Industry News - October 2018

BSA

Announces 2018 Excellence Awards

On Monday evening, September 17, 2018, BSA President, Jim Scardina, Bearing Headquarters, presented the Annual BSA Excellence Awards for outstanding service by bearing distributors and bearing manufacturers to the end use customer. The Bearing Manufacturer Excellence of Innovation in Product Design Award recognizes companies for innovation and excellence in product design or technology. BSA distributor members reviewed and ranked manufacturer innovation submissions. Among the abundance of innovative product designs submitted, three submissions were chosen to be recognized for their outstanding service to the end use customer.

The first Manufacturer Excellence Award was presented to NTN Bearing Corporation of America for the Sentinel Series. This is NTN Bearing Corporation of America’s second Manufacturer Excellence Award. Beyond NTN’s world renown bearing quality, they have the capability of offering unique solutions to their customers’ needs. One way they seek solutions to bearing problems is to look further, to the application itself, and see how NTN can assist and offer solutions that the customer may never have considered. NTN’s Sentinel Series is a product line born from understanding the applications within the Food and Beverage industry.

NTN’s Sentinel Series is a premium line of corrosion-resistant products developed for the harsh conditions of the food & beverage industry. With available products ranging from deep groove ball bearings to bearing inserts to mounted units available in numerous combinations of housings, protective covers, grease and sealing options, Sentinel Series provides a family of Food and Beverage market solutions to improve overall equipment effectiveness, increase production, and provide value.

Scott Eiss, vice president, industrial aftermarket sales of NTN Bearing Corporation accepted the Award on behalf of NTN Bearing Corporation for the Sentinel Series.

The second Manufacturer Excellence Award was presented to Regal Power Transmission Solutions for the Sealmaster Time Saving Axial Groove Mounted Ball Bearing. The Sealmaster Time Saving Axial Groove Mounted Ball Bearing is available in both a medium 2 7/16” and up and standard 2 11/16” and up shaft sizes, the Time Saving axial groove in the inner ring bore allows for easier bearing removal. This design provides clearance from the burr created by the setscrew used to lock the bearing to the shaft, which makes removal difficult and can cause damage to the shaft during removal. This reduction in damage to the shaft not only then reduces the cost associated with repairing the shaft before reuse, it can eliminate the cost of having to replace the shaft.

This is the only bearing product on the market that has an axial groove on the inner ring bore that provides clearance from the burr created by setscrews. The Time Saving Axial Groove design allows customers to remove their bearings in the field quicker, reducing the amount of extended downtime during bearing removal and saving customers money on shafting replacement costs.

Chad Hartley, vice president and business leader — bearings and components for Regal Power Transmission Solutions accepted the Award on behalf of Regal Power Transmission Solutions for the Sealmaster Time Saving Axial Groove Mounted Ball Bearing.

The third Manufacturer Excellence Award for outstanding service to the end use customer was presented to The Timken Company for the Timken Type E Tapered Roller Bearing Housed Unit Secondary Sealing System. Timken recently made the most robust sealing system in the industry for Type E Housed Unit mounted bearings even better. This product offers an unrivaled multipoint sealing system with 9 points of sealing.

The upgraded triple-barrier internal seal provides two contact lips and one rigid middle labyrinth section to help retain grease and reduce contamination ingress. New enhanced seal material helps provide greater performance with two times more abrasion resistance than the industry standard nitrile seal. The locking collar and grease in cavity of the end cover provide additional sealing protection as well as a triple-lip external rubber through shaft seal. The external seal secondary cover closes it all into the unit.

The Timken unrivaled multi-point sealing system helps the Type E mounted bearing last longer against contamination and moisture. It also provides housed units with extra protection for rugged, cost-effective covers designed to fight heavy contamination in industries where particulates are a challenge. This system helps keep your bearings performing, even in harsh, dirty applications with the higher abrasion-resistant triple-barrier internal seal.

A sand and gravel company in Alaska installed Timken Type E Tapered Roller Bearing Housed Unit Secondary Sealing System for their inclined screw conveyor. The bearings were installed as a pilot at the end of 2015. Previous bearing life before the Type E with end covers was four months. Since installing the Timken Type E with covers bearings ran successfully for approximately two years.

