which also expected to acquire the other 19 percent stake, had been preparing documents for a second bidding till January this year. Notably, it hoped that the Chinese government could agree to its plan to restructure Shenyang Machine Tool Group with other two companies.
Former FD man works on food machine for NASA
A former Fort Dodge man is trying to perfect a machine that may someday help feed astronauts on Mars and starving people around the globe.
Scott Fortune, who now lives in Cresco, has a prototype device in his machine shop that reduces soybeans and peanuts to oil and an edible substance. The ultimate goal is to shrink it to one the size of a pair of staplers that can make six pounds of food and oil in an hour.
''The whole project is about finding alternative ways to feed people whether they're on Mars or on Earth,'' he said. ''The emphasis started on feeding astronauts, but the implications are even greater here on Earth.''
Fortune, who worked for 20 years in the local gypsum industry, said this effort is the largest engineering project he's been involved in.
He landed in the midst of the project after working for Celotex, Georgia-Pacific Corp. and Smithway Motor Xpress. When he left Fort Dodge in 2003, he went to work for Triple F Inc., a Des Moines company involved in the food machine job. When that company got into financial trouble, Fortune bought Upper Iowa Tool and Die in Cresco, which was doing all the metal work for the project. He purchased that company in November 2007.
Since putting astronauts on Mars is the next big goal for NASA, scientists for the space agency and Purdue University are seeking a way to feed them. Packing a lunch on the spaceship isn't possible because the trip to the red planet will take six months.
Fortune said the spacecraft would carry enough food for the voyage to Mars and the return to Earth. But the astronauts will have to grow their own food during the months they're on the red planet.
''Once they arrive on the planet, they have to become self-sufficient,'' he said.
He said current plans call for the astronauts to raise soybeans and peanuts in special greenhouses.
The machine Fortune is working on would be used after those crops are harvested.
He said the astronauts will put the beans or peanuts in the machine. After processing is completed, oil and a paste-like substance will be discharged.
The solid substance, which Fortune said would have the consistency of oatmeal forced through a tube, would be edible by itself. It could also be mixed with other ingredients to make a meal.
That process could have benefits much closer to home than Mars.
Fortune said the machine could eventually churn out food for people in Third World countries where starvation is always a threat.
''This has the ability to help people feed themselves,'' he said.
Fortune noted that the device intended to produce more food for people is being developed in Cresco, the hometown of Norman Borlaug, the scientist who created high yield varieties of rice and other crops that are credited with averting starvation for millions across the world.
Scott Fortune, who now lives in Cresco, has a prototype device in his machine shop that reduces soybeans and peanuts to oil and an edible substance. The ultimate goal is to shrink it to one the size of a pair of staplers that can make six pounds of food and oil in an hour.
''The whole project is about finding alternative ways to feed people whether they're on Mars or on Earth,'' he said. ''The emphasis started on feeding astronauts, but the implications are even greater here on Earth.''
Fortune, who worked for 20 years in the local gypsum industry, said this effort is the largest engineering project he's been involved in.
He landed in the midst of the project after working for Celotex, Georgia-Pacific Corp. and Smithway Motor Xpress. When he left Fort Dodge in 2003, he went to work for Triple F Inc., a Des Moines company involved in the food machine job. When that company got into financial trouble, Fortune bought Upper Iowa Tool and Die in Cresco, which was doing all the metal work for the project. He purchased that company in November 2007.
Since putting astronauts on Mars is the next big goal for NASA, scientists for the space agency and Purdue University are seeking a way to feed them. Packing a lunch on the spaceship isn't possible because the trip to the red planet will take six months.
Fortune said the spacecraft would carry enough food for the voyage to Mars and the return to Earth. But the astronauts will have to grow their own food during the months they're on the red planet.
''Once they arrive on the planet, they have to become self-sufficient,'' he said.
He said current plans call for the astronauts to raise soybeans and peanuts in special greenhouses.
The machine Fortune is working on would be used after those crops are harvested.
He said the astronauts will put the beans or peanuts in the machine. After processing is completed, oil and a paste-like substance will be discharged.
The solid substance, which Fortune said would have the consistency of oatmeal forced through a tube, would be edible by itself. It could also be mixed with other ingredients to make a meal.
That process could have benefits much closer to home than Mars.
Fortune said the machine could eventually churn out food for people in Third World countries where starvation is always a threat.
''This has the ability to help people feed themselves,'' he said.
