Automatic solids discharging centrifuge, Turbo-Separator T40-2 cleans oils without use of filter media. Able to remove 1-10 micron particles generated in find grinding operations, system offers process rates up to 40 gpm with solids removal rate up to 44 lb/hr. Centrifuge system is PLC-controlled and includes digital interface and sensors for monitoring operating parameters. Automatic controls sequence process and allow unattended operation.


The Turbo-Separator T40-2 is an automatic solids discharging centrifuge for cleaning oils without the use of filter media. The centrifuge removes the 1 - 10 micron particles generated in fine grinding applications. The T40-2 has a process rate of up to 40 GPM with a solids removal rate of up to 44 pounds per hour. Systems are designed for use with a single CNC or in-line with central manufacturing cells. Automatic controls sequence the process and allow unattended operation. The discharged solids are dry and easily reclaimable. The T40-2 is PLC controlled and includes an easy to use digital interface and sensors for monitoring operating parameters including bearing wear, centrifuge speed and sludge discharge.

Turbo-Separators are in use worldwide for filtering oils, coolants and parts washer fluids, and they provide important productivity benefits including improved product finish, increased tool efficiency and less maintenance in the machine tool.

Cla-Val (Newport Beach, California) is a 65-year-old manufacturer that designs and produces valves for fire protection, water works, aviation, ground fueling, marine, industrial waste and numerous other applications. Its valve sizes range from 3/8 inch to 24 inches. Most valve components are produced from precision castings delivered from its in-house foundry.

"Altogether, we have about 50,000 parts to track and produce," explains Michael Castaldo, machine shop manager. This means it's critical for the company to focus on fast turnaround of short runs. Also, the fact that the highest percentage of its sales is custom work puts a lot of strain on the shop. "To stay competitive, our shop's goal is to attain the fastest delivery possible," he adds.

* Knocking Out Unnecessary Setups

* End Mill Tackles Difficult Part While Reducing Machine Time

* Bi-Metal Blades Cut Through High Costs

Spotlight: Software

* Automating 80% Of NC Programming

* CAD Brings Forth Innovation to complete a job. "We knew we had to do something about that," Mr. Castaldo explains. "Here in Newport, we've always used manual equipment. We started buying CNC equipment about 8 or 9 years ago. About 3 years ago, we realized even that wasn't sufficient. We needed to make a major move into multitasking machining."

Mr. Castaldo's team spent a good deal of time analyzing company requirements and looking at new equipment solutions. The team wanted to turn 14 setups into one or two. After researching a lot of quality equipment that could do the job, Cla-Val made a decision based mainly on price. The company purchased an Integrex 300Y multitasking system from Mazak Corp. (Florence, Kentucky). "The 300Y did everything we needed it to do at about half the price," says Mr. Castaldo.

Because the company had never bought equipment like the 300 Y, the new purchase was somewhat intimidating. However, with Mazak's help, the Cla-Val staff quickly familiarized itself with the system. "Within a week or so, we had more work for it than there were hours in the day," says Mr. Castaldo.

The multitasking machine has two spindles (3,500 rpm and 10,000 rpm) and is capable of tasks such as turning, milling and machining angles. The most important feature for Cla-Val is the machine's offset capability. It has 225-degree B-axis positioning in 0.0001-degree increments, and it goes from 30 degrees above the spindle center line on its first spindle side to 15 degrees over center line on the second spindle. "We can go up and do the turning by milling if we want to, plus various other applications," explains Mr. Castaldo.

With Mazak's programming assistance, Mr. Castaldo was able to immediately put the machine to work on a newly designed pit valve used for aviation ground fueling by the U.S. Air Force. Using older procedures, the part would have been costly, with multiple operations. "Those valves are 4D parts, which I don't think we could have made in-house before the Integrex," he says. "Certainly, they would have been expensive to make with 12 to 15 operations. Now, however, we're doing the part in two ops. We ended up with hundreds of parts we wanted to put on the 300Y, which is why we just bought a second one with an 80-tool magazine."

To handle the 12-inch valves the company manufactures, Mr. Castaldo started looking for something with a larger work envelope that still offered the advantages of Integrex's multitasking capabilities. After some research, the shop bought Mazak's Integrex e- 1060V6.

The six-axis machine offers high speed machining and a rotating B axis. Its e-Tower is a communication center capable of providing management information about the machine and production performance, and it also offers a combination of built-in voice and video training tools.

