The Spanish Springmakers Association (ASEMU) joined the European Spring Federation (ESF) during the April board meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany. At this meeting, the following board positions were elected: President, Dr. Hans-Jochem Steim, Germany; vice president elect, Federico Visentin, Italy; treasurer, Pierro Longoni, Italy; vice presidents, Nick Goss, United Kingdom and Josef Varoqui, France; and general secretary, Horst Dieter Dannert, Germany. The next ESF board meeting will be held on Oct.10, 2006 in Vienna. Representatives from Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom will express their views on current ISO projects. A new ESF directory was published and can be obtained by contacting the ESF office.
The Japan Society of Spring Engineers (JSSE) will hold its 60th Anniversary International Symposium on November 2, 2007 in Nagoya, Japan. Attendance is open to engineers and academics worldwide. The Japan Spring Machine show will be held at the same time. The JSSE is a technical society dedicated exclusively to spring research and engineering. For information contact JSSE by phone at 81-3-3251-5235 or e-mail at jsse@spring.or.jp.
Approximately 700 exhibitors and 30,000 trade visitors from around the world will participate in wire China 2006 and Tube China 2006. The concurrent events will be held Sept. 25-28, 2006 in Shanghai. The Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute (SECRI), CCPIT Metallurgical Council and Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. (MDC), with Messe Düsseldorf GmbH as the co-organizer, will host the events. More than 376,700 square feet of exhibit space has been reserved, an increase of 86,100 square feet compared with the 2004 staging. An ancillary program consisting of forums, conferences (including the China Wire & Cable Industry Conference) and technical seminars will complement the exhibits. For information, contact Messe Düsseldorf by phone at (312) 781-5180 or Web site at www.mdna.com.
Numalliance, based in St. Michel, France, received ISO 9001:2000 certification from the TUV Rheinland Group covering machine design and manufacturing of CNC wire, tube and strip bending machines for Numalliance’s three manufacturing facilities: St. Michel, Macsoft products; Bazeilles, Latour products; and La Selles en Luitre, Satime products. The certification also encompasses training, setting up and after-sales service.
Overseas Events
Oct. 5-8, 2006: ITC India, New Delhi, India, WAI, (203) 453-2777, www.wirenet.org.
Oct. 11, 2006: IST Basic Spring Design, Sheffield, England, IST, +44 (0) 114 252 7983, www.ist.org.uk.
Oct. 13-15, 2006: AWIA National Conference, Sydney, Australia, AWIA, +61 2 9484 9856, www.
wireassociation.org.au.
Oct. 24-28, 2006: EuroBLECH, Hanover, Germany, Mack Brooks, +44 (0) 1727 8144000, www.euroblech.com.
Nov. 16-18, 2006: Wire and Cable India 2006, Mumbai, India, Darryl Dasilva, e-mail dasilva@ciionline.org, www.wirecableindia.com.
April 18-20, 2007: 7th Wire and Cable Expo International Exhibition and Conference, New Delhi, India, Intech Trade Fairs Pvt., 91-22-26861040, www.intechtradefairs.com.
June 7-8, 2007: VDFI Annual Convention, Gelsenkirchen, Germany, VDFI, fax 0049 2331 587484, www.vdfi.wsu.de.
June 21-24, 2007: 8th China Int’l Fasteners Spring & Equipment Exhibition, Guangzhou, china, Julang Exhibition Co. Ltd., 86-20-38620782, e-mail melwen@julang.com.
Oct. 16-18, 2007: wire Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, Messe Düsseldorf, (312) 781-5180, www.messe-dusseldorf.de.
Nov. 2, 2007: JSSE 60th Anniversary International Symposium, Nagoya, Japan, JSSE, 81-3-3251-5235, www.soc.nii.ac.jp/jssr.
North America
Diamond Wire Spring Co. in Taylors, SC, has been awarded the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems Certificate. Diamond also has plants in Tyler, TX, and Pittsburgh, PA, along with its Catalog stock division and corporate offices.
Able Electropolishing Co. will open a processing facility near Reno, NV, this fall to serve Western manufacturing centers with overnight trucking. The Chicago, IL, facility will remain in full operation.
Specialty Strip & Oscillating Inc. in Masury, OH, has hired Jamie Lang as the manager of inside sales. She has more than seven years of experience in the steel business. Specialty Strip is a supplier of conventional slit and oscillate coils of all flat-rolled products including stainless. The company is QS-9000 certified.
