Seyer Industries, a manufacturer of complex aerospace, defense and industrial components, has ordered a second Starrag STC 1800 machining center to expand capacity for demanding large-component and hard-metal applications.

With the order, Seyer Industries will operate four Starrag machining centers: two Heckert HEC 800 X5 machining centers and two STC 1800 machining centers. The repeat investment builds on the precision, reliability and productivity achieved with the company’s existing Starrag equipment.

The additional STC 1800 will increase Seyer Industries' capacity to machine large titanium, stainless-steel and high-performance-alloy components while maintaining the tight tolerances and quality standards required for aerospace and defense applications. Its large work envelope will also help the company address customer demand for large, complex titanium components.

“The performance of our Starrag machines has played an important role in supporting our growth strategy,” says Mark Seyer, president of Seyer Industries. “The precision, reliability and productivity we have achieved with our existing equipment gave us confidence to invest again. Adding another STC 1800 strengthens our ability to take on increasingly complex programs while maintaining the quality and delivery performance our customers expect.”

For Starrag, the repeat order reflects the value of a long-term relationship built on machine performance, technical expertise and collaboration.

“A repeat order is one of the strongest endorsements a machine-tool supplier can receive,” says Tim Mooney, sales manager at Starrag. “The additional STC 1800 reflects Seyer Industries’ confidence not only in the machine's performance, but also in the technical support and collaboration behind it.”

On Aug. 1, 2026, the Haimer Group completed a generational change in its ownership structure. Company shares were transferred to the second generation, with siblings Andreas and Kathrin Haimer now assuming responsibility as managing directors and shareholders. The transition puts the internationally active, family-owned company’s long-term, owner-managed orientation on a defined path forward.

Within the Haimer Group — a globally active manufacturer of shrink-fit and balancing technology, toolholders and presetting machines, as well as a complete system provider for tool management solutions around the machine tool — the generational transition was completed as of Aug. 1, 2026. As part of a succession plan developed over many years, the shares of the Haimer Group were transferred to founders’ children Andreas and Kathrin Haimer.

Claudia and Franz Haimer, who founded the company in 1977 and built it into a global player over the past decades, will remain operationally active in the management team until Dec. 31, 2027. During this period, they will oversee the handover process to help promote a smooth transition to the second generation. They will also continue to support the company long term through their experience and network as members of a newly established advisory board.

“For us, this step is a very emotional moment as we place our life’s work in the hands of our children,” says Claudia Haimer. “Andreas and Kathrin have been closely connected to Haimer for many years and have already successfully assumed responsibility in the management team. This promotes the continuity of our values, our technological expertise and our long-term strategy.”

By transferring the shares to Andreas and Kathrin Haimer, Haimer aims to strengthen its position as an independent, owner-managed family business that offers its customers the “Tool Room of the Future” — a holistic tool room concept focused on greater efficiency, digitization and automation.

With this approach, Haimer addresses the challenges faced by manufacturing companies that are increasingly under cost pressure while contending with a shortage of skilled workers and the need to digitize and automate. According to the company, Haimer solutions enable customers worldwide to machine more precisely, reliably and productively.

With Haimer solutions, the shop floor can be digitized and the tool assembly area can be automated. The generational change is described as a clear commitment to further strengthening this system expertise, in line with the company philosophy of “Quality Wins.”

Despite rapidly changing and turbulent times in the metalworking industry, the company remains 100% in German family ownership, which Haimer says allows customers, partners and employees to continue to rely on long-term, sustainable decision-making.

Andreas and Kathrin Haimer have worked in various management positions in the company for many years and today form the management team of the Haimer Group together with the founding couple. In their new roles as managing partners, they plan to continue the established growth course while advancing innovations in the areas of digitization, automation and sustainability — including the further expansion of digital products, networked tool room solutions and automated cells for shrinking, presetting and balancing.

Kathrin Haimer emphasizes the company’s responsibility toward its people and employees: “As a family-owned company, we bear responsibility — for the future of our business, for our employees, for the education of young people as apprentices and for our local communities. Our task is to combine the values that Haimer has stood for over decades with innovative strength and cutting-edge technology. In this way, we aim to actively shape the future of our company — as a reliable partner for our customers and an attractive employer.”