"Our goal is to cut costs," explains Mr. Castaldo. "With the 1060's dual pallets, we literally have no downtime for setup. We load one pallet while the other one is being machined. When that pallet is done, the machine accepts the next one and goes to work."

The company also appreciates the machine's maintenance. "One month after we purchased the machine, we got ourselves in a jam and thought we needed to call Mazak," says Mr. Castaldo. "Then, my guys went to the e-Tower and found a maintenance training simulation that guided them through the steps needed to fix the problem. As it turned out, we didn't need the manufacturer at all.

Jet-Clean Center 4-axis high-pressure deburring center clears chips and burrs from machined components. Large 20 x 12 x 12 in. XYZ-work area permits large part capacity and/or multi-part processing. Using 5,000 psi water and nozzle technology, unit blasts and dislodges compacted chips and debris from blind, tapped and cross holes and passages. Traveling at sonic velocities to 1,100 ft/sec, water produces cleaning action similar to low/medium pressure cleaning systems.

Itasca, Illinois. Sugino Corp. has introduced an improved version of its flexible Jet-CLean Center 4-axis, high-pressure water deburring center that has attained high success ratings from its many users for clearing chips and burrs from critical, precision-machined components in such applications as automotive fuel and braking systems, hydraulic pumps, cylinder heads, crank and cam shafts, and other critical performance parts, announced Sugino National Sales Manager John Fischer.

Those chips and burrs states Fischer, "have been the major contribution to erratic operation and expensive warranty work, high-percentage scrappage, or created problems to matching parts in precision assemblies."

Engineered with larger a 20" x 12" x 12" XYZ-work area that permits larger part capacity and/or simultaneous multi-part processing, the Jet-Clean Center uses 5,000 PSI water and state-of-the-art nozzle technology to blast and dislodge compacted chips and debris from blind, tapped and cross holes and passages wherever they may be hidden. It effectively removes feather edge burrs and flash from complex-shaped parts machined from plastics, aluminum, steel, space-age alloys and flushes the contaminants from the workpiece.

Simultaneously, travelling at sonic velocities to 1,100 ft./sec., the high pressure water produces a cleaning action superior to prevailing low or medium pressure water cleaning systems.

The Jet-Clean Center adapts a Sugino 6-spindle turret on a travelling column with a high-pressure pump system that is capable of delivering high-pressure water from any of the turret's spindle positions. The spindles can be fitted with a lance or straight nozzle to reach into the small passage and incise hard to reach burrs. Fan and manifold nozzles are used to clean and deburr contaminants from exterior and interior surfaces. Special nozzles are available for specific deburring and cleaning applications. Nozzle spindle speed is 150 RPM.

After Jet-Clean cleaning and deburring operation, the finished workpiece is generally ready for final assembly without grinding, ECM-ing, or any other deburring or cleaning operation, cutting in-process time by as much as 50%. Inspection is often reduced to statistical sampling.

And for extra prevention, the Jet-Clean Center is also available as a 10,000 PSI deburring system to increase the protection against troublesome burrs and chips.

"Any burrs remaining after that," assures Fischer, "won't come off in the operating environment of the actual workpiece."

As options, an A/B load-shuttle table combined with a CNC indexing table can rotate fixtured parts 360[degrees] and deburr as many as six sides of the workpiece with assorted nozzle configurations that deliver high-pressure water at sonic velocities to 1,100 ft./sec.

Fischer reports the Jet-Clean Center is particularly cost-effective for a manufacturer who is searching for a consistent, efficient and flexible means to improve the integrity of workpieces in small to medium lot sizes up to approximately 1,500, 000 parts per year.

Originally conceived as a combination small machining center, the first Jet-Clean Center combined drilling, tapping and face milling with one or more of the spindles of its horizontal or vertical rotary turret. It soon became evident that users were more interested in the Jet-Clean Center's deburring capabilities. Now, the only tooling spindle is a 600 RPM, 1/2-HP spindle used for brushes, reamers or other hard-tool deburring devices acting in conjunction with high pressure water. Spindle speed with a water-jet nozzle is 150 RPM.

The pumping station is equipped with a Sugino Triplex Positive Displacement Pump capable of producing water pressure to 5,000 or 10,000 PSI. The pumping station has a 250 gallon water reservoir and is equipped with a filtration unit and safety interlocks. The 5,000 PSI unit is powered by a 30 HP motor. The 10,000 PSI Jet-Clean is powered by a 75 HP motor. Flow rate is 7.7 GPM, max.

