Florence, Ky. - On April 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the [MC]2 MTConnect: Connecting Manufacturing Conference in Orlando, Fla., Mazak Corp.’s Vice President of Manufacturing, Ben Schawe, will discuss how the machine tool builder uses MTConnect inside its North American manufacturing plant to monitor its production equipment and gather valuable data to further improve operations. Additionally, Mazak’s Digital Solutions Specialist, Neil Desrosiers, will be at the conference April 8, 9, and 10 to lend his expert advice regarding the use of MTConnect with Mazak machines.    

As a first in the machine tool OEM industry, Mazak started converting its manufacturing plant over to the MTConnect open communications protocol in 2013. While Mazak is currently using MTConnect to monitor overall equipment efficiency, the company will soon use it for several unique custom applications, including monitoring machine tool spindle sensors for valuable maintenance data and tracking part cycle times to benefit the company’s scheduling department. 

Furthermore, Mazak has plans to use MTConnect with third-party software to create custom apps for the mobile monitoring of its manufacturing plant. These apps will give Mazak managers and other key personnel access to live real-time data from equipment monitoring dashboards via mobile devices. Additionally, Mazak staff would immediately receive a text and/or email alert should an issue arise within the plant. 

A diamond sponsor of the [MC]2 2014 Conference, Mazak has been a strong supporter of the MTConnect protocol since its inception, offering all of its machines with MTConnect compatibility. Currently, over 100 Mazak customers are at various stages of MTConnect integration within their facilities involving approximately 500 Mazak machines within a wide range of model types.

Through MTConnect, Mazak can ensure that its customers can easily monitor various machine components and functions through a series of sensors. Customers are then able to retrieve raw machine data and incorporate it into aggregate charts and graphs that depict production over specified periods of time. This information allows manufacturers to accurately pinpoint and correct for manufacturing bottlenecks or causes of machine downtime to improve spindle utilization and further streamline production operations.    

“More of our customers are discovering the value and capabilities of MTConnect, and Mazak has been deeply involved with supporting and advancing the standard. This is why we participate in the [MC]2 event,” said Brian Papke, president of Mazak Corp. “MTConnect’s value to our customers is in the ability for them to establish extensive and open channels of communication for plug-and-play interconnectivity between devices, equipment and systems to improve operational efficiency and optimize productivity.” 

For more information and to register for [MC]2 MTConnect: Connecting Manufacturing Conference, please visit www.mtconnectconference.org.

Source: Mazak Corp.

Washington, D.C. – Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, and the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) launched the Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund. Eligible non-profit organizations can apply for grants of $100,000 or more, funded by the Walmart Foundation, to help create solutions to challenges many companies face with on-shoring and growing U.S. manufacturing. 

The first year of the initiative will focus on innovation in textiles manufacturing and common manufacturing processes that apply to a broad range of consumer goods, including small motor manufacturing and tooling for injection molding. Anticipated participating organizations include research and academic institutions, think tanks and other non-profit entities focused on innovations in manufacturing.

“Through the Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, we hope to help remove the barriers to revitalizing and growing  U.S. manufacturing, creating jobs and building a stronger American economy,” said Cindi Marsiglio, vice president of U.S. sourcing and domestic manufacturing for Walmart. “This is part of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s broader commitment to foster new ideas and jobs to promote strong communities and grow America’s manufacturing footprint.”

This announcement is part of Walmart's commitment to buy an additional $250 billion in products that support American manufacturing. It represents a significant investment to accelerate U.S. manufacturing and create American jobs. The Boston Consulting Group estimates the initiative will add 1 million jobs in the United States.

"The U.S. Conference of Mayors is committed to helping bring manufacturing jobs back to America's cities, and our partnership with Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will strengthen our metro economies that drive the national economy," said Tom Cochran, USCM CEO and executive director. 

Applications are due April 22, 2014. Selected proposals will receive grants ranging from $100,000 and above for award periods of at least one year, with the option of reapplying for continued funding. Each applicant will need sponsorship from the mayor of a USCM member city.

For more information and to apply for a grant please visit www.usmanufacturingfund.com. Learn more from Cindi Marsiglio. Join the conversation @WalmartNewsroom. 

Source: Walmart 

St. Paul, Minn. – Cardiovascular Systems Inc. received FDA clearance of its new Diamondback 360 60cm peripheral orbital atherectomy systems (OAS) for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

“Receiving FDA clearance for our new 60cm, 4 French (4Fr) devices demonstrates CSI’s commitment to advancing technology and expanding the interventional market,” said David L. Martin, CSI president and chief executive officer. “We’re providing physicians with broader treatment options for challenging lesions in the lower leg, often associated with Critical Limb Ischemia, or CLI, which if left untreated may result in lower limb amputation.

“Our new 60cm Diamondback devices are compatible with 4Fr introducer sheaths. The use of smaller sheaths has been shown to reduce procedure times, enable quicker patient recovery and have less procedural complications from bleeding, providing additional procedural benefits to patients and physicians.”

CSI’s new Diamondback Peripheral 60cm systems are available in two crown designs, the 1.25mm Micro Crown, and the 1.25mm Solid Crown. Each device offers a shorter shaft length, a smaller profile, and a more flexible shaft than their predecessors for improved ease of use. These products are the latest release of CSI’s new Low Profile Diamondback 360 Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy family of products, building on the success of the recently released 4 Fr compatible Diamondback 360 1.25 Micro Crown (145cm shaft) device.

Martin concluded, “CSI is redefining minimally invasive treatment with our new 4Fr compatible systems – available in two shaft lengths (60cm and 145cm) and two crown designs, the 1.25mm Micro Crown and 1.25mm Solid Crown. These systems, combined with our growing body of clinical data, provide physicians with new treatment solutions in an effort to achieve a new standard of care for patients with PAD while expanding the market for minimally invasive procedures.”

More than 12 million Americans suffer from PAD and approximately 25% of these will progress to CLI, which is associated with complex occlusions in the tibial arteries (responsible for supplying blood flow to the lower leg). It’s estimated that up to 20% of these occlusions are unable to be treated from the traditional femoral artery access site. However, recent advancements in technology and techniques have made the use of retrograde tibiopedal access (where physicians achieve access through the arteries in the foot or ankle) more popular; expanding the treatment options available for PAD.

Source: Cardiovascular Systems Inc.

January U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $158 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report (CTMR) collaboration, was up 14.5% from December’s total and down 10.6% from January 2013.