Doug Knauf, vice president of US Distribution and Regional OEMs of The Timken Company, accepted the Award on behalf of The Timken Company for the Timken Type E Tapered Roller Bearing Housed Unit Secondary Sealing System.

The 2018 BSA CBS Excellence Awards recognized BSA Distributor Companies with the highest percentage of their inside and outside sales force’s having attained CBS status as well as the greatest percentage increase of its inside and outside sales force having attained Certified Bearing Specialist status. BSA’s Certified Bearing Specialist (CBS) program is the only bearing industry-specific program that identifies and quantifies the specific skill sets to certify an industry professional as a bearing specialist.

BSA recognized a company with an Honorable Mention for this Award. B&D Industrial received special recognition for the number of Certified Bearing Specialists within their sales force.

The CBS Excellence Award recognizes the esteemed regard of the CBS designation and the industry as a whole.

The recipient of both the 2018 CBS Excellence Awards for outstanding service to the bearing end use customer was BDI Canada Inc. Giovanni Chiricosta, vice president of sales, of BDI Canada, Inc. accepted the award for BDI Canada. (www.bsahome.org)

Gear Motions

Announces New Director of Operations and Corporate Controller

Gear Motions announces long-time employee Dan Bartelli has been promoted to director of operations of Nixon Gear, and Anna Pastore has been hired to the position of corporate controller.

This year Dan Bartelli is celebrating his 30th anniversary with Nixon Gear, a division of Gear Motions. This notable anniversary also comes with a well-deserved promotion; Bartelli has recently been promoted to director of operations.

Bartelli began his career at Nixon Gear in 1988 as a machinist where he distinguished himself as a quick learner and hard worker. He worked in a number of departments, and before long was promoted to lead machinist. From the shop, Bartelli moved to customer service where he demonstrated a natural talent for outstanding customer care. It was here that Dan established his skill for scheduling and planning and was promoted to master scheduler. In 2010 Dan was promoted to manufacturing manager and most recently to director of operations.

In his new role, Dan is responsible for all Nixon Gear Division Operations including manufacturing, quality, and engineering. He is an integral part of the management team, providing leadership and direction to the entire Nixon Team. With his guidance, the Team will continue to deliver high quality products, meeting and exceeding customer requirements and industry standards.

Additionally, Gear Motions recently hired Anna Pastore to join the company as corporate controller. Pastore brings a positive attitude and many years of finance and accounting experience to the team.

Pastore graduated with an MBA from Chapman University, and received an undergraduate degree from Lemoyne College. She previously served as director of finance for Cascade & Maverik Lacrosse, and vice president of finance of the produce and technology division at Agway. In her spare time, Anna serves on the Board of HumaneCNY Animal Shelter, and loves to travel. She is married, has two grown sons and a beloved dog.

Pastore is looking forward to using her experience and enthusiasm to grow the accounting department and help bring the company to the next level. (gearmotions.com)

ISA

Announces Appointment of Executive Director

The International Society of Automation (ISA) recently announced the appointment of automation industry veteran Mary Ramsey as its new executive director.

Ramsey, who has been serving as ISA’s interim executive director since January of this year, has more than 25 years of industrial automation experience. She specializes in leadership, change management and strategy development/execution. Prior to serving as ISA’s interim executive director, she was the senior vice president of Process Automation, Americas Region, at Schneider Electric, where she was responsible for a $550 million profit/loss statement and 1,200 employees. She has also served as senior vice president of Industry Business USA and senior vice president of Industry Business Europe within Schneider. Prior to joining Schneider Electric, Ramsey held several business development roles within Matrikon International; Instrinsyc; Intellution, Inc.; and GE Fanuc, among others.

“Mary is a dynamic, experienced leader with a deep understanding of automation and the industries we represent,” said 2018 ISA President Brian Curtis. “She has proven her ability to think strategically and help the organization align its priorities during her tenure as interim executive director, and we are thrilled to welcome her on board permanently.”

A search committee comprised of nine ISA members and leaders from around the world worked to review dozens of resumes and conduct a series of interviews over the last several months. The committee’s work resulted in a recommendation to appoint Ramsey.