Baumann Springs North America, Grand Prairie, TX, has achieved ISO/TS 16949 certification of its U.S. manufacturing facilities located in Pineville, NC, and Grand Prairie, TX. Baumann is a worldwide manufacturer of springs, wireforms and stampings, with headquarters in Switzerland.
Plymouth Spring Co. Inc. acquired the assets of Bristol Spring Manufacturing, Plainville, CT, on June 30, 2006 and hired 17 of Bristol’s 43 employees. Operations were consolidated into the Plymouth Spring plant in Bristol, CT. “Bristol produced high-quality fourslide parts, springs and wire forms, so the product range was a good match,” says Richard Rubenstein, president of Plymouth Spring. “The company served a broad spectrum of customers representing national and international industries, and that also attracted us.”
Bristol Spring Manufacturing was founded in 1939 by Ben Hittleman, who plans to retire in Florida. “This is the way he chose to end his long and very important career,” says Rubenstein. “I think that Bristol Spring is going from good hands to good hands; it’s a great move for everyone.”
Bristol Spring is the eighth company Plymouth has acquired in the last 10 years. Others include: William Barrett Co., Bristol, CT; Consolidated Spring, Brooklyn, NY; Ideal Spring, Bristol, CT; Industrial Components Co., Forestville, CT; Imperial Spring Co., Southington, CT; and two small operations. With the Bristol Spring acquisition, Plymouth has doubled in size to just under $15 million in sales.
Bazz Houston Co. in Garden Grove, CA, has completed a major modernization of its tooling, prototype and short-run capabilities. The tool room is equipped with state-of-the-art EDM machines, surface grinders and mills. The prototype center has a full line of presses, shears and power brakes. The in-house engineering staff utilizes 2D and 3D design software and data transfer capabilities. Bazz Houston is a custom manufacturer of springs, metal stampings, wire forms, assemblies and tooling.
RK Trading in Elk Grove Village, IL, has announced two additions to its product line. RK Trading is now the full-service distributor in North America of Bobbio SRL multi-axis CNC spring coiling machines. The company is also representing EasyDur Italiana test equipment. RK Trading will debut both lines at Spring World, as well as demonstrate its current line of Herdon coilers, grinders and formers.
Along with its product line expansion, RK Trading has appointed Chris Dix as general manager. He has spent his entire career in the springmaking industry, from the shop floor to management.
The Chicago Association of Spring Manufacturers (CASMI) has awarded 20 scholarships of $2,000 each to dependents of employees of CASMI member companies for 2006. They are applicable to undergraduate studies. This year, an additional award of $2,500 was added, the Terry and Jerry Reese Postgraduate Scholarship. This has been made possible by a special grant from Rosemont Exposition Services. Jennifer Stynoski, daughter of Robert Engelbreit employed at Automatic Spring Coiling, Chicago, is the first winner. Jennifer was a CASMI scholar in 2003, 2004 and 2005. This brings the total cash awards for CASMI scholarships to $420,500 since the program began in 1989.
Lee Spring in Brooklyn, NY, a manufacturer of mechanical springs and formed wire parts, received the 2006 Export Achievement Award from the World Trade Week New York City Committee, a consortium of local business associations that organize an annual celebration of international trade. Lee Spring has five ISO-certified manufacturing locations in the U.S., and operations in Mexico, the UK and China.
Seneca Wire & Manufacturing Co. in Fostoria, OH, and Fēnix LLC in Wapakoneta, OH, have named Daniel Mallik as manager of quality and technology. He has over 10 years of ferrous wire industry experience, working in the areas of metallurgy, technical services, process engineering and operations management. He received his master’s degree in materials science and engineering from Ohio State and his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering and materials science from Carnegie Mellon University. He had previously held the position of process metallurgist at Seneca Wire. Mallik replaces Anand Bhagwat, who remains a technical advisor to the company.
Mike Dombrowski, program director at the Sheridan Spring Wireforming and Machining Training Program in Sheridan, IL, has responded to a question posed in the October 2005 issue of Springs: “Who’s the next springmaker?”
He reports that the Illinois Manufacturing Foundation (IMF), in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Corrections, has developed and is now operating the Spring and Wireforming and Machinist Training Program at the Sheridan Correctional Center in Sheridan, IL. The Center is a medium-security facility set up as a model drug and alcohol treatment facility.
“Your next springmaker or machinist is available right now,” he writes. “Many of the graduates have completed one or more components of the spring manufacturing and metalworking program, and are actively employed and contributing to the community. There are benefits available to companies who hire the graduates.”
