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December 15, 2021 - Volume 15 Issue 24
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Image - A Holiday Message from the Editor

A year ago, I began this message: "2020……it's almost over."

Will it help with climate change if I recycle the same message? Just kidding. But it's safe to say, a lot of us will be glad to put 2021 in the rear-view mirror as well.

As this year comes to an end, many folks are still dealing with the same pandemic issues -- along with some new issues that emerged over the last 12 months -- including a vaccine mandate.

As we head into 2022, companies with 100 or more employees are deciding how best to handle a federal mandate -- if it is ever actually implemented. That's certainly the case for many manufacturers in our machine tool/metalworking industry. Our hope is that whatever decisions are made, no more employees will lose their job or livelihood.

In addition to never-ending pandemic issues, manufacturers will also need to deal with the rising energy costs, increasing inflation and the ongoing supply chain problems. As many began the process this year, they'll need to continue to improve their agility and re-assess the viability of their supply chains to cope with a similar crisis in the future.

But maybe more critical than that, manufacturers will need to continue their efforts to address the lack of skilled workers. Sadly, our country continues to have a high number of job openings and a high number of unemployed -- at the same time.

But wait! This is becoming a truly depressing HOLIDAY message. It's not all doom and gloom!

Smart Factory initiatives are more and more prevalent and can now be found not just in the large plants but even in some of the smallest job shops. Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing, Robotic Automation, Digital Manufacturing, and Artificial Intelligence remain at the forefront of innovation.

Despite cancellations and lockdowns still happening in some parts the country, trade shows returned in 2021 and will likely be back in full force in 2022 with the highlight being the return of IMTS in September.

And, as always, Nelson Publishing will be here to cover IMTS and everything else happening in our industry. Our eNewsletters -- Tooling & Production (T&P), Modern Applications News (MAN), and the Manufacturing Center Product Spotlight will continue to bring you the very latest news, product announcements, and success stories from the metalworking world. MAN begins its 55th year in January while T&P embarks on its 87th year of serving the machine tool industry!

The staff at Tooling & Production would like to send our best wishes and prayers to all of you who have persevered through another tough year. We hope that your spirit is renewed with a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, or a Happy New Year celebration! Our wish is that you're able to find joy while spending quality time with your family and loved ones over the holidays.


We have continued our tradition of putting together our "Best of" issue. We have compiled two lists from 2021 -- the Top 10 Most Read Features and Top 10 Most Read Product Spotlights -- as judged by our readers. We hope you enjoy these stories and catch some helpful information you may have missed the first time around. Again, we want to thank you for your loyalty to our publications and we'd like to wish you a safe, successful, and prosperous 2022!


Happy Holidays!

