Industry News

Klingelnberg Honors 23 Employees for Long-Term Service

In 2021, the Klingelnberg Group continued its longstanding tradition of celebrating work anniversaries by honoring 830 total years of employee service to the company, and along with it, their experience, knowledge, loyalty, and trust. This year’s honorees included three employees with 50 years of service, twelve employees with 40 years of service, and eight employees with 25 years of service.

Left to right: Christel Thiel, Christian Neuber, Werner and Karin Hager.

 

“Even though celebrations are still difficult due to the current situation, we can’t miss the opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to our employees celebrating their service anniversaries. We are especially proud that we have three employees celebrating 50 years of service to the company,” noted Christoph Küster, CFO of the Klingelnberg Group. “Without our exceptional team, we would not be what we are today — a leading manufacturer in gear technology.”

The honorees with 50 years of service include Christian Neuber (warehouse manager), Werner Hager (production), and Christel Thiel (order center).

Christian Neuber with a long family tradition at Klingelnberg

Neuber is a veritable institution at the company, having begun his training as a machinist in 1971. For a long time, he worked as a machinist in single-part production before becoming a foreman in the lapping and testing machines in the early 1990s. Today he heads the warehouse department. “After 50 years of working here, the company has become like a home to me. I have always greatly appreciated the family atmosphere I enjoy with my colleagues. Work colleagues have become friends. Even with a workforce of 750 employees, I know everyone, from the owner to the crane operator,” said Neuber in describing his time at Klingelnberg. “In these 50 years, things have never gotten boring. Due to the variety of tasks I have been involved with over the many years, I have hardly noticed how quickly the time has gone by. And during this time, entire warehouses have been renovated and built from the ground up.”

Christian Neuber has a family story of his own at Klingelnberg. His father before him was employed as a pattern maker at Klingelnberg, his brother was an electrician at the company, and his mother worked in the factory canteen. “Because I grew up in a company-owned housing settlement, rather than having a specific type of training in mind, I really just wanted to know what it was that Klingelnberg was looking for,” continued Neuber. And now the next generation is working for Klingelnberg: his son and daughter-in-law are also employed by the machine manufacturing firm. “They might also end up staying here for 50 years — for me, that’s the type of family-oriented company that Klingelnberg is,” said Neuber.

Werner and Karin Hager together celebrate 90 years of service to Klingelnberg

Werner Hager and his wife Karin Hager have been with the company for a grand total of 90 years combined. Karin Hager has been employed at Klingelnberg since 1981 and today works as a commercial clerk in the Standards department. “For us, working together in the same company had many advantages,” says Karin Hager. “We were able to drive to work together, so we only needed one car. Vacation days were also easier to plan. Over the many years, we always felt at home at Klingelnberg. When I first started working in the central warehouse, I was reserving material from stock using index cards that were located in a special paternoster filing system. So, I was there during the beginnings of digitization, but I quickly became accustomed to working with computers.”

Her husband Werner Hager began his career at Klingelnberg 10 years earlier. After training as a toolmaker, he worked as a boring mill operator and trained as a technician in the 1980s. Since 1988, Werner Hager has been working in NC programming. “In my 50 years with the company, things have continually evolved,” Werner Hager remarked. “During my training period in the early 1970s, there were almost exclusively conventional machines. In 1978, I had the opportunity to work on the first CNC-controlled boring mill. At that time, data transfer was still done by means of a mechanical punch tape reader, and tools had to be inserted by hand.

Today, by contrast, we use only automatic tool changers in mechanical engineering, resulting in less downtime. My work in NC programming has also changed continuously. In the beginning, the programs were written on a small CRT monitor with only one image window and a keyboard without a PC mouse, and only 2D drawings were available. Various sequences were still sketched by hand. Today, with the introduction of special software, programs are created with graphically interactive programming. In addition, 3D solid models give us the necessary data for workpiece and tool geometry. They also serve as optical aids for identifying the often complicated geometry.”

Christel Thiel looks back on a varied career at Klingelnberg

Thiel began her training as an office clerk in 1971 and, during her many years of service with the company, she has worked in the purchasing, sales and production departments. She has been working as a commercial clerk in the order center since 2002.

“After my training, I was very happy that I found a position in such a great company. By working in the different departments, I always had a lot of variety in my professional life. I particularly appreciate the fact that Klingelnberg has always been a reliable employer — even in difficult times. Whenever I speak of Klingelnberg, I always refer to it as our place.” Thiel is now entering her well-deserved retirement and looks back with positive feelings. “My time at Klingelnberg was well spent.” 

www.klingelnberg.com

Tyrolit Announces Management Changes

Dr. Christoph Swarovski already declared a year ago that he would be stepping down from the executive board in the first quarter of 2022 after 20 years in the company’s management. However, he will continue to support the company as a member of the advisory board: “I would like to thank all employees and partners for the successful years in which Tyrolit has developed into one of the world’s most successful market providers. I look forward to remaining associated with Tyrolit as an active member of the advisory board.”

