FAB Shop Direct

LIFT Education Foundation, operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII), announced recipients of the inaugural J. Michael Bernard Memorial Scholarship for Advanced Manufacturing Careers. The scholarship supports high school students pursuing careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering and skilled trades while helping remove financial barriers.

Kuka deployed its Automation Management Platform (AMP) at the Kuka Toledo Production Operations (KTPO) facility in Ohio, a major automotive manufacturing site. The platform integrates existing automation systems with AI-powered technologies to enhance production operations. KTPO, a 335,000-sq.-ft. facility producing more than 300 vehicle bodies daily, generates extensive production data used by AMP to improve operational flexibility and productivity.

Kassow Robots named Eric Updike senior business development manager. Updike will strengthen the global sales organization and support customers and partners worldwide as cobot integration grows across industries. "Eric's expertise in industrial automation and technical sales makes him a valuable addition to the team," said Christoph Rieger, chief sales officer, Kassow Robots.

Steel plate supplier Leeco Steel promoted Dave Yates to vice president of energy and international sales and appointed him to the executive management team. Yates joined the company in October 2002 as a sales representative before advancing through several leadership roles, most recently serving as director of market development. "Dave has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, industry expertise and a commitment to growing our business," said Denton Nordhues, president and CEO.

Vention and Teradyne Robotics announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate modular automation deployment. The initiative extends Vention's MachineBuilder software to create a platform that allows manufacturers to design, program and operate modular workcells using Universal Robots' family of collaborative industrial robots. It also features a dedicated UR-optimized design environment, exclusive automation marketplace and library of validated templates.

Epicor announced Vaibhav Vohra will become CEO effective Oct 1. Vohra will succeed Steve Murphy, who is stepping down from the role but will remain on the board. The transition follows a planned succession process led by Epicor's board, beginning with Vohra's appointment as president in October 2024. "Vaibhav is a proven leader with deep experience in enterprise software, and I am confident he is the right person to lead Epicor into its next chapter," said Jeff Hawn, chair of Epicor's board.

Klingspor Abrasives introduced its bonded portfolio of cut-off wheels and grinding discs for fabricators, maintenance professionals and industrial users. The portfolio supports angle grinders, gas-powered saws, stationary machines, die grinders and small cut-off tools, covering cutting and grinding across steel, stainless steel, aluminum, non-ferrous metals, cast materials and hardened steels.

TRUMPF Inc. is partnering with Cutlite Penta S.p.A. TRUMPF will acquire the Italian manufacturer of 2-D laser machines to broaden its offerings in customized, large-format, very high-power laser cutting and oversize tube machines. Cutlite Penta will continue operating under its own brand with independent manufacturing, sales and service facilities.

Baileigh Industrial announced new 37-in.-wide belt sanders and 5-hp dust collectors engineered to help fabrication and production shops improve finish quality, increase productivity and create cleaner, safer work environments. The sanders feature heavy-duty construction, a 10-hp motor and automatic height adjustment with programmable presets to reduce setup time and maintain consistent sanding. Safety features include an emergency quick-stop bar and door interlocks.

BLM GROUP USA promoted Matthew Irwin to product manager for tube and wire forming products. Irwin will lead product strategy and development, working closely with customers and internal teams to advance application solutions and support business growth. He joined the company in 2018 as an applications engineer and has held roles in project management and most recently served as product application specialist.