ITW Pro Brands is pleased to announce the launch of SCRUBS in-a-Bucket Refill Packs (part #42270). This new package size contains the same 10”x12” ‘rough touch’ towel in a sturdy pouch that can be opened and placed directly in existing SCRUBS buckets to reduce plastic waste.

“ITW Pro Brands is dedicated to designing products that meet the needs of heavy industry while minimizing the impact on the planet,” said Paul Gottesburen, R&D Manager, “Using the refill pack with existing SCRUBS in-a-Bucket packaging can reduce plastic waste by over 83%, contributing significantly to global sustainability goals”

SCRUBS in-a-Bucket Refill Pack supports sustainability efforts through plastic and cardboard packaging reduction, as well as reduced case weight. “It’s a win-win that we can add to sustainability efforts while simultaneously making our distributor partners’ operations easier,” says Matthew Shepard, Market Segment Manager, “The reduced case size takes up less room in warehouses and delivery trucks, while the reduced weight lessens freight charges.”

Raj Rajani, Marketing Director, confirmed the strong demand for this solution. “Several distributor partners have already placed initial stocking orders, so product is available and ready to ship starting today.”

About ITW Pro Brands

ITW Pro Brands is a proud USA manufacturer who formulates product solutions. Our wipes, surface disinfectants, lubricants, cleaning & maintenance chemicals, marking products, and corrosion preventatives are formulated to maximize productivity within operations. We deliver products recognized as a standard within the industrial MRO, Janitorial/Sanitation, Mold Release, Metalworking & Stamping, and Foodservice markets. We stand behind our reputation for performance and quality. ITW Pro Brands has manufacturing locations in Olathe KS, Tucker GA, and DeWitt IA.

The conventional lines, ideal for lighter gauge material, are 36 in. wide and rated for handling coil weights up to 8,000 lb. Each includes a coil reel with ability to payout from top and bottom of coil. The reels have an automatic adjusting brake with coil OD sensor to adjust brake pressure through job operation as the coil OD depletes. Each has a DPS-2.25-9-36 9 roll powered straightener with non-marking provisions for soft and/or cosmetic material.

They are fitted with Dallas’ SyncLoop technology, wherein the coil O.D. and loop depths are monitored and payout speeds adjusted based on a combination of the line speed average (from the feeder), coil O.D. size and loop depth settings. The units also have hand-crank adjusted edge guides, triple-roll edge guides with self-centering and independent adjustment for squaring soft and light gage materials. It also has an adjustable height cabinet. The line is a DRFP-336 servo feed with non-marking provisions for soft and/or cosmetic material.

The lines are built on an Allen-Bradley, Ethernet-based control architecture and feature ProfileSelect, a unique feed control system that is exclusively available through Dallas Industries. It uses a cam-motion (sinusoidal) profile. This smooth profile results in a feed motion that utilizes 100 percent of the press feed window, reducing stress on the material and the feed’s mechanical components.

Dallas Industries’ full line of products includes conventional and compact coil feed lines, as well as servo feeds, heavy-duty straighteners and coil handling equipment.

Ideal for metal shops offering fabrication, stamping, powder coating, cutting, welding, and other metalworking services, the TAB Wrapper Tornado automatically applies stretch wrap 360 degrees around and under the pallet and load to create a secure, stable, unitized load. The need for boxes, banding, and crates is eliminated along with shifting in transit and storage. In addition to the automated 100-inch and 80-inch units to be shown at the booth, the orbital stretch wrapping machine is also available with a 115-inch wrapping and in semi-automated models as standard.

The orbital stretch wrappers are designed and manufactured at the company’s Reading, Pa. headquarters and delivered ready for operation with a warranty. A companion line of stretch wrap is available for nearly any orbital stretch wrapping machine.

Metalforming manufacturers’ forecast for general economic activity during the next three months dipped this month, according to the August 2024 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report. Prepared monthly, PMA’s report provides an economic indicator for the next three months of manufacturing, sampling 103 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada.

PMA’s August report shows that 47% of the manufacturers responding to the survey expect no change in economic activity (down from 61% last month), 38% anticipate a decrease in activity in the next three months (compared to 27% in July), and 15% predict an increase in activity (compared to 12% in July).

Metalformers’ forecast for incoming orders was little changed from the previous month, with 26% of survey respondents expecting an increase in orders during the next three months (compared to 24% in July), 46% predicting no change in orders (compared to 52% last month) and 28% anticipating a decrease increase in orders (compared to 24% in July).

Current average daily shipping levels in the August survey were unchanged from the previous month with 48% of survey respondents reporting no change in shipping levels (compared to 46% in July), 40% reporting a decrease in levels (the same percentage reported in July) and 12% reporting an increase in levels (down from 14% last month).