Andreas Haimer adds a technological and strategic perspective: “We are a manufacturing company ourselves, with more than 200 machine tools and an annual metalcutting volume of around 5,000 tons — so we know from our own experience just how crucial stable, productive processes and well-thought-out tool management are. That is precisely why we are consistently investing in digitization and automation: from AI-capable shrink fit, balancing and presetting machines through our ‘Tool Room of the Future’ concept to global cooperation with machine tool builders where our networked solutions are deployed in their plants worldwide. The generational change gives us the entrepreneurial freedom to further expand this long-term strategy and to strengthen our role as a technology leader in the periphery around the machine tool and in the networking of the shop floor.”

Franz Haimer reflects on the transition: “The success of Haimer is inseparably linked to the commitment of our team around the world. The fact that we can now place our Group in the hands of our children and at the same time see a strong team carrying the company is, for us, the best foundation for a successful future for Haimer. As a family-owned company that can act independently of corporate groups and in a sustainable manner for the benefit of our customers, we are currently seeing very strong demand from the semiconductor, aerospace, space, defense and energy industries for our integrated tool room solutions. With these solutions, companies that want — and need — to prepare for the future can turn a previously unorganized tool assembly as a black box into a transparent, data-driven tool setup and presetting process, enabling production to run 24/7 at the highest levels of automation.”

Highlighting the expanded program is a technology tour and networking event at SPINNER North America’s Austin Advanced Technology Center. The Beyond the Booth: Tour, Taste and Toast event introduces registrants to CNC machining solutions followed by dinner, drinks and business networking.

CONTRAX Austin’s commitment to connecting contract manufacturing buyers and sellers is supported by leading regional associations including the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), Austin Regional Manufacturers Association (ARMA) and San Antonio Manufacturers Association (SAMA). Each association partner and its membership showcase the significant growth, investment and momentum happening across the Texas industrial manufacturing ecosystem.

“The opportunity to work alongside organizations like SPINNER North America and TMAC, ARMA and SAMA is why we launched CONTRAX in Austin, Texas,” says Allison Miller, chief events officer for Gardner Business Media. “The event is for connecting and growing American contract manufacturing and there is no better host to launch that mission than the thriving manufacturing community in Texas.”

Registration for CONTRAX Austin is free for qualified attendees and includes all exhibits, events and sessions. Interested attendees, exhibitors and partners can find more information at CONTRAXShows.com.

The Reshoring Initiative’s goal is to collect data to get an accurate picture of the industry at this pivotal time in U.S. manufacturing history. This 10-minute survey questions how trade conditions, global risks and federal policies are affecting reshoring and foreign direct investment (FDI) decisions. Survey responses go directly into the data used by policymakers and economic developers working to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. This survey is one of the most direct ways to influence policy outcomes.

The Reshoring Initiatives 2025 survey explored the likely impact of contemplated 2025 policy changes. The survey also revealed the strategic imperatives necessary for U.S. re-industrialization, including:

• Level the cost playing field
• Develop or grow a larger, skilled workforce
• Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) principles
• Prepare for geopolitical risk

The 2026 survey focuses more on the impact of actual policy changes, including taxes, tariffs and the resulting uncertainty, the need for a robust skilled workforce and training system and the expected impact of AI. This year’s survey assesses the rationalizations behind reshoring decisions in addition to the impacts of the 2025 federal policy changes.

Data provided will be analyzed by the Reshoring Initiative and Regions Recruiting to produce industry-wide reports and strategic recommendations aimed at strengthening the U.S. manufacturing sector. The findings will be shared with industry leaders as well as the Trump administration to help shape the policies that will benefit both manufacturing and the country.

“The pandemic was an eye-opener and now, the war with Iran is showing us what’s at risk when supply chains are disrupted. Most of our OEM clients continue to work on supply chain resiliency strategies — and the building of teams and technological capabilities required to execute them,” says Kathy Nunnally, managing partner at Regions Recruiting. “There is a bright future ahead for domestic contract manufacturers, that’s for sure.”

