Taking place April 21-22, 2021, the annual Inspiration through Innovation (ITI) event, hosted by Seco Tools and industry partners, will focus on precision manufacturing in the medical industry.

“Precision medical manufacturing is common in various regions around the world, so we are aiming to provide a great customer experience by running the five-hour program three times over two days to reach three different time zone areas: Europe, Americas, and Asia-Pacific,” says Lahoucine Akechtabou, sales manager and global medical manufacturing lead at Seco Tools. “To make it even more accessible, content will be available in English, French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish.”

ITI portrays the value of collaboration in the pursuit of innovation in manufacturing by demonstrating collaborative solutions to component manufacturing challenges.

“With our partners, we’ve co-created a program of demonstrations and seminars to inspire our attendees,” says David Magnall, innovation partnerships manager at Seco Tools UK. “Working alone, any company can offer incremental process improvements; but working together with machine tool builders, CAD/CAM programmers, simulation experts, coolant providers, and metrologists, Seco Tools aims to improve production or reduce costs by 50% or more for our customers. ITI offers great examples of how this works.”

At Medical ITI, attendees will learn from a collaborative approach to solving common precision manufacturing challenges with orthopedic components such as a tibial tray, a femoral knee, a bone plate, a hip cup, hip stems and rasps, and a spinal cage.

These machining demonstrations will be complemented by seminar presentations addressing the big issues facing medical manufacturers: additive manufacturing and related inspection technologies, how the medical manufacturing segment can help bridge the technical engineering skills gap, overcoming disruptions to manufacturing processes, and more.

Now in its eighth year, Inspiration through Innovation has focused on general engineering or aerospace manufacturing in the past. In October 2020, Seco Tools and partners hosted the first ever virtual ITI, making it accessible to attendees from all over the world.

Registration for Medical Inspiration through Innovation 2021 is now open. Visit the event website for more information and to register: https://event.secotools.com/MedicalITI2021

Noble, an Aptar Pharma company, has joined the Human Factors MEdical DevIce Consortium (hfMEDIC), whose mission is to engage industry and universities in a partnership to develop safer and more effective medical devices through human-centered design. Led by the University of Utah, the consortium also includes academic partners North Carolina State University, Rice University, San Jose State University and the University of Maryland, and industry partner AbbVie.

The global market for medical devices is approximately $436 billion, bolstered by an aging global population, according to data from hfMEDIC. The associated cost estimate of human error, based on the percentage of errors attributed to human error from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall and adverse event databases, is $48 million annually, with most due to labeling design, employee error and software-use environment issues.

hfMEDIC envisions an integrated multi-disciplinary team that builds on the strengths and resources of all stakeholders (for example, patients, healthcare providers, industry, academia and regulators) to address this critical need to reduce errors through human-centered design. The Institute of Medicine has recognized that the solution must include human factors, a scientific discipline that considers the limitations and capabilities of the people who use the devices so that the design results in accurate and safe performance. These limitations can be addressed by bringing together the expertise and resources of universities and industries, which is the purpose of hfMEDIC.

Noble, a world leader in providing drug delivery training device solutions for biopharmaceutical companies and original equipment manufacturers, recently expanded its services to include Human Factors Engineering (HFE). In doing so, Noble aims to better help its customers meet the needs of their patients by advancing the development and testing of self-administered medical products to optimize safety and efficacy while minimizing use errors and the risk of adverse events. The benefits of Noble’s Human Factors Plus service offerings include producing easier-to-use devices, better patient understanding of how the devices operate, more effective and efficient training, improved patient compliance and medical outcomes, and the reduced risk of use error, product complaints and recalls.

“hfMEDIC is doing important work to connect the needs of the industry with the expertise of a network of researchers,” says Tim McLeroy, Noble’s executive director of marketing and patient services. “We’re honored to be a part of this consortium and serve as a consulting resource for medical device manufacturers looking to improve usability and safety of their products.”

Chiron Group announces new CEO

© Chiron | https://chiron-group.com/

Carsten Liske took over as chief executive officer (CEO) of CHIRON Group SE effective March 1, 2021, rounding out the senior management team at the machining centers and solutions specialist headquartered in Tuttlingen.

“In Carsten Liske, our corporate group has appointed a highly competent CEO with more than 20 years’ experience in the international capital goods sector,” says Dr. Armin Schmiedeberg, chair of the Board of Directors.

Liske began his career with the ABB Group in Zurich and Unaxis in Liechtenstein. In 2006, he took over as chief operating officer (COO) of Oerlikon Esec in Cham, Switzerland. In 2009, he moved to Rieter AG in Winterthur, the leading supplier of systems for short-staple fiber spinning, where he held various leadership positions. From 2011 to 2013, in addition to managing global operations, he was general manager of Rieter in China. In 2015, as manager of the After Sales division, he was appointed to the Group Executive Committee of Rieter Holding AG. His last position at Rieter was as head of its largest division, Machines & Systems.