The survey also showed that 10% of respondents reported a portion of their workforce on short time or layoff in August (double the 5% reported in July), while only 30% reported that they are currently expanding their workforce (down from 39% last month). Six percent of metalforming companies reported an increase in lead times in August (compared to 11% in July).

“The August report shows that metalforming manufacturers are facing similar economic headwinds as businesses in other segments of the manufacturing sector,” said David Klotz, PMA president. “In fact, the survey shows that metalformers have shown their resiliency relative to other industries, but it’s clear that our members are also facing challenging market conditions. The failure of Congress to date to pass the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act that that would have reinstated R&D expensing and bonus depreciation continues to be a missed opportunity to help boost the sector. PMA encourages the Senate to take up the bill again after the August recess.”

About PMA

PMA is the full-service trade association representing the $137-billion metalforming industry of North America—the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its more than 900 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry. PMA leads companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability through advocacy, networking, statistics, the PMA Educational Foundation, FABTECH tradeshows and MetalForming magazine.

Bunting Magnetics Co., a leader in magnetic technology, is excited to announce the launch of its newly redesigned FF Series Drawer Magnet. The updated design fits more machines, which eliminates the need for customizations. This change not only reduces costs but also speeds up delivery times, providing customers with a more eDicient and economical solution. The new standardized FF Drawer reflects Bunting’s commitment to meeting the demands of a broader market.

Since 1966, the FF Drawer Magnet has been a trusted standard in the plastics industry, designed to protect manufacturing lines by removing harmful metal contaminants from product streams. The new design is a direct response to customer and OEM feedback regarding the challenges of long lead times for customized equipment.

A key feature of the new FF Drawer is its universal slotted flange, ensuring seamless compatibility with any square bolt pattern. Additionally, Bunting has standardized its line from six models to just two: High and Low Temperature. The streamlined design makes ordering from Bunting easier, less expensive, and more eDicient.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our products to better serve customers,” says Marc Suderman, Product Manager for General Separation at Bunting. “The new design of the FF Drawer Magnet is a result of listening to the direct needs of the plastics industry. It simplifies the entire process, and we believe it will significantly enhance their experience with Bunting.”

The redesigned FF Drawer Magnet is now available for order, marking a new chapter in Bunting’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

About Bunting

Bunting Magnetics is a global leader in metal detection and metal separation technology. They provide magnetic solutions for a wide range of industries, including plastics, recycling, food processing, mining and aggregates, metal stamping, printing cylinders, magnet materials, and more. With a focus on growth and innovation, Bunting has been at the forefront of the magnetics industry for over 60 years.

Jorgensen’s new EcoFilter® 80 self-cleaning conveyor enables efficient filtration of fine chips to 80-microns nominal. It is the first economical non-drum style conveyor offering filtration below 100-micron. EcoFilter® conveyors use non-disposable filter boxes that dramatically reduce chips and particulate from migrating to a machine tool coolant tank. Users experience reduced downtime for tank cleaning and maintenance as well as improved pump, tooling and coolant life.

The new EcoFilter80 will be part of the revolutionary PermaClean system. The PermaClean system adds options for secondary tank filtration and eliminates sludge build up by adding agitation to the coolant collection tank. PermaClean can be incorporated into Jorgensen’s multi-step filtration system and is adaptable as an option to nearly any filtration system on the market.

The PermaClean system will also be equipped with a Will-Fill total coolant health system that offers trouble-free monitoring of metalworking emulsion. The system combines automatic measuring, filling and conditioning. It alerts operators via a flashing color LED, buzzer, or e-mail when attention is required.

For applications that produce long, stringy or nested balls of chips, Jorgensen’s MunchMan® dual-belt conveyor is a heavy-duty unit designed to grab chips as they move into the conveyor’s incline section, greatly reducing or eliminating conveyor jamming problems. MunchMan® conveyors are custom fabricated to meet customer requirements and are compatible with other Jorgensen coolant management options.

Booth visitors will also see a new FlexForce high-pressure coolant system for through-spindle coolant system (TSC) applications. Jorgensen will display the 1,000-psi configuration featuring a new chiller option. FlexForce gets coolant directly to the cutting zone, improving lubrication and heat dissipation. The outcome is improved cutting speeds and feeds, chip control and part surface finishes.

For moving ferrous materials such as small chips, fines, small parts and stamping slugs, the company will display its next generation Magnetic conveyor. The conveyor has been redesigned and built using updated engineering and manufacturing standards for improved performance. Effective in heavy oil and grease applications, Jorgensen’s Magnetic conveyors are custom fabricated, safe and maintenance friendly.

Jorgensen’s metal compacting solutions are designed for sustainable manufacturing and recycling. Visitors to Jorgensen’s booth will see the ER20T Briquette Press that uses hydraulic pressure to condense chips while pushing out residual cutting fluid. Jorgensen’s chip processing solutions include turn-key systems for chip shredding, wringing and compacting and are highly effective for steel, aluminum, titanium, brass, cast iron and grinding sludges.

