WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2024 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
• Boston Dynamics: Demonstrations and Keynote
• 250+ Exhibitors
• Showcase of latest metalworking technologies • Industry 4.0 pitch competition
DRY ICE BLASTING SERVICES
Used by leading manufacturers in the automotive, aviation, furniture, medical device and food processing industries.
ADVANTAGES OF CLEANING YOUR EQUIPMENT WITH DRY ICE
• Reduce downtime by cleaning without disassembly
• E ciently remove grease, grime and rust with a non-abrasive cleaning process
• Safely clean around electronic controls (no water!)
• Avoid harsh chemicals with a food safe cleaning process
E ciently removing adhesive at a furniture manufacturing plant.
WELCOME
It’s hard to believe we started AME nine years ago to provide Michigan companies, schools, non-profits and exhibitors a platform to network all in one place locally. This goal of connecting people, coupled with technology, has always been our dream.
“Free to attend, Free expert speakers and free parking!*”
The show is designed to be the easiest, most affordable, and most valuable event for attracting top manufacturing suppliers from around the world. We listened to attendees and developed our own registration software for a quick and easy entry process.
*We even cover two hours of parking for the first 2,000 attendees!
Every year, we invest time and money to bring in cutting-edge technology and influential people and companies. We are thrilled to feature
Boston Dynamics as our keynote speaker, with Caleb Sylvester, Director of Sales & Key Accounts, who is a worldrenowned leader in robotics and automation.
In 2024, we welcome two new hall sponsors: Action Industrial Supply will oversee the MRO/ Safety Hall, and our new i4.0 Tech Hall is sponsored by Rocket Labs and Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University. The i4.0 Hall, located at the front of the show, will combine
expert speakers with innovative technology companies.
Our diverse mix of speakers from all four halls offers attendees a wide range of topics to help their companies advance. Here is a preview of some of the expert sessions:
• Advancing Industry 4.0 to 5.0 through AI and automation
• The no-BS digital sales roadmap
• Realizing zero downtime, zerowaste with Industry 4.0 and AI
• 10 lessons from 100 interviews
with manufacturing leaders
• Grants, loans, and statewide resources for small to mediummanufacturers
• How to prepare for the new demands of industrial decarbonization
• Transforming operations with technology
We extend our deepest gratitude to all our hall sponsors, volunteers and show sponsors. This event would not have been possible without the support of West Michigan and surrounding communities.
INSIDE
3. WELCOME LETTER
Mark Ermatinger, Founder of AME, provides insights into the show and what to expect.
TABLE OF CONTENTS/SHOW INFORMATION
5. EXPO HIGHLIGHTS
Don’t miss these expo headliners! Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millenial! Live Tool Demos! Women in Manufacturing Interview Series!
6.
EXPO AGENDA EVENTS & SPEAKERS
7. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Learn about the top advanced technology trends in manufacturing!
8. WHY AI LEARNING IS HERE TO STAY
The rise of artificial intelligence machine learning in manufacturing the factory floor.
10. INDEPENDENT DISTRUBUTORS
Independent distributors are proving their worth on the plant floor with agility, flexibility and a commitment to customer service.
12. BUILDING THE DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN
Helping create a future where manufacturing data is standardized and and readily available.
14-23. EXHIBITOR LISTINGS & MAPS
• 15-17 - AUTOMATION HALL
• 17-19 - 14.0 TECH HALL
• 19-21 - MRO/SAFETY HALL
• 21-23 - METALWORKING HALL
SHOW INFORMATION
HOURS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7: 8:30 AM - 4 PM
THURSDAY, AUGUST: 8: 8:30 AM - 3 PM
LOCATION
DEVOS PLACE • GRAND RAPIDS, MI
FREE* PARKING
Free 2 hour parking voucher valid at City of Grand Rapids parking ramps,limited to the first 2,000 attendees between both days
Thank You AME 2024 Corporate Sponsors:
Gold Sponsor: Edgewater Automation
Silver Sponsors: Fluid-Aire Dynamics, InfluxData
Media Partners: Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Michigan Manufacturers Association
Don’t miss these highlights at AME 2024
Explore cutting-edge technology, network with industry leaders, and witness live demonstrations
Keynote Address
10 a.m. Thursday, August 8
Caleb Sylvester • Keynote Speaker Director of Sales & Key Accounts Boston Dynamics
Caleb Sylverster leads a team that is helping customers adopt, deploy and scale the Spot robot platform in order to deliver a positive ROI in a short amount of time. He has 20 years of experience creating and selling digital transformation solutions and has led large-scale AI projects for several fortune 500 companies. For many years he focused on digital transformation through machine perception, specifically computer vision. Caleb works closely with executives at large industrial companies as they work to understand and introduce autonomous mobile robotics into their enterprises. Find Boston Dynamics on exhibit in Booth #216.