Fortune noted that the device intended to produce more food for people is being developed in Cresco, the hometown of Norman Borlaug, the scientist who created high yield varieties of rice and other crops that are credited with averting starvation for millions across the world.
Friday, August 29, 2008
BEKS Inc Developes New Teeth Whitening Machine for Dentists That Also Boosts Healing After Surgery
BEKS Incorporated, a product and development company and developer of the original BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R), introduces BriteWhite Medical. The BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System was the first inside-the-mouth chair-side professional teeth whitening system using Blue LED (light emitting diodes) made available to spas and med spas. "Now we've taken the same technology used in the spa version and went a step further for the dental industry," says Joyce Osborn, President and CEO of BEKS Incorporated, and inventor of the BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R). "The BriteWhite Medical uses both Red and Blue LED while the spa version uses only Blue LED. Blue LED whitens teeth and kills black bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Adding Red LED to the BriteWhite Medical provides treatment that will boost healing after surgery." This two-in-one machine is a great tool for dentist to have in their office with a low overhead and a high revenue return.
Unlike laser, plasma light, halogen and ultraviolet, this exciting technology attacks discolorations without affecting the pulp or softening the enamel. Ms. Osborn had used LEDs in her wellness spa for years to treat certain skin conditions and theorized that LEDs would be effective in teeth whitening. She consulted with a scientist friend who worked with LEDs for NASA and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The friend confirmed her theories that a selected proprietary wavelength and custom blend gel would whiten teeth. Ms. Osborn followed the advice of her friend to patent the process and now holds the worldwide rights and pending patent; as well as FDA clearance.
BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R) and BriteWhite Medical treats the entire front and back teeth by inserting the mouth plate directly inside the mouth during the treatment time, without the aide of cheek retractors, rubber dams, or goggles. Other methods of teeth whitening can dehydrate the teeth causing pain and sensitivity. The proprietary activating gel used with the BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R) and BriteWhite Medical is near PH balancing and contains no fluoride or alcohol; keeping the teeth hydrated while whitening treatments are completed.
Up to eleven shades of increased whiteness has been achieved on aged teeth in 12 minutes. Routinely, a minimum of 4 -- 6 shades is achieved in 10 minutes. Results have proven to be positive for hard to whiten teeth like Tetracycline. Although treatment is not recommended for everyone, especially those who are pregnant, BriteWhite is safe enough to be used by patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation if approved by their oncologist with written consent.
BriteWhite and BriteWhite Medical are sophisticated products manufactured in the USA. The machines are lightweight and portable and can accommodate up to 4 mouth pieces to treat 4 clients or patients in one sitting without the purchase of multiple machines.
In addition to inventing the BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R) and the BriteWhite Dental, Joyce Osborn is the author of "Take a Walk through Life with LED Light."
Unlike laser, plasma light, halogen and ultraviolet, this exciting technology attacks discolorations without affecting the pulp or softening the enamel. Ms. Osborn had used LEDs in her wellness spa for years to treat certain skin conditions and theorized that LEDs would be effective in teeth whitening. She consulted with a scientist friend who worked with LEDs for NASA and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The friend confirmed her theories that a selected proprietary wavelength and custom blend gel would whiten teeth. Ms. Osborn followed the advice of her friend to patent the process and now holds the worldwide rights and pending patent; as well as FDA clearance.
BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R) and BriteWhite Medical treats the entire front and back teeth by inserting the mouth plate directly inside the mouth during the treatment time, without the aide of cheek retractors, rubber dams, or goggles. Other methods of teeth whitening can dehydrate the teeth causing pain and sensitivity. The proprietary activating gel used with the BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R) and BriteWhite Medical is near PH balancing and contains no fluoride or alcohol; keeping the teeth hydrated while whitening treatments are completed.
Up to eleven shades of increased whiteness has been achieved on aged teeth in 12 minutes. Routinely, a minimum of 4 -- 6 shades is achieved in 10 minutes. Results have proven to be positive for hard to whiten teeth like Tetracycline. Although treatment is not recommended for everyone, especially those who are pregnant, BriteWhite is safe enough to be used by patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation if approved by their oncologist with written consent.
BriteWhite and BriteWhite Medical are sophisticated products manufactured in the USA. The machines are lightweight and portable and can accommodate up to 4 mouth pieces to treat 4 clients or patients in one sitting without the purchase of multiple machines.
In addition to inventing the BriteWhite Teeth Whitening System(R) and the BriteWhite Dental, Joyce Osborn is the author of "Take a Walk through Life with LED Light."