Jorgensen will showcase its modular FlexFiltration system with the Flex G Series in a new 25-gpm configuration. Flex G Series systems use gravity media filtration and come standard with low media roll detection, no media alarm sensor and automatic roll advance. FlexFiltration systems feature either cyclonic bag or gravity media filtration options that can be configured to efficiently remove fine chips and grinding sludge down to 10 microns or less. They are especially well suited for challenging applications involving materials ranging from cast iron, steel and aluminum to composites and plastics.

Innovance sister companies ALMCO and Mass Finishing, Inc. (MFI) will be joining Jorgensen this year at IMTS. In addition to manufacturing a robust line of standard industrial parts washers, polishers and deburring machines, the companies also offer custom solutions to meet specific customer requirements.

About Jorgensen Conveyor & Filtration Solutions

With over 70 years of experience in designing and manufacturing advanced conveyor, coolant filtration and chip processing solutions for machine tool, metalworking, and material handling, Jorgensen Conveyor & Filtration Solutions offers a wide range of standard and customized systems to companies across North America and globally. All products are engineered to provide high quality, cost effective, application-based product solutions for even the most demanding environments.

For problem free production and material handling without bottlenecks caused by maintenance intensive systems, poor chip management or coolant filtration, the company manufactures reliable, innovative conveyor and filtration solutions, including MunchMan®, EcoFilter®, Filterveyor®, FlexFiltration, FlexForce, PermaClean, and Will-Fill.

Jorgensen is a 100% employee owned Innovance company that sets the industry standard for quality, reliability, and value for all your material handling needs.

Operating as a subsidiary of Kyoto, Japan-based Murata Machinery Ltd., Murata Machinery USA provides sales, service, and support for the Muratec brand in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as overseas in Ireland. Muratec has a rich history of innovation and leadership in North America, revolutionizing the automation landscape with groundbreaking solutions that are often the first of their kind, the only ones available, or the world’s fastest.

“Murata Machinery USA has been a beacon of excellence, driving industrial innovation and achieving continental success,” said Toshiyuki Komori, President and CEO, Murata Machinery USA. “Unwavering in our commitment, we aim to propel the Muratec brand of end-to-end automation to new heights across North America, helping customers maintain their competitive edge with automation.”

In May 1974, Murata Machinery Ltd. established Murata of America, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, initially focusing on textile machinery. In October 1989, it acquired the Wiedemann Division from the Warner & Swasey Company, creating Murata Wiedemann, Inc. The unified brand “Muratec” was introduced in October 1991. By June 2002, the company consolidated its U.S. subsidiaries, Murata of America, Inc. and Murata Wiedemann, Inc., into Murata Machinery USA, Inc. Throughout North America, Muratec expanded its automation portfolio to encompass material handling, machine tools, fabrication technology, and cleanroom automation solutions, showcasing a broadened range of offerings.

Historic Innovation Across Four Divisions

For over five decades, Muratec’s breakthroughs have marked many turning points in automation, helping our customers enhance their competitive efficiencies across diverse industries. Some of these significant innovations in automation advances include:

Textiles: Muratec revolutionized textile manufacturing with Spinning, Winding, Twisting, and Texturizing Machines. This led to the invention of Air-Jet Spinning, which utilized high-pressure air to enhance the texture and bulkiness of yarns at higher production speeds. Other advancements supporting textile manufacturing included the Automatic Winder that seamlessly linked with Ring Spinning Machines. The game-changing VORTEX machine was introduced in 1997 and evolved into the VORTEX 870 in 2011, creating the world’s fastest spinning machine that eliminated Roving and Winding with over 6,000 units installed globally.

Logistics & Automation (L&A): In the 1990s, Muratec revolutionized North American Automotive Stamping with an integrated turnkey solution, effortlessly combining Die Handling, Blank Processing, Stamping Warehousing, and Transport Control. This streamlined processes and minimized waste by integrating Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), reshaping the automotive sector’s logistics and material handling approach. Muratec positioned itself as a key industry influencer of versatile automation systems covering high-rise warehouses, unmanned transporting systems, robotic automation, and cutting-edge factory automation.

Clean Factory Automation (CFA): As a cleanroom industry leader, Muratec invented cutting-edge floor and overhead transport systems (OHTs) to optimize fabrication processes, maximize space, and ensure product integrity with minimal vibration. These solutions set industry benchmarks that smoothly interfaced with customer Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and tools, establishing a new standard in boosting productivity, reliability, and operational excellence. Muratec is one of the world’s largest semiconductor clean room automated manufacturers.

