4-minute weekend read - current manufacturing news

Just wrapping up in a quick read some recent news into a quick read for you weekend manufacturing warriors that haven’t stepped away from the office. Supporting education is important, and OMRON Foundation has done that recently with a donation to CSU, Chico. Response from the college was enthusiastic from students and faculty. “We need a place where when you’re an engineering student and you think mechatronics and robotics are cool, there’s a place you can come to be inspired, work on projects, and learn about it,” says Nick Repanich, a lecturer from California State University, Chico’s Department of Mechatronic, Engineering and Sustainable Manufacturing, commenting on the gift from the OMRON Foundation to establish a mechatronics lab.

And don’t forget to keep scrolling since there’s more news – the new GM at Romi USA, new sales reps with MC Machinery, and Marposs’ latest acquisition.

OMRON helps establish mechatronics lab at CSU, Chico

OMRON Foundation, the charitable arm of Omron, recently made a monetary gift along with state-of-the-art robotics equipment to California State University, Chico (Chico State) for a new and expanded mechatronics laboratory and classroom space.

The planned 2,505ft² learning environment will feature mint-condition industrial equipment of the type that’s currently being used in next-generation factories worldwide. With this exciting new development, Chico State seeks to interest more engineering students in robotics studies and provide them with the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing portion of the workforce.

“Omron’s mission is to improve lives and contribute to a better society, and a large part of this effort involves educating today’s students to help solve tomorrow’s problems,” says Nigel Blakeway, chairman and CEO of Omron Management Center of America and president of Omron Foundation. “We are honored to be able to help the next generation of robotics talent gain the skills necessary to innovate and thrive in the future.”

Chico State boasts the nation’s first accredited program in mechatronics engineering and the addition of cutting-edge equipment will make the university an even more attractive option for students interested in the subject. Laboratory construction began in summer 2019 and opened for classes in the spring 2020 semester. Omron is glad to have been able to help the university meet its goals for expansion.

“We are grateful to Omron for its vision, leadership and generosity,” says CSU, Chico President Gayle Hutchinson. “The Omron Mechatronics CoLab at Chico State will enable the University to build an exciting leading-edge lab where we can prepare students as the next generation workforce. It will be a collaborative space that will inspire research and have a transformative impact on our students, faculty, region, state, and country.”

Nick Repanich, a lecturer from Chico State’s Department of Mechatronic, Engineering and Sustainable Manufacturing, also expressed gratitude for the gift. “We need a place where when you’re an engineering student and you think mechatronics and robotics are cool, there’s a place you can come to be inspired, work on projects, and learn about it. You need a place where mechatronics is all around you. We don’t currently have a place like that.”

Both Omron and Chico State look forward to seeing how the new lab will inspire more students to engage with the emerging field of mechatronics and embark upon a career in helping to build the factories of the future.

Marposs expands optical measurement capability with STIL acquisition

STIL S.A.S., a French company based in Aix-en-Provence and a leader in the research, development, production, and sales of optical measurement instruments based on chromatic confocal aberration and chromatic white light interferometry, has been acquired by Marposs.

STIL is recognized for its capacity and ability to adapt its technology to customer application needs, quickly and without geographic limitation. The company exports 60% of its products to non-European markets.

“The high precision measurement technology developed by STIL is an excellent complement to Marposs’ existing solution portfolio, offering opportunities for use in the glass, glass packaging, plastic, precision mechanics, consumer electronics, semiconductors, and biomedical industries,” commented Matteo Zoin, Marposs, head of marketing and new market development.

For STIL, joining the Marposs Group of companies brings growth opportunities worldwide, due to the strong presence of the Marposs sales and service network, as well as opportunities for growth-oriented synergies.

MC Machinery welcomes regional sales reps to the team

MC Machinery as hired two regional sales representatives.

© MC Machinery

Mark Kauffman has joined the team as a regional sales representative for Southern California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Kauffman will use his industry expertise to increase product sales and customer satisfaction.

With possesses more than 30 years of experience in the metal fabrication industry, with experience in engineering, quality control, production and facility management, manufacturing, and sales.

© MC Machinery

Shannon Morris has joined as regional sales representative for North/Central Texas and a portion of East Texas. Morris’ extensive industry knowledge will support local customers and grow MC Machinery product sales.

Having 28 years of outside sales experience, Morris has a comprehensive background in sales and account management. Her most recent position was with an industrial gas and welding supplies distributor as an outside sales representative in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex/Oklahoma Territory.

© Romi USA | http://www.romiusa.com/

Boldorini to general manager at Romi USA

Romi officials have named Rafael Boldorini as general manager of Romi Machine Tools Ltd (Romi USA), the Brazilian based company’s USA operations. Boldorini has been with the company since 2004, and is now responsible for all operations, marketing, sales, and customer support in the U.S. market.

Upon graduating from São Paulo State University in 2004 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Boldorini accepted a position with Romi as a trainee, gaining experience in engineering, production, marketing, and sales. He simultaneously continued earned an MBA in business management from FGV, the São Paulo School of Business Administration, and then an MBA in marketing from the University of São Paulo. Previous to his new position, Boldorini was sales branch manager at Romi’s Ribeirão Preto, Brazil facililty.