Southfield, Mich. –Grede Holdings LLC, the world’s largest independent ductile iron foundry and a leading provider of ferrous castings to the automotive industry, congratulates Ford Motor Company for its F-150 being named the 2015 North American Truck/Utility of the Year.  Grede supplies the breakthrough vehicle’s lightweighted differential carrier and case. Ford was presented the annual award at the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on January 12.

“This is great news for Ford to receive this highly respected and well-deserved honor for the F-150,” said Tony Lovell, vice president, Global Sales & Marketing, Grede. “From concept to finished assembly, we collaborated with Ford and its tier one suppliers to develop the differential carrier and case. It’s a prime example of Grede’s commitment to working with key customers on meeting their lightweighting objectives. We also are proud to say that the components are made in Grede’s New Castle, Indiana, Reedsburg, Wisconsin and Novocast, Monterrey, Mexico, foundries right here in North America.”

The North American Truck/Utility of the Year winner is selected by a panel of more than 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. The winner is selected based on a variety of factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, comfort and value. The win by the F-150 is the eighth time a Ford vehicle has won Truck/Utility of the Year.

About Grede Holdings LLC

Grede Holdings LLC, an MPG, Inc. company, was formed in 2010 through the combination of assets of the former Grede Foundries, Inc., Blackhawk Foundry (USA), and Citation Corporation. With estimated annual revenues exceeding $1 billion, the Grede legacy dates to 1920 when William J. Grede founded Grede Foundries, Inc. with an iron foundry in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. With headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, the company specializes in high quality ductile, gray and specialty iron castings, including lost foam and high silicon molybdenum applications. Grede Holdings LLC has 4,600 employees and operates 14 foundries and three machining operations in North America serving the transportation and industrial markets globally.

Partners with Aras to Deliver New Levels of Efficiency, Reduced Complexity, and Competitive Advantage for Companies Delivering Complex Product Lines

BigLever Software, the leading provider of product line engineering (PLE) solutions, announced today that the company has partnered with Aras to deliver the industry’s first integrated PLE and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution, the Aras Innovator/BigLever Gears Bridge. The integration of PLE and PLM is a significant step forward in enabling companies to reduce complexity, break down organizational and operational silos, and achieve new levels of efficiency, interoperability and alignment across all aspects of planning, designing, implementing, delivering, maintaining, and evolving a product line.

“The sophistication of products and systems being deployed throughout the industry requires a commensurate sophistication in the alignment of tools and methods for the traditionally siloed hardware and software engineering,” said Dr. Charles Krueger, BigLever CEO. “While the strategic alignment of PLM, PLE and ALM has been widely touted in recent years, the Aras Innovator/BigLever Gears Bridge provides a dramatic breakthrough in how the industry will realize this vision. The result is a distinct competitive advantage for our mutual customers.”

While PLM focuses on the engineering and management of mechanically-intensive systems, as well as key business operations such as ERP, manufacturing, sales and beyond, PLE provides capabilities for managing product family variation across the engineering and operations lifecycle for an entire product line portfolio. 

“With intense global competition, today’s manufacturers often struggle to differentiate their products,” said industry analyst Michelle Boucher, Tech-Clarity Vice President of Research for Engineering Software. “Embedded software and electronics are increasingly critical to deliver levels of innovation that will win over customers, who are seeking products tailored to their needs. Manufacturers are responding with more configuration and variant options. These trends increase product complexity, which creates challenges for product engineering. The ability to tie together PLM and PLE can help product engineering better address this complexity, enabling manufacturers to improve efficiency and bring exciting, very competitive products to market.”

“We’re excited to be working with BigLever to deliver on the promise of integrated PLM, PLE and ALM,” said Peter Schroer, President of Aras. “For the first time, companies engaged in systems engineering will have a single, end-to-end solution that can handle the complexity of today’s product requirements and take full advantage of emerging technologies and capabilities.”

Advances in today’s manufactured products are exhibiting exponential complexity growth – increasingly sophisticated software and electronics must seamlessly interoperate with an increasingly innovative array of mechanical parts. Companies must provide ever-greater product line diversity through more variability in the product features they offer, while achieving economy of scale through the efficient sharing and reuse of hardware and software assets. And, this variability must now be managed across the entire cradle-to-grave lifecycle of the products. This full-lifecycle reality demands a new way of managing product variability across organizational functions, technologies, tools, artifacts, methods, and processes. Product line engineering has emerged to fill that role. PLE provides a “common language” for precisely expressing, engineering, and managing product diversity across the enterprise: features. While features manifest themselves in different ways in each part of the organization – they provide a widely understood language against which a product line can be effectively managed across the entire lifecycle.