With capacity for gears up to 100 mm in diameter, Model P 90 employs direct-drive spindles for hob head and work spindle. Fully integrated gantry loader system, with buffer storage, adapts easily to different part types. Designed for dry hobbing, unit can also cut wet or dry with carbide and high-speed steel hobs. Machine has 3.5 sq m footprint and uses Siemens CNC controller. It can also be used for worm milling and can be arranged for grinding special profiles.

September 8, 2004-- Gleason Corporation is building on the proven performance and worldwide success of its P 60 Horizontal Hobbing Machine with the introduction of the P 90, a horizontal hobber with a similar design but twice the cutter drive output and 20% more capacity than the popular P 60.

Like the P 60, the P 90 delivers significant improvements in performance versus other hobbers in its class through use of high-speed direct drive spindles for the hob head and work spindle. The P 90, however, has twice the cutter drive output and more than twice the spindle speed as well as a capacity for gears as large as 100 mm diameter.

The new P 90 combines high cutting speeds with an extremely fast, fully integrated gantry loader system, with buffer storage, easily adaptable to different part types, thus offering the potential for significant improvements in overall cycle times.

In addition, the P 90 has been designed for dry hobbing, but can accommodate a full range of cutting conditions cutting wet or dry, with carbide and high-speed steel hobs. The P 90 can also be used for worm milling and can be arranged for grinding special profiles. A deburring capability is easily integrated with a Gleason-Hurth deburring station.

Like all of the latest Gleason gear machines, the P 90 has been designed for exceptional ease of use, reliability and maintainability in even the harshest environments. It is designed to conserve on precious floorspace, and its 3.5 square meters footprint is one of the smallest in its class. The use of the latest Siemens CNC controller with its Windows-based software interface, and menu-assisted programming make the P 90 particularly user friendly. The unique configuration of its NC axes creates a highly ergonomic work area, and machine components are readily accessible for easy maintenance and servicing.

Gleason Corporation is a world leader in the development, manufacture and sale of gear production machinery and related equipment and services. The Company's products are used by customers in automotive, truck, aircraft, agriculture, construction, power tool and marine industries and by a diverse set of customers serving various industrial equipment markets. Gleason has manufacturing operations in Rochester, New York; Rockford, Illinois; Plymouth, England; Munich and Ludwigsburg, Germany; Bangalore, India; and Biel, Switzerland, and has sales and service offices throughout the North and South America and Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region.

ByVision Control incorporates 15 in. touch-screen that facilitates user-navigation of screen selections for setup and operation. Operating with Windows XP[R], it guides operator through programming and manufacturing process; program data transmissions are transferred between ByVision control interface and CNC utilizing network communications. For complete process integration, Bysoft v6.6 offers synchronization of press brake, laser, and waterjet processes.

(Hauppauge, NY) Bystronic's revolutionary programming interface, ByVision Control, sets a new standard for easy-to-use CNC operating platforms. With a full 15-inch touch screen, users are able to quickly maneuver through screen selections for easy setup and operation. The operator is seamlessly guided through the programming and manufacturing process. The ByVision user interface operates within a modern Windows XP[R] for the highest level of speed and network compatibility. Program data transmissions are transferred between the ByVision control interface and the CNC at high speed utilizing network communications.

For complete process integration, Bysoft 6.6 software offers users advanced synchronization of press brake, laser and waterjet processes. Bybend, an integrated Bysoft software module, provides automatic bend deductions, bend reliefs, bending sequences and back gauge placements for press brake users. With a 3D-simulation feature, visualization of the bending sequences as well as automatic collision detection is performed before the part is sent to the operator for processing, reducing set-up time and the need for test bending.

Based on single-piece frame cast from polymer composite material, Genesis(TM) 130H can be installed and re-located with no special lifting equipment. Direct-drive spindle motors eliminate need for mechanical adjustments, while cam-driven double gripper loader enables part load/unload times of 2 sec. Work area is isolated from machine frame to minimize thermal expansion from contact with hot chips. Stainless steel cutting chamber with steep inclination ensures that chips fall clear of work area.