Bob West

Associate Publisher/Managing Editor MAN/T&P


  "Top 10" Most Read Features
Image - Porsche Produces First 3D-Printed Aluminum Gearbox Porsche Produces First 3D-Printed Aluminum Gearbox
High-end vehicle maker Porsche has produced its first complete housing for an electric drive using 3D printing. The lighter, more rigid, and more compact engine-gearbox unit was produced using an aluminum alloy powder and an additive laser-fusion process. It has passed all the necessary quality and stress tests without any problems.
Full Article
Image - Navy, Boeing Make Aviation History with First Unmanned Aircraft to Refuel Another Aircraft Navy, Boeing Make Aviation History with First Unmanned Aircraft to Refuel Another Aircraft
Boeing's MQ-25 T1 test asset refuels a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, demonstrating its aerial refueling mission for the first time. WATCH!
Full Article
Image - Auto Manufacturer Solves Labor Shortage Problem While Cutting Costs by 35% Auto Manufacturer Solves Labor Shortage Problem While Cutting Costs by 35%
Yokoyama Kogyo is a Japanese manufacturer of car seat frames and various automobile parts. Challenged by the labor shortage, Yokoyama has turned to collaborative automation -- combining OnRobot's RG2 Gripper with the AUBO Cobot -- to cut costs by more than a third.
Full Article
Image - Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Can Reduce Machining Time 90% with Power Skiving Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Can Reduce Machining Time 90% with Power Skiving
Tesla's automobiles are frequently cited as examples that electric vehicles (EVs) don't need multiple gears or dual transmission. That is, except for all the models that do. As the multi-gear EV trend begins to pick up speed, Mats Wennmo, Global Automotive Transmission Manager at Sandvik Coromant, explains how a process known as power skiving can help EV manufacturers keep-up, but with greatly reduced machining times.
Full Article
Image - 10 ERP Integrations Every Manufacturer Needs 10 ERP Integrations Every Manufacturer Needs
As manufacturing markets grow more competitive, the need to operate lean and eliminate inefficiencies has become more important than ever. In the past having a quality ERP system was enough to get the job done. Today the best ERP systems incorporate all the new Internet of Things (IoT) technologies currently being developed.
Full Article
Image - Auto Parts Manufacturer Doubles Productivity with 40 Cobots Auto Parts Manufacturer Doubles Productivity with 40 Cobots
Aido Industry, a Japanese OEM manufacturer of automotive parts using aluminum die-casting and cutting processes, was facing a chronic shortage of human resources, resulting in a low profit margin despite increasing sales. That changed once they found Universal Robots.
Full Article
Image - Engineering Breakthrough for Aerospace Large-Part Sectors Engineering Breakthrough for Aerospace Large-Part Sectors
Process improvement has always been big at Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford, Ill. For many years, the company's mechanical, software, and process engineers have teamed with Siemens engineers to develop next-generation, large-format machine designs. Now, they are collaborating on a true breakthrough -- a machine that combines both additive and subtractive manufacturing in one work envelope.
Full Article
Image - Breakthrough in Making 3D Printed Parts for the Auto Industry Breakthrough in Making 3D Printed Parts for the Auto Industry
In a project co-funded by Ford and the ExOne Company, a team of engineers, material scientists, and manufacturing experts has developed a patent-pending process for rapid and reliable binder jet 3D printing and sintering of complex parts made of aluminum 6061 -- one of the most commonly used aluminum alloys in the world.
Full Article
Image - FANUC Develops Automated Vehicle Floor-Plug System for GM; No More Bending and Twisting for Workers FANUC Develops Automated Vehicle Floor-Plug System for GM; No More Bending and Twisting for Workers
FANUC and GM have maintained a long partnership in the production of automobiles. In the latest example, FANUC helped GM by providing an automated system to insert floor plugs.
Full Article
Image - U.S. Army's 3D Printing Research Results in Lighter Load for Soldiers U.S. Army's 3D Printing Research Results in Lighter Load for Soldiers
Army researchers collaborated with academic partners from the University of Central Florida to improve its additive manufacturing process so it will produce lightweight components for future Soldiers.
Full Article

  "Top 10" Most Read Product Spotlights
Image - New Universal Spring-Load Chuck Ideal for Hard-to-Hold Parts New Universal Spring-Load Chuck Ideal for Hard-to-Hold Parts
View This Product
Image - B-21 Raider -- Most Technologically Advanced Bomber Ever -- Now on the Horizon B-21 Raider -- Most Technologically Advanced Bomber Ever -- Now on the Horizon
Two Test Aircraft Enter Production
View This Product
Image - Truck of the Future is Here Truck of the Future is Here
View This Product
Image - Open Mind Technologies and Haimer Collaborate to Machine Sleek Aluminum Panther Open Mind Technologies and Haimer Collaborate to Machine Sleek Aluminum Panther
Watch really cool video showing them create the 20" panther in less than 13 hours.
View This Product
Image - Laser Gun Removes Rust and Debris from Surfaces Laser Gun Removes Rust and Debris from Surfaces
View This Product
Image - New Air Gun's Nano Nozzle Focuses Blast for Blowoff New Air Gun's Nano Nozzle Focuses Blast for Blowoff
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Image - First Blue Arc™ Technology Machine Cuts Hard-to-Machine Alloys First Blue Arc™ Technology Machine Cuts Hard-to-Machine Alloys
View This Product
Image - Automated System Parks Your Car Automated System Parks Your Car
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Image - New CNC Machine Ideal for 5-Sided Milling of Complex Shapes New CNC Machine Ideal for 5-Sided Milling of Complex Shapes
View This Product
Image - Latest Unmanned Aircraft Unveiled -- Designed for Military, Energy, Public Safety and Emergency Response Latest Unmanned Aircraft Unveiled -- Designed for Military, Energy, Public Safety and Emergency Response
View This Product

Image - Career Builder<br>Hot Job Opportunities Career Builder
Hot Job Opportunities


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