News Desk
turing organizations reporting that they hired a US veteran, an increase from 44% the prior year. Across industries, the top challenges cited in finding qualified personnel included proficiency in reading, understanding and writing in English, as well as mathematics. ME
Openings & Expansions
Wynright Corp. (Elk Grove Village, IL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daifuku Webb and a US-based provider of intel- ligent material handling systems, on Oct. 16 announced the opening of a new office in the Grand Rapids, MI, area. The office will expand Wynright’s solution-based engineering and product design capabilities, particularly in goods-to-person automation, as well as provide local sales and support to the company’s growing list of retail and other clients. Methods Machine Tools Inc. (Sudbury, MA), a supplier of in- novative precision machine tools, automation and accessories, plans to open a new, expanded technology center in Anaheim, CA, in early 2014. The new Southern California Technology Center will be approximately 12,000 ft² (1115 m²) and will replace Methods’ previous center in Buena Park, CA. Steve Raucci, who has been Western Regional Manager for Methods Machine Tools since 2004, will be general manager of the new facility, which will include a spacious showroom and classroom.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Astronics Corp. (East Aurora, NY), a provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace and defense industries, announced Nov. 4 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire PGA Electronic, based in France, for approximately $28.5 million. The purchase price will be paid 60% in cash and 40% in Astronics stock. PGA Electronic, established in 1989, designs and manufactures seat motion and lighting systems primarily for business and first-class aircraft seats. It is Europe’s leading provider of in-flight entertainment/commu- nication systems.
Announcements
Courtney Hill, President, CJ Hill Consulting Services and retired General Manager, Manufacturing & Quality at GE Avia- tion, will become President and Chairman of the Board at the MTConnect Institute (McLean, VA). The Institute is the developer
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ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | December 2013
and administrator of MTConnect, the open-source standard for communication and interconnectivity between manufacturing equipment and devices. Hill replaces David A. Edstrom, CEO/ CTO Virtual Photons Electrons, LLC, who has completed his term and is leaving the management team to pursue develop- ment of MTConnect-related products and services in the private sector, as well as supporting AMT’s MTInsight business intel- ligence platform and other projects. Hill and a new leadership team are slated to assume their positions at the Annual Meeting of the MTConnect Institute Board of Directors on Dec. 11.
Events
The 2014 SUR/FIN Manufacturing & Technology Trade- show & Conference, which is produced by the National Association for Surface Finishing (Washington, DC), will take place from June 9–11 at the new Cleveland (OH) Convention Center. The Call for Abstracts is now open. Submissions are due by Jan. 15. More information at
www.nasfsurfin.com.
Awards Seco Tools (Troy, MI) has been named 2013 Supplier of
the Year for Marketing Excellence by the Affiliated Distribu- tors’ Industrial Supply Division. Affiliated Distributors is North America's largest independent distributor network. The award was part of of Affiliated Distributors’ annual Spirit of Indepen- dence Award Ceremony.
Workforce Development Hurco Companies Inc. (Indianapolis) and the Lincoln College
of Technology in Indianapolis celebrated Manufacturing Day in October with the grand opening of the Hurco CNC Technology Center at Lincoln Tech. The 5000-ft² (465-m²) CNC machining center is equipped with 10 new Hurco CNC machining and turning centers. The event was attended by students, educators and various business and political leaders. Brian Burton, vice president of the Indiana Manufacturers Association, under- scored the importance of the event by noting that one in five Indiana residents are employed in the manufacturing sector, and it makes up one-third of the state’s economy.
NewsDesk is edited by Editor-in-Chief Sarah A. Webster. Please email NewsDesk submissions to
editorial@sme.org.
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