The Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research and Development (OMIC R&D) continues to grow its company membership with the recent additions of global cutting tools manufacturer Seco Tools, LLC and IMS Software. With a total now of 18 manufacturing industry partners and three Oregon public universities, the Scappoose, OR, based R&D facility continues to build an operation to develop advanced metals manufacturing technologies through its R&D activities.
Seco Tools
Headquartered in Fagersta, Sweden, Seco Tools was established over 80 years ago and now has more than 4,000 personnel in 75 countries worldwide, including 400 in the U.S. Its manufacturing focus is the production of comprehensive metalcutting solutions for milling, stationary tools, holing and tool making systems. Seco Tools primarily provides cutting tools to the aerospace, automotive, general machining, power gen, medical and die mold sectors. Seco is part of Sandvik Machining Solutions.
Matt Carter, Chair of the OMIC R&D Board of Governors, said, "We welcome Seco Tools to the OMIC R&D family as our newest member company. Seco Tools prides itself on building close relationships with customers to effectively understand and address their needs. Seco has helped take machine shops to the next level of productivity and effective resource use with its high performance, innovative products. This is the type of partner that OMIC R&D appreciates adding to our high quality slate of members. The board looks forward to working with Seco Tools as another strong partner in this unique center of collaboration."
Dave Todd, Western Zone and Aerospace Manager for Seco Tools said, "We are excited and proud to part of Boeing's first sponsored research center in the U.S. Being associated with OMIC R&D in an environment where stakeholders from industry and academia collaborate side by side driving step change technology, creating energy which benefits the State of Oregon and associated members. Additionally, by supporting local engineering talent and competence development in Oregon and the Northwest, Seco Tools will be looking into possible internships resulting from this collaboration."
Craig Campbell, Executive Director of OMIC R&D said, "Seco Tools builds on our bench-strength in cutting tools and other metals manufacturing at OMIC R&D. Seco is known for a focus on constantly improving its levels of quality, and improving the experiences of all of their customers. Its employees are responsible for quality, and have an opportunity to positively impact reliability and responsiveness as Seco meets its customer needs. Seco is a strong, new member of OMIC R&D and we are excited about what it can bring to the organization."
IMS Software
IMS Software, Inc., founded in 1989, provides numerical control post-processing, verification and simulation solutions and services to manufacturers of all sizes, primarily in the automotive, aerospace and defense, general manufacturing and machinery and electromechanical sectors. Its products and services help manufacturers with last-stage production, and have become well-known for its solutions-oriented work with diverse organizations, and high level of customer service and quality.
Carter said, "The board is pleased to welcome IMS Software to OMIC R&D as a partner manufacturing company producing and delivering software to the industry. IMS receives high marks from its customers for its responsiveness to each manufacturer's unique needs. Having a company that delivers on the post-processing side fills an important component of the R&D that we are focused on at OMIC R&D. All of us look forward to working with them and having their perspective as part of our Board."
Andy Brewster, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at IMS Software said, "We are excited to join with OMIC and the other member companies. Synergies between our software and services and those of the other members will help complete the end-to-end offering OMIC provides. OMIC R&D provides a unique partnership opportunity for IMS, and we are delighted to be joining at this early stage of this collaboration."
About OMIC R&D
OMIC R&D is the fifteenth such research center established with Boeing leadership worldwide, and the first Boeing has sponsored in the U.S. Its mission is to bring together manufacturing companies and higher education in an innovation environment to solve challenges off-production-line for advanced manufacturers.
Faculty and university students undertake "outside-in" applied research to solve real production problems while training the next generation of engineers and technologists. Member companies share machinery, equipment such as tools and expertise to create a dynamic and innovative R&D center for members in which to tackle critical manufacturing improvement.
Seco Tools and IMS Software join 19 other OMIC R&D industry and university members in the Scappoose facility: ATI; Blount International; Boeing; CG Tech; Daimler Trucks North America; HAIMER, Hangsterfer's Laboratories, Inc.; Kennametal; Mitsubishi Materials Corporation; Oregon Institute of Technology; Oregon State University; OSG USA, Inc; Sandvik Coromant; Portland State University; Silver Eagle Manufacturing; Summit Manufacturing Inc.; Vigor; Walter Tools; and WFL Millturn Technologies.
The OMIC R&D advanced manufacturing model helps diverse manufacturers and industries increase competitiveness, while creating an integrated partnership with the local economy. With research activities expanded with high-cost, high-value machinery being constantly added on to the production floor, OMIC R&D is increasing state and regional commercial manufacturing productivity while stimulating economic growth and development.
Coordinated with OMIC R&D's applied research projects will be hands-on "earn and learn" apprenticeship programs at the PCC OMIC Training Center, led by Portland Community College and located in a nearby facility that PCC is building. While the Training Center construction is underway, PCC has a temporary delivery site at Scappoose High School.
OMIC R&D has the strong support of trade unions, including the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, which recognize the importance of training and apprenticeship programs in growing high-skill, high-wage manufacturing jobs in Oregon via innovation and industry growth. Metals manufacturing is a cornerstone industry for the Greater Portland area, with current employment estimated at nearly 28,000 and approximately 600 small, medium and large metals manufacturing companies.
For more information contact:
OMIC R&D
33701 Charles T. Parker Way
Scappoose, OR 97056
www.OMIC.us
Seco Tools LLC
2805 Bellingham Drive
Troy, MI 48083
248-528-5200
secotools.us@secotools.com
www.secotools.com/us
IMS Software, Inc.
800 Broadway
Haverhill, MA 01832
978-556-0077
info@ims-software.com
www.ims-software.com