About the Integration of PLE and PLM

Simplification of existing PLM approaches comes from an inverted way of thinking, made possible with the feature-based integration of PLM and PLE: Rather than use a Bill-of-Materials to determine features, companies can use a Bill-of-Features to determine materials, where “materials” in this context means mechanical, electrical, wiring, software, calibrations, requirements, designs, test cases, documentation and much more.

Additionally, PLE provides a "single source of feature truth"– a holistic view into the feature variations for a product family – which eliminates the need for multiple feature management mechanisms for multiple tools, facilitates better interoperability across software and mechanical teams, and improves cross-functional alignment between engineering and business operations. The Aras Innovator/BigLever Gears Bridge brings PLE and PLM technologies together to allow companies to leverage this "single source of feature truth" for all software, electronic, mechanical, and operations artifacts. This enables companies to apply a unified featured-based approach and mechanism for sharing, assembling and configuring engineering and operations assets from across the lifecycle to dramatically streamline the production of an entire product line.

About the Aras Innovator/BigLever Gears Bridge

With BigLever’s Gears PLE Lifecycle Framework, companies can establish a single automated, feature-based production system – much like a manufacturing factory – that uses product feature profiles to assemble and configure engineering assets from across the lifecycle to produce assets for all the products in a product line. Aras Innovator is a complete suite of solutions for managing complex PLM business processes, advanced product quality planning and control, collaborative product development, and new product introduction.

The Innovator/Gears Bridge brings the benefits of these two solutions together by extending Aras Innovator and enabling it to work seamlessly with the Gears PLE Framework. Built on the PLE Bridge API, this new bridge makes Innovator "product line aware," ensuring consistent PLE capabilities and enabling the execution of PLE operations from within Innovator menus. With the bridge solution, engineering organizations can utilize Innovator Bill-of-Materials (BOM) as first-class engineering assets in the Gears Framework and Gears variation point constructs as first-class mechanisms for managing product line diversity in Innovator BOMs.

About BigLever Software

BigLever Software, Inc., the leading provider of systems and software product line engineering solutions and services, dramatically simplifies the creation, evolution, maintenance and delivery of a product line – a portfolio of similar products or systems with variations in features and functions. BigLever’s patented Gears solution enables organizations to reduce development costs and bring new product line features and products to market faster, enabling businesses to more reliably target and hit strategic market windows. BigLever is based in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.biglever.com

According to a new report by Allied Market Research titled, "Global E-Waste Management Market - Size, Industry Analysis, Trends, Opportunities, Growth and Forecast, 2013 - 2020", the global E-Waste Management Market would reach an amount of$49.4 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of 23.5% during 2014 - 2020. The ever-growing need for adapting the latest technology is the prime factor for a large volume of E-Waste generated across the globe. The Asia Pacific region contributes to the largest revenue share in the global E-Waste management market, followed by European countries. Analysis of the market indicates that the global volume of E-waste accounted for 57.7 million tons in 2013.

To view the report, visit the website at http://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/e-waste-management-market

StEP (Solving the E-waste problem) is a German based establishment that manages the processing of E-Waste in developed countries. Ruediger Kuehr, executive secretary of StEP, states that Rapid product innovations and replacements for electronic gadgets account for the rise in E-Waste worldwide. The monumental rise of E-Waste brings across an impending need for all countries to manage their E-Waste effectively. The U.S. is a major exporter of used electronic goods. The region exports a large quantity of CRT (cathode ray tubes) monitors and a considerable number of cellphones, amongst other electronic devices. National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER), is a U.S. based non-profit organization dedicated to the enhancement of national infrastructure for recycling E-waste. NCER states that, nearly 54 million tons (49 metric million tons) of E-Waste, i.e. approximately 43 lbs (20kg) per person, is generated every year across the globe. The study estimates that U.S. generates a large quantity of E-waste, major portion of which is shipped to developing countries (mainly Asia) and West Africa, where it is usually disposed-off in backyards or recycled. These deposits ultimately cause numerous health issues and environmental hazards.

Jason Linnell, an Executive director of NCER has mentioned that the U.S is yet to fully utilize its recycling capacity as compared to other countries. Presently, North America is largely taking initiatives to recycle its E-Waste. The StEP estimated that the U.S generated about 258.2 million units of used-electronics (monitors, cellphones, computers and TV sets) in 2010, of which, 171.4 million were collected for recycling and 14.4 million were exported. The E-Waste management initiatives in North America should significantly reduce E-waste exports and propel the domestic market. Adoption of E-Waste management programs by all the countries globally, would further minimize the health concerns and significantly reduce environmental hazards. Presently, North America is a leader in exporting E-Waste to developing countries.

These exports generate a large quantity of trash for recycling in emerging markets. TheAsia-Pacific comparatively generates a larger revenue from the recycled E-Waste. However, North America is also in the process of recycling the E-waste, which would add to a larger share of its revenue in the global market.