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Beyond seed and soil: Farmers' high-tech tools increase productivity
Technology has combined with factors such as seed science and advances in herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, changing American agriculture dramatically during the past 50 years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farm output rose by an average of 1.76 percent every year between 1948 and 2002, even as labor declined by an average of 2.4 percent per year in the same period.
Esmond farmer Paul Taylor said he believes that the most dynamic thing to happen to farming in the last 50 years has been the increase in horsepower.
“We've just got so much more capacity now,” he said. “Grandpa probably started with a two-row planter behind two horses, planting a six-row pass at 2-
3 mph. I suppose if they did 15 acres per day, they were doing pretty good. Now we're planting 60 feet wide, and we like to average 250 acres per day. It's totally changed the productivity of labor.”
And some features that probably looked like bells and whistles when they first appeared on tractors - such as air conditioning, strong headlights and enclosed cabs - have allowed modern farmers to work even longer hours than their historic counterparts, he said.
Just as Jones is confident that ultrasounds help him to get more money per animal for his cattle, he's a big believer in the tools he uses to farm 3,600 acres of corn and soybeans. His tractor is outfitted with an autosteer system, a computer that uses a GPS signal to keep field rows evenly spaced at the end point where the tractor turns around.
The tractor's onboard computer also monitors seed spacing, how many seeds are falling into each hole, and the pressure the planter is exerting on the soil as it makes a trench.
“As seed costs have gone up, you want every seed to be fully maximized,” he said.
Most farmers also do a variety of mapping in their fields. They can take the data gathered by computers on field equipment and create color-coded maps that show which areas have the best yields and differences between those areas and lower-yield spots. Those differences include soil topography, nutrients, type or amount of fertilizer applied, and the type of seed planted.
“People are surprised to find out we split the farm up in different segments and don't just apply the same nutrients and seed over the whole thing,” Taylor said. “Those maps may look like pretty colors and mosaics, but the computer actually reads all that, and as the tractor goes over the field, it applies the nutrients based on need.”
Taylor and Jones estimate that such automated equipment increases efficiency by about 5-10 percent. That may not sound like much, Jones said, until one starts adding up $4-per-gallon diesel fuel or $200-per-bag seed.
Esmond farmer Paul Taylor said he believes that the most dynamic thing to happen to farming in the last 50 years has been the increase in horsepower.
“We've just got so much more capacity now,” he said. “Grandpa probably started with a two-row planter behind two horses, planting a six-row pass at 2-
3 mph. I suppose if they did 15 acres per day, they were doing pretty good. Now we're planting 60 feet wide, and we like to average 250 acres per day. It's totally changed the productivity of labor.”
And some features that probably looked like bells and whistles when they first appeared on tractors - such as air conditioning, strong headlights and enclosed cabs - have allowed modern farmers to work even longer hours than their historic counterparts, he said.
Just as Jones is confident that ultrasounds help him to get more money per animal for his cattle, he's a big believer in the tools he uses to farm 3,600 acres of corn and soybeans. His tractor is outfitted with an autosteer system, a computer that uses a GPS signal to keep field rows evenly spaced at the end point where the tractor turns around.
The tractor's onboard computer also monitors seed spacing, how many seeds are falling into each hole, and the pressure the planter is exerting on the soil as it makes a trench.
“As seed costs have gone up, you want every seed to be fully maximized,” he said.
Most farmers also do a variety of mapping in their fields. They can take the data gathered by computers on field equipment and create color-coded maps that show which areas have the best yields and differences between those areas and lower-yield spots. Those differences include soil topography, nutrients, type or amount of fertilizer applied, and the type of seed planted.
“People are surprised to find out we split the farm up in different segments and don't just apply the same nutrients and seed over the whole thing,” Taylor said. “Those maps may look like pretty colors and mosaics, but the computer actually reads all that, and as the tractor goes over the field, it applies the nutrients based on need.”
Taylor and Jones estimate that such automated equipment increases efficiency by about 5-10 percent. That may not sound like much, Jones said, until one starts adding up $4-per-gallon diesel fuel or $200-per-bag seed.
After bull run, Rajkot machine tool units fear setback
Faced with spiralling raw material prices and high energy costs, the Rs.7-billion Rajkot machine tool industry seems to be heading for a downswing after the last five years’ bullish growth run.
Since 2003, the region began emerging as one of the top machine tool manufacturing centres after Bangalore, leaving Ludhiana and Pune behind. During this time, its production increased threefold.