Meet Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial Automation Hall
Jake Hall is the Manufacturing Millennial. He talks about the latest technology in the automation and manufacturing while making it engaging for all audiences. He is an experienced sales professional with extensive knowledge building lasting business relationships across multiple accounts, designing sales strategies, and creating and accomplishing project goals. Proficiency in creating new business opportunities with existing and new accounts by leveraging key strengths and maintain customer relationships.
LIVE TOOLING DEMOS
Dynamic Machine offers over 200 years of combined machine tool and manufacturing experience. They are uniquely qualified to sell and service CNC machine tools from single, stand-alone units to complex, multimachine turnkey systems.
Check them out at Booth #900!
Vander Ziel Machinery Sales Inc. buys and sells a variety of new and used machinery, from ironworkers to welding equipment. As a member of the MDNA, they ensure the reliability and integrity of their products.
Check them out at booth #614!
Explore MEGATEL CNC, a toptier metalworking MEGATEL CNC SOLUTIONS INC solutions provider in North America. With 45 years of refined expertise, we proudly announce our expansion into the United States, with our inaugural Michigan office opening in early 2025. Check them out at booth #914!
Meet Emily Wilkins Founder & CEO, Marketing Metal Metalworking Hall
Emily Wilkins is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience helping small manufacturers reach their business goals through strategic branding, positioning, and marketing. Through her own Radical agency, Marketing Metal, Emily helps job shops make big profits and even bigger impact by building them a Radical brand and marketing machine in just a few days–and empowering them to use it. She believes that in order for manufacturers to be effective with their marketing, it needs to be stupid simple and laser focused.
Women in Manufacturing Interview Series
Stop by the Marketing Metal Booth #1120 to hear from these innovative Women in Manufacturing.
Sami Birch
Dana Brown
Joni Cunningham
Michelle Garrett
Kim Hildebrand
Aisha Mills-Hendrix
Brenda Ratcliffe
Danielle Schneider
Chelsea Sutton
Alexandria Trusov
Ashley Weber
SPEAKER/BREAKOUT ROOM
AGENDAS
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
AUTOMATION BREAKOUT ROOM
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
A LOOK AT THE STATE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE AUTOMATION INDUSTRY
Speaker: Don Clutterbuck
Presented by: Horner Automation
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
ADVANCING INDUSTRY 4.0 TO 5.0 THROUGH AI AND AUTOMATION
Speaker: Zakary Smith
Presented by: SensFlo
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
ACCELERATING ENGINEERING AND PROCUREMENT; THE CAD FALLACY
Speaker: Chris Brown
Presented by: CADDi
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
THE NO-BS DIGITAL SALES ROADMAP
Speaker: Joseph Maxwell
Presented by: SwiftOtter
GENERAL MANUFACTURING BREAKOUT ROOM
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
HOW NUTS, BOLTS, AND THINGAMAJIGS IS IMPACTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Speaker: Ed Dernulc
Presented by: Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
DATA WASTE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU LEAVE BEHIND
Speaker: William Stone
Presented by: Classy Llama
12 p.m. - 1p.m. WHY WIM?
Speaker: Danielle Scheider
Presented by: Creston Industrial Sales
METALWORKING HALL
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
WHY COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS HAVEN’T TAKEN OVER WELDING OPERATIONS
Speakers: Malachi Greb / Jenna Vessel
Presented by: Creston Industrial Sales
10:30 am – 11:30 a.m.
ADVENTUROUS DEMAND GENERATION FOR INDUSTRIAL MARKETERS
Speaker: Eddie Saunders Jr.
Presented by: Creston Industrial Sales
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
THE HILLS AND VALLEYS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Speaker: Hallie Haupt / Shae Eichele
Presented by: Creston Industrial Sales
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
10 LESSONS FROM 100 INTERVIEWS WITH MANUFACTURING LEADERS
Speaker: Chris Luecke
Presented by: Creston Industrial Sales
MRO/SAFETY BREAKOUT ROOM
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
MRO SUPPORT FROM YOUR ERP ASAP!