From the year 2000 - 2005, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), identified a growth of approximately 22% in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) market in China, declaring it to be the 6th largest ICT market in 2006, followed by the U.S, Japan, Germany, UK and France. Thus, in the wake of constant innovation and rapidly increasing adoption of new technologies, there exists a need more than ever before, for the adoption of E-Waste management programs, globally.

Key findings of the study: 

* Presently, the trashed E-waste holds a larger percentage share as compared to the recycled E-Waste.

* In the global E-Waste management market, household appliances generate the largest amount i.e. approx. 46% of E-Waste as compared to other sources,  followed by the IT and Telecommunications sector

* The IT and Telecommunications sector is expected to produce a large volume of E-Waste by 2020

* Asia-Pacific region would generate the highest revenue for the E-Waste management market by 2020.

* The E-Waste management rate in Asia-Pacific and European regions is higher than developed countries such as U.S, Canadaand Mexico

Human health concerns and environmental hazards caused due to E-Waste production, annually, are leading to the rise of E-Waste management programs all over the world. The government agencies with the help of E-waste management players, are strategically focusing on new and innovative E-Waste Management programs. These programs are focused at reducing the world's E-Waste and its hazards. Lack of awareness regarding the hazards associated with E-Waste in the LAMEA region and the lack of E-Waste recycling plants in the United States, support the growth of the global E-Waste management market, at a faster pace. The key providers of recycling services, profiled in this report are Stena Metall AB, SIMS Recycling Solutions, Umnicore, Electronic Recyclers International Incorporation, Tetronics Limited, CRT Recycling Incorporation, LifeSpan Technology Recycling Incorporation, Triple M Metal LP, MBA Polymers Incorporation and Enviro-Hub Holdings Limited. 

PENDLETON, Ind., -- Remy International, Inc. (NASDAQ: REMY), manufacturer of Delco Remy® heavy duty starters and alternators, as well as Remy® light duty starters and alternators, is pleased to announce the official launch of the Delco Remy 38MT+(TM) heavy duty starter. With the addition of the 38MT+, Remy now has a starter for every application in the North America truck market.

The 38MT+(P/N 8200977), which is designed to fit Paccar MX 11 and 13 liter engines, packs the punch of leading Delco Remy starters like the 39MT(TM) and the 44MT(TM), but in a unit that is smaller and lighter.

"We took all of our learning over the last decade that we had from the 38MT(TM), 39MT and 44MT and built this newest model with the same level of cranking power and reliability -- but in a smaller, lighter frame," says Randy Andis, Director of Aftermarket Operations. "It gives our customers a solid alternative for Paccar engines."

The key features and benefits found on the 38MT+ heavy duty starter include:

    --  Integrated Over Crank Protection (IOCP)*, a built-in circuit breaker
        that protects the starter from thermal damage and automatically resets
        at a safe operating temperature while eliminating the need for a wiring
        harness.
    --  Integral Magnet Switch (IMS) that reduces voltage drop and ensures the
        solenoid receives the maximum available voltage in any starting
        condition.
    --  Electrical soft-start to consistently and accurately engage the pinion
        with the ring gear, providing increased reliability.
    --  Warranty options, including non-OCP model with 1 year/unlimited miles
        and integrated OCP model with 3 years/unlimited miles

The 38MT+ also gives customers a choice, where they didn't have one before.

"We're excited to be able to offer the market a new product for applications where there were previously size and output constraints," says Daniel Boros, Director of HD Truck, Bus and Export. "Now we have a solution for all major North American OE truck applications. It's a great success story -- for Remy and our customers."

*IOCP Part Number 8201084 will be available in March 2015.

About Remy International, Inc.

Founded by the Remy Brothers in 1896, Remy International, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer and remanufacturer of alternators, starter motors and electric traction motors. Headquartered in Pendleton, IN, with global operations across five continents and 10 countries, Remy International markets products under the Delco Remy®, Remy®, World Wide Automotive® and USA Industries® brands. Known for innovation, efficiency, quality, and best-in-class customer service and support, Remy International's products are integrated by leading industrial, specialty, automotive and heavy-duty OEMs, and aftermarket providers worldwide. We Start the World & Keep It Running(TM).

Contact: Martha Avery, Remy International, Inc., 765.274.7805

DELCO REMY is a registered trademark of General Motors licensed to Remy International, Inc., Pendleton, IN 46064.

Columbus McKinnon, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of material handling products, is now offering 35 of its most popular latch kits for hoist and rigging hooks in economical, easy-to-order bulk packaging. Hoist Latch Kits and Rigging Latch Kits will be available in bulk packages of 50 and 100 units and will feature smart part numbers, making them easy to order.