The organization is monitoring the responses coming into the 2026 Reshoring Survey and their heat map has some significant “cold spots.”

Despite industrial output, the Reshoring Initiative has seen little to no participation from:

• Indiana: Often ranked number one in manufacturing as a percent of state GDP
• Michigan: The historical heart of the U.S. automotive industry
• Arizona: A leading hub for semiconductors and aerospace
• Tennessee and Alabama: Modern hubs for automotive and critical equipment
• South Carolina and Georgia: Centers for aerospace, automotive and more.

The Reshoring Initiative needs participation from these vital regions. With their participation, the Reshoring Initiative can provide the insights necessary to support U.S. re-industrialization.

The nationwide 2026 Reshoring Survey will remain open to respondents through July 15, 2026. The survey will gather experience and insights from manufacturing operations, supply chain/procurement decision-makers and contract manufacturers.

The Reshoring Initiative invites OEMs and contract manufacturers CMs to participate in this brief survey about the current trends in reshoring and FDI, shifting manufacturing operations and sourcing to the United States.

Your participation in the 2026 Reshoring Survey can help influence national policy. To access the full list of resources offered by the Reshoring Initiative, visit www.reshorenow.org/resources/.

Join Manufacturing Connected, Modern Machine Shop and industry experts on Wednesday, April 22 as we explore the advanced manufacturing technologies helping to meet changing aerospace production demands.

Meet the Presenters

• DeWayne Howell, Toray Group
• Craig Neslen, Air Force Research Laboratory
• Zach Smith, Acutec Precision Aersopace, Inc.
• Steve Schuster, Norsk Titanium
• Bill Perez, Click Bond, Inc.

View agenda

MC Tech Days is sponsored by Toray Group and Composites One.

It is presented by Manufacturing Connected in collaboration with Modern Machine Shop, Additive Manufacturing Media, Products Finishing and CompositesWorld.

Learn more at https://www.mfgconnected.com/kc/tech-days/high-rate-aerospace.

Roman Gaida, CEO of the Chiron Group effective July 1, 2026. Source: Chiron Group SE

Chiron Group SE’s board of directors has appointed Roman Gaida as chief executive officer of the international engineering group, effective July 1, 2026. Upon taking office, Gaida will assume overall responsibility for the Chiron Group SE and will also lead global sales in the future.

Gaida has held various leadership roles in engineering, sales, business development and general management at internationally active technology companies. His professional career includes roles at the Wieland Group, OC Oerlikon Balzers and Mitsubishi Electric, where he headed the CNC business in the EMEA region. Most recently, he served as chief sales officer at Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, where he was responsible for global sales, marketing and service operations.

“With Roman Gaida, the Chiron Group is gaining a CEO who combines strategic clarity, international leadership experience and deep technical expertise,” explains Armin Schmiedeberg, chairman of the board of directors. “His career path — from his roots in CNC machining through senior leadership roles to the global management of international organizations — makes him a valuable and forward-looking addition to our leadership team.”

“I am very much looking forward to working with Roman Gaida on the Group Executive Committee. His extensive international sales experience, in-depth market knowledge and structured understanding of global customer needs will provide valuable impetus to our organization. We expect this to be a significant asset to the further development of our business, particularly in the interplay between sales, technology and operational implementation,” says Markus Unterstein, CFO and spokesperson of the Group Executive Committee.

Edge Technologies recently appointed Jimmy Clark as director of sales. He will lead Edge Technologies’ sales strategy across North America, overseeing regional sales efforts, channel partnerships and key accounts. The position is designed to align sales execution with Edge’s long-term vision — delivering reliable, high-value bar feeding solutions that improve shop productivity, uptime and profitability.

In addition to his duties as director of sales, Clark will be responsible for managing the company’s customers and dealers in Florida.

“The director of sales role is critical as we continue to expand our footprint and deepen relationships with OEMs, distributors and end users,” says Kevin Meehan, president at Edge Technologies. “This leadership position will help us sharpen our go-to-market strategy, strengthen our dealer network and ensure customers receive the responsiveness and technical expertise Edge is known for.”