Machine Tools Division (MTD): In 1980, Muratec revolutionized CNC machining with the MW25, the inaugural twin-spindle automated chucker lathe that seamlessly integrated automation with an industry-first gantry loader. Then, in 1994, Muratec set a new industry standard by inventing the world’s first electric servo motor CNC turret punch press. The MOTORUM 2000 was known for its eco-friendly design, low noise, and highly productive hydraulic oil-less operation, inspiring numerous imitations and knockoffs. Muratec’s machine tools, spanning turning, sheet metal fabrication, and automated handling systems combine high speed and precision through cutting-edge control technology.

In 2024, Muratec will mark 50 years of automation innovation with initiatives. In September, new innovative machinery will be introduced along with ten (10) cutting-edge machine demonstrations at the 2024 International Manufacturing Technology Show, Sept. 9-14, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Booth 338844.

“Our aim is to offer space missions more cost-effectively than was previously possible. Our spacecraft can benefit from TRUMPF’s manufacturing and application expertise. TRUMPF has decades of experience in the production of high-precision components,” says Hélène Huby, CEO of The Exploration Company. The start-up company plans to send a space capsule to orbit the earth for several months in an initial mission in 2026. Starting in 2028, further missions are planned to go to the moon. The spacecraft will initially carry freight, but in the long term, people will also fly onboard.

So far, the start-up has so far raised 65 million euros from private and public investors. The European company employs a total of around 120 people at its sites in Planegg, Germany and Bordeaux, France. Commercial space travel is considered a growth industry. Experts have predicted that the global market for the production of aircraft and spacecraft would grow to 740 billion euros in 2023.

Aerospace companies rely on 3D printing

“With our 3D printing technology, we are driving the commercialization of the space-travel industry. If you want to be successful in the space-travel industry today, you have to use additive manufacturing,” says Tobias Brune, who is responsible for the additive manufacturing business at TRUMPF. Designers use additive manufacturing to combine entire assemblies into a single component. This saves weight and reduces complexity. Every gram saved reduces fuel costs. What’s more, the less complex components reduce the cost of safety tests before the rocket launch and increase the probability of a successful mission in space.

With the help of 3D printers, The Exploration Company saves valuable raw materials. The systems only use the material that will ultimately fly into space. In the past, aerospace companies produced components using conventional manufacturing methods such as stamping, forging and casting, and much of the material ended up as waste.

Additive manufacturing enables rapid prototype development, which normally takes a lot of time in the aerospace industry. With the design software, users can make improvements to the prototype at the click of a mouse. The 3D printer can then produce the new prototype within a few hours. With conventional manufacturing methods, the production of some of these complex geometries would not be possible or it would take up to several weeks or months.

Digital photographs in print-ready resolution are available to illustrate this press release. They may only be used for editorial purposes. Use is free of charge when credit is given, in this case, as “Photo: The Exploration Company.” Graphic editing – except for cropping out the main motif – is prohibited. This photo is available upon request.

About TRUMPF

TRUMPF is a high-tech company offering manufacturing solutions in the fields of machine tools and laser technology. The Company drives digital connectivity in the field of manufacturing by means of consulting, platform products and software. TRUMPF is one of the technology and market leaders in highly versatile machine tools for sheet metal processing and in the field of industrial lasers.

In 2022/23, the company employed some 18,400 people and generated sales of about 5.4 billion euros. With over 80 companies, the TRUMPF Group is represented in nearly every European country as well as in North America, South America and Asia. The company has production facilities in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the United States, Mexico and China.

“MPA is proud to be the largest Wintriss stocking dealer in North America,” said Midwest Press and Automation Managing Member Tom Clark. “We look forward to helping our customers select a control platform that best fits their needs, including turnkey installation, parts, and service.”

Wintriss has also added a new distributor partner — Southern Press Solutions (Blairsville, Georgia) covering Alabama and Georgia. Southern Press Solutions provides sales and service for press machines and equipment and was founded in 2021 on a solid foundation of over 10 years of press machine service experience and expertise by its Director, Brandon Robbins.

“Southern Press Solutions is proud to partner with the industry leader of press automation, die protection, and safety controls in Georgia and Alabama,” said Brandon Robbins, Director, Southern Press Solutions.

“Wintriss is committed to offering customers the best sales and service in the industry,” said Mr. Barry Erlandson, National Sales Manager. “We are excited to expand our representation in the U.S. with distributors that both have extensive experience with using, demonstrating and servicing press controls, all of which provides customers an optimal experience.”

About Wintriss Controls Group

Wintriss Controls Group, of Acton, Mass., is a leading manufacturer of automation and safety products for the metal stamping and forming industry including its SmartPAC PRO press automation controller. The company’s product range includes automation and clutch/ brake controllers, custom consoles, safety light curtains, die protection systems, load analyzers, in-die quality control systems, and ShopFloorConnect® production reporting and OEE tracking software.

The company is located at 100 Discovery Way, Unit 110, Acton MA 01720, phone (800) 586-8324, Fax: (978) 263-2048.