Columbus McKinnon’s new bulk packaging provides customers with cost savings compared to purchasing individual units, plus reduces the order frequency for commonly used latch kits. Bulk packaging also helps to ensure you have the most popular items in stock and readily available.

Bulk latch kits are available through the Columbus McKinnon network of distributors. 

For more information on our latch kits or any of our hoists and rigging products, visit our website at www.cmworks.com or contact CMCO Channel Services at 800-888-0985.

About Columbus McKinnon
Columbus McKinnon is a leading worldwide designer, manufacturer and marketer of material handling products, systems and services, which efficiently and ergonomically move, lift, position and secure materials. Key products include hoists, cranes, actuators and rigging tools. The Company is focused on commercial and industrial applications that require the safety and quality provided by its superior design and engineering know-how. Comprehensive information on Columbus McKinnon is available on its website at http://www.cmworks.com

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation today announced Michigan Strategic Fund approval of two business expansion projects and one community revitalization project that will generate more than $90.1 million in new capital investment and create 496 jobs in Michigan.

“Today’s MSF actions will further boost Michigan’s turnaround by generating new opportunities for our families and businesses,” said MEDC Chief Executive Officer Steve Arwood. “These investments will help to revitalize our communities, create jobs for our residents, and strengthen Michigan’s workforce.”

Michigan Business Development Program/Community Development Block Grant:

Forest River Manufacturing, LLC, headquartered in Indiana, is a world leader in the recreational vehicle industry. The company produces travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up tent campers, park model trailers, destination trailers, commercial vehicles, buses, pontoons and more. The company is launching new products and plans to construct three facilities in the Village of White Pigeon (St. Joseph County) to house each line. The project will generate a total capital investment of more than $7 million and create 396 jobs, resulting in a $350,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Indiana. The Village of White Pigeon is offering support to the project in the form of property tax abatement.

In addition, MSF awarded the Village of White Pigeon $1.6 million in Community Development Block Grant funds for the Forest River project. The funds will be used toward on-the-job training for 264 employees at the new facilities.

Michigan Business Development Program amendment:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., is engaged in engineering design, vehicle evaluation, materials research, prototype building, powertrain tuning, safety/crashworthiness, regulatory affairs and advanced research for Toyota and Lexus vehicles manufactured or sold in North America. The company has R&D facilities in Ann Arbor Charter Township, York Township, Plymouth and Livonia. In August the company announced plans to relocate its direct procurement operations from Erlanger, KY to its campus in York Charter Township (Washtenaw County) as part of an increased investment in engineering capabilities. The expansion required the company to construct a new facility at its York Township location, investing up to $32.5 million and creating 250 jobs. As a result, Toyota was awarded a $4 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The company is also proposing to expand its Ann Arbor Charter Township facility, investing $75.15 million and creating 85 jobs. As a result, the company’s MBDP grant has been increased by $1 million. Ann Arbor Township has offered support to the project in the form of property tax abatement. Ann Arbor SPARK has provided ongoing support to Toyota, working with regional and state partners on incentives as well as helping the company with tours of the region for relocating workers.

Individuals interested in career opportunities with Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing should visit http://www.toyota.com/usa/careers/index.html. 

Community Incentive Program:

The City of Alpena Authority for Brownfield Redevelopment is seeking approval of local and school tax capture in the amount of $1,278,250 for the redevelopment of a vacant lot in downtown Alpena for the construction of a new 90-room four-story Holiday Inn Express. The funds will be used to alleviate brownfield conditions on the property through site preparation and infrastructure improvement activities. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $8 million and create 15 full-time jobs.

Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan.  These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy. 

For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit michiganbusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit michigan.org. Michigan residents interested in seeking employment with any of Michigan’s growing companies should check mitalent.org, where more than 81,000 jobs are currently available in a variety of industries.

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. – SGS Specialty Group, a contract manufacturer for the development of medical devices, surgical instruments and specialized cutting tools, announced plans today to expand its operations, creating up to 17 new jobs by 2019.
 
The company, previously known as Oak View Tool Company, will invest $773,767 to equip its 9,500 square-foot facility at 724 Swihart St. in Columbia City. As a subsidiary of Munroe Falls, Ohio-based SGS Tool Company, the company anticipates expanding its distribution channel to include opportunities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico and China, doubling its business within the next five years.
 
“Manufacturers like SGS Specialty Group provide a key gear in our Hoosier economy,” said Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development. “We’ve built a business climate designed for manufacturing success, from taxes that are limited to a workforce that is strong. Their success creates new jobs, but it also sparks economic growth for its customers and its community.”
 
SGS Specialty Group, which currently employs 27 full-time Indiana associates, has already begun hiring skilled manufacturing associates with experience operating CNC grinders, lathes and mills. Interested applicants may apply in-person or by submitting a resume to info@sgsspecialtygroup.com.
 