“The search committee has dedicated significant time and effort to make this decision. We are confident that Mary’s leadership and extensive experience will serve the organization, its members and the automation community well for years to come,” said Executive Search Committee Chair Steve Pflantz.

“It’s an honor to serve as ISA’s executive director,” said Ramsey. “I’m excited to work with staff, members and leaders to bring a fresh perspective to this important organization. ISA is truly unique in its ability to bring the automation community together to solve difficult technical problems and provide leadership on critical issues facing our industries. We have a lot of work to do, and with the help and support of individuals and companies around the world, we will advance ISA’s mission and create a successful future.”

Ramsey holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering (BSEE) degree from the University of Kentucky and a master of business administration (MBA) degree with a specialty in finance and strategy from Loyola University. (www.isa.org)

CCTY Bearing

Completes Expansion

CCTY Bearing has expanded its forging capabilities with a new factory. In addition to more space for forging, the facility has onsite turning and heat treatment.

Completed in August 2018, the nearly 12,000 square meters facility was constructed directly in front of the old building expanding the total work area to 22,000 square meters. Both buildings, which triple the original capacity, will be used to accommodate increased production levels.

“Up until this factory was built, tie rods were the only component that needed to be outsourced for forging,” said Bob Zhao, CCTY Bearing president. “Now we have complete in-house control over all aspects of forging.”

The new facility and 120 skilled employees allow CCTY Bearing to forge tie rods ranging in size from small linkages to those that are more than five feet for heavy trucks. Crimping, welding and threaded options, along with heat treatment, are available from the Xuyi, China location.

“When combined with the other onsite critical processes like welding and PTFE weaving, it is easy to see why we are able to consistently produce highly precise bearings,” said Evan Poulakidas, CCTY Bearing North American director.

CCTY Bearing has a history of investing in tooling, equipment and capacity. In 2016, the company moved into a new 70,000 square meters factory in Zhenjiang, China. The upgraded plant includes the latest in robotic technology, on premises research and development, testing labs and warehousing.

Tours of both plants are available to existing customers and can be coordinated with sales representatives. (www.cctybearing.com)

Motion Industries, Inc.

Announces Vice President of Marketing

Motion Industries, Inc., a leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts and a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, announced the promotion of Pamela Sims to vice president of marketing, effective September 1, 2018.

A graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Sims joined Motion Industries in 2004, starting in market research. Her career quickly evolved, and she most recently served as the company’s director of marketing since 2013. During this time, she developed and implemented various marketing plans to position Motion Industries as a leading industrial distributor.

Sims has also developed outstanding relationships with the company’s top strategic supplier partners, working with them to implement Motion Industries’ extensive co-op advertising program.

Randy Breaux, Motion Industries executive vice president of marketing, distribution, and purchasing, said, “Pamela has done an excellent job for Motion Industries and is well-deserving of her expanded responsibilities. We look forward to her future contributions as she continues to develop and implement Motion’s comprehensive marketing plans.”

(www.motionindustries.com)

QA1

Celebrates 25 Years

QA1 opened its facility to the public for the seventh year in a row on the morning of Friday, July 20. The open house is a two-hour event that brings enthusiasts together for a more intimate gathering before they cruise up to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul. This year’s event brought approximately 200 people through the QA1 facilities, braving the gray and misty weather, to help celebrate QA1’s 25th year of business.

During the tours, participants gained an inside look at QA1’s daily operations and continuous growth through new machinery and products. “I was impressed with the new CNC machinery,” said one attendee. “All through the tour, I saw company growth, and that is something to be proud of.” They saw manufacturing in action, from carbon fiber winding for driveshafts to welding tubular components to CNC machining and shock assembly.

To commemorate QA1’s 25 years, the open house also included games for attendees with the opportunity to win a variety of QA1 prizes, from aluminum signs and pint glasses to $2500 in QA1 cash gift certificates. Other prizes included a variety of items from Summit Racing Equipment, Intercomp, Mothers, JEGS, and local area restaurants.

Once again QA1 selected a Ride of the Year winner, who this year was Marshall Holt of Lakeville, MN. He brought his 1930 Willys Whippet Coupe, which was built from an old circle track chassis and has a custom-made body. “With the large variety of vehicles that come to our open house, it’s tough to pick just one Ride of the Year, but when Marshall pulled in, everyone took notice,” says QA1’s Steve Smith. “It’s a really cool mix of parts that make up the car, and it really exemplifies the #goDRIVEit spirit.”