Left to right: Thomas Friess and Christoph Swarovski.

 

Thomas Friess will take over the position of Chairman of the Executive Board on January 1, 2022. The international orientation, continuity at all locations and the development of future industries will remain the focus of the family-owned company.

Friess comes from Germany and has lived in Austria for 18 years. The married family man holds a degree in business administration and has held numerous management positions at internationally active companies in Germany, the USA and Austria over the past 23 years. Mathias Margreiter, Chairman of the Tyrolit Advisory Board: “Tyrolit has a stable foundation for consistent and sustainable growth. In Thomas Friess we have found a highly experienced and qualified person to continue the path successfully taken under Christoph Swarovski.”

Since 2019, Friess has been a mainstay in the corporate development of the international abrasives manufacturer and is very familiar with the strategic orientation of the group of companies, the organization and the values it lives by. “I am looking forward to this responsible task. Innovative spirit, vision and partnership in practice remain central virtues at Tyrolit,” confirms Friess. The new CEO’s particular focus is on advancing digitalization and the development of future industries such as medical technology, electrical engineering and environmental technology. “With the help of innovative Tyrolit technologies, we will ensure the necessary precision within these future industries in the future and also make a valuable contribution to reducing the CO2 footprint,” adds Friess, aware of the company’s successful orientation.

In addition to Christoph Swarovski, Andreas Buchbauer is also retiring from the Tyrolit management board. A new executive board has been appointed for the group of companies around Friess: Peter Dollinger will in hold the position of CFO, Arno Pichler (Metal Industries) and Andreas Sauerwein (Construction) will represent their respective divisions on the board. All three people have already been active in the company for years in the executive board or in management positions.

“Thomas Friess and his team will find a profitable, very healthy Tyrolit Group with an excellent international position. The owner families and the new operational management are clearly committed to the group’s locations and employees. The main plant in Schwaz will remain the heart and brain of Tyrolit,” Margreiter said.

www.tyrolit.com

Jorgensen Partners with Chip Processing Supplier S.F.H.

To strengthen its breadth of product offerings and provide manufacturers a one-stop-shop for all metal chip processing needs, Jorgensen Conveyor and Filtration Solutions has solidified a strategic alliance with chip processing equipment manufacturer S.F.H. based in Saint-Étienne, France. The new business partnership will benefit both companies and provide Jorgensen the exclusive rights to sell S.F.H. products in North America.

Jorgensen will initially focus on offering a wide variety of S.F.H. chip processing products including chip shredders, briquetters and centrifuges. In addition, Jorgensen will offer complete, integrated chip processing solutions. In the future, the two companies plan to introduce several additional products to the North American market.

According to Karl Kleppek, Director of Sales and Marketing at Jorgensen Conveyor and Filtration Solutions, “S.F.H. produces extremely robust chip processing products and systems, and Jorgensen is confident they will be a great partner and perfect fit for our customers in the machine tool industry. This new partnership will enable us to sell individual chip processing equipment and complete turnkey systems alike.” Kleppek adds, “our new relationship with S.F.H. coupled with our wide range of conveyor and filtration solutions position Jorgensen as a complete coolant circuit and chip processing solutions provider.”

With over 40 years of experience, S.F.H. specializes in three key areas of chip management: hydraulic fluid pump systems, equipment for separation of solids and liquids and waste recycling. “As S.F.H. enters the North American market, we welcome Jorgensen’s leadership as our strategic partner in this step toward long-term growth,” said Bruno Fillardet, President of S.F.H. “We’re eager to build on our professional relationship.”

www.jorgensenconveyors.com

Sandvik Coromant To Acquire ICAM

Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire Canada-based ICAM Technologies Corporation, a provider of innovative solutions that translate CAM data into optimized coding for guiding CNC machining operations. With a global reach, ICAM sells to some of the world’s most renowned companies in the aerospace and defense, general engineering and automotive industries. The company will be reported in Sandvik Coromant, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.

“I am really happy to welcome ICAM to Sandvik Coromant and I look forward to us working together and strengthening our offer to our customers. ICAM’s ability to deliver code reliability across all major CAD/CAM systems is well-aligned with our goal to serve all our customers in the best way possible, with a CAD/CAM-neutral portfolio” says Helen Blomqvist, President Sandvik Coromant.

ICAM’s software combines post-processing, machine simulation, and tool-path optimization into solutions that save programming and part machining time, streamlining customer workflows as the user can go from their CAM system to verified and optimized coding (G-code) in just one step. ICAM’s offering is complimentary with the verification and optimization technology of CGTech, a global leader in software for numerical control (NC/CNC) simulation, verification and optimization, also owned by Sandvik and reporting into Sandvik Coromant.