“This division of our company was founded and nurtured in Indiana and this is our home,” said David Eizelman, president of SGS Specialty Group. “With an outstanding workforce, a thriving community and some of the finest education institutions – this is where we and our people will grow and prosper. With the determination of its people and an excellent business environment, Indiana is truly a state that works.”
 
Founded in 1996, SGS Specialty Group specializes in state-of-the-art, quality cutting tools for the industrial marketplace. Maintaining ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 certifications for medical devices, the company primarily serves the orthopedic, aerospace and industrial marketplaces. A dedicated member of its community, SGS Specialty Group offers manufacturing education for Whitley County Consolidated Schools Corporation students and serves as a member of the Regional Partnership Council at Ivy Tech Community College.
 
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Oak View Tool Company, LLC up to $175,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Columbia City approved additional incentives at the request of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.

“SGS Specialty Group has proven to be a great employer for our community and we are excited to partner with them on this expansion," said Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel. “This development is yet another example that Columbia City and northeast Indiana provide a great environment to grow a business.”
 
Manufacturers like SGS Specialty Tool find an ideal growth environment in Indiana. In December the state gained 4,000 private-sector jobs, including 1,600 manufacturing positions, helping Indiana add a total of 267,000 private sector jobs since July 2009, the low point of employment in the state.

About SGS Specialty Group
SGS Specialty Group specializes in state-of-the-art, quality cutting tools for the industrial marketplace. From standard end mills to unique, custom designed specials, we'll meet the tooling requirements for the specific job and material being cut.
 
Located near Warsaw, Indiana, (the orthopedic capital of the world) we are committed to providing our clients with quality tooling in a timely manner and at a competitive price. Whether you've been a valued customer for years or are new to the market, rest assured, our highly trained and experienced personnel will provide you with quality - from design to delivery. For more information, please email us at info@sgsspecialtygroup.com.
 
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.

The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

CINCINNATI, OH - Michelman has acquired its long-time sales and service partner, Supack International P/L, making it an integral part of Michelman India.  Michelman India is dedicated to the development of the Indian market, with an immediate focus on the growing printing and packaging sector.  The company also has expansion plans to service other coatings and manufacturing industries that Michelman supports worldwide.

Appointed as Co-directors of Michelman India are Mr. Pankaj Shah, Supack’s founder, and Mr. Steven Wong, Michelman’s VP/Managing Director, Asia Pacific.  With the Supack acquisition, the Mumbai, India based Michelman India hosts a business center, laboratory, and an experienced team of sales, technical service and business operations personnel.  By keeping the existing team intact, customers will experience a seamless continuation of business and technical services.

The facility’s laboratory has been equipped recently with several industry accepted product testing capabilities for packaging, printing, and coating applications.  With this direct and increased physical presence in India, customers can expect Michelman to quickly develop innovative technologies for the Indian market. 

According to Mr. Jeff Rodgers, Chief Financial Officer at Michelman, “Michelman and Supack have been serving the Indian market together for more than 30 years.  Mr. Shah’s experience and stellar reputation have allowed us to establish a firm position in the Indian packaging industry.  With this acquisition, coupled with our established laboratory capabilities, we will be intensifying our resource commitment to the region to support current customers, while also increasing our focus on serving customers of our Coatings and Industrial Manufacturing Groups.”

About Michelman

Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry. Michelman’s water-based surface modifiers, additives and polymers add value in a wide range of applications including wood care, floor care, industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibers, composites, and construction products. As an innovator in the development of barrier and functional coatings, and digital printing press primers, Michelman adds value to consumer and industrial packaging, labels and commercially printed materials. Michelman serves its multinational and regional customers with production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, product development and technical service centers in several major global markets, and a worldwide team of highly trained business development personnel.

For More Information:

Michelman www.Michelman.com  

Client Contact:

Christy Randolph ChristyRandolph@Michelman.com

CTS Corporation (NYSE: CTS) announces the addition of a new rotary DIP switch to its product portfolio of DIP switches, mechanical encoders, optical encoders, precision potentiometers, position sensors and rotary switches.

The new CTS 221 Series rotary DIP switch has a compact size of 10 x 10mm and is available in a 10-position or 16-position version, in surface mount or through-hole style and with three rotor or shaft options.  The 221 Series is now available for samples and production orders.  

221 Series Key Features

§ Compact size, 10 x 10mm

§ 10 & 16 positions

§ Precise detents 

§ Standard through-hole & gull wing terminals available

§ 2.54mm pitch terminal spacing

§ BCD & Hexadecimal output

§ Long life: Up to 20,000 actuation steps 

§ Center flush rotor or several shaft options available

§ Maximum rating of 100mA at 50 VDC

The 221 series is used in servers, circuit breakers, security systems, HVAC systems and is also ideal for industrial, communications and video applications.  The robust construction and material allow operation over a wide range which makes it suitable for most applications.

