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MAG Maintenance Technologies Responds to Aircraft Component Manufacturers Need for Single-Source Suppliers for Processin
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10/24/2008
MAG Maintenance Technologies Responds to Aircraft Component Manufacturers Need for Single-Source Suppliers for Processin
10/24/2008
Provided By
MAG Maintenance Technologies
MAG Maintenance Technologies Responds to Aircraft Component Manufacturers Need for Single-Source Suppliers for Processing of Titanium
Hebron, KY, March 2008 ? The increase in titanium aircraft components, and the need to quickly optimize the process for machining them, has recently led some leading manufacturers to seek a single-source supplier for capital equipment, specialized cutting tools, and applications engineering programming expertise including CATIA V5 programming services.
Responding to this trend, the Productivity Solutions business of MAG Maintenance Technologies has teamed up with sister company, MAG Cincinnati to supply a comprehensive solution from a single source.
MAG Maintenance Technologies specializes in providing proprietary tooling for the optimized cutting of titanium and other materials in combination with part programming expertise. Metal removal rate and tool life improvements range from 5X to 30X over traditional methods, while applications engineering programming further improves overall manufacturing efficiency. Sales volumes for tooling and applications support have been doubling semi-annually since 2006.
MAG Cincinnati, recognized in the industry for highly rigid, production-proven titanium processing machine tools, has introduced and installed a wide range of new products. A specially configured 5-axis, multiple-spindle profiler, named the Ti Profiler, has emerged as a titanium processing champion. MEGA Series 4- and 5-axis horizontal machining centers, U5 Universal 5-axis/5-sided universal machining centers and special build machines round out the MAG Cincinnati roster of machine tools for titanium processing.
Meeting the demand for titanium parts production has been both a challenge and an opportunity. Key suppliers to aircraft programs such as the Boeing 787, Airbus A380, and the latest-generation military aircraft including the Joint Strike Fighter and the Eurofighter, have required huge gains in cubic-inch-per-minute metal removal rates from tooling to supplement their ramped-up acquisition of machine spindles capable of machining titanium.
MAG Maintenance Technologies met the challenge with a series of cutting tool solutions that balance feed rate improvements, surface finish results, tool life and tool cost. The brazed-carbide Raptor, for instance, has provided up to a 30X productivity bonus, with tool life doubled. One of the newest offerings of specialized tooling, the Lightning cutter, is a solid carbide, uncoated tool with a uniform flute divide. Being uncoated, it can be reground and back on the machine making chips again quickly. With feed rates on titanium and high tensile steels up to 1000 mm/min (40 inches/min), the Lightning balances productivity with tool cost. Additionally, MAG?s sophisticated Mega-Flute is being employed when the very fastest cutting speeds, up to 2000 mm/min (79 inches/min), are required.
Other products from the Productivity Solutions Group include a tool management system, adaptive control and monitoring software, and software modules for optimizing milling feed rates and tool life. Specialized teams within the group are also focused on supporting the machining operations of heavy truck manufacturers and the oil exploration industries.
Through MAG Fadal and MAG Giddings & Lewis, manufacturers have access to additional titanium processing machine choices such as best-in-class vertical machining centers and horizontal boring mills.
About MAG Maintenance Technologies
MAG Maintenance Technologies, a business unit of MAG Industrial Automation Systems, provides maintenance and productivity solutions designed to optimize plant operations and reduce price per piece. By providing an award-winning service and support program for more than 50 machine tool brands, factories maintain the lowest possible total cost of ownership throughout the entire machine life cycle.
About MAG Cincinnati
MAG Cincinnati, a company of MAG Industrial Automation Systems, designs, builds and integrates advanced manufacturing solutions for the global aerospace, heavy equipment, energy and general machining markets. The company?s broad machine tool line includes automated composites processing equipment, profilers, routers, large horizontal and vertical machining centers including 5-axis, multi-tasking and cells.
