FIBA receives high-pressure vessel certification
FIBA (www.fibatech.com) has been certified to manufacture high-pressure vessels that are subject to pressures above 10,000 psi. The company said in a press release that it renewed its American Society of Mechanical Engineers U-stamp and NB certification, and that it acquired a U3 Certificate of Authorization from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

The Millbury, Mass., company said the U3 Certificate grants it the authorization to manufacture high-pressure (10,000-psi and higher) vessels in accordance with the ASME Alternative Rules for Construction.

FIBA produces pressure vessels, tube trailers, cryogenic and CO2 portable tanks, multiple-element gas containers, and other products for industrial and specialty gas and chemical companies that use intermodal, high-pressure gas and cryogenic products.

Three companies joining forces to reduce hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) exposure
RoboVent manufacturer Great Lakes Air Systems (www.robovent.com), Praxair (www.praxair.com) and Bureau Veritas (www.bureauveritas.com) announced in early April that they are planning to work together to provide education and to offer products for their customers that will help to reduce workers' exposure to hexavalent chromium.

The companies said they will address diagnosis, process or material change, engineering controls and a continual compliance plan based upon the needs of distinct production facilities.

Hexavalent chromium is a byproduct of working with chrome and chrome-containing materials. Welding stainless steel is one such source of exposure to hexavalent chromium, and the companies recommended that welding shops that may have workers exposed to the cancer-causing compound contact OSHA or an industrial hygienist to assess the risks that may exist in their facilities.

Once risks are assessed, ways to protect workers from exposures can be developed.

"The coming together of these three companies allows us all to offer the best solutions to these dealing with this issue at the plant level," says Jim Reid, vice president of Great Lakes Air Systems.

Separately, Great Lakes Air Systems said it is expanding the capabilities of its Great Plains office in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The company said the office is being expanded to include service and maintenance of dust collection and ventilation equipment, and will continue to serve as its regional sales office.

Sherwood announces price increases for its product lines
Sherwood (www.sherwoodvalve.com), a business unit of Harsco GasServ, said on April 12 that prices would increase on May 14, 2007, for all of its product lines.

The company said its new price schedules would reflect increases averaging 11 percent on its valve products.

Roger Carlson, Sherwood's vice president and general manager, said his company has seen price increases for raw materials, energy and freight.

Koike Aronson/ Ransome, Inc. receives ISO 9001 2000 certification
Koike Aronson/Ransome, Inc. (www.koike.com), a manufacturer of cutting and positioning equipment for metalworking, has received ISO 9001:2000 Certification for its management system by Bureau Veritas Certification North America, Inc.

The scope of supply cited in the official award is design and development, manufacturing, installation, service, repair, sale, and distribution of cutting and weld positioning equipment; the sale and distribution of portable and gas apparatus equipment; and contract work. The certification remains in effect for three years, until April of 2010.

Robots for new Master's program in mechatronic systems engineering
Kuka Robotics Corporation (www.kukarobotics.com) is providing robots to the Lawrence Technological University of Southfield, Mich., for a new master of science in mechatronic systems engineering. The degree program is the first of its kind in the United States.

Kuka said its KR3 robots and its Sim Pro simulation software will be the centerpiece of the university's new laboratory that is being created for the degree program, where students will be learning robotics programming and application simulation.

MG Systems & Welding produces 300th Titan II machine
MG Systems and Welding (www.mg-systems-welding.com) said in April that it shipped its 300th Titan II thermal plasma cutting machine to Youngquist Brothers, a deep injection well system company based in Fort Myers, Fla.

Youngquist Brothers is expected to use the new machine for in-house manufacturing of drilling rigs.

Trumpf Inc. supporting science center
Trumpf Inc. (www.trumpf.com) is donating $100,000 to support an innovative new exhibit at the Connecticut Science Center (www.CTScienceCenter.org) in Hartford. The donation will help to build the Forces in Motion gallery, which will provide information on the physics of motion through a variety of interactive activities, including building a magnetic levitation vehicle to race against others and engineering a heli-flyer.

The gallery is expected to open in fall 2008.

Dissolvo LLC gets new owner
DayMark Safety Systems acquired Dissolvo LLC (www.dissolvo.com) from Gilbreth International in mid-March. Dissolvo markets a line of dissolvable purge dams used in Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding.

In a prepared statement on the acquisition, DayMark's said its purchase of Dissolvo extends its interest in the dissolvable paper market.

