Manufacturing news - November/December 2025

U.S. facility openings

WTO, a German manufacturer of high-precision tool holders for turning centers, celebrated its 30th anniversary alongside the opening of its North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 22,000ft2 facility includes modern offices, a fully equipped factory-operated service center, extensive warehouse space, and a modern showroom for providing product training.

WTO’s U.S. customers will benefit from local sales and technical support across all U.S. regions; a large product and parts inventory for fast and reliable delivery; a factory-operated service center with four factory-trained technicians performing rebuilds and maintenance of driven tool holders, regardless of brand; and user product application training on site. http://www.wto-usa.com

RobCo has expanded its launch in the United States with the opening of a new San Francisco, California headquarters. In eight months, RobCo has established two assembly sites in Austin, Texas and customer operations across 14 states. It also acquired the assets of U.S. company Rapid Robotics.

RobCo’s robot-as-a-service (RaaS) offering combines proprietary modular hardware; AI-powered, no-code software; and a shared risk, pay-as-you-go model where customers only pay when robots are running and require minimal technical expertise to manage. The modularity of RobCo’s technology allows companies to quickly pilot and scale the automation of repetitive and dangerous tasks, including machine tending, palletizing, dispensing, and welding. https://www.robco.de

Appointments, promotions, new hires

Steve Landmann was promoted to vice president of sales at UNISIG Deep Hole Drilling Systems. Landmann has managed UNISIG’s Midwest sales region for more than a decade. His success has been shaped by experience in predictive maintenance, machine building, and installation. He succeeds Jeff Price, who retires in December after more than 22 years as vice president of sales. https://unisig.com

Eric Cavenee has joined the Western Region Outside Sales team at Solar Atmospheres of California. He will support customers across the western United States with thermal processing solutions across multiple industries, specializing in advanced vacuum furnace technology. Cavenee brings more than 15 years of experience in metals distribution to his new role. https://solaratm.com

Lyndex-Nikken has appointed Michael Ricketts as product manager – automation and Dwayne Perkins as service manager – rotary tables.

With more than 25 years of experience in industrial automation, Ricketts brings deep expertise in linear systems, automation distribution, and capital projects. In his new role, he’ll lead efforts to advance the company’s workholding and machine tending product lines. Ricketts holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Perkins has extensive global experience in CNC equipment, having installed, serviced, and trained teams on Swiss screw machines, vertical and horizontal mills, and grinders. He began his machining career at age 14 at the Edison Technical and Occupational Center. At Lyndex-Nikken, Perkins will oversee rotary table service operations. https://www.lyndexnikken.com

Heather Martin has been named vice president of Global Market Strategy and Development at Trelleborg Medical Solutions. She’ll be responsible for understanding global market dynamics and developing capabilities to meet market requirements, as well as leading acquisition and integration activities and overseeing marketing and communications initiatives. Martin was previously the business unit president, Industrial Americas for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions and has been a leader at the company for more than two decades. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a certified Institute of Leadership and Management mentor for accelerating performance and innovation. https://www.trelleborg.com