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Productivity Solutions: Optimizing Cutting Performance and Improving Cycle Times at IMTS
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10/24/2008
Productivity Solutions: Optimizing Cutting Performance and Improving Cycle Times at IMTS
10/24/2008
Provided By
MAG Maintenance Technologies
Productivity Solutions: Optimizing Cutting Performance and Improving Cycle Times at IMTS
High performance tooling and processes increase productivity and precision of machines, extend tool life, reduce piece costs and save big on capital investment
June 2008 ? MAG Maintenance Technologies offers high performance CYCLO-CUT cutting tools, CYCLO-COOL cutting fluids and cleaners, application support and CATIA 5-axis programming services, special purpose machines and components through a dedicated business unit, Productivity Solutions. Productivity Solutions specializes in integrating machine- and application-specific tooling, holders, heads and coolants to achieve higher cutting performance and faster cycle times.
For IMTS, MAG Maintenance Technologies will display a wide range of products throughout MAG Industrial Automation Systems exhibit, booth A-8218 as well as in a secondary booth, West Hall booth F-2705 dedicated to productivity solutions specific to everything from horizontal boring mills and five-axis machining to multi-spindle drilling and tapping.
MAG machine tools will be equipped with CYCLO-CUT cutting tools ? all designed for maximum metal removal to the specific machine and application. MAG Maintenance Technologies? unique tooling is enabling dramatic improvements especially in roughing and finishing Titanium components ? up to 300% in some cases.
The Productivity Solutions products and services offered by MAG Maintenance Technologies complement core competencies within the entire MAG organization including aerospace, large part processing, and special purpose drilling and tapping solutions. MAG Maintenance Technologies also offers precision production solutions, including DRILLUNIT, special purpose machines, drilling and tapping units, servo ball screw units, self contained hydraulic quill and way units, air/electric units and multiple spindle heads.
Additionally, specially blended CYCLO-COOL cutting fluids, exclusively offered by MAG Maintenance Technologies, will be utilized to further maximize performance throughout the MAG booths, A-8218 and F-2705.
About MAG Maintenance Technologies
MAG Maintenance Technologies, a business unit of MAG Industrial Automation Systems, provides a single source for maintenance and productivity solutions designed to optimize performance of more than 50 machine tool brands. Comprehensive service, support and factory-direct expertise enable manufacturers to achieve optimum equipment availability and utilization, reducing cost per piece. A MAG Maintenance Technologies integrated service/support program allows factories to maintain the lowest possible total cost of ownership throughout the machine life cycle. For more information, go to www.maint-tech.com.
About MAG Industrial Automation Systems
MAG Industrial Automation Systems (MAG) is a group of leading machine tool and systems companies serving the durable-goods industry, worldwide, with a large portfolio of highly-recognized and well-respected brands. With manufacturing operations on five continents, MAG ranks as a leader in the global metalworking capital equipment market.
For more information about MAG Industrial Automation Systems or its companies visit: www.mag-ias.com
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MAG Maintenance Technologies Selected by Lockheed Martin for Strategic Global Service Alliance
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10/24/2008
MAG Maintenance Technologies Selected by Lockheed Martin for Strategic Global Service Alliance
10/24/2008
Provided By
MAG Maintenance Technologies
Release No.: PR08-MT-03
News Source: Ms. Katie Hilgenberg (Agency) Roger Rude
MAG Maintenance Technologies Kemble & Rude Communications
tel: 859 534 4924 tel: 513 871 4042
katie.hilgenberg@mag-ias.com rrude@kemblerude.com
MAG Maintenance Technologies Selected by Lockheed Martin for Strategic Global Service Alliance
MAG Maintenance Technologies to provide Lockheed Martin with a single source for comprehensive maintenance services, enabling efficiencies and economies
August 2008: MAG Maintenance Technologies (Hebron, KY) has been awarded a unique, broad-reaching purchasing agreement by Lockheed Martin that covers global service and support of manufacturing equipment, enables lean efficiencies and economies, and provides a schedule of discounts to Lockheed Martin as the volume of work increases.
The program, effective earlier this year, is global in two respects, said Gary Finney, Director of Sales North America for MAG Maintenance Technologies. First, it covers service and support of all manufacturing equipment at major Lockheed Martin locations around the world. Second, the agreement is global in scope of products and services offered, including interactive diagnostic help, preventive maintenance, field service, training, replacement and spare parts, productivity improvements, machine rebuilding, even machine and system relocation and set-up. The agreement assures Lockheed Martin of world-class maintenance expertise and coverage, while offering economies of scale.