At CHIRON Group SE, Liske will be leading the Operations department, encompassing the Global Service, Production, Logistics, Procurement, and Quality Management divisions. He will also be responsible for the overseas subsidiaries CHIRON Taicang, CHIRON America, CHIRON Mexico and CHIRON India. 

TDM Systems appoints VP of global sales and marketing

© TDM Systems
https://www.tdmsystems.com

TDM Systems, a leading provider of tool data management solutions for industry, has announced the appointment of Jean-Paul Seuren as vice president of global sales and marketing. The announcement was made by Dietmar Bohn, managing director.

In his position, Seuren will be responsible for optimizing and expanding the sales structure of the company, while managing the sales performance of TDM Systems including service, administration, and management of stakeholder relations to ensure achievement of the overall company strategy. He will report directly to Bohn.

Previously Seuren was regional director EMEA at Vero Software, a Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence company.

Bohn says, “The appointment of Jean-Paul Seuren as the new Head of Sales is a great opportunity for TDM. His experience as a sales professional will help communicate the advantages of TDM solutions even more successfully in both our existing and new markets."

Seuren adds, “I’m delighted to be part of the TDM Systems team. If you want to provide excellent service to customers and conquer new markets, you need an effective team. We will be a sales and marketing team that is both innovative and customer oriented. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities of leading the team at TDM Systems.” 

FactoryWiz adds East Coast office

FactoryWiz, a leading provider of machine and asset monitoring software, recently announced that John B. Lucier has been named as Eastern Sales Manager. Lucier previously served as the national automation manager for Methods Machine Tools.

Born and raised in central Massachusetts, Lucier began his career in manufacturing as a shop floor machinist, then after a few years of shop programming and setting up CNC machines, Lucier moved into the world of machine tools. Lucier would spend the next 28 years at Methods Machine Tools first as an applications engineer, eventually moving all the way to national automations manager.

Lucier used his machine tool knowledge, together with his automation knowledge to develop, build and sell automation solutions for the metalworking industry.

“John is the right guy for the continued growth of FactoryWiz,” says Richard Hefner, FactoryWiz president. “John’s extensive machine tool background and sales experience should help FactoryWiz strengthen channel partnerships, develop strategic alliances and expand our brand presence. We believe his strong experience will help FactoryWiz during our continued expansion and growth.”

“I first became acquainted with the team at FactoryWiz more than 20 years ago, and back then, they were already pushing the limits on using machine controls in ways others had not,” Lucier notes. “I’m excited to be part of the team and to use my knowledge to help customers realize the benefits of FactoryWiz Monitoring and DNC. I look forward to helping our industry become more connected and to embrace IOT and Smart Manufacturing.” 

Tsugami/Rem Sales’ distributor partnership with Cnczilla Co.

Tsugami/Rem Sales LLC, exclusive North American importer of Precision Tsugami machine tools, announced today that Cnczilla Co. will be joining their distributor network as the official distributor for Southern New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.

“We are excited to increase our presence in the Mid-Atlantic region,” says Tsugami/Rem Sales LLC president, Michael Mugno. “We are committed to providing our customers with excellent support and localized service and Cnczilla Co. is the perfect partner to take us to the next level.”

Tsugami/Rem Sales LLC has an expansive community of service technicians and application engineers across the United States. Cnczilla Co. a will be joining the Tsugami distribution network of along with 13 other partners within the North American market.

In the coming months, Cnczilla Co. plans to hiring additional, local applications engineers and service technicians to better serve Tsugami users in the region.

Jake Rothenberger, president at Cnczilla Co. comments, “In the last 11 years that I have worked in the Swiss machine world, I’ve come to know the high quality of Tsugami machines and the amazing reputation of the Rem Sales team. Their dedication to doing what is right for their customers is value we share, and I am excited to be joining the Tsugami/Rem Sales LLC team.” 

Star Cutter’s new VP of Operations

© Star Cutter Co.
https://www.starcutter.com

Star Cutter Company has promoted Mike Billiel from corporate operations manager to vice president of operations. In this position, Billiel is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating efficient and cost-effective operational activities across the company’s five manufacturing locations, helping Star Cutter meet its current and future needs.

Billiel originally joined the company in 2013 as the cutting tool operations manager and in 2019 moved to the role of corporate operations manager. “Mike has been instrumental in building uniformity into our improvement strategies, from performance targets and KPI development to budget and capital planning,” says Jeff Lawton, Star Cutter president. “We’re confident he’ll bring even more value to this organization in this role and as a member of our board of directors.”