Rajkot-made machine tools are now exported to Russia, the UK, the Gulf and Africa.
However, this dominance could soon be history.
Raw material prices, especially that of steel, has gone up about 40 percent, said Shaileshbhai Kawa, president of the Rajkot Machine Tools Manufacturers’ Association (RMTMA).
In addition to steel, the price of castings was also going up, he added.
‘As a result, we don’t think we can achieve a turnover of Rs.1200 crore (Rs.12 billion) by 2010,’ he told IANS.
The machine tool industry in Gujarat has undergone substantial changes in recent years. The industry is now producing the latest range of competitive customised solutions, including CNC (computer numerical control) machines.
The industry has spruced up productivity by adopting CNC machine tool technology. For this, local manufacturers teamed up with the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association, the central government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido).
Rajkot houses around 200 machine tool manufacturing units. ‘There had been a sharp growth in the machine tool industry as a whole and Rajkot had benefited the most from it,’ said Rupesh Mehta, the former president of the RMTMA.
The Rajkot machine tool industry was hit badly in 2002 when India’s the engineering sector faced a recession. Nearly 200 units shut down operations and the annual turnover of the industry plummeted from Rs.2.5 billion to Rs.1 billion during that time.
The situation turned worse following the entry of computerised tools from Taiwan and China. But the cluster development approach in collaboration with the Unido helped the industry do a turnaround.
Since 2003, the region began emerging as one of the top machine tool manufacturing centres after Bangalore, leaving Ludhiana and Pune behind. During this time, its production increased threefold.
Rajkot-made machine tools are now exported to Russia, the UK, the Gulf and Africa.
However, this dominance could soon be history.
Raw material prices, especially that of steel, has gone up about 40 percent, said Shaileshbhai Kawa, president of the Rajkot Machine Tools Manufacturers’ Association (RMTMA).
In addition to steel, the price of castings was also going up, he added.
‘As a result, we don’t think we can achieve a turnover of Rs.1200 crore (Rs.12 billion) by 2010,’ he told IANS.
The machine tool industry in Gujarat has undergone substantial changes in recent years. The industry is now producing the latest range of competitive customised solutions, including CNC (computer numerical control) machines.
The industry has spruced up productivity by adopting CNC machine tool technology. For this, local manufacturers teamed up with the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association, the central government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido).
Rajkot houses around 200 machine tool manufacturing units. ‘There had been a sharp growth in the machine tool industry as a whole and Rajkot had benefited the most from it,’ said Rupesh Mehta, the former president of the RMTMA.
The Rajkot machine tool industry was hit badly in 2002 when India’s the engineering sector faced a recession. Nearly 200 units shut down operations and the annual turnover of the industry plummeted from Rs.2.5 billion to Rs.1 billion during that time.
The situation turned worse following the entry of computerised tools from Taiwan and China. But the cluster development approach in collaboration with the Unido helped the industry do a turnaround.
What to watch for during a virtual machine’s life cycle
Creation: Enterprise-class configuration of the server and applications, mostly done manually through the virtual-machine manager interface. Automated image-capture of physical machines is starting to take root with such niche vendors as Transitive, particularly in the area of emulating non-x86 processors and running them on other processors, making it possible, for example, to manage Solaris and Windows.
Visibility: Machines set up for a specific purpose - for example, testing or development - can linger without administrators' knowledge. Hyper9's Virtual Infrastructure Search and Analytics tool, a Google-like search engine offering basic discovery and state inspection of virtual machines, will be free for download in September. For application visibility, Tideway Systems' Foundation maps application relationships to the physical and virtual servers.
Load balancing: Virtual machines must move around and change their purpose as needed to handle predictable and on-demand loads. Most organizations do this manually using native VMware ESX, Citrix Systems XenSource and Microsoft Hyper-V controls. Niche products, such as FastScale Technology's FastScale Composer Suite and Evidant's EvidantSP software suite, also are starting to get attention.
Machines in production: Managing live machines is done manually by using native virtual-machine interfaces, but more tools are starting to enable the cross-platform management of some of all of these features on a pick-and-choose basis. Novell's ZENworks, for example, includes asset-, configuration- and patch-management components. Life-cycle points during production include licensing; access controls; patch-, configuration- and change-management; security (settings, default services and ports, antimalware, firewalls and so forth); service-level thresholds for physical machines, virtual machines and applications; and allocation.