MAG Maintenance Technologies has service centers in the North America, South America, Europe and Asia, with over 250 service engineers strategically located worldwide to service Lockheed Martin?s major facilities.
The agreement covers the full range of machine tools produced by MAG's family of companies, including over 50 different machine tool legacy brands and Lockheed Martin's large installed base of specialized MAG Cincinnati aerospace machining and composites fabrication equipment.
Integration of the program into Lockheed Martin's global sourcing system allows easy access to everything from discounted parts and consumables such as tooling to comprehensive repair and relocation services. "This is a key breakthrough," said Finney. "Any Lockheed Martin facility can now order any covered service simply by checking off a couple boxes on a one-page form. This can save substantial time and costs at the operating level over lengthy supplier evaluation and bid processes."
The agreement is not limited to MAG equipment. MAG Maintenance Technologies has demonstrated its ability to take on complete project responsibility, even involving other machinery makes, said Finney. He cited major relocations of legacy equipment and systems from U.S. Lockheed Martin plants to Tier One suppliers in Italy and Chile under global offset programs. MAG Maintenance Technologies also handled the acquisition, upgrade and installation of used machines to enable a Chilean subcontractor to perform 5-axis machining on offset work.
MAG Maintenance Technologies' single-source, full-service capability can benefit many kinds of manufacturing operations, single plant to multi-plant and multi-national, he stressed. "Manufacturers of all sizes, not just global giants like Lockheed Martin, are finding that they cannot afford, and in many cases cannot find the maintenance staffing and expertise needed to achieve world-class productivity and competitiveness."
For more information on MAG Maintenance Technologies' comprehensive service and support capabilities, please call 859-534-4600, toll-free 800-934-0735 or visit our website www.maint-tech.com.
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Reducing the Total Cost of Machine Tool Ownership
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10/24/2008
Reducing the Total Cost of Machine Tool Ownership
10/24/2008
Provided By
MAG Maintenance Technologies
Release No.: PR08-MT-04
News Source: Ms. Katie Hilgenberg (Agency) Ray Kemble
MAG Maintenance Technologies Kemble & Rude Communications
tel: 859 534 4924 tel: 513 871 4042
katie.hilgenberg@mag-ias.com rkemble@kemblerude.com
Reducing the Total Cost of Machine Tool Ownership
Via Single-Source Service/Support Services
By Ron Hoffman, Vice President General Manager of MAG Maintenance Technologies
Durable goods manufacturers can face major strategic conflicts between Lean practices, downsizing, concentration on core competencies, and transformation of machine maintenance from reactionary to preventive/predictive and ultimately to proactive. While real-world data demonstrates that proactive maintenance can produce huge cost savings, minimize machine downtime and lost production, and enable higher process control and overall equipment efficiency (OEE), the transition can appear daunting using internal (and increasing limited) resources. Progressive companies are finding a solution in outsourcing machine service and support to a single, expert organization that addresses all aspects of optimizing the capital equipment investment.
Specialists can help your manufacturing management discover and deal with the root causes of chronic problem areas, for instance. The big picture goes beyond the ?keep it up and running? factors, however, and includes long-term decisions regarding machine rebuilds and upgrades, and relocation of equipment. The result of this ?cradle to grave? approach can simultaneously minimize the total cost of ownership while maximizing life-cycle ROI.
Companies in the aerospace/aircraft industry, for instance, are working diligently to reduce their vendor base. They are beginning to enter into far-reaching agreements that place all machine support services for a given process/component with a single outside company ? a single-source service/support partner. Lockheed Martin has contracted with our firm for global service and support of machining equipment and systems at all its major plant locations around the world. The agreement is comprehensive in scope, providing for interactive diagnostic help, preventive maintenance, field service, training, replacement and spare parts, productivity improvements, machine rebuilding, and even machine and system relocation and set-up.
When a single source supplier can take responsibility for a part machining process, from application engineering all the way to re-assignment or disposal of the machines, there are many efficiencies that make a tangible contribution to the overall objective of reducing the cost per part. Savings can be realized from greater operational and maintenance efficiencies to purchasing/management cost reduction.