Rochester, New York, February 16, 2006-- Gleason's new Genesis(TM) 130H CNC Vertical Hobbing Machine features a revolutionary new design that optimizes dry machining, significantly reduces floor space requirements and greatly improves cycle times.

The 130H Hobber is the first in a new family of gear production equipment from Gleason called Genesis(TM). All of the Genesis machines share a common platform: a single-piece frame cast from an advanced polymer composite material, which can be made faster, more accurately and with inherently more rigidity than conventional cast-iron assemblies. This common platform design also ensures a small, compact machine footprint and enables the user to install and re-locate the machine with no special lifting equipment or special foundations.

While the 130H Hobber can accommodate wet cutting processes, it is particularly well-suited for dry machining. The work area is completely isolated from the machine frame to minimize thermal expansion from contact with hot chips, and a stainless steel cutting chamber with steep inclination ensures that chips fall completely clear of the work area.

The 130H Hobber is equipped with an innovative new mechanical cam-driven double gripper loader fully integrated into the machine. As a result, costly non-productive time can be cut to a minimum, with part load/unload times as short as two seconds.

Unlike conventional hobbing machines, the Genesis 130H utilizes a new, patent-pending hob drive system to eliminate complicated mechanical and hydraulic clamping systems. Instead a simple "D-Drive" system enables the spindle to transmit more torque, with less runout, and at the same time accommodate the use of larger diameter hobs for greater performance and longer tool life.

The 130H also features direct-drive spindle motors, which further reduces setup and machining times by eliminating the need for mechanical adjustments and change gears. Higher acceleration/deceleration rates and increased torque, combined with faster axis motions reduce non-cutting time between cycles and increase overall productivity during machining.

Other significant features include:

o An Easy Access Service Module that consolidates hydraulics, lubrication and pneumatics into one location.

o Optional on-board chamfering and deburring capability.

o Availability of the latest SIEMENS or FANUC controls and the latest Gleason software running in a true Windows[R] environment.

o The chip conveyor may be located from either the side or rear of the machine to meet any cell/system arrangement.

Gleason Corporation is a world leader in the development, manufacture and sale of gear production machinery and related equipment. The Company's products are used by customers in automotive, truck, aircraft, agriculture, construction, power tool and marine industries and by a diverse set of customers serving various industrial equipment markets. Gleason has manufacturing operations in Rochester, New York; Rockford, Illinois; Dayton, Ohio; Plymouth, England; Munich and Ludwigsburg, Germany; Bangalore; India, Studen, Switzerland; and Harbin, China and has sales and service offices throughout the North and South America, Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Dinee's primary responsibilities are managing the sales and marketing activities throughout Europe. He will report directly to Urs W. Stampfli, Vice President and Director of Global Sales & Marketing for Concord, and is based in Concord's French office.

Mr. Dinee joins Concord from APPLE Computer Europe, where he served as Business Re-engineering Manager. His main responsibilities involved the re-engineering of the sales business unit through sales force automation, customer relationship management and implementing sales methodologies.

From 1998 to 2002, he created and managed the Strategic Account Office at SONY CNC Europe. While in this position he grew market share and improved profitability by developing business with major European and global retailers and distributors in the consumer electronics, information technology and mass merchant channels. His major product focus at Sony was in video, audio, IT recording media and small hardware.

Mr. Dinee also served as Key Account Manager for the ESSELTE (SWE) group from 1996-1998 and as Pharmacy Marketing Manager with BOIRON (FRA), the worldwide leader for homeopathic medicine from 1993-1996.

Urs W. Stampfli, Senior Vice President and Director of Global Sales & Marketing for Concord, stated, "We welcome Marc to the Concord worldwide sales team. He is a seasoned international sales and marketing executive, having worked for companies based in the United States, Japan, Sweden and France. He brings an understanding of and influence within the European consumer electronics sales channels, which we believe represent important avenues for Concord's international sales growth."

About Concord Camera Corp.

Concord Camera Corp. is a global developer, designer, manufacturer and marketer of high quality, popularly priced, digital, instant, Advanced Photo System (APS), and 35mm cameras. Concord markets its cameras under the trademarks POLAROID, CONCORD, KEYSTONE, CONCORD EYE Q, LE CLIC, GOLDLINE, APEX, and ARGUS. Concord sells and markets its camera products worldwide through direct sales offices in the United States, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and France and through independent sales agents. Concord manufactures its products in its vertically integrated manufacturing facilities in the People's Republic of China. The Polaroid trademark is owned by Polaroid Corporation and is used by Concord under license from Polaroid. CONCORD, KEYSTONE, CONCORD EYE Q, LE CLIC, GOLDLINE, APEX and ARGUS are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Concord Camera Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Except for the historical matters contained herein, statements in this press release are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements, including the statements regarding anticipated or expected results and the future introduction of new products, involve risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company's business and prospects, including the risks discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2003 and subsequently filed reports. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent our estimates only as of the date hereof, or as of such earlier dates as are indicated, and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.