Visibility: Machines set up for a specific purpose - for example, testing or development - can linger without administrators' knowledge. Hyper9's Virtual Infrastructure Search and Analytics tool, a Google-like search engine offering basic discovery and state inspection of virtual machines, will be free for download in September. For application visibility, Tideway Systems' Foundation maps application relationships to the physical and virtual servers.
Load balancing: Virtual machines must move around and change their purpose as needed to handle predictable and on-demand loads. Most organizations do this manually using native VMware ESX, Citrix Systems XenSource and Microsoft Hyper-V controls. Niche products, such as FastScale Technology's FastScale Composer Suite and Evidant's EvidantSP software suite, also are starting to get attention.
Machines in production: Managing live machines is done manually by using native virtual-machine interfaces, but more tools are starting to enable the cross-platform management of some of all of these features on a pick-and-choose basis. Novell's ZENworks, for example, includes asset-, configuration- and patch-management components. Life-cycle points during production include licensing; access controls; patch-, configuration- and change-management; security (settings, default services and ports, antimalware, firewalls and so forth); service-level thresholds for physical machines, virtual machines and applications; and allocation.
Jtekt to Set Up Machine Tool Sales Firm in India
Japanese machine tool maker Jtekt Corp. <6473> said Monday that it will establish a sales and after-sale service joint venture in Gurgaon, India, by the end of this month.
The new company, Toyoda Micromatic Machinery India Ltd., will be capitalized at 24.8 million rupees, of which Jtekt will provide 75.5 pct and Micromatic Grinding Technologies, India's largest grinding machine maker, the rest.
The new firm will be Jtekt's first subsidiary in India.
Nagoya-based Jtekt airms to win orders worth about 7 billion yen in the growing Indian market in 2010 by promoting user-oriented sales, it said.
So far, Jtekt has supplied machine tools mainly to Japanese automakers including Suzuki Motor Corp. <7269>. The firm aims to expand its client base to Indian auto manufactures and wind power companies, company officials said.
The new company, Toyoda Micromatic Machinery India Ltd., will be capitalized at 24.8 million rupees, of which Jtekt will provide 75.5 pct and Micromatic Grinding Technologies, India's largest grinding machine maker, the rest.
The new firm will be Jtekt's first subsidiary in India.
Nagoya-based Jtekt airms to win orders worth about 7 billion yen in the growing Indian market in 2010 by promoting user-oriented sales, it said.
So far, Jtekt has supplied machine tools mainly to Japanese automakers including Suzuki Motor Corp. <7269>. The firm aims to expand its client base to Indian auto manufactures and wind power companies, company officials said.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
New Tool to Automate Cookie Stealing from Gmail, Others
A security researcher at the Defcon hacker conference in Las Vegas on Saturday demonstrated a tool he built that allows attackers to break into your inbox even if you are accessing your Gmail over a persistent, encrypted session (using https:// versus http://).
When you log in to Gmail, Google's servers will place what's called a "session cookie," or small text file, on your machine. The cookie identifies your machine as having presented the correct user name and password for that account, and it can allow you to stay logged in to your account for up to two weeks if you don't manually log out (after which the cookie expires and you are forced to present your credentials again).
The trouble is that Gmail's cookie is set to be transmitted whether or not you are logged in with a secure connection. Now, cookies can be marked as "secure," meaning they can only be transmitted over your network when you're using a persistent, encrypted (https://) session. Any cookies that lack this designation, however, are sent over the network with every Web page request made to the Web server of the entity that set the cookie -- regardless of which of the above-described methods a Gmail subscriber is using to read his mail.
As a result, even if you are logged in to Gmail using a persistent, encrypted https:// session, all that an attacker sniffing traffic on your network would need do to hijack your Gmail account is force your browser to load an image or other content served from http://mail.google.com. After that, your browser would cough up your session cookie for Gmail, and anyone recording the traffic on the network would now be able to access your Gmail inbox by simply loading that cookie on their machine.
When you log in to Gmail, Google's servers will place what's called a "session cookie," or small text file, on your machine. The cookie identifies your machine as having presented the correct user name and password for that account, and it can allow you to stay logged in to your account for up to two weeks if you don't manually log out (after which the cookie expires and you are forced to present your credentials again).
The trouble is that Gmail's cookie is set to be transmitted whether or not you are logged in with a secure connection. Now, cookies can be marked as "secure," meaning they can only be transmitted over your network when you're using a persistent, encrypted (https://) session. Any cookies that lack this designation, however, are sent over the network with every Web page request made to the Web server of the entity that set the cookie -- regardless of which of the above-described methods a Gmail subscriber is using to read his mail.