“Every student must begin and complete rehabilitation for his alcohol and/or substance abuse problem through counseling and group therapy sessions. Students are also required to increase their basic academic skill levels, GED, college or vocational training,” he explains. “This is where IMF comes in. IMF has implemented and put into place a training program geared toward the spring manufacturing and metalworking industry. The program consists of the basics: math, blueprint reading, precision measurement, automatic coiling setter/operator training, CNC coiler training and a strong basic machine tooling technology program.
“We can help, but we also need your help,” he writes. “If you have machines, tooling material and equipment you are not using, consider making a contribution to IMF. Your contribution is tax-exempt as provided by law.”
For more information, contact Mike Dombrowski at (815) 496-3425 or Tom Pazik at IMF, (773) 277-2343.
Republic Engineered Products Inc., Fairlawn, OH, has named Jaime Vigil president and CEO, replacing Joseph F. Lapinsky. Lapinsky led the company through its acquisition in 2005 by Industrias CH, S.A. de C.V. Vigil has served as executive advisor since ICH’s acquisition of Republic. He previously served as CEO of Pytsa Industrial S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of ICH.
North American Events
Oct. 18-20, 2006: Spring World 2006, Rosemont, IL, CASMI, (847) 433-1335, www.springworld.org.
Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2006: Shot Peening & Blast Cleaning Workshop and Tradeshow, Indianapolis, IN, (800) 832-5653, www.electronics-inc.com.
Nov. 12-15, 2006: 55th IWCS/Focus Conference and Symposium, Providence, RI, Rhode Island Convention Center, www.iwcs.org, (732) 389-0990.
May 5-10, 2007: Interwire 2007, Cleveland, OH, WAI (203) 453-2777, www.wirenet.org.
May 5-10, 2007: International Fastener Exposition, Cleveland, OH, co-locating with Interwire 2007, IFMSA (800) 688-1698, e-mail: rzirkle@bsales.com.
It is with deep regret that Springs announces the passing of Paul Charlesworth, Toshikazu Okuno and Donald R. Peterson.
Paul Charlesworth died June 13, 2006 in Estero, FL, after a battle with cancer. He was employed for 30 years by H.S. Spring in Louisville, KY. He learned his trade in England and became a U.S. citizen 10 years ago. “He was a fantastic individual and one of the last of a breed, in that he had never become comfortable with the SMI spring design program,” says Paul Cairoli of HS Spring. “He doggedly continued to use his trusty spring slide rule that became forever his trademark both in the office and out in the field with customers.” Two sisters preceded him in death. He was the husband of Diane; father of Tara (Ron) MacMillan; brother of Tony (Denise); and grandfather of four.
Toshikazu Okuno died in August after a battle with cancer. Founder and president of Okuno Machine Co. Ltd. in Osaka, Japan, he was holder of over 350 patents relating to spring machinery and spring manufacture. “Mr. Okuno was well-respected in the spring industry for his contributions and technological breakthroughs,” says Jim Maguire of Maguire Machinery, an Okuno representative. “His accomplishments include the first completely numeric-controlled spring coiler and the world’s largest spring coiler.” His son, Hideki Okuno, who has been running the company for several years as general manager, will become president.
Donald R. Peterson died July 10, 2006 in Horseheads, NY. He was president of Fairway Spring Co. in Horseheads, which was founded by his father, Ted, in 1947. Donald Peterson was active in many community organizations. He earned his masters of science degree from Penn State University and had served in the U.S. Army. He was the husband of Karen; father of Lisa (Chris) Grace; father of Rob; brother of Elin Peterson; and grandfather of Emily and Natalie Grace.
Bad Wildungen, a spa in the heart of Germany, was the venue of this year’s convention of the German spring industry association, VDFI (Verband der Deutschen Federnindustrie). The event took place May 17-19, 2006, in the Maritim Hotel.
Official matters. The VDFI currently has 99 full members, four members from foreign states and 49 associated members. At the board meeting, Walter Bach, CEO of Scherdel GmbH, did not stand for re-election. Elected in his place was Max Freiherr von Waldenfels of Scherdel. Dr. Thomas Muhr of Muhr + Bender KG was re-elected.
At the general meeting, open to associated and other member companies, Prof. Dr. Peter May of the INTES Akademie für Familienunternehmen, a service and consulting company based in Bonn-Bad Godesberg, talked about the “responsible-minded management of family companies.”
Technical report. The second day was dedicated to technical conferences. VDFI president Dr. Hans-Jochem Steim, managing director of Hugo Kern + Liebers GmbH & Co., opened the convention.