"The company said it expects to continue to offer the full line of the trademarked Dissolvo brand purge dams," said Jeff Palmer, president of DayMark Safety Systems. Additionally, the company said it would establish service improvements, including same business-day shipping for orders placed by 3 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) and no minimum order requirements.

Lincoln Electric helps Ohio motorcycle shop race to the winner's circle
Leroy-Thompson Handcrafted Customs, a custom motorcycle shop based just east of Cleveland in Mentor, Ohio, was named the winner of The Learning Channel's Biker Build-Off on April 5. Scott Webster, owner of the shop and custom cycle, blew away the competition on the latest edition of the popular television show.

Webster and his shop used Lincoln Electric welding equipment, including a Precision TIG 225, to build the winning bike that is classified as a pro-street bobber. Lincoln Electric also serves as Leroy-Thompson's official welding partner.

The show pits two custom shops from different parts of the country against each other to showcase their skills, personalities and creativity as they each build a custom bike. Webster and his team beat out Dawn Norakas of Stinger Custom Cycles of Cedar City, Utah.

ESAB and ABB to develop and market robotic MIG welding automation systems
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (www.esabna.com) has agreed to jointly develop and market robotic welding packages and systems with the Robotics Division of ABB, Inc. (www.abbrobotics.com)

The agreement allows the two companies to use their expertise and technologies together to pursue business opportunities identified by either company.

The companies said in particular, this agreement relates to the incorporation of ABB robot products, including all models of industrial robots and/or positioners manufactured or sold by ABB, with ESAB products related to Robotic MIG Welding Automation, specifically wire feeders, welding power units and related equipment manufactured by ESAB.

Kaliburn introduces advanced technology and new products
Kaliburn (www.kaliburn.net), a manufacturer of plasma cutting systems, has developed and commercialized a new process technology that is designed to reduce the costs of precision plasma cutting by extending the life of the hafnium used in electrodes.

The company has expanded its Spirit product line to include the Spirit150a and Spirit 200a models that it refers to as its trademarked "Hafnium Optimizing Technology" or "HfOT" products.

The name refers to the rare metal hafnium that is a part of high definition torch electrodes. Hafnium is gradually consumed during the plasma cutting process, and requires replacement. Its erosion also can interfere with nozzle performance.

Kaliburn says its HfOT products increase electrode life, and help to improve overall cut quality and consistency.

Universal Laser Systems Inc. opens second facility
Universal Laser Systems, Inc. (www.ulsinc.com), a designer and manufacturer of CO2 lasers and computer-controlled CO2 laser engraving, cutting, and marking systems, said that it doubled the size of its U.S.-based headquarters with an expansion into a second building in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Trumpf names new distributors in Louisiana and Michigan
Trumpf (www.us.trumpf.com) has named the Hampton Company of Plano, Texas, as its new machine tool distributor for Louisiana. The Hampton Company will represent Trumpf's line of fabricating machinery in Louisiana. Lynn Moore will continue as the Trumpf Inc. regional manager serving the area.

In Michigan, Trumpf named BGI of Grand Blanc, Mich., its new machine tool distributor. BGI will represent Trumpf's line of fabricating machinery in the following Michigan counties: Bay, Saginaw, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe.

Craig Summers will continue as the Trumpf Inc. regional manager serving the area.

Trumpf produces fabricating machinery and lasers used for industrial production technology.

www.us.trumpf.com

Duggan Manufacturing launches new division
Duggan Manufacturing (www.duganmfg.com), a Michigan metal stamping prototype manufacturer and contract robot welding service has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Unified Pattern Division, to provide.

The new division will provide low-volume to medium-volume casting production capacity to automotive manufacturing companies, as the parent company now does with metal stampings, said Tony Pinho, president of Duggan Manufacturing.

"There appears to be market opportunities. Over the last four or five years there has been major consolidation and reduction in the U.S. supplier base for ferrous and non-ferrous castings, particularly in the automotive industry. With that consolidation has come a reduction in value-added services like rapid prototyping of patterns and castings," Pinho said.

"With the current relationships we have with fourteen different foundries and the Tier II machining sources we have cultivated over the years, we are confident we can provide the same level of prototype and low to medium casting production capabilities to original equipment manufacturers and to Tier I suppliers that we have done in the stamping area," he added.

Rich Treppa has been named general manager for the Unified Pattern Division.

The division has the ability to do sand, investment, plaster and shell mold prototype patterns and castings for ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and has its own proprietary aluminum densification process for structural components. Treppa said it also has specialized tooling to produce production-intent process castings in rapid prototype time, and in-house CAD/CAM and CATIA capabilities.