As a result, even if you are logged in to Gmail using a persistent, encrypted https:// session, all that an attacker sniffing traffic on your network would need do to hijack your Gmail account is force your browser to load an image or other content served from http://mail.google.com. After that, your browser would cough up your session cookie for Gmail, and anyone recording the traffic on the network would now be able to access your Gmail inbox by simply loading that cookie on their machine.
US June machine tool demand up from year ago
Demand for the machine tools that shape metal for products, such as car engines and refrigerators, rose in June from a year ago, two groups said in a joint report on Sunday.
U.S. June machine tool demand rose 2 percent to $360.43 million from $353.40 million a year earlier in June 2007, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) said in a joint report.
But June demand was virtually unchanged from an upwardly revised $360.30 million estimate for May. May demand was initially estimated at $341.21 million.
In the first six months of 2008, demand for machine tools, which gives a sense of the pace of manufacturing, stood at $2.318 billion, up 15.3 percent from $2.011 billion in the same 2007 period.
"I think everyone is excited that the underpinning for productivity in our economic growth -- manufacturing technology equipment -- continues to grow at double-digit rates through the second quarter," AMT President John Byrd said in a statement.
U.S. June machine tool demand rose 2 percent to $360.43 million from $353.40 million a year earlier in June 2007, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) said in a joint report.
But June demand was virtually unchanged from an upwardly revised $360.30 million estimate for May. May demand was initially estimated at $341.21 million.
In the first six months of 2008, demand for machine tools, which gives a sense of the pace of manufacturing, stood at $2.318 billion, up 15.3 percent from $2.011 billion in the same 2007 period.
"I think everyone is excited that the underpinning for productivity in our economic growth -- manufacturing technology equipment -- continues to grow at double-digit rates through the second quarter," AMT President John Byrd said in a statement.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Quality 101: Machine Vision Fundamentals
A machine vision system is a group of components that can acquire an image on demand, and can be configured or programmed to perform extensive analysis of that image to extract useful data about the object being inspected. The image may be full color, but most applications work well with a gray-scale image, which may be processed more quickly and usually at higher resolution with respect to cost.
Machine vision systems interface with other automation components via discrete I/O signals, Ethernet, device net, serial and other communication schemes. For certain applications, a machine vision system can control the entire inspection process as a standalone operation without external communication. However, one true value of machine vision as a quality tool is its ability to collect and archive discrete and statistical data about a process, providing the quality engineer with information that can help improve a production process.
A common misconception surrounding machine vision is that it “takes a picture” of a good part and then compares subsequent part images to that picture. While this analysis technique is one capability of some systems, most machine vision image features are extracted by recognizing and processing individual geometric objects in an image. Some of the common algorithms that may be incorporated in an application include edge extraction, contrast measurement, blob analysis and pattern matching—although modern machine vision processors offer dozens of analysis and processing tools. These tools range from simple to complex, and are usually combined to form an inspection process suitable for the target application.
It is important to have a thorough understanding of how each tool works with an image and produces data in order to select the proper set of algorithms to achieve the desired inspection results. However, there is a much more critical aspect to machine vision implementation that impacts each and every application from specification to integration
Machine vision systems interface with other automation components via discrete I/O signals, Ethernet, device net, serial and other communication schemes. For certain applications, a machine vision system can control the entire inspection process as a standalone operation without external communication. However, one true value of machine vision as a quality tool is its ability to collect and archive discrete and statistical data about a process, providing the quality engineer with information that can help improve a production process.
A common misconception surrounding machine vision is that it “takes a picture” of a good part and then compares subsequent part images to that picture. While this analysis technique is one capability of some systems, most machine vision image features are extracted by recognizing and processing individual geometric objects in an image. Some of the common algorithms that may be incorporated in an application include edge extraction, contrast measurement, blob analysis and pattern matching—although modern machine vision processors offer dozens of analysis and processing tools. These tools range from simple to complex, and are usually combined to form an inspection process suitable for the target application.
It is important to have a thorough understanding of how each tool works with an image and produces data in order to select the proper set of algorithms to achieve the desired inspection results. However, there is a much more critical aspect to machine vision implementation that impacts each and every application from specification to integration
Large CNC machine tool building
PTG adds the recently acquired brands to the current PTG machine tool portfolio that already includes Jones and Shipman and Holroyd.
PTG said that the new business will also add valuable re-manufacture facilities and expertise to the group.
PTG Group CEO, Mark Franckel said: I am delighted that we have acquired these historic British brands and see enormous benefits in the synergy they create within the group".