When he joined Star Cutter, Billiel already had significant experience in quality, manufacturing, and operations management gained by working for automotive Tier 1 suppliers and other manufacturing companies. He is skilled in Lean and Six Sigma tools including DMAIC, Value Stream Mapping, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, and more. He has an Associate of Science degree in electrical engineering technologies from the Community College of the Air Force and served six years of active duty in the United States Air Force. 

Essentium expands leadership team, more than doubles headcount

Essentium, Inc., a worldwide leader in industrial additive manufacturing (AM), announced a series of executive promotions, new appointments, and more than doubling of headcount YoY (year on year). The strengthening of the Essentium leadership team and global headcount will allow the company to deepen and expand operational excellence across its supply chain, innovation, commercial, product development, and marketing functions. It will also bake-in the frictionless scale needed to satisfy growing demand in the Essentium High Speed Extrusion (HSETM) 3D Printing Platform from North America, Western Europe, and Asia.

The company now employs more than 100 people worldwide. Expanded leadership and promotions include:

Erik Gjovik promoted to chief supply chain officer: Under Gjovik’s leadership, and despite the COVID-19 crisis, Essentium achieved consistent on-time printer delivery, zero deviations per machine, and 100% first-pass yield in 2020. Gjovik brings more than three decades of supply chain expertise from industries including semiconductor capital equipment, consumer electronics, aerospace, robotics, and solar power systems.

Blake Mosher appointed as chief commercial officer: Mosher brings three decades of expertise in building customer-centric, entrepreneurial cultures. He will lead Essentium application engineering, sales, marketing, service, delivery, and customer support; and be responsible for orchestrating the consistency and quality of every customer and partner experience globally.

Elisa Teipel promoted to chief development officer: Teipel will lead Essentium’s long-term innovation team, bringing critical systems-thinking to market partners. She will lead a team of scientists, materials engineers, and process engineers to facilitate overall strategic capabilities which exist at the intersection of Essentium’s best-in-class AM machines, materials, and processes to define and bring new AM applications to market.

Terry MacNeish promoted to executive vice president of R&D, machines: MacNeish brings more than 25 years of experience in the servo-mechanical system coding and architecture spaces, semiconductor capital equipment design, opto-electronics, advanced sensors, and electro-mechanical system design to his leadership role at Essentium. MacNeish has been instrumental in Essentium's ability to leverage the world’s most advanced closed-loop motion system architectures in applications in the AM community.

Brandon Sweeney promoted to executive vice president of R&D, materials: Sweeney has been at the forefront of advancements in polymer-based materials for a decade. His innovation and vision have been instrumental in Essentium's ability to bring the most advanced materials to market, providing customers greater choice, freedom, and flexibility in their AM strategies while breaking barriers of speed, strength, and scale.

Ryan Vano promoted to executive vice president of filaments & logistics: Vano created and scaled the first multi-layer thermoplastic filament for AM. Under Vano’s leadership, Essentium produces over 50 grades of polymer filament for everything from elastomers to aerospace-certified polymers to the world’s most demanding ISO9001, AS9100 and iTAR compliance requirements. He will lead the development and launch of class-leading functional filaments for AM applications, helping customers make the leap from prototyping to full-scale production.

Will Chiang promoted to vice president of global supply chain: Chiang uses his extensive experience across consumer electronics and AM industries to run advanced planning processes that ensure supply chain excellence for both customers and suppliers. Will oversees the day-to-day operations of Essentium’s complex supply chain and NPI activities, integrating deeply with vendors on multiple continents while delivering exceptional results.

Kendra Pulliam promoted to vice president of marketing: An accomplished senior executive with an eye for harmoniously blending the consumer and industrial worlds, Pulliam will lead global marketing activities, including brand, digital marketing, product marketing, events, internal communications, market communications, and public relations.

Additional promotions include: Chad Eichele to serve as the director of hardware engineering, and Faisal Altoukhy to serve as the sr. director of software engineering. Eichele and Altoukhy have more than 20 years of engineering experience and lead critical teams that are central to product engineering and client success. Josh Lawson has been promoted to senior manager of business development and will combine his skills in people and business management with his deep knowledge of the AM market to help the world's leading manufacturers embrace AM.

Notable new hires include several industry veterans with more than 20 years of experience in cross-functional roles: Constantin Donea as global product director, who joins from Sabic; Cecilia Eklund as senior global product marketing manager, who previously worked for Dell; and Jay Light as senior VP of sales for the Americas, who was also formerly with Dell.