Speaker: Dennis Easter
Presented by: Algorithm Inc.
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
REALIZING ZERO-DOWNTOWN, ZERO-WASTE WITH INDUSTRY 4.0 AND AI
Speaker: Mo Abuali
Presented by: Wipfli
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
EFFECTIVE RELIABILITY: ADOPTION, SIMPLICITY, AND TECH INTEGRATION FOR ALL SIZES
Speaker: Chad Brannan
Presented by: Facility Works
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
THE REALITY OF CUT-RESISTANT GLOVES IN THE MARKETPLACE
Speaker: Griff Hughes
Presented by: Banom
Top advanced technology trends in manufacturing
“These technologies are dominating the field,” said Industry 4.0 Accelerator program director Scott Phillips.
By Ashley Zlatopolsky
As we live in industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, advanced technology trends continue to reshape manufacturing as we know it today, and what its future may hold.
Scott Phillips, Industry 4.0 Accelerator program director, said the field is rapidly changing. New advanced technology trends dominate today’s market, and as old trends make their way out, manufacturers must find creative ways to keep up with the evolution.
Phillips explained these are the top advanced technology trends manufacturers see today, and the benefits and challenges businesses may face in implementing them.
What advanced technology trends are you seeing in manufacturing this year?
One of the biggest trends in manufacturing this year is in machine vision technology. Machine vision is used a lot in automated inspection, or the use of digital technology to inspect, measure and analyze parts. Manufacturers don’t have a lot of people. There’s a shortage of labor in manufacturing, so one of the last things you want to use people for is inspecting parts and things you’re making.
Since there just aren’t enough people to go around, more and more companies are trying to use new solutions [like machine vision] and cameras to inspect parts. That’s probably the number one category right now that we help manufacturers with.
Number two is automated material handling, and it’s almost for the same reason. If you don’t have enough people to handle materials, [using people to do so] is a
poor use of human beings. In the old days, we used trucks and AGVs [automated guided vehicles], but now it’s automated mobile robots, autonomous forklifts, anything to move materials from the dock door to the work assembly line, throughout the factory floor, and back to the warehouse and back onto the truck. These things have technology on them that can unload and load a truck from a dock door without any human being involved. This is another big growing category of manufacturing technology you’ll see at trade shows.
When did these advanced technology trends start dominating the market?
They’ve been growing over the last five-to-10 years, but they have really accelerated in the last one or two years. Three factors are playing out over recent times and contributing to the growth. One
is labor costs. With union contracts, union wages went up significantly about six months ago. Now they’re 40% more expensive, even if you have people doing these jobs. That’s why more and more manufacturers are turning to these advanced technologies.
Besides alleviating the labor shortage, what other gaps do these trends help fill?
There’s an acronym that’s been taught for many years. You use
for small- to medium-sized manufacturers. Sometimes the acronym is SMMs or SMEs in Michigan. 85% of these manufacturers have 50 people or less, and that’s typical of most states. We’re not unusual here in Michigan. In the U.S., there are more than 600,000 manufacturers, and probably 80% of them are designated by the federal government as small to medium. So, why do these small to medium manufacturers have obstacles
On any given day, there’s more than 500,000 manufacturing jobs open in the U.S. This is expected to double within 10 years.
is just demographic trends. In mature countries like the U.S., there’s a labor shortage since there are fewer people of working age wanting to work in manufacturing environments. On any given day, there’s more than 500,000 manufacturing jobs open in the U.S. This is expected to double within 10 years. If you’re short this many jobs, the last thing you want is to have people doing the tasks we just mentioned above. You need technology.
When COVID-19 hit, doing these types of things with humans involved became even harder due to social distancing and health requirements. The third factor
technology to solve or take over jobs that are dull, dirty, dangerous, distant and difficult, or the five “Ds” of robotization. Think of dirty work environments where it’s unhealthy for people to be. Maybe you can use a robot or a machine to do that challenging job. Other jobs are computationally difficult for humans. Humans require a constant attention span all day, and humans get tired. Computers and robots don’t get mentally tired.
What organizational challenges do manufacturers face in implementing these trends?
The hardest challenges are
when adopting technology?
The first obstacle is that they don’t have management bandwidth. In any small manufacturing business, the management team is working in the business. That’s true of any small business, not just manufacturing but it’s hard to invest strategically in a business when you’re out working on the line every day because you’re family-owned.