The CTS 220 and 221 product series provide the excellent reliability customers have come to expect from CTS.  All CTS DIP switches are REACH and ROHS compliant.

For more information and specifications on CTS Switches & Controls products, please call +1- 574-523-3856 or email ena.sales@ctscorp.com, or contact a supporting CTS Sales Representative or one of CTS’ many distribution partners. 

About CTS

CTS is a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic components and sensors and a provider of services to OEMs in the automotive, communications, medical, defense and aerospace, industrial and computer markets. CTS manufactures products in North America, Europe and Asia.

CTS' stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "CTS.”   

Konecranes “smarter where it matters” crane is finding its niche in the automotive industry.

A major auto manufacturer has purchased four KonecranesSMARTON® process duty CMAA Class D cranes for a stamping plant expansion. Konecranes, a global leader in overhead crane technology, has over 80 years experience with heavy duty lifting applications, as well as the world’s largest crane service network. The cranes will be built at Konecranes manufacturing facility in Franklin, OH and delivered to the customer in the third quarter of 2015. The customer purchased four other SMARTON® cranes for other facilities in the United States over the last two years.

The new cranes will be used in two new stamping bays, each employing two SMARTON® cranes. The primary crane will be used to move dies between the die field and bolsters that load the dies into the stamping press. The second crane will move dies between the die field and the die maintenance area, where its 25-ton auxiliary hoist will be used to split the die and turn it over for maintenance. The second crane will also serve as a backup to the primary crane.

“There is a bolster on each side of the stamping press, so when stamping is underway, a second set of dies can be ready to go when the cycle is completed,” says Martin Casper, regional sales manager, Konecranes. “The customer’s just-in-time procedures mandate that dies may need to be changed twice in each shift, so two identical SMARTON® cranes in each bay ensure that dies are changed and maintained on schedule,” he continued.

Konecranes SMARTON® cranes are known for including an impressive list of “smart” technologies to improve both productivity and safety. Sway control and target positioning help move the cranes safely between tasks with a minimum of wasted time and operator effort, while microspeed and inching capabilities ensure smooth rigging transitions and safeguard the load.

A signature new safety feature for the SMARTON® crane is its Hook Centering technology, which uses a camera positioned underneath the trolley that focuses on a spot on the bottom block. If the operator tries to pick up a die without having the hook centered over the load, the bridge and trolley will move to position the hook over the center of gravity automatically. The system also includes an anti-snag feature. If the crane is being driven down the bay and its chains grab something unintentionally, the system stops the crane and positions itself over the load, where it waits until the operator re-starts the movement. 

These latest-generation SMARTON® cranes can be equipped with TRUCONNECT® Remote Monitoring, which provides customers with remote visibility of crane usage via their computer or mobile device. It allows overhead crane maintenance to be planned according to actual usage information, and customers can gain insights into crane utilization for each application. 

“TRUCONNECT® Remote Monitoring with Alerts allows key safety data to be transmitted remotely soon after an event occurs, enabling managers to take prompt action as necessary,” says Casper. “Data is routed through the Konecranes Remote Data Center via a secured connection. This technology allows customers to stay aware of overloads, e-stops and hoist over-temperature occurrences via text or email.”

Additional information:

Sales: Martin Casper, Regional Sales Manager
martin.casper@konecranes.com or 419.779.1286

Press: Todd Blair, Marketing and Communications Manager, Region Americas
todd.blair@konecranes.com or 937.525.5560

About Konecranes, Inc.

Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity-enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment and machine tools of all makes.

In 2013, Group sales totaled EUR 2.100 million. The Group has 11,800 employees at 600 locations in 48 countries. Konecranes is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (symbol: KCR1V).

This press release is available at www.konecranesUSA.com.

KALISPELL, Mont., - ClassOne Technology, the wet-chemistry semiconductor equipment manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of two complete product lines from Microprocess Technologies. Included in the acquisition are the Microprocess Spin Rinse Dryer (SRD) and Spray Solvent Tool (SST) families -- which have become ClassOne's Trident(TM) SRD and SST lines. The news was jointly announced by Byron Exarcos, President of ClassOne, and Charles Brown, President of Microprocess Technologies.

"This acquisition is a natural fit for us," said Byron Exarcos. "ClassOne's fundamental mission is to provide higher performance wet processing equipment at lower cost to the user, just as we've done with our Solstice electroplating tools -- and that's exactly what the new Trident SRDs and SSTs deliver."

"It's a win-win for us and for the industry," said Charles Brown. "ClassOne will continue development and enhancement of the products, and they also will be able to make the tools available to a broader worldwide market."