Harder to quantify, but still very real, is the benefit of having a group of front-line people from a single source understand your business objectives and production program goals. By integrating these people into your current process and process evolution, your manufacturing staff gets the benefit of proactive advice, the expediency of established relationships, and the efficiency of having the outside source already equipped with comprehensive records on specific machines and systems. If that source is involved with multiple activities, the information at their fingertips can include certifications, preventive maintenance records, evaluations of the machines, as well as general machine specifications. Contrast this to a supplier that is brought in only occasionally to provide one service ?by the book? and then leave.
The broader the awareness of customer requirements, and of the people within the customer plant, the better the equipment can be taken care of. If a service/support partner knows your future production plans, they know what level of proactive maintenance or upgrade is appropriate for a given machine. They can also offer advice on future relocation issues.
Using the same single-source supplier across all manufacturing operations enables sharing of best practices for continuous improvement and optimal efficiencies.
Here are some of the specific areas where a total machine life-cycle partner can be an advantage, beginning with front-end support for your part/process development.
Application support
The company that is going to stick with you to assist during the life of your machining equipment may be the best company to help you optimize your process decisions and machine selection on the front end. Reducing in-process inventory, setup times, and piece/part costs are common objectives.
Process development and improvement, cycle-time reduction strategies, cutting tool evaluation and workholding development ? all are services that machine tool experts can provide. Stand-alone machines or a cellular approach ? this is another strategic question to be examined. Has expansion been planned for?
Broader Training
A full-service support company can provide personnel training beyond mere machine operation and maintenance procedures for a specific machine. Individualized, on-line training - that can be flexible around work schedules - lets production people increase their knowledge and the value they bring to the job.
On-Site and Remote Service Support
Having on-site maintenance support from your service/support source is obviously an advantage when an unexpected equipment problem arises, saving the time and expense it takes for a technician to travel to the location. But the next best thing is interactive tech-support. Using video, voice and data communications over a standard phone line, problems can be diagnosed by experts immediately, remotely. The strange sound of that errant ballscrew, for instance, can be scrutinized by a technician hundreds of miles away. No internet service provider is needed. Service is faster, downtime less, equipment availability and utilization higher, with costs lower.
Preventive Maintenance
Knowing what areas of the machine need preventive maintenance, and what level is cost-effective, is part of the holistic service that a single-source support partner can provide. A supplier that has wide experience with many makes and kinds of machine tools will know the typical service life of various components and potential weak spots or problem areas with certain designs. This can enable closer monitoring, trend tracking, and appropriately scheduled maintenance. Coordinated "ganging" of service to multiple machines can allow significant economies of scale.
Machine/Production Monitoring
Powerful, sophisticated sensors and software can monitor individual machine dynamics and accuracies against deterioration, as well as optimize feedrate and functions.
Trends in production monitoring are moving rapidly from machine-level to process-level intelligence. Real-time Performance Management (RPM) has proven to optimize utilization of equipment for greater manufacturing efficiency, productivity and ROI. Computer-enabled data collection tools are available that identify and resolve out-of-cycle events as they are happening. They can provide interactive, on-demand reporting of production equipment availability, utilization and performance.
Freedom eLog?, from controls-builder Infimatic, is one web-based reporting tool that records and displays around-the-clock machine activity in an intuitive, easily-actionable format, helping production and maintenance personnel get to the root cause of a specific problem quickly. It is designed to let operators, supervisors and engineers review user-friendly productivity reports on-line so they can optimize equipment, programs and schedules. Data from Freedom eLog reports also provide insight into leading indicators of potential operating problems, so managers can identify and understand them in time to take preventive action.
Spindle Replacement
Strategies for spindle replacement have become more refined and customer-centric in recent years. For plants operating high-volume automotive component machining systems, the service/support partner can take complete responsibility for spindle inventory and replacement, often working with a third-party spindle re-conditioning source for new or rebuilt units. Turn-around time is hours, not days. Smaller volume manufacturers in the aerospace industry, for instance, also can?t afford to let the huge-overhead of a giant gantry machine (both physically and financially speaking) sit dormant. Fast response to spindle or gear box replacement needs, or other major repairs, is critical.