Shop software upgrade embraces cell phones and Palm Pilots

Job shops face many survival issues, and the importance of software flexibility and its ability to integrate new technology is a major one. Information is crucial. I have to be able to respond quickly to customer inquiries about a quote, a shipped lot, or a quality issue. We need to respond immediately with the answer the customer is looking for.

Certainly you have to build a product, deliver it on time, and maintain high quality. There is a fourth critical expectation: that you can communicate. As we have moved more and more to a JIT world, it's getting more and more uncommon for someone to give you a purchase order for 100,000 parts and ask for delivery in three months. Lot sizes are smaller, shipping dates are more frequent, and ship quantities are smaller as well. Those dates and amounts are being pulled in or pushed out, and increased and decreased. You really need to be able to communicate with customers in the manner in which they choose to work.

In turn, the shop must be immediately aware of an order change, whether a size has been increased or a date has been changed, so we can schedule accordingly. From a survival standpoint, job shops need the ability to keep pace with their customers' information demands, particularly the larger customers. Their MRP systems feed on information to make short-term decisions about production.

Our company is a Swiss screw products company, making items to order based upon specifications and blueprints sent to us by our customers. Under the current ownership since 1988, the company was founded in 1982 and serves a variety of industries, including electronics, controls, automotive, consumer appliance, and OEMs. When selling parts to Parker Hannifin, for example, parts we make might end up in a braking device sold to Ford, in something sold to Boeing, or to someone making machine tools or turbines.

Our 45,000 ft2 (4185 m2) plant, located about 30 miles southwest of Milwaukee, employs 50 people. Our primary production machines are 80 Tornos (Brookfield, CT) automatic Swiss screw machines. They are cam-controlled, not CNC. We have an extensive secondary department, where we have CNC lathes and other secondary equipment.

In 1999, we remained fairly satisfied with our 10-- year-old DOS-based shop management software, but our vendor would no longer support DOS, having already stopped providing upgrades. Although it met our needs well, we found ourselves lacking many features that companies currently seek in a shop management package-primarily the ability to interface with customers via e-mail and the Internet. For the most part, there were no serious Y2K issues, it was just that, as useful as the software had been, it had run its course.

During 2000, we visited trade shows, talked to others at screw machine companies, surfed the Internet, and sent away for information. Features and options available in much shop-management software are quite similar from one package to another. If it handles accounting, there are only so many ways to do debits and credits, pay bills, and receive cash from customers. For shop management, tracking inventory is pretty standard, as is collecting costs. It is the value proposition that is the strong deciding factor-what am I paying for versus what am I getting?

We looked at a broad price range of software, including some upper-end, really expensive systems. I didn't see them offering a substantial increase in value for what I'd be paying. We decided on Visual EstiTrack from Henning Software (Hudson, OH) in December 2000. I started receiving software in January, and we began working with it, loading and testing it, and trying different things, At that point, we started planning with Rich Henning, Henning Software's president, how we would get historical data from A to B. It was February 2001 when we started converting all our data and talking about future data-collection needs.

High among the benefits we identified with choosing Visual EstiTrack, was the understanding Henning Software showed for the screw machine industry. Software that presented a generic approach to manufacturing wasn't what we needed. For example, much of the software shown to me had components we don't require, such as an extensive bill of material for assembly manufacturing. We are a job shop, and we do very little assembly. So in terms of benefits, we really looked at the vendor's experience and ability to work with us during and after the sale.

We look at our information needs as a work in process. Customer history, for example, can be a problem. Some software companies pretty much told me I would be starting with a new database. Maybe they could help me get some customer or vendor information forward, but as far as job history, inventory consumption, or costs, that would be virtually impossible. We had maintained substantial history files, and they would be important to us in the future. All that historical information needed to be brought forward to help us do a better job. Henning was willing to work with us to bring forward as much of our history as possible.