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cians undergo the same rigorous training and follow the same industry-leading Falk RENEW standards of work and quality as Rexnord Service Centers. This allows Rexnord and our partners to extend the network of service centres to deliver high-quality gearbox repairs – locally. We are impressed by the workmanship at these Motion Industries service centres, and are pleased to announce their certifications. They earned it!” With the certifications, these service centres expand their offerings to provide customers with shorter lead times. Gearbox repairs at these sites are approved to Rexnord’s standards for quality, process and authentic OE parts content. Certification also ensures that all repairs are completed with authentic Falk or Rexnord parts. Tony Cefalu, Motion Industries senior vice president Hose, Shops, and Service Centers, commented, “Motion Industries has been committed to the repair business for many years and our footprint of shops demonstrates this. We are extremely pleased to partner with Rexnord on this certification program. This allows our customers to send their gearboxes to Motion for repair, knowing that they have been serviced by trained technicians following the same standards as the factory.” For more information, visit www.motionindustries.com.
UPGRADES AT STEEL PRODUCTION FACILITIES ARE MAJOR INVESTMENTS Contrecoeur, QC – ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada is making major investments of nearly $70 million by 2020 in its Contrecoeur steel production facilities. The big spend is an investment in maintaining its leading position in steel in North America, with a focus on product quality through more modern plants and a reduced environmental footprint. ArcelorMittal will replace two reheating furnaces at its Contrecoeur-East wire rod mill ($30 million) and its Contrecoeur-West bar mill ($33 million). These new furnaces, which aim to increase the company’s rolling capacity by 100,000 tons, will enable greater productivity, optimal energy use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The work should extend until the first half of 2020. ArcelorMittal will also be replacing the dust collector at the Contrecoeur-West steelworks by the end of 2018 to improve its performance and increase health and safety for the
February 2018
Industrial hose facility expands rubber mixing operations
Norfolk, NE – Technology company Continental announced a US$9.3 million expansion of its rubber-mixing operations at its industrial hose plant in Norfolk to accommodate its North American manufacturing facilities by providing rubber for industrial hoses and whitewall tires for passenger cars. “We have plans to add in excess of 19,000 square feet to expand our rubber mixing capabilities and better serve our internal and external customers,” said Dan Granatowicz, plant manager. “We anticipate that the expansion will enable us to add in excess of 30 associates.” The Northeast Nebraska plant, less than 40 years old, currently employs slightly more than 360 people. Construction work is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2019. The facility primarily manufactures industrial hose and supplies compound for a variety of applications such as general purpose air and water, garden, mining, petroleum, steam and welding hose. For more information, visit www.contitech.us.
A training lab for CNC machine tool dealers and users Elk Grove Village, IL – With digitalization and the rapid changes in technology, training is more important than ever.
benefit of our workers and our communities. This work will cost approximately $6 million. The investments were made possible in part by the Québec government’s electricity rebate program for L-rate customers, announced by the Government of Quebec in the 2016-2017 Budget. This electricity rebate is intended for companies engaging in major investment projects in the manufacturing sector as well as in the transformation of natural resources. The ArcelorMittal investment project rebate is currently estimated at $25 million until 2020. François Perras, chief executive officer, ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada, said that the acquisition of high-performance equipment will help the company accelerate towards high-value-added steel production, with a focus on the automotive and construction industries. Source: ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada
Siemens expands its CNC training lab.
In support of this need, Siemens is expanding its Technical Application Center (TAC), which offers machine tool dealers, importers and end-users of Sinumerik CNCs a complete range of learning opportunities including classroom training, online instructor-led training, and online self-paced training. Occupying more than 3,150 square feet of dedicated space at the Elk Grove Village facility, the TAC is a short ride from O’Hare International Airport. The newly expanded Machine Lab now features three milling machines and one turning centre for hands-on learning, plus a Kuka robotic centre, and NX-CAM training station. Two state-of-the-art classrooms provide students with instructor-led, handson training using exclusive SinuTrain software and Sinumerik CNC simulators. “We’re excited to offer machine tool users a more expansive program to develop their employees,” says Sascha Fischer, segment manager, Siemens Motion Control, Machine Tool Business. In addition to the expansion of the TAC, a virtual TAC is also available at no cost, allowing individuals to watch professional-series webinars online. Live training webinars are presented monthly on topics ranging from Milling and Turning, to General Operations, Maintenance and Service. For more information, visit www.siemens.com.
Senior manufacturing executives optimistic about 2018 prospects Toronto – A recent study conducted by Machinery and Equipment MRO’s sister publication reveals that Canadian manufacturers are optimistic about their prospects in 2018. According to Plant Magazine’s 2018 Manufacturers’ Outlook study, 44 per cent of senior company executives are optimistic about the coming year, although most (50 per cent) qualify their optimism with caution.