Dear SABC Members & Friends,
The Swiss-American Business Council presents its spring 2017 newsletter for its members and friends. SABC members can submit contributions for future newsletters to: events@sabcnow.com
 
In this issue we feature contributions from SIGA, Cremer Spina, German International School Chicago, Rollomatic Inc., BIG KAISER Precision Tooling Inc., GF Machining Solutions, Wandfluh of America Inc., Herrmann Ultrasonics, Inc., Barnes & Thornburg LLP,  Swiss International Air Lines, Autoneum North America, Inc. and Erowa Technology Inc.
             Platinum Members
           
           
              Gold Member
          

              Silver Members
             
 
 
              
Welcome New SABC Corporate Member

We welcome SIGA Cover Inc. as our new SABC Corporate Member. Etienne Gubler, Head of Sales North America, is our contact person (pictured on the left). 

SIGA is a family owned company that employees 400 employees in 30 different countries and is the market leader in the development, production and marketing of high performance products free from residential toxins for an airtight but breathable building envelope. With SIGA technology we help to cut energy consumption for heating and cooling in new buildings and modernized existing buildings while enhancing indoor comfort. Our corporate culture of continuous improvement is the basis for our success in a growing global market. More information https://www.sigacover.com




We welcome Cremer Spina as our new SABC Corporate Member. Thomas R. PenderPartner, is our contact person (pictured on the left). 

Cremer Spina is a Chicago-based law firm, AV-rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, and recognized as experts in the field of international law and, specifically, the representation of multi-national corporations involved in litigation in the United States. We serve as national counsel for a number of Swiss product manufacturers.  In that role, our trial attorneys have defended catastrophic injury and property damage claims, class actions, and commercial claims in courtrooms around the country. More information www.cremerspina.com
The 2017 SABC Annual Members Meeting was a great success.
Our corporate member Rollomatic Inc., hosted the 2017 SABC Annual Members Meeting at Rollomatic Inc. in Mundelein, IL on March 16, 2017. For more pictures of the event, please visit the SABC's photo gallery

Mundelein, IL – Rollomatic Inc. Exhibits at Leading Manufacturing Trade Shows

The Rollomatic Group continues to specialize in building precision CNC tool grinders, peel grinders, and laser cutting machines for the manufacturing of superior cutting tools, indexable inserts and orthopedic instruments. In the coming months, Rollomatic and its sister company, Strausak, will be exhibiting at some of the country’s leading regional shows for advanced manufacturing.

Showcasing live demos of precision grinding of carbide cutting tools, Rollomatic and Strausak will be exhibiting at EASTEC in booth #1706 from May 16-18 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

At EASTEC, we’ll feature our ShapeSmart® NP5, a 5-axis pinch/peel grinder with a new grinding option for non-round punches and pins complete with the new patent pending production process, SmartPunch™ for non-round and complex tools.

Also featured at EASTEC will be the Strausak U-Grind, a 5-axis CNC grinder with integrated wheel changer designed for specialty tools, re-sharpening and short batch grinding of cutting tools.

In addition to EASTEC, the Rollomatic Group will be exhibiting for the first time at the Industrial Supply Association (ISA) Annual Convention from April 22-24 in Denver, Colorado where Rollomatic will highlight the latest innovations in Swiss precision at the country’s largest meeting of distributors, IMRs, suppliers, and manufacturers in the MROP industry.

For more information on turn-key precision grinding centers from the Rollomatic Group, contact Rollomatic Inc. at www.RollomaticUSA.com or email us at sollutions@RollomaticUSA.com. Also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

German International School Chicago Invites Supporters to its 7th Annual Spring Gala
 
Every year, the German International School Chicago Spring Gala brings together our community – families, friends, teachers, administrators, local and international businesses, as well as prominent German, Austrian, and Swiss community members – to celebrate the school and its continuous growth. The Gala is GISC’s main event to raise crucial funds to help meet our growing needs and it is orchestrated by a committee of enthusiastic parents who are driven by their commitment to the growth and development of our School.
 
This year, GISC will hold its 7th Annual Spring Gala featuring an exciting 1920s theme. The event includes an open bar reception, dinner, live music, dancing, and a casino! Guests are also invited to participate in our silent auction, which showcases a large variety of luxury items and services, as well as a raffle with a grand prize of $1,000 cash.
 
The Spring Gala is on Saturday, April 29th, at 6:00PM at the Columbia Yacht Club, 111 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60601. Gala tickets are available online at www.GISC2017.gesture.com. Open seating tickets are $100 each, with reserved seating options for $150. 
 
Raffle tickets are available at the cost of $10 for two tickets, $25 for 10, $50 for 25, and $100 for 100. You do not need to be present to win. Gala and raffle tickets, as well as donation opportunities, can be found online at www.GISC2017.gesture.com.
 
GISC is grateful for the support of its sponsors and donors. Sponsorship opportunities are still available (see www.germanschoolchicago.com/gscevents/springgala for sponsorship form).