Control Retrofits and Mechanical Rebuilds
It makes sense to get the big picture on control upgrade strategy and machine rebuilds from a support partner that is tuned in to your process and production personnel, as well as operator training requirements. The right source can analyze both the benefit to productivity and the impact on operations. What?s the right level of CNC programming capability for your needs and your personnel? What level of accuracy improvements can you expect from a given upgrade of ballscrews or other mechanicals?
Machines Re-Assigned
As more and more production is moved to first- and second-tier suppliers in the aerospace and other industries, equipment relocation is increasing. Helping you intelligently re-allocate capital equipment is definitely an area where your service/support partner can contribute significantly. The first step is often an evaluation of machines being considered for re-assignment to a new location and/or process.
When a machine?s suitability for a new part-producing role is marginal or in question, you must weigh the cost of bringing it up to spec (with new controls) against the benefit of avoiding requirements for operator retraining by living with the machine and its ?known? control. At MAG Maintenance Technologies, we call this in-depth inspection the ?Health Check.? It allows you to thoroughly understand the condition of the equipment before you invest in relocating it, and know what it will cost to correct reported faults. When the decision is a ?go,? it also allows us to handle relocation on a turnkey basis. We have the parts needed for the repair or upgrade selected and gathered, while the machine is being shipped, so that these parts are waiting at the relocation destination when the machine arrives.
This type of evaluation also identifies the most ?bang for the buck? in terms of proactive maintenance or upgrade. Perhaps the ballscrews are sufficient for the time being, and a spindle replacement will be the best productivity ?insurance.?
Machine Certification
After relocation or in-plant re-assignment, a menu of inspections is important, from X-Y-Z axis alignment metrics to Ball Bar ANSI tests for precision, plus inspections of coolant/lube systems, tool changers and other automation. A 60-point check is common. The goal is to ensure that the machine meets or exceeds OEM specs, and that it will make quality parts per the program/contract requirements and ISO 9000 or other standards.
Many manufacturers assign their support partner to twice-yearly re-certifications, going hand in hand with preventive maintenance programs.
Summary
As durable goods manufacturing industries consolidate and outsource, production talent and experience tends to slip out the door to early retirement. Consider partnering with a dedicated, single-source service/support partner that can address all aspects of your machining capability and utilization, and work towards minimizing the total cost of ownership, with a constant eye on current and future operations.
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MAG Maintenance Technologies appointed exclusive distributor for Special Purpose Machines built by Hause Machines
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10/24/2008
MAG Maintenance Technologies appointed exclusive distributor for Special Purpose Machines built by Hause Machines
10/24/2008
Provided By
MAG Maintenance Technologies
Release No.: PR08-MT-05
News Source: Ms. Katie Hilgenberg
MAG Maintenance Technologies
859 534 4924
katie.hilgenberg@mag-ias.com
(Agency) Ray Kemble
Kemble & Rude Communications
513 871 4042
rkemble@kemblerude.com
MAG Maintenance Technologies appointed exclusive distributor for Special Purpose Machines built by Hause Machines
Win-win agreement enhances MAG Maintenance Technologies product portfolio and Hause's marketing reach.
September 2008 ? MAG Maintenance Technologies' Productivity Solutions group has been appointed exclusive distributor for Special Purpose Machines (SPM) built by Hause Machines of Montpelier, Ohio. According to Rob Campion, Sales Manager of the Productivity Solutions group, the agreement is an important technology complement to MAG's own automotive-sector product lines. "Our agreement with Hause will also give us exposure to non-automotive markets, such as medical, farm equipment, appliances and marine. Hause Machines provides MAG Maintenance Technologies a cost-competitive and trusted product line to serve a broader range of customers," Campion said.
Hause Machines has been in the machine tool business for over 70 years. It specializes in the design and build of Special Purpose Machines for low- to high-volume material removal applications. Key products include double-end, shuttle, rotary, trunnion and stationary machines with robotic load and unload capabilities.
"Our agreement with MAG Maintenance Technologies will significantly enlarge our marketing footprint, as well as give us entree into new business segments," said Rob Brubaker, COO of Hause. "The expertise of MAG Maintenance Technologies in service, support and marketing, matched with our capabilities in Special Purpose Machines will be a winning combination."