Welcome to the August 2010 Issue of The Cutting Edge
Featured in this month’s issue of The Cutting Edge is information on our Saeilo Mach3A’s, Wolverine Machine history and details about an upcoming tour of our facility. Additionally, information on upcoming industry events, articles on the wind industry’s current struggle and Obama’s strategy to revive American manufacturing.
Learn More About Wolverine Machine’s History
Tour of Wolverine Machine
A date has been set for the tour of Wolverine Machine’s facility. On October 12th, 2010 at 12:00pm, we will be conducting a 1 ½ - 2 hour tour and presentation of Wolverine Machine’s capabilities, which will include Special Projects Manager, Blaine Walker taking a free hand sketch and turning it into a complete part in minutes. Also included will be food, T-shirts and other take home goodies. Should you be interested in attending this tour, please send an e-mail to Rachel@wolverinemachine.com. If you have already expressed your interest in attending, your invitation will be arriving shortly. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Machine of the Month – Saelio Mach3A
Wolverine Machine operates four Saelio Mach3A horizontal mills within its 32,000 square foot facility. This horizontal machining center was created by combining design innovations from across the globe including Germany, South Korea, Japan and the United States. The Saeilo Mach3A has out-performed other vertical machining centers in productivity, cost efficiency and accuracy.
The Mach3A is fast and efficient – the spindle motor can accelerate quickly, from 0 to 6000 rpm in only 2.5 seconds. The rapid feed rate on the X, Y and Z axis is 945 ipm (24m/min) with a positioning accuracy of 0.0002”. These two features help it complete its work cycle 20%-40% faster than other horizontal machining centers. Work pieces on the Mach3A can be mounted to dual four sided traveling columns also known as tombstones. The dual tombstones allow the machine operator to unload, inspect and reload one tombstone while the other tombstone remains inside the Saeilo Mach3A holding the work pieces being machined. Not only are the tombstones mounted on a pallet changer allowing one to be reloaded while the other is being machined, but all four sides of the tombstone can be utilized without the tombstone ever leaving the inside of the machine.
The Mach3a is solid machine-built on a cast iron base with internal ribs strategically placed to enable close tolerance machining. The cast iron base reduces vibrations, thermal displacement and deflection – all things that add quality to the parts we produce and give our parts better surface finish and superior accuracy. In addition, it has a large, 500 lb work piece capacity and 10hp spindle motor, both exceptional features for a horizontal mill of such a compact size.
The Saeilo Mach3A’s short cycle times, quick set up time, optimal ergonomics and close tolerance capability allows Wolverine Machine to give our customers a high quality part with a lower cost. Contact Wolverine Machine today to learn more about the capabilities of this machine.
  
Watch a short video of the Saeilo Mach3A in action
Customer Experience of the Month
“Wolverine Machine has proven to be the rapid prototype source of choice for Charter Automotive’s prototype collet needs. The last few submissions I have placed through Wolverine have not been the easiest. Despite the trouble, delivery dates have been met on time, obstacles were identified early and communication between Charter Automotive and Wolverine was always open. This makes my work much easier since I currently work out of the UK. Wolverine has a great staff that does their very best to deliver quality parts on time.”
Bill Howard
Regional Product Engineer
Charter Automotive
July 20th, 2010
Let us know about your experience at Wolverine Machine Products
Wolverine In The News
- Wolverine Machine donates time to help build U of M solar car
- PMPA’s Mile Free blogs about Wolverine Machine
- Wolverine Machine to be featured in Cutting Tool Engineering’s article, “In the Thick of Things” coming September 2010
Stalled Energy Legislation, Wind Installations Plummet by 71%
According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the amount of new producing capacity added to the United States power grid fell 71 percent in the first half of 2010. Government programs meant to financial support green energy have stalled which is believed to be a large reason for this decline. 1,239 megawatts (MW) have been installed by the wind industry in 2010, 700 MW were in the second quarter. This is a 57% decline from 2008 and far below the numbers from 2009 and marks the start of what could be a dire chapter for the industry.
