Amazon.com boasts annual sales of $15 billion primarily through books and consumer items. So, why not open an industrial supply division for the rest of us? Well, they have. Amazon.com’s Industrial & Scientific site sells everything from abrasives and endmills to fasteners and raw materials. Amazon’s Free Super Saver Shipping also applies to orders over $25 on products sold from stock.

With a familiar Amazon interface and over 80,000 products, it might just be a resource to watch. Check it out for yourself at www.amazon.com/industrial.

PMI grew slightly by 1.9% but the best of news is a 6.5% increase of production which maintained a positive turnaround starting in September.  Raw Aluminum showed lower pricing which will positively affect the profit margin of most metal manufacturers. Read the latest report.

Image courtesy of Nelson Publishing, Inc.

Torchmate’s Colombia-based South American office is growing rapidly to accommodate the increasing demand for CNC machinery across Latin America. The South American division has already posted its best sales year ever, and is setting its sights on completing 10 percent of the sales of the entire company this year, said Andres Rodriguez, South American sales manager for Torchmate.

That growth is only the beginning of what Torchmate sees as a market that should expand exponentially over the next several years.

“Right now the South American economy is growing up. Booming industrial, petroleum and manufacturing industries have opened up a lot of opportunities for Torchmate from Mexico to Chile,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez heads a Latin American division of seven staffers who provide expert sales service, technical support and machine and table set-up services throughout Mexico and Central and South America.

Torchmate has won loyal support throughout Latin America for several services that set them apart from the competition. Torchmate sells customers affordable kits for table construction, allowing Torchmate machine buyers to save on shipping fees by only paying to import the actual robotic cutting machine. The company’s highly trained, Spanish-speaking staff back each purchase with a lifetime of free technical support, and also frequently train new purchasers on the full functions of the machine. And Torchmate’s CNC cutting machines also cost exactly the same price in South America as they would if you purchased them up at the company’s main offices in Reno, Nev.

Across Latin America, there is a wealth of industries that demand CNC cutting technology. The large, heavy industries like petroleum production, shipping, mining and manufacturing are healthy, and often growing, segments of economies across the continent. Each of those industries require the fabrication capabilities of large CNC, plasma-cutting machines that Torchmate manufactures to build and repair oil platforms, mining machinery or to build ships. South America’s growing demand for infrastructure improvements to accommodate a booming middle class, is also another source of CNC machine demand.

Finally, the rise of a consumer class with disposable income is fueling a new crop of Latin American entrepreneurs and small businesses. For many of those entrepreneurs, Torchmate machines are the central piece of a new business — an auto repair shop or small manufacturing business.

Rodriguez knows about the growing Latin American entrepreneurial spirit well. He bought a Torchmate machine as a customer, using it to help in his family’s company that set up industrial kitchens. In his off time, Rodriguez used his Torchmate machine to do contract work — repair machinery, cut signs or even build metal sculptures.

As he realized the unlimited potential of the machine and its uses, Rodriguez knew he had struck upon a great business that he not only wanted to do business with, but also wanted to work for. Soon Rodriguez was helping with translations, technical support and machine builds for Torchmate. And not long afterward, he began assembling a team, starting with his brother Camilo, to run a South American office for the company.

Working closely with Torchmate Sales Director Josh Schohn, Rodriguez modeled his Colombian office to include the same sales and customer service ethics that have set Torchmate apart from its competition in North America.

The hard work has paid off. The South American offices of Torchmate surpassed their sales volume from 2010 by July of this year. And the future is looking even brighter.

“In South America we are just on the starting block,” said Rodriguez of Torchmate sales. “We are bringing efficiencies to industries across the continent, making the purchase of a Torchmate machine a revenue-producing decision for many companies.”

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 17 are reporting growth in April. Several of the fastest growing industries related to machining are:

• #2 – Plastics & Rubber Products
• #3 – Primary Metals
• #5 – Fabricated Metal Products
• #9 – Machinery
• #15 – Miscellaneous Manufacturing

The report was issued today by Norbert J. Ore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “The recent trend of rapid growth in the manufacturing sector continued in April as the PMI registered above 60 percent for the fourth consecutive month. The New Orders and Production Indexes continue to drive the PMI, as they have both exceeded 60 percent for five consecutive months. Manufacturing employment appears to have developed significant momentum, as the Employment Index readings for the first four months of 2011 are the highest readings in the last 38 years. Inventory growth also took place in April after two months of destocking; however, the inventory restocking would appear to be necessitated by the strong performance in new orders. While the manufacturing sector is definitely performing above most expectations so far in 2011, manufacturers are experiencing significant cost pressures from commodities and other inputs.”

See the rest of the story at The Boston Globe.

MicroManufacturing description: Whether the challenge is creating micro features on micro parts or on macro parts, participants in this event will be looking for ideas to improve their process. Exploring the many processes available, this conference brings together industry professionals to discuss the latest developments and to improve your process today. For 2011, the event provides expanded exhibits and exhibit hours providing even more opportunity to find solutions!  Visit www.sme.org for more details.

NanoManufacturing description: Looking to understand what nanotechnology means for you? Need to understand how and why nanotechnology can improve your products, process and may even cut costs? Interested in learning about the latest applications and trends in top-down fabrication and bottom-up assembly techniques? Then this event is for you!

This conference will highlight the current, near-term, and future applications of nanotechnology and how they are transforming the way we manufacture products. Peer networking, information sharing, and technology exchange among the world’s nanomanufacturing leaders will be a key feature of the event. Visit www.sme.org for more details.

For 2010, however, Haas redesigned its VF product line to incorporate a wide range of enhancements, making Haas VMCs better than ever. Haas engineers reviewed all aspects of the machines – including motion control, coolant containment, chip evacuation, ergonomics, and serviceability – made improvements, and put everything into an all-new package.

To ensure smooth, precise motion control, the 2010 Haas VMCs use next-generation digital servomotors and high-resolution encoders on all axes. Combined with significant software and motor-control advancements on the new machines, these yield higher accelerations and better surface-finish performance than ever before.

With an eye toward preventing chip and coolant egress during machining, Haas invested considerable effort up front to optimize the enclosures on the new VMCs, paying close attention to panel fit, service access, and internal routing of plumbing and cables. The result is a far better enclosure and a much simpler overall design that thoroughly contains chips and coolant, while increasing reliability and simplifying service.

Auto Grease System replaces Way Lube

People buy CNC machines to make parts, so the last thing they want is stop to production to remove chips. Haas redesigned the chip pans and reviewed coolant flow in the new VMCs to reduce chip buildup and efficiently flush chips into the auger trough for removal. For high-volume production applications, the 2010 Haas VF-1 through VF-6 VMCs are available with optional chip removal systems that combine multiple side augers with either a front discharge auger or a belt-type conveyor to move chips out of the machines faster and easier than ever.

Haas machines have always been designed from the operator’s and programmer’s points of view. For 2010, Haas engineers reevaluated the machines to make everything the operator touches work even better. For example, the machines’ windows and doors are now stiffer, move more smoothly, and close tightly. The new Haas thin-design control pendant mounts directly to the enclosure, providing a lighter but more stable operator interface than the previous version. And there’s a convenient storage compartment behind the pendant.

Storage Cabinet behind the New Control

Haas machines have a reputation for accuracy and reliability, and Haas Automation’s worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets provides a level of service and support that is unmatched in the industry. Haas Platinum One-Call Service means certified technicians will successfully repair a customer’s machine the first time out more than 90% of the time.

Designed and built in the USA, the New-Generation Haas VMCs are the best machines the company has ever made – providing more performance and value than ever before!