Okuma America Corp. announces the appointment of Jim King, president, CEO and COO, to serve on the board of directors for AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology. King’s appointment was confirmed at the organization’s annual business meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His term will begin on April 8, 2026.

As a member of AMT’s board of directors, King will provide strategic direction and guidance to the association’s executive team. The AMT executive team leads the association in their mission to represent and promote U.S.-based builders and distributors of manufacturing technology.

“I’m honored to be appointed to the AMT board of directors,” King says. “The association’s advocacy is crucial during this period of dynamic opportunity in the manufacturing industry, and I look forward to serving this group by contributing my expertise to the cause.”

King joined Okuma America in 2010 as senior vice president of sales and was named president and COO of Okuma America Corporation in 2011. In 2024, he was appointed CEO and began serving as a senior officer of Okuma Corporation in Japan. Before his time at Okuma, he served in leadership roles at Siemens Industry, Nematron and Source Alliance, focusing on sales, marketing and channel strategy in industrial automation. He began his career with Rockwell Automation and holds a degree in Applied Engineering Sciences from Michigan State University.

IACMI – The Composites Institute announces its manufacturing and machining workforce training program, America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), has surpassed 20,000 online students and 5,000 in-person bootcamp participants. Since its launch in 2020, ACE has grown steadily each year, reaching a record number of enrollments in 2025.

The ACE program began as a free online course in CNC machining undertaken in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Since then, the program has expanded to 11 online courses and has been adopted by 43 sites nationwide. Graduates of the program come from a variety of backgrounds, with 49% from a college or university, 17% from high school and current industry professionals accounting for 23%.

The milestones come on the heels of IACMI launching its “Make it in America” national outreach campaign, designed to raise awareness of careers in manufacturing and the job opportunities available today. The campaign, which debuted in late 2025, leverages ACE and Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeships & Learning (METAL), a workforce development program focused on casting and forging, to educate emerging and existing workers on new technologies and modern manufacturing practices. Students or industry professionals looking to learn about either program or its skills can enroll for free, supporting the primary goal of the programs: making careers in manufacturing accessible.

In December 2025, ACE also celebrated its five-year anniversary. Beyond its students, the ACE program’s network of trainers and industry partners involves more than 200 academic and industry professionals. 

“When we launched ACE, we saw a surge of people, including students, career changers and incumbent workers, ready to build skills, alongside an industry that urgently needs talent and is eager to engage,” says Justin Brooks, IACMI deputy director of workforce development. “ACE’s growth reflects a real appetite to advance modern manufacturing. That’s the foundation for rebuilding America’s industrial strength, and we’re proud to help drive it.”

Scientific Cutting Tools (SCT) has acquired two Zoller systems, the Zoller genius tool inspection system and the Zoller PomSkpGo inspection suite, expanding SCT’s ability to verify tool geometry through automated inspection and documented measurement workflows.

The Zoller capability supports SCT’s broader Tech Trifecta initiative, a connected capability stack spanning edge preparation, metrology and coating. SCT is building this workflow to improve repeatability and extend tool life in real production conditions, with each step designed to reinforce the next.

“This is exactly the kind of investment that helps us deliver tools customers can trust, run after run,” says Nick Henley, cutting tool engineer at Scientific Cutting Tools. “When inspection is automated and measurement is documented, we can validate critical geometry before the tool ships. That means more consistent tools, fewer unplanned changes and less time spent compensating at the machine.”

With expanded inspection in-house, SCT can verify cutting-edge geometry and tool features more consistently during production. A key example is stronger verification of tool geometry, including rake angle evaluation for tools such as helical thread mills. The system also supports checks of radial and axial concentricity on porting tools to confirm alignment to the shank. That stronger verification loop helps SCT confirm edge intent, catch drift earlier and support alignment between manufacturing and quality assurance.

SCT expects these upgrades to benefit its customers, with advantages including longer tool life, more stable run behavior over long cycles and more consistent performance across reorders.