Similar to American manufacturing, the United Stated wind industry has now fallen behind China and Europe in new installations. CEO of AWEA Denise Bode stated, “It is dismal and getting worse,” also adding, “We continue to see a drop in new manufacturing activity,” which is assumed to be tied with the legislative wrangling occurring in Congress. An energy bill will soon be proposed by Democrats, though it will not include Renewable Electricity Standards (RES) consenting that utilities acquire a set percentage of their power from renewable sources over the next decade. Without the RES, Denise Bode believes, “We are going to see jobs lost,” the wind industry does not hold a long-term market for manufacturers and developers to produce products for. “We have an historic opportunity to build a major new manufacturing industry. Without strong, supportive policy like an RES to spur demand, investment, and jobs, manufacturing facilities will go idle and lay off workers if Congress doesn’t act now, before time runs out this session,” said Bode.
Encouraging news for the wind industry is Massachusetts and Rhode Island governors have signed a wind cooperation pact to work collectively to construct offshore wind projects in a selected area of the Atlantic Ocean. This area is defined as 400 square miles of federal government owned water that starts southwest of Martha’s Vineyard and extends 20 miles westward into Rhode Island Sound. “The shared waters between Rhode Island and Massachusetts hold the key to the future of offshore wind developments along the East Coast and country,” says Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri. “It is in the best interest for both states to work together to expedite the federal permitting process through this collaborative effort.”
President Obama’s Plan to Reverse the Downfall of Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies are closing their doors at an alarming rate due to not being able to withstand the current economic crisis and the amount of outsourcing that is occurring on a daily basis. President Obama’s administration has a strategy to revive manufacturing revenues and many business owners are anxious to hear it. Since the beginning of the “Great Recession” in December 2007, nearly two million factory jobs have disappeared. Reports from the World Bank claim the United States as being the second worst industrial nation judging by overall economic activity, France is listed as the worst.
“The fight for American manufacturing is the fight for America’s future.” states President Obama. Although, Obama’s administration has not created a formal plan that desperately needs to be implemented in order to control the manufacturing outsource leak that is polluting out nation. The president’s administration has been focusing their manufacturing reviving efforts on supporting green energy manufactures and has engaged in ad hoc initiatives to bail out distressed automotive companies.
The Commerce Department has doubled its current outlay to their program that is set in place to aid United States manufacturers in operating more successfully, adding $100 million. Democratic Representative of Michigan, Sander M. Levin, is hopefully about the Obama administrations’ plan, “The administration’s policy is evolving in the right direction,” also stating, “I think they have essentially shed the political chains that prevented government from having a role in manufacturing. They are working their way toward what makes sense.” Many others do not feel the same way.
For years manufacturing has been viewed by many as a crucial factor of the success and power of an economy. Manufacturing provides well paying jobs for members of society who have obtained a high school diploma, a large portion of the population. Economists praise manufacturing because of its major contribution to the overall productivity of the nation. As manufacturing diminishes concerns arise that the United States will become even more reliant on importers and over time could weaken the US dollar. “How will we defend ourselves if American manufacturers are unable to produce the supplies needed to protect our homeland?” asks Kenneth Walker, President of Wolverine Machine Products. Without an increase in U.S. manufacturing, it will be tough to rebuild the current financial state of middle-class Americans.
Industry News Links
- Nissan Recalls 46,000 Cubes
- Japan's Exports Continue To Rise
August 2010 Industry Events
August 19 - 21 American Renewable Energy Day, Aspen Colorado, www.areday.net
August 25 Fundamentals of Green Chemistry, SME Webinar, www.sme.org
August 25-28 International Woodworking Fair Show, Atlanta, GA, www.hendrickmfg.net
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We hope that you enjoyed this issue of The Cutting Edge and can use these quality principles within your organization. If you would like to learn more about Wolverine Machine Products, you can visit our website at www.wolverinemachine.com or call directly at 800-397-8446. We look forward to doing business with you! |