"This acquisition is the culmination of a relationship that's been in progress for some time with Microprocess Technologies," said ClassOne CFO Richard Dotson. "Months ago we began with an exclusive sales agreement for the SRD and SST products, and now ClassOne has secured full ownership of both lines. The manufacturing will be moving to our Kalispell facility where ClassOne's wet processing experience and ongoing product engineering will make these outstanding products even more advanced in the future."

"ClassOne has been actively seeking opportunities to expand its offerings in high-growth segments of the industry," said Exarcos. "Some of the emerging technologies such as MEMS, LEDs, power devices and RF are estimated to be growing at double-digit annual rates."  He explained that in many of those fabs the Spray Solvent Tool is becoming an essential process-of-record tool for metal lift-off, resist strip and more. "In those scenarios Trident tools are being seen as attractive solutions," said Exarcos, "because they're able to handle a range of advanced processes at a cost substantially lower than competitive systems."

Exarcos explained that many of the Trident performance advantages are the result of innovative and elegant design features, such as wrap-around heating to enhance drying, a Deluge spray manifold to improve rinsing and reduce particles, and ClassOne's powerful new Solaris(TM) system controller.  To learn more about the new Trident line of Spin Rinse Dryers and Spray Solvent Tools, contact ClassOne or visit www.classone.com/products.

About ClassOne Technology
With headquarters in Kalispell, Montana, ClassOne Technology (www.classone.com) develops, manufactures and delivers innovative new wet-chemical processing equipment especially for the cost-conscious emerging markets and users of smaller substrates, who traditionally have been underserved by the big manufacturers. Formed in early 2013, ClassOne Technology is built upon many decades of experience from industry veterans who continue the ClassOne tradition of providing first-class quality, performance and customer service at an affordable price. ClassOne Technology is a sister company to ClassOne Equipment (ClassOneEquipment.com), long respected as the industry's premier provider of refurbished processing tools, with over 2,500 systems installed worldwide.

About Microprocess Technologies
Microprocess Technologies (www.microprocesstech.com), a division of Fabrication Concepts, is based in Palm, Pennsylvania. It is a manufacturer and seller of semiconductor processing systems and parts. Formed in 2002, the company grew out of the partnership of Charles Brown and James Trinkle, two past executives of Rhetech and longtime veterans of the semiconductor industry.

For more information, contact:

Byron Exarcos
ClassOne Technology
109 Cooperative Way, #101
Kalispell, MT 59901
tel: +1 (678) 772-9086
Email

Trident and Solaris are trademarks of ClassOne Technology

SOURCE  ClassOne Technology

Leading Global Automotive Supplier to Invest More Than $85 Million, Create 400 Jobs

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd along with DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (DMAT) officials announced today the company will expand production of its gasoline direct injection (GDI) capability in Athens by building a new 224,000 square foot facility at its existing location. DENSO, a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components, will invest more than $85 million and create 400 new jobs over the next three years in McMinn County.

“This project is critical to support the growing need of gasoline direct injection in North America as automakers are turning to this technology to help meet fuel-efficiency and emissions regulations,” Brian Nolen, General Manager of DMAT’s Gasoline Products Manufacturing Division, said. “The localization of gasoline direct injection technology is resulting in new jobs, new production lines, new approaches to training and new growth among our supply partners in North America.”

DMAT currently employs a workforce of more than 1,450 and has been producing fuel injectors since 1998 for the North American region. DENSO’s latest generation of GDI technology is geared to deliver more power and lower emissions while being more compact.

“Athens is delighted with the announcement of the expansion of DENSO Manufacturing,” Athens Mayor Ann Davis said. “The trust and confidence that the company has shown in our city and county has meant many new jobs for our citizens which, in turn, encourages us to continue our efforts and programs developed to ensure a skilled and trained workforce. We are grateful to have such a widely known and respected industry in Athens, Tennessee.”

“DENSO Manufacturing’s latest announced expansion further reinforces the positive relationship McMinn County has enjoyed with the company for the past 17 years,” McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said. “This is exciting news for the entire region, and we appreciate DENSO’s continued faith in the McMinn County workforce. I would like to thank the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, McMinn County EDA and the city of Athens for their diligent efforts in making this expansion a reality. McMinn County remains committed to providing an environment where companies can flourish and looks forward to working with DENSO to enable future growth.”

“TVA and Athens Utilities Board congratulate DENSO Manufacturing on its announcement to expand in Athens, Tennessee,” TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley said. “We are pleased to partner with the state of Tennessee, city of Athens and the McMinn County Economic Development Authority to support DENSO’s expansion and major investment that will create hundreds of new jobs.”