The second obstacle is a skills shortage. Small to medium manufacturers don’t always have the technical skills to operate advanced machinery. The third obstacle is that they don’t have the capital. They
don’t have the financial means to buy new equipment.
Sometimes what we say is these businesses don’t have a people closet and they don’t have a money chest. The people closet means they don’t have money to buy advanced technology, and the people closet means they don’t have people with the skills to operate advanced equipment.
How do manufacturers keep up with technologies that evolve so rapidly?
Technology moves fast. That wasn’t always the case, but we’re living in the era of what’s currently called industry 4.0. According to the Germans, industry 4.0 started around 2011 and includes cyber physical systems. Industry 1.0 was the mechanization of industry back in the 1800s, so the steam engine and hydropower industry. Industry 2.0 was the invention of electricity in the early 1900s. Industry 3.0 was the computerization of manufacturing in the 1970s and now we’re in industry 4.0.
Technology is advancing at a rate like it’s never advanced before, and most manufacturers don’t have the technical skills to adopt it or operate it. The curve is growing steeper. The evolution of technology tends to double in its timeline.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning in Manufacturing the Factory Floor…
Industrial Control’s
Mark Ermatinger shares how this new technology is poised to transform the industry
By Ashley Zlatopolsky
In the world of manufacturing, a new application and subset of artificial intelligence, or AI, is allowing machines to learn from data without needing to program them to do so.
It’s a growing technology known as AI machine learning, or the ability to simulate human thinking capability and behavior, and it’s poised to shake up the manufacturing industry for good. Mark Ermatinger, CEO of Industrial Control and founder of the Advanced Manufacturing Expo, shares why AI machine learning is here to stay.
How has AI already transformed the manufacturing industry as a whole?
The rise of AI is changing how we check for quality issues, assist assembly and help with safety on the factory floor. In
manufacturing, AI is mainly used for quality control on machine vision cameras which traditional rules-based vision systems wouldn’t work well on. Yet more and more, it’s now being used to watch operators’ assembly parts and alert them if they skip steps or insert components the wrong way. For example, AI will throw a light down on a machine operator’s surface if something is done incorrectly.
AI is also excellent for reading text, especially a technology called Optical Character Recognition (OCR), along with identifying what part it sees, such as colors and wood grains. As AI is quickly emerging, it’s our job at Industrial Control to vet and test different technologies to figure out if they will hold up within our factory.
What types of AI machine learning has Industrial Control deployed so far?
Our company is currently deploying five different AI machine vision projects from four different providers. One project uses AI to inspect taser parts to ensure they’re made correctly before they’re shipped to their customer. Another type of AI machine learning we use checks for defects in the paint on automotive parts, so things like dirt spots and tiny scratches [that humans may not see as easily].
Now, we have seven AI vendors compared to three last year. We’re also talking with another vendor that works with audio AI, where we can “listen” to machines to predict machine failures before they happen. That one is still in development. So, let’s say you have something on the machine that squeals when it’s too hot, you can teach AI that a temperature setting is too high, and that sound happens when there is a problem.
We’ve also helped local manufacturers deploy autonomous floor robots that can reroute themselves as needed when the aisle is blocked to reach their destination, but with true machine learning, these same robots will learn which aisle is typically not blocked as much and will choose that route as the default - another AI capability.
Does AI machine learning pose any challenges to manufacturers?
The number of new companies offering AI for manufacturing is astonishing, especially in the last few years. Yet when you bring these new technologies on the factory floor, you may have a whole set of issues. The biggest limiting factor is the computing power and the heat AI technology produces. AI requires very powerful multicore central processing units and graphical processing
units. AI servers can’t tolerate heat well. If it gets too hot, they start to degrade their performance, so you’ll need proper air conditioning or heat dissipation to maintain their quality.
What role do you see AI machine learning playing in the future of manufacturing?
AI is on the move in every aspect of our lives, including the migration into industrial robots that many manufacturers use to produce products and goods every day. Currently, there is a lot of work being done with Natural Language Processing (NLP), which is a branch of artificial intelligence for programming industrial robots to understand text and speech much as a human would. One example of a text string is “pick up the part off the conveyor, place it in the fixture and then apply the glue bead.”
I think we are a few years away from this level of understanding for robots, but brace yourself and lean into it, as these new tools will accelerate Industry 4.0 in a whole new way and likely in every aspect of your company. There’s also a lot of focus right now on setting up machines to run even faster and for robots to do what they need to do without programming a lot of code in a special language. Once we get to that point, we can just type in the words that we want the robot to do, and then they’ll be deployed much faster.
