UP FRONTA LETTER FROM THE EDITOR u I
wish I could promise that this is the last time we’ll be writ- ing about IMTS for the next two years. That won’t happen. IMTS 2016 was just too big and too impactful to turn our backs on for some time yet. The Fair Friend Group (FFG; Taipei, Taiwan) is also some- thing too big to ignore, although it has been sort of fl ying un- der the radar until now. During a visit to the company’s booth at IMTS, Jimmy Chu, FFG founder and chairman, told me the company is the No. 3 machine tool builder in the world, with 38 brands, four divisions and 54 factories. The machine tool division alone, he said, had sales of $2.3 billion last year. Not bad for a company founded in 1979 and which didn’t build its fi rst machine tool until 1989.
While the machine tool division operates in the US under the FFG MAG banner, some of its products are distributed here by a number of well-known companies, such as Hydro- mat, Star SU and Methods Machine Tools. All in all, Chu claimed, FFG’s total footprint at McCormick Place including what was on distributors’ stands covered more total space than any other group.
EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR IN CHIEF JAMES D. SAWYER 313-425-3053
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SENIOR EDITORS BILL KOENIG 313-425-3058
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ASSISTANT EDITOR DARLENE M. PIETRYKA 313-425-3255
ME IS DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY THE SME CREATIVE DEPARTMENT
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4
AdvancedManufacturing.org | November 2016 A Look Back at IMTS and Ahead to FABTECH
Now lest you think FFG is just a purveyor of commod- ity machine tools that sell on price, know that the holding company is making a big push into the precision-driven aerospace manufacturing arena via its Jobs brand. FFG is also looking ahead by developing advanced manufacturing technologies and at IMTS had a demonstration of a machin- ing cell in which virtual reality and augmented reality were at the disposal of the operator. Now let’s you and I turn ahead, but not too far ahead, to
FABTECH 2016, taking place November 16–18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. While not as mammoth as IMTS, FABTECH has a sharper focus, concentrating on metal form- ing, fabricating, welding, and fi nishing. And it is still sizable. More than 550,000 net ft² has been booked for the show and 28,000 attendees are expected. Better than 1300 exhibitors have signed up to display their wares, answer your questions and look to make your manufacturing operations more productive and profi table. And if you have a chance, please stop in at the SME and Tooling U-SME booths (C19000 and C22088, respectively) and say, “Hi.”
One SME Drive PO Box 930 Dearborn, MI 48121-0930
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ENGINEERING
Although reasonable efforts are taken to ensure the accuracy of its published material, SME is not responsible for statements published in this magazine. Readers are advised that SME shall not be liable to any person or company for losses or damages incurred as a result of accepting any invitation or offer contained in any advertisement published in Manufacturing Engineering®. Copyright © 2016 by SME. Photocopy information: Users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 21 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970, can purchase copies at $2.00 each referring to serial fee code 0361-0853/88/$2.00. All other photocopying without the permission of SME is prohibited. Reprint information: For tearsheets, reprints, and bulk orders, write the Production Manager, kstebbins@sme. org. Available on microfi lm/microfi che from University Microfi lms International, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Canada Post Publication Mail Sales Agreement No. 1436813
James D. Sawyer Editor in Chief
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