When the tours were over and the prizes and awards were all handed out, approximately 100 cars continued the party and cruised to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, where participants gained VIP preferred entrance to the Street Machine Nationals. QA1 is proud to sponsor the autocross at this event, where a range of muscle cars and trucks collectively ran nearly 1,000 passes throughout the weekend. (www.qa1.net)

AGMA

Unveils Motion + Power Technology Expo

The new Motion + Power Technology Expo (MPT Expo), formerly Gear Expo, has announced its inaugural event in October 2019. This unique trade show and conference, will bring 4,000 professionals looking for technical solutions from across the Mechanical Power Transmission, Fluid Power and Electrical Drive industries for three days of educational sessions, networking, and a full exhibit hall featuring industry leading companies. Motion + Power Technology Expo will take place at the Cobo Center in Detroit, MI, October 15-17, 2019 and is owned and operated by TheAmerican Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA).

The new Motion + Power Technology Expo will feature 80,000 net square feet of space, and include 300+ exhibitors from across the supply chain including gear companies, machine tools suppliers and electric drive solutions.  The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) will be a co-sponsor of the show, and will host a 5,000 set square foot Pavilion within the show, featuring 50 exhibitors.

“We are excited to transform Gear Expo into the MPT Expo with our partners including the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA). This is much more than a name change; through MPT Expo, AGMA is transforming the legacy of Gear Expo to include solutions from the mechanical, fluid and electric industries,” said Matthew Croson, president, AGMA. “By creating a wider focus, exhibitors will have the opportunity to connect with more buyers from a wide variety of industries, and attendees will be presented with all three power transmission solution sets in one place. MPT Expo will be a great place to see and test out all of the latest advances in the industry.”

With such important industry partnerships like the one created with NFPA, both associations are dedicated to keeping a technically-focused education program. Those in attendance will be offered a wide-ranging series of informative seminars taught by industry leaders and insiders. MPT Expo will be a convenient and affordable destination to advance one’s knowledge of the industry, hone technical skills, and dive into the latest research and technical developments.  Additional information about MPT Expo and new association partnerships will be released over the next few months.

Hundreds of companies have already signed up for exhibit space on the show floor, including industry leaders Timken Power Systems, Meritor, EMAG LLC, Gleason Corporation, Klingelnberg, Kapp Group, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry America, and others. (www.motionpowerexpo.com)

IDC-USA

Merges with AD

AD, the contractor and industrial products wholesale buying/marketing group, announced today the merger with IDC-USA, effective January 1st, 2019. This merger brings together the two largest independent Bearings & Power Transmission buying/marketing groups in the United States. IDC-USA adds 76 new members with 250 branch locations to the AD family, as well as redistribution centers in Indiana and Nevada and 27 employees.

Chris Hughes, board chairman of IDC-USA and president of Transmission & Fluid Equipment, Inc. reacts, “Voting to join AD was an easy decision for me, as I suspect it was for the majority of my fellow IDC independents.  Frankly, with AD’s recent transition to a member owned organization, it made the decision that much easier.  By merging IDC into AD, we get the best of both worlds; programs and services we value from IDC, expanded supplier and member relationships, and the multi-divisional scale and infrastructure of AD.  It’s a win–win for all independent distributors.”

Ryan Watts, AD Bearings & Power Transmission board chair and president of Apex Automation LLC comments, “This merger certainly helps to strengthen the industry on many fronts. The critical mass of our combined membership will enable us to support our supplier partners even more than we already do. In addition, the opportunity to network and share best practices with so many quality independent distributors provides perhaps, the most powerful aspect of being with AD.”

As a part of the merger, IDC-USA President & CEO George Graham will take on the role as President of the AD Bearings & Power Transmission Division.