I think so. It’s not just manufacturers, but anyone in any type of work. People are moving forward right now by experimenting with AI in all aspects of business. For us personally at Industrial Control, we’re going to need to look at every aspect of every scale. We’re going to use AI so that we can be the disruptors going forward.
To keep up with these changes, it’s important to understand exactly what AI machine learning is and how it’s one level above
The market for AI robotics is also growing exponentially. Marketsandmarkets.com tracks these changes and reports that the AI robotics market stood at U.S. $6.9 billion in 2021. Now, it’s forecasted to reach a staggering U.S. $35.5 billion by 2026 at a compound annual growth rate of 38.6%, meaning AI machine learning is definitely here to stay.
Is AI machine learning pushing manufacturers to reinvent their digital strategy?
your traditional, everyday AI. AI machine learning is a subset of AI that allows machines to learn from experience and improve over time. AI can perform tasks like seeing, understanding, responding to language, analyzing data and making recommendations. AI machine learning, meanwhile, can perform even greater tasks like automatically learning and improving, identifying patterns and performing specific tasks - making it the technology of the future.
Interested in learning more about WiM? Scan below for more information
Independent distributors: The agile backbone of modern manufacturing
Proving their worth on the plant floor with agility, flexibility and a commitment
to customer service
Adaptability and flexibility in today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment is essential.
Manufacturers that can respond to market fluctuations, supply chain disruptions and customer demands do not simply stay in business, they thrive in business. But what happens when the cutters are dull, that critical tool breaks or the supply cabinet runs empty?
That’s where independent distributors come in.
Distribution is an essential element of the manufacturing supply chain, especially when having a spare tool on hand or a well-stocked supply cabinet can mean the difference between on-time delivery and costly delays.
Distribution is a commodity business and manufacturers have no shortage of options when it comes to buying equipment. But what sets independent distributors apart from their larger, national counterparts ultimately comes down to agility, flexibility and customer service. Independent
distributors work hand-in-hand with their manufacturing clients to ensure their customers are positioned for success.
Agility
Comparing independent distributors to their national counterparts is similar to comparing a mouse to an elephant. National distributors may have the size and brand recognition, but independent distributors are far nimbler. This positions independent distributors to more effectively adapt to pricing, vendor volatility, supply chain disruptions and countless other factors that affect everyday business.
This agility was on full display during the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when manufacturing companies were scrambling to stock enough masks and personal protective equipment to keep their workers safe and stay operational, independent distributors pivoted their inventories on a dime to compensate. If a vendor ran out of masks, they could rapidly find new vendors to fill the void.
This flexibility during times of intense supply chain volatility is an earmark of independent distributors. Being smaller, they are often not as beholden to contracts with specific vendors and have more flexibility to pursue new avenues for supplies.
Independent distributors can also better customize their inventories to suit their customers’ needs. Unlike larger national distributors that take a
a reputable source for the products their customers need.
Flexibility
Delivery speed is another key benefit of working with an agile independent distributor. No one enjoys holding inventory. It is bulky, expensive and risky. Independent distributors know this and follow the same just-intime principles that keep their customers’ operations running at optimal efficiency.
Adaptability and flexibility in today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment is essential.
more one-size-fits-all approach with products, independent distributors can stock items that pertain specifically to their customers’ businesses. If a product is unavailable, manufacturers using national distributors may be forced to look elsewhere. Independent distributors, on the other hand, will make sure they find
When an essential tool breaks or a critical last-minute order needs to be placed, independent distributors can respond rapidly. Instead of waiting for a part to be shipped from a national warehouse through standard delivery practices, many independent distributors work closely with their customers to
arrange alternative options. Air shipments, next-day delivery, and other shipping options are just some ways they keep their customers up and running. Many independent distributors also maintain a fleet of delivery vehicles, allowing them to deliver that essential part quickly – at times within half an hour.
Customer service
The distribution business is simple. Distributors buy tools and material from producers and sell them to manufacturers. Manufacturers can choose between hundreds, if not thousands, of vendors when looking for a new tool or to restock safety gear. But one of the essential elements that keeps manufacturers returning to independent distributors is the level of care and service they provide their customers. By closely managing their relationships, independent distributors gain a deep understanding of their customers’ business, staff, and even personalities. This lets the best independent distributors manage many aspects of their
customers’ supply chains for them, allowing manufacturers to focus on what they do best: making parts.