* About Crawford Swift - throughout its company history Crawford Swift has been committed to developing and manufacturing large machine tools.
The company has specialist expertise in the design and manufacture of new lathes, friction stir welding machines, acrylic polishing machines and other special purpose machine tools.
In addition to developing its own models, Crawford Swift is renowned for re-engineering, remanufacturing, repairing and servicing machines with a work piece capacity of up to 250 tonnes.
A good example of which is providing a world class service re-engineering roll grinders including Churchill, Farrel and Waldrich for the steel industry.
* About Binns and Berry - Binns and Berry specialises in the design, manufacture and repair of large capacity CNC lathes for components up to 15 tonnes.
Binns and Berry has a novel modular construction technique, which includes a three-/four-guideway bed design that allows the turning of large components in a single pass.
Other specialist turning machines include the following.
* Sliding gap bed lathes.
* Offset/T bed lathes.
* Deep-hole boring machines.
* Thread whirling machines.
Standard and full turnkey systems are available.
The company also provides re-engineering, rebuild and retrofit services for medium and heavy duty turning machines.
* Jones and Shipman benefits - existing Jones and Shipman customers will also benefit from this acquisition as they will have access to the knowledge and products of Crawford Swift and Binns and Berry.
The companies operate from a 38,000ft2 engineering works facility in Elland with one of the largest slideway planing and grinding machines in Europe which can machine 14.5m x 3.3m x 2.2m in a single set-up.
The works is serviced by heavy craneage up to 50 tonnes.
The setting up of Jones and Shipman Remanufacture means that customers can benefit from Jones and Shipman quality service when looking for expert repairs and solutions for existing large machines.
A service is even provided where specialist machines can be sourced from around the world, remanufactured and installed to match the exact needs of the client.
PTG said that the new business will also add valuable re-manufacture facilities and expertise to the group.
PTG Group CEO, Mark Franckel said: I am delighted that we have acquired these historic British brands and see enormous benefits in the synergy they create within the group".
* About Crawford Swift - throughout its company history Crawford Swift has been committed to developing and manufacturing large machine tools.
The company has specialist expertise in the design and manufacture of new lathes, friction stir welding machines, acrylic polishing machines and other special purpose machine tools.
In addition to developing its own models, Crawford Swift is renowned for re-engineering, remanufacturing, repairing and servicing machines with a work piece capacity of up to 250 tonnes.
A good example of which is providing a world class service re-engineering roll grinders including Churchill, Farrel and Waldrich for the steel industry.
* About Binns and Berry - Binns and Berry specialises in the design, manufacture and repair of large capacity CNC lathes for components up to 15 tonnes.
Binns and Berry has a novel modular construction technique, which includes a three-/four-guideway bed design that allows the turning of large components in a single pass.
Other specialist turning machines include the following.
* Sliding gap bed lathes.
* Offset/T bed lathes.
* Deep-hole boring machines.
* Thread whirling machines.
Standard and full turnkey systems are available.
The company also provides re-engineering, rebuild and retrofit services for medium and heavy duty turning machines.
* Jones and Shipman benefits - existing Jones and Shipman customers will also benefit from this acquisition as they will have access to the knowledge and products of Crawford Swift and Binns and Berry.
The companies operate from a 38,000ft2 engineering works facility in Elland with one of the largest slideway planing and grinding machines in Europe which can machine 14.5m x 3.3m x 2.2m in a single set-up.
The works is serviced by heavy craneage up to 50 tonnes.
The setting up of Jones and Shipman Remanufacture means that customers can benefit from Jones and Shipman quality service when looking for expert repairs and solutions for existing large machines.
A service is even provided where specialist machines can be sourced from around the world, remanufactured and installed to match the exact needs of the client.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Lakshmi Machine Works Q1 sales & net profit down nearly 5%
Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd has announced its Unaudited results for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. The company's net sales and income, this quarter, is down nearly 5%, compared to last year.
There was a decline in earnings from the company's textile machinery division. However the machine tool and foundry divisions have registered growth.
LMW posted a net profit after tax of Rs 477.388 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 as compared to Rs 492.588 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
LMW's machine tool and foundry divisions registered a revenue of Rs 442.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 as compared to Rs 414.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Total Income has decreased from Rs 5006.248 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 to Rs 4842.942 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
According to a report carried in the Business Line the fall in revenue was due to a decline in earnings from the company's main source of income - the textile machinery division.