Interested persons can submit their resumes online at www.densocareers.com, by emailing dmat_recruiter@denso-diam.com, or mailing a copy directed to DENSO Staffing to 2400 Denso Drive, Athens, Tennessee 37303.

About DENSO

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions and employs nearly 140,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, totaled US$39.8 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges.

About DENSO in North America

Currently in North America, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people at 32 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 28 are manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In the U.S. alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Alabama and Arkansas. DENSO’s North American consolidated sales totaled US$7.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DENSOinNorthAmerica

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Tennessee was named 2014 and 2013 “State of the Year” for economic development by Business Facilities magazine. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd.  Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.  

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind.– Chemtrusion, Inc. and Mytex Polymers US Corp., a subsidiary of Japan-based Mitsubishi Chemical Company, announced plans today to expand operations here, creating up to 11 new jobs by 2016.
 
The companies plan to jointly invest $7.6 million to expand and equip their 245,000 square-foot manufacturing operations in Jeffersonville by expanding their warehouse and rail storage facilities and installing new equipment beginning in March to improve competitiveness. With this growth, the companies anticipate increasing production capacity by 25 percent to allow Mytex to capture growing demand from its automotive customers.
 
Chemtrusion and Mytex Polymers currently employ a combined 170 full-time associates, including more than 100 in Indiana. The companies plan to begin hiring for manufacturing positions in July. Interested applicants may apply in person at 1403 Port Road in Jeffersonville.
 
“We have experienced significant growth in automotive related sales during the last several years and look to capture continued growth in this segment,” said Masayuki Arai, president of Mytex Polymers. “A key pillar in our parent company’s strategy is capacity expansion in North America, and Jeffersonville remains an attractive location, as it is centrally located amongst many of our automotive customers.”
 
Chemtrusion and Mytex Polymers have worked together at the Jeffersonville location since it was founded in 1996. The companies develop, test and manufacture polymer solutions that are used in products including automotive parts, household appliances, recreational vehicles, industrial equipment and specialty packaging.

“We are excited about the proposed expansion project and very pleased that Mytex Polymers continues to place its confidence in Chemtrusion,” said Scott Owens, president of Chemtrusion. “As we approach our twentieth year of operations in Jeffersonville, the Jeffersonville compounding facility continues to be an example of our dedication to deliver safe, reliable and efficient services to our customers.”
 
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Chemtrusion, Inc. up to $80,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Jeffersonville will consider additional incentives at the request of One Southern Indiana.
 
“The city of Jeffersonville is very pleased to see the continued improvements and capital investment at Mytex Polymers and Chemtrusion,” said Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore. “We believe this project is one of many projects that are evidence the manufacturers in this area are securing their foothold in southern Indiana.”

About Chemtrusion
Chemtrusion provides compounding services to the plastics industry and conducts dedicated operations for Mytex Polymers at its Jeffersonville, Indiana compounding facility. Chemtrusion is a subsidiary of Compounding Innovation, Inc. headquartered in Houston, Texas. Chemtrusion currently employs 107 at its Jeffersonville facility. For more information about Chemtrusion, visit www.chemtrusion.com.
 
About Mytex Polymers US Corp.
Founded in 1987, Mytex Polymers compounds high-performance engineered polyolefin materials for a wide variety of applications. The company develops, tests and manufactures polymer solutions that are used in everything from automotive parts (both exterior and interior) to household appliances; from recreational vehicles and industrial equipment to specialty packaging.  Mytex Polymers is a subsidiary of Japan Polypropylene Corporation, a joint venture between Japan Polychem Corporation (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical) and JNC Corporation.
 
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.

The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

Packaging manufacturer to invest $4.5 million

FRANKFORT, Ky. -  Governor Steve Beshear today announced KapStone Container Corporation plans to expand its operations in Bowling Green.

KapStone, which manufactures paper packaging containers, is expected to create up to 30 new jobs and invest $4.5 million into the project.

KapStone plans to modernize its facility and upgrade equipment. The new machinery will allow the company to increase production to satisfy customer demand and take on new contracts.

KapStone Container is a subsidiary of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation. The company is a leading producer of unbleached Kraft paper and corrugated packaging products. KapStone employs 4,500 workers throughout the country. The Bowling Green facility opened in 2001 and has 112 full-time employees. KapStone also has facilities in Somerset and Lawrenceburg.

“We are fortunate to have a company like KapStone that continues to grow in southcentral Kentucky as it shows a distinct commitment to the future workforce,” said Warren County Judge Executive Mike Buchanon. “I would like to congratulate KapStone on this expansion and, on behalf of southcentral Kentucky, extend my sincere thanks for their commitment to this community”.

To encourage the investment and job growth in Warren County, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $400,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

A detailed community profile for Bowling Green (Warren County) can be viewed here.