Smaller, independent distributors are more likely to have dedicated, longterm employees, giving customers a deep bench of expertise and product knowledge to draw from. With higher turnover in their ranks, national distributors can often lack the product knowledge of their smaller, independent counterparts. Independent distributors have sales teams deployed in the field, working directly with customers to find the right products for their application.
Even when independent distributors cannot compete on price per unit compared to national distributors, they often save their customers more money in the long run. They have a detailed grasp of their products, meaning they can stock the most quality parts for the most appropriate prices. These products often last longer and perform better over the long term, ultimately saving their customers money. An independent distributor’s value is proven every day on the plant floor.
When pricing negotiations are possible, manufacturers doing business with independent distributors often meet with senior sales employees who are empowered with the flexibility and the agency to make decisions immediately. Independent distributors often have more freedom when it comes to negotiating pricing options with their vendors. And these negotiations often occur immediately, during the meeting, rather than days or weeks later.
Operating as an effective distributor means far more than simply backing a truck up to the loading dock, unloading a skid and driving away. Independent distributors are trusted partners with manufacturers, committed to driving cost savings on the plant floor quarter after quarter. At times that involves recommending an alternative product. Other times it involves working with their own vendors to negotiate a better pricing structure on behalf of their customers. Regardless of the situation, independent distributors are far more than just delivery professionals, they’re problem solvers committed to their customers’ success.
SUPPLIES ON DEMAND.
Building the Digital Supply Chain
Creston Industrial Sales helps create a future where manufacturing data is standardized and readily available
Manufacturers are integrating new technologies and embracing digitalization like never before. In this hypercompetitive manufacturing environment, companies are relying on data to remain one step ahead of their competition and prepare for changes in the global market.
But taken on its own, data can often be far less efficient than it seems – siloed, underused, or not used at all. More than the data itself, it is the connectivity between data sources that empowers manufacturers to make informed decisions and grow their businesses. Connectivity is what meshes tooling data with simulation software and digital twins. It is what empowers ERP systems through quality control, procurement and supply chain data.
Building connectivity between disparate data was once under the purview of select companies, each creating their own systems from the ground up with an army of engineers and programmers. Now, manufacturers have access to a variety of off-the-shelf systems. The democratization of advanced connectivity tools spells an exciting time for manufacturing. However, without access to reliable, accurate and standardized data, manufacturers can often be left spinning their wheels.
Many times, it takes a guide to help companies understand how to clean, enhance, and standardize their data so it can be used the most effective way possible. It’s that access and insight of manufacturing data are two of the problems that Paul Hendricks, CEO of Grand Rapids-based Creston
Industrial Sales, hopes to solve.
“Creston has always been masters of the physical supply chain, helping customers source the products, the machines and the tooling they’re using,” Hendricks said. “We want to do the same thing with the digital supply chain as well. We want to handle the products, logistics, supply chain and data formats for the digital supply chain as well.”
To make that dream a reality, Creston partnered with CIMSOURCE GmbH, a provider of digital data for tools and tooling management systems based in Germany, in 2021. Since then, the companies have worked together to create, standardize, and make available tooling data for the scores of cutters and other tooling equipment on the market. But there is
still much more work to be done as manufacturers continue to adopt data-driven technologies, Hendricks said.
Standardization for Digital Twins
Digital twins and CAM software are powerful tools in the modern manufacturer’s arsenal. The technologies help manufacturers simulate manufacturing processes, avoid tool collisions, and optimize tool pathing in real time while avoiding real world costs. However, despite the power these technologies bring to bear, they are beholden to the quality of their backend data.
In the physical world, manufacturers are accustomed to tooling operations coming together seamlessly. Take, for example, a tooling operation involving a holder, collet and an end mill.
Each component functions together easily because the process for mating the parts is standardized. However, in the digital world, that is often not the case.
If a customer had three separate files containing the digital twins of each component, there is no guarantee they will cooperate in a CAM or simulated environment. The files may each have different data fields, or those data fields may all be recorded with different parameters or with different coordinate systems, Hendricks said. Sometimes the CAM or simulation environment will ask for additional information to complete the operation. Other times it results in broken models. Either way, the situation costs time and takes away from production efficiency to sort out.
Hendricks and Creston hope their partnership with CIMSOURCE can start to bridge that gap by standardizing tooling data.
