CNC Machining Spring00 4/24/00 11:07 AM Page 1 volume 4 number 13 spring 2000 TheThe NewNew NationwideNationwide HFOHFO NetworkNetwork HMCsHMCs CrankCrank UpUp ProductionProduction MixingMixing MethodsMethods andand MachinesMachines forfor FlexibilityFlexibility TrainingTraining forfor thethe FutureFuture InvestmentInvestment forfor GrowthGrowth JobJob ShopShop TakesTakes OffOff CuttingCutting TitaniumTitanium CNC Machining Spring00 4/24/00 11:07 AM Page 2 photo by Mike Reyno © Skytech Images > volume 4 > number 13 > spring 2000 > CONTENTS FEATURES hat goes around, comes around. No, wait, that’s not it. What Kellogg Cranks Up Production 6 comes around, goes around? Nope, that’s not it either. How about: What goes around and around? Yeah, that’s it. Horizontals in the Mix at Hobart 10 W Now that you’re totally confused, I’ll explain. The above is just a Titanium Hog Breeds Success 14 roundabout way to convey that this issue of CNC Machining is filled with DeLong and Short of a Family Business 26 things that go around. From helicopters, to crankshafts, to mixers, the stories revolve around things that rotate. Haas & Renishaw Fuel Growth 32 Our cover story this time around features MB Manufacturing and Tooling Corporation, a relatively young job shop that cut its teeth hogging out titanium INDUSTRYNEWS blocks for helicopter rotor components. After reaching a turning point in his life, owner Mike Bramlage decided to quit the rat race and set off on his own. With little Editorial: The Changing Face of Distribution 2 more than two years under its belt, his shop has turned the corner and become a very Haas Factory Outlets Dominate Market 3 profitable venture. Trade Show Calendar 3 Then we head out east to Kellogg Crankshaft, a company that specializes in short-run and specialty crankshafts for the automotive industry. Their crankshafts have been around PRODUCTUPDATE since the early days of Indy. Currently, they put Haas five-axis horizontals to very good use drilling oil passages in their cranks. Mini Mill & SL-10 Steal the Show at WESTEC 2000 35 Taking things in a slightly different direction, we visit Hobart Corporation, a company High-Speed 50-Taper Really Rips 36 that manufactures industrial mixers that put even the most steroid-pumped Cuisinart® to shame. These puppies are designed to handle even the toughest mixing job, and User Features Make Operators’ Jobs Easier 37 Haas horizontals play a key role in their production. Bringing things around a bit to the current situation in the work force, we RACINGREPORT visit a community college that uses Haas mills and lathes to make inroads into New Cars, Driver and Sponsor at Hendrick 4 the serious shortage of qualified machinists entering the market. By using modern CNC equipment from Haas to train the students, the school better prepares them Ilmor Unveils New Engine 4 for the real world. Gurney Opts Out of Champ Series 5 We also strolled around the recent WESTEC show to see what’s new, so be sure to look around back for the “Spied at WESTEC” section, where you’ll find the latest machines, EDUCATION options and features available from Haas. Advanced Technology Center Trains Machinists of Tomorrow 28 And, as usual, be sure to check out the trade show roundup and the race report, where you’ll find the latest info about shows around the country and race sponsorships. So, sit back, relax and enjoy! THE MASTHEAD CNC Machining is published by Haas Automation, Inc., 2800 Sturgis Road, Oxnard, CA 93030 • 805-278-1800, Fax 805-988-6918. Postmaster: Return invalid addresses to Haas Automation, 2800 Sturgis Road, Oxnard, CA 93030-8933 postage guaranteed. CNC Machining is distributed free of charge by Haas Automation, Inc., and its authorized distributors. CNC Machining accepts no advertising or reimbursement for this magazine. All contents of CNC Machining are Copyright © p 14.INSIDE: 2000 and may not be reproduced without written permission from Haas Automation, Inc. CNC Machining is distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Automation Distributors, and by The MD500 helicopter, above, is widely used by law enforcement individual subscription request. Contact Haas Automation headquarters via mail or fax to be added agencies, fire departments, television stations and the corporate world. to subscription list. Published quarterly. © Haas Automation, Inc. & CNC Machining Magazine Like any aircraft, it has certain components that must be replaced at FAA names. Designed and Printed in the U.S.A. CPC # 1563572. www.HaasCNC.com mandated intervals in order to maintain airworthiness. Such components 2000are one of the specialties at MB Manufacturing and Tooling Corporation. p. 32 p.10 p.28 p.6 CNC Machining Spring00 4/24/00 11:08 AM Page 2 > EDITORIAL by Denis Dupuis > INDUSTRY NEWS ’ve been doing a lot of travelling lately, jetting around the article again, I realized that the ideas it discussed would be HFO Network Nationwide by IMTS 2000 I country to attend the openings of various