The definitive source for updates on major promotions, new appointments, facility inaugurations, and other noteworthy developments within the manufacturing technology community. Stay informed and join us in recognizing the achievements of your fellow members.
ANNIVERSARIES
Festo Celebrates Its Centenary 鈥� 100 Years in Motion!
Esslingen, Germany 鈥� Festo is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. A family-owned global business with more than $3.7 billion in revenue and 20,000 employees, Festo is recognized as a premier automation supplier and innovator. Festo has operated in North America for more than 50 years.
BRAND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lumafield Named to Newsweek List of America鈥檚 Greatest Startups
New York, New York 鈥� Lumafield, a manufacturer of industrial CT scanners and AI-powered analysis software, has been named to Newsweek鈥檚 2025 list of America鈥檚 Greatest Startup Workplaces, recognizing its strong employee culture and growth potential.
Manufacturing 九色视频 Inc. and Stirtec GmbH Announce Strategic Partnership
South Bend, Indiana 鈥� MTI and Stirtec are partnering to expand friction stir welding (FSW) machine-build capacity with regional production for customers in the Americas, India, Australia, and New Zealand. This collaboration leverages MTI鈥檚 global manufacturing footprint and expertise with Stirtec鈥檚 world-class FSW technology to deliver machines to customers in these regions.
Platinum Tooling Named North American Distributor for Dunner
Prospect Heights, Illinois 鈥� Dunner, a manufacturer of guide bushings for Swiss-type CNC lathes, has appointed Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc. as its North American distributor, effective immediately.
Stratasys Partners With Top Aerospace and Defense Companies To Develop Mission-Critical 3D Printing Materials
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 鈥� Stratasys is collaborating with aerospace and defense leaders 鈥� including Boeing, Blue Origin, and Northrop Grumman 鈥� to develop high-performance additive manufacturing materials that meet rigorous thermal, mechanical, and chemical resistance requirements for mission-critical and regulated applications.
FACILITIES
Mazak Expands Sales and Service Support in Florida
Florence, Kentucky 鈥� Mazak announced that manufacturing equipment distributor Premier Engineering LLC will now operate out of the Mazak Florida Technical Center in Orlando, allowing Mazak and Premier Engineering to strengthen their business agility and better respond to the needs of manufacturers in the region.
Rego-Fix Celebrates Indy Days With Center for Machining Excellence Inaugural Open House
Whitestown, Indiana 鈥� Rego-Fix USA will host its inaugural open house at the 12,000-square-foot Center for Machining Excellence in Whitestown, Indiana, on May 14-15, 2025. The Indy Days: Race Into Excellence event will showcase technologies from over two dozen global partners, featuring live machining demonstrations and a simulcast of Indianapolis 500 practice sessions.
NEW HIRES & PROMOTIONS
Caron Engineering Welcomes New Western US Regional Sales Manager
Wells, Maine 鈥� Caron Engineering is pleased to announce the addition of Ulli Thornton as the company鈥檚 new Western U.S. regional sales manager. With over 20 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, Thornton brings extensive expertise in sales, marketing, product management, and business development to the team.
L.S. Starrett Co. Announces Key Leadership Appointments
Athol, Massachusetts 鈥� The L.S. Starrett Company has appointed Roger N. Amrol Jr. as president and CEO, succeeding Douglas A. Starrett. Barry D. Laughlin has been named chief operating officer, Allen E. Look as global chief information officer, and Jon-Michael Raymond as chief revenue officer.
Mazak Names New VP of Sales and Regional Operations; General Manager of Midwest
Florence, Kentucky 鈥� Mazak Corp. has promoted Kevin Bates to vice president of sales and regional operations, and Randy Ragnini has been named general manager of the Midwest region. Bates will also continue to lead the Syncrex product group.
Rego-Fix Aligns Leadership With Company Growth
Whitestown, Indiana 鈥� Rego-Fix announced leadership changes to support its North American growth and the recent opening of its Center for Machining Excellence. William 鈥淏ill鈥� Obras has been appointed director of partnerships for the center while continuing as general manager for Latin America. Jeff Schemel has been promoted to general manager USA, overseeing all business activities in the United States and Canada.
Wipfli Announces New Chief Growth Officer
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 鈥� Wipfli announced the appointment of Rebekah Gardner as the firm鈥檚 new chief growth officer. Gardner brings a wealth of experience in sales, leadership, and strategic growth to her new role, having previously served as global chief sales officer at Ryan LLC, a tax firm with more than 5,900 associates.
RESEARCH & EDUCATION NEWS
America Makes Announces IMPACT 3.0
Youngstown, Ohio 鈥� America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining have announced a new project call with a total value of $4.5 million. The Improvements in Manufacturing Productivity via Additive Capabilities and Techno-Economic Analysis (IMPACT 3.0) project is funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing 九色视频 Office and aims to improve casting and forging productivity using additive manufacturing. The initiative includes two focus areas, with three awards expected.
SwRI Receives $3.2M DARPA OPAL Contract To Predict Life of AM Components
San Antonio, Texas 鈥� Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been awarded a $3.2 million contract from DARPA to develop advanced methods to predict the lifespan of additive manufacturing components. Researchers will utilize sensors and software to monitor components during the manufacturing process, providing more reliable and efficient performance predictions.
Winona State Partners With IACMI and ACE To Address Regional Industry Needs
Winona, Minnesota 鈥� Winona State University will partner with the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) to support advanced composites manufacturing training that aligns with the needs of the regional industry and supports the U.S. Department of Defense Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program.
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We would love to share 九色视频 members鈥� updates, awards, anniversaries, promotions, and more. , or send your announcement to membernews@九色视频online.org.