The textile machinery division registered a revenue of Rs 4303.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 as compared to Rs 4526.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
There was a decline in earnings from the company's textile machinery division. However the machine tool and foundry divisions have registered growth.
LMW posted a net profit after tax of Rs 477.388 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 as compared to Rs 492.588 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
LMW's machine tool and foundry divisions registered a revenue of Rs 442.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 as compared to Rs 414.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Total Income has decreased from Rs 5006.248 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 to Rs 4842.942 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
According to a report carried in the Business Line the fall in revenue was due to a decline in earnings from the company's main source of income - the textile machinery division.
The textile machinery division registered a revenue of Rs 4303.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 as compared to Rs 4526.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
China's Kunming Machine Tool sees H1 net profit up 50 pct on higher sales
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Shenji Group Kunming Machine Tool Co Ltd (SHA 600806; HK 0300) said it expects first half net profit under Chinese accounting standards to have risen by 50 pct year-on-year, mainly due to increased output and sales.
The company posted a net profit of 94.34 mln yuan in the first half of 2007, or 0.22 yuan per share.
It is due to release first half audited financial statements on Aug 28.
(1 usd = 6.8 yuan)
zachary.wei@xfn.com - xfnzw/xfntm
The company posted a net profit of 94.34 mln yuan in the first half of 2007, or 0.22 yuan per share.
It is due to release first half audited financial statements on Aug 28.
(1 usd = 6.8 yuan)
zachary.wei@xfn.com - xfnzw/xfntm
Taliban Using Technology as Propaganda Tool
With their own website, magazines, DVDs, audio cassettes, pamphlets and mobile phones, the ICG says, the Taliban are able to capitalize on mistakes made by the government and its allies and reveal their own "inflated tales of battlefield exploits."
Machine tool fitter
Must have experience of fitting and an appreciation of machine tools.
Needs to be able to work unsupervised, on their own inititive and fit into a small team.
Must be able to maintain good standards of cleanliness, be prepared to tidy up and have a sound understanding of good working practice and Health & Safety requirements.
Working hours are 40 hours, Monday to Friday, with 20 days paid holiday per year, plus statutory holidays.
The position is salaried, and overtime is available in certain circumstances.
Starting salary will be negotiable depending upon capabilities, and the position is permanent following a 12-month probationary period.
Site work is possible for installation and maintenance of the machines.
Our client doesn't operate a pension scheme, but can offer the Stakeholder Pension scheme.
DUTIES
The successful applicant will be responsible for the building and testing of a 3 axis CNC Router.
This requires marking out of components, manual and pedestal drilling and tapping, turning and milling of small components, a small amount of welding, assembly of small components, assembly of the machine table and gantry, installation and setting up of linear rails, installation of drive mechanisms and rack and pinions, checking levels and shimming as required, a small amount of painting of the machine frame and gantry.
Testing of the machine for sureness and accuracy.
Installation and maintenance of the machines at the customer's site.
Operating the machine for testing purposes, so knowledge of CNC operation would be an advantage.
Training will be provided, but a good basic understanding of machine tool fitting is required.
Our client has a new product and there is an opportunity for the right candidate to hopefully grow with them as their business progresses.
Needs to be able to work unsupervised, on their own inititive and fit into a small team.
Must be able to maintain good standards of cleanliness, be prepared to tidy up and have a sound understanding of good working practice and Health & Safety requirements.
Working hours are 40 hours, Monday to Friday, with 20 days paid holiday per year, plus statutory holidays.
The position is salaried, and overtime is available in certain circumstances.
Starting salary will be negotiable depending upon capabilities, and the position is permanent following a 12-month probationary period.
Site work is possible for installation and maintenance of the machines.
Our client doesn't operate a pension scheme, but can offer the Stakeholder Pension scheme.
DUTIES
The successful applicant will be responsible for the building and testing of a 3 axis CNC Router.
This requires marking out of components, manual and pedestal drilling and tapping, turning and milling of small components, a small amount of welding, assembly of small components, assembly of the machine table and gantry, installation and setting up of linear rails, installation of drive mechanisms and rack and pinions, checking levels and shimming as required, a small amount of painting of the machine frame and gantry.
Testing of the machine for sureness and accuracy.
Installation and maintenance of the machines at the customer's site.
Operating the machine for testing purposes, so knowledge of CNC operation would be an advantage.
Training will be provided, but a good basic understanding of machine tool fitting is required.
Our client has a new product and there is an opportunity for the right candidate to hopefully grow with them as their business progresses.
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