Haas Factory of interest to many of our customers and suppliers. Rather Outlets. As a result, I’ve had plenty of time to catch up on my than trying to paraphrase the article here (I didn’t feel I ver the past year, there have been machine tool sales slump. “In addition, reading. I recently came across an article in IndustryWeek could say it any better), I contacted Mr. John Sheridan, the O major changes in the way Haas Haas also doubled its market share in that caught my attention because it talked about the future author, and IndustryWeek for permission to reprint it. I would Automation does business. The most turning centers, and increased its HMC innovative, and possibly revolutionary, market share significantly. Haas was of marketing and product distribution. In light of the changes like to thank Mr. Sheridan and Joanne Honohan for allowing of these changes has been the ongoing probably the best performing machine tool we are making in the distribution of our own products, I me to reprint this article, and for their quick response (as development of the new network of Haas company worldwide in 1999. found the article especially appropriate. After reading the usual, I was close to deadline). Factory Outlets (HFOs). These locally “This is a result of much hard work owned and operated HFOs are simply by our distributors,” Hall explained, the conversion of Haas’ long-established “but also in no small measure due to Mixing It Up existing distributors into facilities Haas’ strong marketing, and the growing absolutely clear to everyone at this dedicated exlusively to the sales, service success of the HFO program.” point,” he said. Multiple-channel approach nabs and support of Haas products. Each HFO Hall, who spoke recently at the A number of the nearly 50 planned is staffed with experienced and fully Annual Haas Distributor Meeting, said it HFOs are already certified and customer wherever he buys. trained Haas personnel who are is Haas’ ability to quickly respond to the operational, with more than 30 scheduled dedicated to supporting every sale. dramatically changing global business to open by IMTS in September. The n the past, manufacturers tended to rely “Haas’ overall market share increased environment that is key to survival on majority of these HFOs will also be by some 30% in 1999,” said Peter Hall, today’s sales battlefield. “Haas’ total supported by Haas Technology Centers, on a single channel to sell their products – Director of Haas Factory Outlets, commitment to rapid continuous where prospective clients can see Haas either a direct sales force or distributors, commenting on the success of Haas in improvement – to radically changing the machine tools performing in real-world I what many call a sizable, worldwide way we do business – should be working surroundings. or through dealers or retail chains. In recent years, however, a growing number of companies have Each marketing channel offers a 2000 TradeShow Calendar adopted a hybrid marketing approach – using multiple different level of value-added, notes Furey, who coauthored – with Laurence Show Name and Location Dates and General Information Friedman – The Channel Advantage channels – to reach various customer segments. And they Cleveland Machine Tool Show, (Ohio) May 9 - 11, 2000 (1999, Butterworth–Heinemann). This show is held at the Cuyahoga Fairgrounds in Berea, Ohio, and are increasingly integrating new channels like In The Channel Advantage Furey is expected to draw attendees from all over Northern Ohio’s telemarketing, direct mail and the Internet into the mix. and Friedman note that the hybrid metalworking industry. approach is the key to growth in many Tulsa Machine Tool Show, (Tulsa, OK) May 10 - 11, 2000 markets, since “no single channel For the fourth consecutive year, the Tulsa Industrial & Machine Tool The basic rationale is fairly simple, “A lot of traditional industry captures more than half of the Show will be held at Expo Square, where it is expected that more explains Timothy R. Furey: “You want executives and sales reps are scared to available transaction.” Moreover, a than 3,000 attendees will preview products, and discuss new to intercept the customer wherever he death of the Internet,” Furey says. “They hybrid mix of channels that work well technologies for the manufacturing and machine tool industries. decides to buy.” think the Internet is going to put them together “can reduce selling costs by But deciding on the right mix of out of business. I would argue that for 20% to 30%, and in some cases, can cut Montreal Machine Tool Show, (Canada) May 23 – 25, 2000 channels is often complicated – certain segments of their customers, they them in half.” Quebec’s largest machine tool show and factory automation event will be held at the Place Bonaventure in Montreal. This show is especially when the Internet is one of need to start selling direct over the Just as significant, says Furey, is the expected to draw more than 12,000 attendees.