“For more than 30 years, CGTech has been a leader in simulating CNC machining, while ICAM has been a leading processing provider. ICAM and CGTech synergies will give customers a competitive advantage by reducing machining time and dependency on programming experience. Like CGTech, ICAM is a technology leader with entrepreneurial spirit, and we have known and respected each other for years. We look forward to working with everyone on the ICAM team.” says Margaret Schmitt, president of CGTech.

“I and the rest of the ICAM team are really excited about the future. For many decades ICAM and CGTech have seen the world of CAM systems, computers, operating systems, machine tools and their controls evolve exponentially. And only through hard work, focus and dedication, both companies not only kept pace with all this change but have distinguished ourselves in our respective disciplines. ICAM and CGTech continue to share the same prestigious customer base who use our products as part of the most dependable and accurate Virtual Part Manufacturing Process in all metal removal industries worldwide. On top of all this, we come from the same business culture, we have similar roots and equally have a rare tremendous depth-of-knowledge in a very complex world guaranteeing that this new relationship holds huge potential and promise for developing even greater innovations for our customers for years to come” says John Nassr, owner of ICAM.

ICAM was founded in 1971 in Montreal, Canada, and currently has 27 employees. In 2020, the company had revenues of approximately SEK 30 million and an EBITA margin of approximately 25%. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

www.sandvik.coromant.com

GearOffice Consulting Announces Product and Service Expansion

GearOffice Consulting Services announces an expansion of its products & services and the launch of a new GearOffice website.  In addition to the GearOffice computer program for gear hobbing analysis, the new services include gear design, gear processing, gear inspection and process debugging, SPC for gear manufacturing, and training.

The GearOffice computer program was designed to performs various hobbing and gear geometry calculations and maintain Gear/Hob/Machine/Hobbing Project records. The program keeps gears, machines, and hobs as independent objects. It can combine a gear, a machine, and a hob into a hobbing project, to determine (or select) cutting parameters, and calculate the results: cycle time, chip thickness, approach and overrun distances, hob setting angle, feed scallop depth, depth of enveloping cuts, force, torque, as well as tooth thickness/DOP/span. It also determines tolerances based on AGMA/DIN/ISO class and vice versa. Finally, it calculates many important gear geometry characteristics i.e. roll and polar angles, roll length, pressure angle, tooth/space thickness and more for normal, transverse, and axial planes at any gear diameter.

www.gearoffice.com

Walter Surface Technologies Acquires Allegro Industries

In its quest to become a global leader for safety and productivity, Walter Surface Technologies is pleased to announce the acquisition of Allegro Industries, a USA-based leading manufacturer of high-quality safety equipment, respirators, air sources and ventilation equipment.

Through this acquisition, Walter is expanding its safety and PPE product offering to industrial users complementing its high-end metalworking products.

“We are very excited to welcome Allegro to the Walter family. Walter is always looking to provide solutions that answer the needs and challenges facing industrial end-users. Now, with this acquisition, Allegro brings the product and manufacturing expertise that will allow us to continue our mission to help our customers work better all while keeping them safe,” said Marc-André Aubé, CEO of Walter. “This transaction is an unequalled opportunity to build up our activities in the North American market as we continue to evaluate other growth strategies, namely through accretive acquisitions,” he added.

Tom Johnston, president and founder of Allegro Industries welcomes the new relationship: “We are proud to see Allegro adding its solutions to Walter’s renowned offering. The fit is right, and we look forward to Allegro’s potential within the Walter group of companies.” He adds, “We are very excited to be a part of the Walter team.”

Following this transaction, Allegro will continue to operate under its own brand. The transaction is effective immediately, and activities for both customers and suppliers remain unchanged. 

www.walter.com

Forest City Gear’s Wendy Young named business catalyst of the year

www.forestcitygear.com

KISSsoft Announces Training Schedule Through Summer 2022

The KISSsoft training program 2022 in English offers introductory training courses, advanced training courses and special training courses on selected topics. This year, KISSsoft will again be offering live streams, which will allow attendees flexibility and planning security, as well as the opportunity to interactively ask questions and participate in discussions in a virtual setting.

March 1–2

Shaft and Bearing Calculation (Basis)

March 22–24

KISSsys - Modeling Gearboxes (Basis)

March 29–30

KISSsys - System Calculations (Advanced)

March 31

KISSsys - Model Customization (Special)

May 9–12

Fine Pitch Gears in Plastic and Sintered Material (Special)

June 21–23 / June 28–30

Cylindrical Gear Design, Analysis and Optimization (Advanced)

www.kisssoft.com/en/products/training/upcoming-seminars