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Editor's Notebook

By Ellen Schuck
Associate Editor
eschuck@metlfax.com

Matchmaker, matchmaker, Japanese-style. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Chicago, IL, will host a "reverse trade show" Nov 19 at the Rosemont Convention Center in Illinois. The show's aim is to introduce American companies to Japanese-affiliated firms interested in increasing local procurement arrangements in the US.

Local procurement is a priority for many Japanese companies in the US because it can potentially cut transportation costs and ease the provision of customer service.

This month's event will showcase US firms involved in metal products and processing, plastic parts and materials, and electric and electronic parts and materials. US companies involved in these businesses are invited to meet with the Japanese companies that will be exhibiting examples of the types of parts and materials they hope to procure. US companies wishing to participate should contact Karin Rodda, ITA Inc, Tel 847-364-1121.

Other Japanese news: The Ingersoll Milling Machine Co, Rockford, IL, announces that it has entered into a license arrangement with Mori-Seiki, Nara, Japan, for the right to manufacture and sell, in the Japanese market, machine tools based on Ingersoll's high-velocity technology. Mori-Seiki will offer four-axis horizontal machining centers using linear motors and hydrostatic spindles that can drive high-performance tools developed by Ingersoll. Mori-Seiki builds machine tools. Ingersoll manufactures production systems, special machines, and cutting tools.

The Service Era awaits. Service will be the distinguishing mark of successful metalworking companies a decade from now, predicts Eitan Wertheimer, president of Iscar Ltd, Tefen, Israel.

"I see very dramatic changes," Wertheimer told Joe McKenna during the Metlfax editor's recent visit to the cutting-tool manufacturer's headquarters. "In 10 years, products will be pretty much the same. So we have to create an advantage. Iscar is building service centers throughout the world. Our major effort will be keeping customers happy."

Wertheimer himself describes his job as one of service. "I make sure everyone has good coffee," he quipped. Seriously, he added: "And I ask what will really stop us from doubling our sales next year."

Who says looks count? An appealing exhibit of sleek Italian-designed silverware, steering wheels, furniture, sports cars, and fashion apparel­and three precision power chucks?

You betcha. Three Quick Jaw Change chucks made by SMW Autoblok, Wheeling, IL, appear alongside the apparently flashier items noted above in the new "Torino Design" exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. The three chucks are being recognized for their innovative design and the new processes and materials used to produce them.

"Torino Design" is a 6000-sq-ft exhibition that highlights innovative industrial design in products ranging from cars to spoons.

An acquisition with a twist. Sandvik Coromant, Fair Lawn, NJ, announces the completion of its acquisition of Precision Twist Drill Co (PTD), Crystal Lake, IL, a manufacturer of high-speed-steel twist drills. PTD will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of CTT Tools within the Sandvik Tooling business division. The Sandvik CTT Tools company manufactures high-speed steel tools and is expanding into the solid-carbide tooling market.

A new US alliance has been struck between Komo Machine, Sauk Rapids, MN, and Asquith Butler, Halifax, UK. The two firms signed a joint marketing agreement in which Komo Machine has acquired assets of Butler Machine, Asquith Butler's North American sales and service company. Butler Machine has been merged into Komo Butler, the new sales, service, and marketing division of Komo Machine based in Sauk Rapids. Former Butler Machine staff remain at a Columbus, OH, plant that is also now part of Komo Butler. Komo Butler will promote Komo's traveling-column and vertical-spindle machine centers and Asquith Butler's universal and gantry-type machining centers.

It's a done deal: Marmon/Keystone Corp, Butler, PA, entered into an agreement last June with DoALL Corp, Des Plaines, IL, for the purchase and maintenance of saws and related equipment at all US locations. DoALL manufactures and services saws and cutting supplies; Marmon/Keystone distributes carbon, stainless, aluminum, and nickel-alloy tubular and bar products.