Manufacturing news - June 2025

The ideal environment for precision, performance

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA has taken a proactive step toward enhancing operational reliability and workplace comfort by constructing a new temperature-controlled environment around their critical Haas machining centers and Marvel saws. This investment was driven by the upcoming commissioning of a large water quenching furnace, scheduled to be installed near the tensile machining area by year’s end.

Keith King, testing manager, explains: “The electronics of the machining centers were struggling in the summer months when it got hot in the shop. The warning lights would hit the yellow zone – and problems were inevitable. Our new environmentally controlled space will be ideal not only for the machines but also for the operator.”

The new climate-controlled room will ensure optimal conditions for precision equipment and personnel, reducing the risk of heat-related malfunctions and improving overall productivity and safety. https://www.solaratm.com

Appointments, promotions, new hires

The L.S. Starrett Co. appointed Roger N. Amrol Jr. as president and CEO, Barry D. Laughlin as COO, Allen E. Look as global CIO, and Jon-Michael Raymond as CRO.

Amrol joins the organization from Robert Bosch Tool Corp. North America where he was president and CEO and succeeds Douglas A. Starrett whose career with Starrett spanned 48 years as president and CEO.

Laughlin was most recently COO with Group DEKKO. Previously he was with Navistar for 26 years; his last position was director of global manufacturing and custom products.

Look brings more than 25 years of information technology experience with skills in data analysis and cybersecurity.

Raymond brings more than 17 years’ experience in industrial markets where he’s held sales and finance roles and was previously Starrett’s North American sales and marketing director for industrial products. https://www.starrett.com

SMW Autoblok promoted John Andrick to sales lead for the company’s automation and electronics division, SMW Electronics, responsible for covering all states in North America. Andrick will lead the U.S. market launch of SMW Electronics’ advanced technology solutions. https://www.smwautoblok.com

Kevin Bates has been promoted to vice president of sales and regional operations at Mazak. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the machine tool industry, Bates will now oversee Mazak’s six U.S. regions as well as operations in Canada. He will also continue to lead the company’s SYNCREX Swiss-style turning machine product group. https://www.mazak.com

Festo’s North American Business Region CEO Carlos Miranda retired and Dr. Wilm Uhlenbecker has been appointed as the business region’s new CEO. Uhlenbecker began his career in 1994 as a management trainee at Robert Bosch GmbH and by 2003, he was the assistant to the Robert Bosch CEO and chairman supervisory board. Uhlenbecker will report directly to Thomas Böck, chairman of the board. http://www.festo.com

Blue Photon Technology & Workholding Systems LLC welcomes David Houchins as vice president of sales and marketing. Houchins previously owned/operated a successful manufacturer’s representative firm for more than 20 years and possesses a wide breadth of manufacturing experience including almost 10 years with the Blue Photon solution. https://www.bluephotongrip.com