“We’re working with CIMSOURCE to provide information people can pull from their libraries, assemble the tools, put them in a digital representation of the machining center, and simulate and design the manufacturing process,” Hendricks said.
Virtual Product Selection
Finding the correct tool can
be a labor-intensive process.
Highly complex situations often require the expertise of professionals with years of product knowledge and technical experience. Technology is unlikely to change that paradigm anytime soon. “However, digitization can drastically speed up routine re-ordering and identify new, standard tools for your application. The technology’s limitations are only obvious when trying to specify nonstandard tools for niche applications. Here a skilled, technical tool sales rep would still be needed”, Hendricks said.
Currently, if a customer approaches Creston looking for a cutter of a particular length and depth of cut, their staff often must consult a paper catalog to find a vendor, then search that vendor’s website, research each product and decide which one best fits their customer’s needs.
By contrast, Hendricks sees a future where product selection, for all but the most complex requests, is done virtually. In a virtual product system, all tooling data would be stored with standardized specifications, indexed, and
Industry 4.0 Training in Holland
easily searchable. Unlike physical products, digital tools, and the data sets behind them, can be revamped and shipped numerous times, allowing companies to find the specific tool they need for the job at hand.
Not only would this speed up the product selection process, but it could eventually pave the way for advanced predictive ordering systems that automatically and preemptively fill orders and keep customers’ supply chains running.
Collaboration Required
Standardizing tooling data requires cooperation across the manufacturing sector.
To ensure digital product availability, the information supply chain must be organized across multiple tracks and sales channels. It is unlikely tool manufacturers will hold a competitive advantage solely through product data. From a customer’s perspective, access to uniform tooling data is far more important.
Cross-vendor collaboration is not unheard of. However, this collaboration does not typically stretch across software providers of CAM and tooling management systems. To
help solve this, CIMSOURCE has developed its ToolsUnited platform to address this challenge.
Between CIMSOURCE, Creston, and the many other providers working on providing more accurate manufacturing data, Hendricks sees a bright future for manufacturers. In the near-term, he believes customers will use internet of things technology to search for and find machining data and application guidelines from the internet. This mass collection of uses cases will eventually pave the way for machine learning processes to make realistic and predictive suggestions for machining tasks through pattern recognition.
“My vision is that this collaboration is not a West Michigan company competing against another West Michigan company scenario,” Hedricks said. “I look at this as trying to make our West Michigan manufacturing and Midwest manufacturing globally competitive. If we can embrace this and really push for these efficiency gains with information, we can be more globally competitive. And we are in a global manufacturing economy.”
AUTOMATION HALL
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Bron Converting 412A
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Consumers Energy Business Energy Efficiency Programs #306
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DESIGNFUSION #529
Discover Manufacturing/West Michigan Works #508
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EAC Product Development Solutions #410
EDGE-SWEETS COMPANY #208
Edgewater Automation #400
ESafety #213
Fibro Rotary Tables US Inc. #333
Fumex #412B
Galco & Kuebler Inc. #308
Gordon Water Systems/Hans Premium Water #221
GR Metrology #824
Great Lakes Metrology #424
Group Marketing Services, Inc. #222
Hokuyo Automation
Automation
Journey Construction Group #311
Keyence Corporation of America #825
KMC Global Controls & Automation #403
Kundinger, Inc. #428
Linear Automation USA #506
MaintainX #520 Manpower #525
MasterGraphics, Inc #227
MBI Automation #407
MCE #416
Mechatronic Systems #200
MFP Automation Engineering #234
Michigan Manufacturers Association #519
Mid-States Bolt & Screw, LLC #418
Midwest Automation Supply #305
Midwest Metrology #841
Mobile Industrial Robots (MIR) #500
Motion Control Corporation #309
Motion Index Drives #300
Nanotec Electronic US Inc. #413
NEFF Automation #516
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AUTOMATION HALL
North Coast Components
Ottawa Area ISD/ Thompson M-TEC
Precision Tools Service, Inc.
Progressive
QAD Redzone
Raven Engineering Inc.
Rehmann
Reliability
Robert’s Ballscrew
Rock
SensoPart
Skillwork
SMC
Smith Automation
Spectrum Automation Solutions
SunSource/Electro-Matic
I4.0 TECH HALL
Algorithm Inc. is a Gold Certified service provider of Acumatica Cloud ERP and a business process consulting firm specializing in manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, and construction & building components companies based in the United States. Legacy system data migration and industry expertise is why Algorithm has a 98% success rate on first golives for the implementation of advanced ERP systems.