VDFI general secretary Wolfgang Hermann welcomed the delegates and gave a survey of the wire 2006 trade fair in Düsseldorf. The associated members of the VDFI were content with the course of the trade fair. Four professional education seminars offered by the VDFI in Ilmenau were also successful.
Hermann pointed out that the job profile of a springmaker must be modernized because spring manufacturers need a highly qualified working staff, while the existing springmaker job profile is still based on a concept developed at the beginning of the last century. There are plans to develop, with a chamber of industry and commerce, a modern springmaker training education program similar to that for an industry mechanic. However, it’s still open as to how many spring manufacturers would accept and promote such a central guideline.
|
|
|
Hans-Jochem Steim, VDFI president (left), honors Manfred Plitzko, technical secretary, on his retirement.
|
Then Manfred Plitzko, VDFI technical secretary, described in his technical report the VDFI’s activity on research and standardization projects, and the present state of research projects organized and supported by the association.
Manfred Plitzko retired. At the convention, Plitzko officially retired from his duties, which he carried out for 17 years. He was responsible for the coordination of standardization, research and professional training activities of the VDFI.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Jürgen Schorcht, Technical University of Ilmenau, made a speech honoring Plitzko’s efforts to build a successful relationship between the Springs Institute of the university and the VDFI. Ilmenau is a university town in the former German Democratic Republic. In 1991, soon after the fall of the barrier between the two parts of Germany, Plitzko helped Schorcht and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mathias Weiss, also with the university, establish contacts with springmakers and spring machinery builders based in the Western part of Germany, and to help the institute gain importance at the European level.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christina Berger, Technical University of Darmstadt, added that Plitzko also was a partner full of confidence for the Institute of Materials and the state-run Materials Testing Institute she headed. Since the end of the ’80s, Plitzko coordinated several spring research projects.
While the Ilmenau university concentrates on surveys regarding the mechanical behavior of springs, the research projects at the Darmstadt university concern the surface of springs, corrosion protection of springs, and the fatigue strength of helical pressure springs, disc springs and disc spring columns.
Bachelors and Masters replacing engineers. Weiss reported that the German academic title of a ”Dipl.-Ing.,” i.e. an engineer who studied at a technical or polytechnic university, will be replaced in 2010 by the European titles ”Bachelor of Science” (B.Sc.) and ”Master of Science” (M.Sc.). These new titles are the product of political efforts to standardize European university degrees. There may be confusion concerning the documents, he said. Weiss discussed the advantages and the disadvantages of this reform and outlined what employers must know when future engineers apply for a job.
Berger said she was ”not so pessimistic,” as there will be competition between universities in different European countries, assuring a high level of educational quality. Moreover, the students will be more international-oriented.
Standardization a must. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kiehl from the German standardization institute DIN emphasized the significance of standardization and the necessity that German companies participate in standardization projects to remain competitive on a global level. Those who don’t participate and expect others to do the job will “run behind.” The targets of standardization and its benefits are listed on the DIN Web site, www.din.de. Using a technical part for an Airbus civilian airplane as an example, Kiehl showed that it’s much cheaper to use parts made according to standards than tailor-made parts. There are also lower costs for third-party insurance.
Spring company strategies. Regardless of a springmaker’s individual concerns, a documentation presented by economist Prof. Dr. Mario Minoja, professor of Strategic Management at the University of Modena, may be helpful. Minoja presented the paper, “Evolution of the Spring Industry and Firms’ Strategies: Why and how to Grow?” at last year’s European Spring Federation seminar. Because there was an animated discussion, he was asked to present it at the VDFI convention, too. The paper discusses fundamental criteria that springmakers should consider when making strategic decisions.
|
|
|
VDFI convention participants.
|
The VDFI 2007 convention. The next convention will take place in Gelsenkirchen on June 7-8, 2007. Gelsenkirchen is a huge town in the middle of the crowded Ruhr industrial area, and near the Sauerland region with its many wire and spring manufacturers.
For more information, contact Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Hermann at VDFI, Goldene Pforte 1, D-58093 Hagen, Germany; fax 0049 2331 587484; Web site www.vdfi.wsu.de; e-mail kontakt@vdfi.wsm-net.de.
Konrad Dengler is a special contributor to Springs. A freelance correspondent, Dengler writes about the wire and spring industry in Europe for several industry publications. Previously, he was editor of Draht. He is an engineer in materials sciences and works as a technical journalist and translator. Readers may contact him by e-mail at KDengler@t-online.de or fax at 0049 9135 6982.