George Graham, IDC-USA president & CEO, says, “I am very pleased to have helped bring about this unification of great independents. The Bearings & Power Transmission industry is highly consolidated with strong national chains that we highly respect. But there’s a place in this industry for independent distributors too, and there always will be.  In fact, we hope that distributors not currently aligned with a group will consider joining this new AD Division.” Graham continues, “Personally, I am excited to join the AD team and the engaging culture they work so effectively to build. AD Industrial President, Jack Templin and AD Chairman & CEO, Bill Weisberg handled this merger with total respect and professionalism. Everyone I meet at AD has the single focus to help their members, supplier partners and associates to grow and prosper.”

Bill Weisberg, AD Chairman & CEO, said, “We are honored to welcome IDC-USA members, suppliers and staff into the AD family. A major component of our strategy is to provide value added services to support the overall growth of our members and suppliers.  Over the last 37 years, we’ve done six startups and now eight mergers and the resulting scale brings real value to our owner members and partners.  I continue to see solid growth in the years ahead – both in terms of our footprint, as well as our range of services.” (www.adhq.com)

Gilman Precision

Adds Phillips to Business Development Team

Gilman Precision, manufacturer of customized linear and rotary motion systems, is pleased to announce the addition of Patrick Phillips to their sales force as a business development specialist.

Phillips will oversee the Midwestern territory of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. He will play an important role in facilitating the connection between engineers and customers, creating smooth communication and cultivating positive customer relations. Phillips will aid clients by addressing their unique needs and assisting them towards the most efficient solution to their linear or rotary motion challenge.

Phillips has several years of experience working in the sales and customer service industries, with previous positions as a property and casualty claims representative and business analyst. Phillips is diligent and values strong interpersonal communication, and is “thrilled to join the Gilman team and exceed your expectations.”

Doug Biggs, vice president of sales and marketing commented, “We are very excited to have Patrick join our Business Development team. We believe his skill set and experience will help further expand our company by creating new opportunities and increasing value in customer interactions.” (www.gilmanprecision.com)

Bonfiglioli and CVTCORP

Enter Licensing Agreement

CVTCORP and Bonfiglioli have announced they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for Bonfiglioli to manufacture and sell the CVTCORP mCVT patented technology for telehandlers and other equipment. The cooperation between Bonfiglioli and CVTCORP will also include developing a full line of transmissions based on the currently available mCVT.

Included in this licensing agreement is the production transfer of the Ecomec 150, used in the Skyjack Ecoshift telehandler, along with the CVTCORP current sales pipeline with commercialization volume anticipated at the beginning of 2020.

CVTCORP has developed a high-power, efficient and cost-effective mCVT which is currently available as the Ecomec 150, used in the new Skyjack Ecoshift telehandler. The CVTCORP’s mCVT patented technology, the result of over 15 years of development, offers off-highway manufacturers a fully validated and scalable solution that provides unmatched operational ease, engine downsizing opportunities and overall vehicle performance improvements in the 20-30% range.

Bonfiglioli, after the acquisition of O&K in 2015, has become the provider of the largest geared drives range in the market for applications in construction, mining and material handling equipment, driving machine sizes ranging from 1 ton to over 1,000 tons. The continuous improvement in design, proven quality standards and operational excellence recognized by the most respected machine manufacturers worldwide have confirmed, after 40 years of experience in the sector, Bonfiglioli as the geared drives market benchmark.

“Bonfiglioli’s endorsement of our mCVT technology and their reputation as a high quality, global manufacturer will accelerate the commercialization of our technology worldwide starting with telehandlers applications,” said Daniel Girard, founder and CEO of CVTCORP. “We are looking forward to assisting Bonfiglioli with moving forward rapidly into markets where our innovative mCVT technology enables engine downsizing, fuel reduction, increased safety and productivity,” Girard added. “CVTCORP will work with Bonfiglioli to continue its development of advanced controls and connectivity capabilities to optimize complete vehicle performances and provide customers equipment with simple but cutting-edge technology.”

“Over the last several years, we have worked very intensively to enhance and enlarge our product portfolio in our core markets with excellent responses from our customers. A couple of years ago, when we came across CVTCORP’s technology, it was clear we were in front of a ‘game-changer’ and we immediately recognized the differentiating features such technology was offering and the diversification opportunity for our company leveraging on our market, technology and operational core competences,” says Fausto Carboni, Bonfiglioli CEO. (www.bonfiglioli.com)