With a history spanning over 30 years in the ERP business, Algorithm has solidified its reputation as a reliable ally for businesses aiming to streamline operations and enhance productivity. We are committed to the success of our clients, offering intelligent, industry-focused business functionality that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of growing companies by integrating an ultramodern cloud ERP such as Acumatica with custom solutions, upgrades, and add-ons.
I4.0 TECH HALL
Inc. #818
Seimens #707
SensFlo #601
Sustainment #606
#817
6400 Dry Creek Parkway Longmont, CO 80503 United States of America vaportech.com 303-652-8500
Bring PVD coating in-house with VaporTech® equipment trusted by manufacturers worldwide. Cat industrial and commercial parts, often for less than $1 each, using our easy-to-install and operate machines, which are right-sized for your operation. Our systems coat products for many applications, including: automotive engines and trim; medical devices and surgical instruments; tools, tooling, and precision components; home hardware and consumer goods; molds and dies; firearms; and blades.
Bringing the PVD coating process in-house reduces per-part coating costs, saves time, and improves quality control. Visit our booth to see VaporTech® coatings and learn how one of our coating systems can help you integrate PVD coating into your manufacturing operation.
MRO/SAFETY HALL
MSC Floors #636
MVB Improvements #720
Peter Greven U.S. Corporation #827
Premier Industries #734
Preston Eastin, Inc. #722
METALWORKING HALL
Achteck
#1018
Bahco Bandsaws #1115
Bilz Tool Company Inc. #929 BP Castrol Lubricants
#1004 Broadview Product Development #1023 Built Systems #919 Carmex Precision Tools, LLC #916 Chem Arrow #921 Cibo Abrasives #924A CNC Tooling Solutions, LLC #1003 Creston Industrial #1006
D & S Machine Repair, Inc. #925
D.P. Brandel Company -> Crystallume / RobbJack #922B
Dynabrade, Inc. #926
Dynamic Machine #900
Eastern Oil Company #1117
705 Commerce Dr. Wapakoneta, OH 45895 https://flexmachinetools.com/
Flex Machine Tools is a leading manufacturer of advanced manufacturing solutions. Offerings include long-bed vertical machining centers, tapping arms, waterjets, beam drill lines and ergonomic solutions. These modern machines are specifically designed to improve efficiency, enhance productivity and prioritize operator comfort. Flex Machine Tools provides manufacturers with precise and adaptable solutions to handle complex machining operations effectively.
METALWORKING HALL
Fluid-Aire Dynamics #1000
Fullerton Tool #918
Garr Tool #909
Gorilla Mill #906A
Great Lakes Tooling Solutions / Primary Tool #1001
Grob Systems, Inc. #1105
GRS Stohler Company #1022
Guhring Inc. #1008
GWS Tool Group #922A
H&R Mfg. and Supply, Inc. / Mate Precision Tecnologies #911
Haimer USA #902
Hangsterfer’s #1106
Hastings Air Energy Control, Inc. #927A
Horn USA Inc. #903
Industrial Magnetics, Inc. (IMI) #1103
Iscar USA #1101A
ITW Pro Brands #1013
Lang Technovation #1107
LMT Tools #1108
LocaliQ | USA TODAY Network #1112
M.A. Ford #928
MAPAL #904B
Marketing Metal Creator Space #1120
Master Fluid Solutions #1009
Megatel CNC Solutions Inc. #1122
Nachi America #1101B
Norton Abrasives #1116A
NPR of America #1128
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs #1130
Oemeta - The Coolant Company #906B
OSG USA, Inc. #1016
Pioneer Premium Tool & Work Holding #910
PMC Gage Companies #1015
Precicsion Metal Forming Assoc #1012
Preferred Quality Services #1129
Primus Coating #1125
QualiChem Metalworking Fluids #1109
RealVNC #1102A
Reid Supply #907
Royal Products #904A
Sales & Marketing Dynamics, Inc. #1017
Sandvik Coromant #1116B
Scales Plus #914
Smart Machined Solutions #1010
Soph Magnetics #1127
Specialty Tools Inc. #1121
Tap Magic #1110
Tri Tool Technologies #923
Tsugami America #917
Vander Ziel Machinery #1002
Vargus USA #912
Walter USA #1119
WIDIA #920
Women In Manufacturing Western Michigan #1126
YG1 USA #1100
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