   
Indiana High School’s Precision Machining Program Receives One-of-a-Kind Donation
 
Hoffman Estates, IL –  BIG KAISER Precision Tooling Inc. recently donated a one-of-a-kind Speroni tool management system to the Precision Machining program at Plymouth Community Schools in Plymouth, Indiana.
 
The Speroni MAGIS tool presetting and measuring system was donated to the program after it was replaced with newer equipment at Andretti Autosport in Indianapolis. The machine was embellished with the race team logo and signed by racing legend Michael Andretti as well as current team drivers Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
 
“BIG KAISER is a strong supporter of manufacturing education and workforce development, and we needed a home for this presetter,” explains Doug Sumner, Product Manager for Tool Measuring Systems (TMS) at BIG KAISER. “It was great that we could donate the machine in Indiana, support the kids at Plymouth High School, and get the team branding from our partners at Andretti Autosport.”  
 
The Plymouth Community Schools program is the result of a public-private consortium supported by ITAMCO (Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Company), Ivy Tech Community College, NCAVC (North Central Area Vocational Cooperative) and Plymouth Community Schools. The group’s mission is to better prepare students for the demands of today's technology-driven jobs.
 
“Every student leaves the program with a minimum skill set of manual mill and lathe setup experience, blueprint reading including GD&T, and precision measurement use,” says Scott Kaser, Instructor at Plymouth Community School. “The addition of the Speroni TMS gives the student a well-rounded skill level of all the possible ways tools could be setup in a CNC production environment,” Mr. Kaser said.

  
GF Machining Solutions Names New Head of Business Development

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., Jan. 17, 2017 – GF Machining Solutions has named Karl Kleppek as its director of business development. He brings with him more than 25 years of sales, business development and marketing experience that will help continue the robust sales, service and support of the company’s milling, EDM, micro-machining, additive, laser texturing and automation & tooling solutions.

In his new role, Kleppek is responsible for the development and leadership of marketing strategies that will further strengthen existing customer relationships, as well as develop new opportunities in the aerospace, energy, automotive, medical, ICT, oil/gas and other industries. He will also oversee efforts to ensure that GF Machining Solutions’ customers and distributors have the guidance, technology and training they need to succeed.

“We are thrilled to have Karl at GF Machining Solutions,” said Scott Fosdick, president at GF Machining Solutions. “His proven experience and energy make him a valuable addition to our team as we continue to grow and support more manufacturers in their use of the leading technologies and services we provide.”

Prior to joining GF Machining Solutions, Kleppek served as director of sales and strategic business development for FANUC America Corporation. His career also includes multiple sales management positions at Siemens Energy and Automation along with a machine tool sales engineering position at Advanced Machinery Sales. Kleppek earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.

  
GF Machining Solutions Introduces Highly Accurate CUT X wire EDMs

Machines set new standards for micro machining

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., March 29, 2017 – GF Machining Solutions has introduced its AgieCharmilles CUT X Series of wire EDMs featuring new technologies that significantly increase precision capabilities. Capable of holding extreme accuracies in machine positioning and pitch, the Series includes the CUT 1000 X, CUT 1000 X OilTech, CUT 2000 X, CUT 2000 X OilTech and CUT 3000 X.

GF Machining Solutions developed the CUT X Series of machines in response to the growing demand for reliable high precision in large production runs of complex components. The machines’ precision is supported by adapted mechanical structures that ensure high accuracy and high thermal stability, as well as dedicated machine calibration and testing.

Machines in the CUT X Series are especially well suited to the production of stamping tools and multi-cavity molds for electronics, information and communications applications. They also excel in micro components for medical applications and watchmaking.

The CUT 1000 X and CUT 1000 X OilTech deliver pitch accuracy of ±1.0 µm over 200 mm by 140 mm, and M-shape form accuracy of ±1.0 µm. The CUT 2000 X, CUT 2000 X OilTech, and CUT 3000 X deliver pitch accuracy of ±1.5 µm over 340 mm by 240 mm (460 mm by 320 mm for CUT 3000 X size), and form accuracy of ±1.5 µm

For every CUT X machine produced, GF Machining Solutions machines a large number of holes in a plate and uses a high-precision CMM (coordinate measuring machine) to determine the absolute position of each hole’s center. The resulting data is reloaded into the machine’s CNC to ensure calibration that provides perfect pitch and positioning accuracy.

Optimal machining conditions for micro applications are achieved through the combination of high-precision axes, short measurement loops, dual measurement on all axes, consistent isolation of the EDM area from heat sources and the submerged working area. Each machine in the CUT X Series also incorporates a broad range of technologies designed to maximize productivity and part quality.

GF Machining Solutions exclusive Automatic Wire Changer (AWC) two-wire spool allows for fast, automatic changing between different wires for initial and finishing cuts. Offering reliable wire threading with integrated wire disposal, this system allows for substantial reductions to processing time.

An onboard Job Management System simplifies inserting priority jobs into the machine’s queue. The THREADING EXPERT retractable device performs perfect wire threading, even in difficult conditions. The IVU (Integrated Vision Unit) Advance uses an embedded camera and backlight on the lower arm of the machine to perform presetting, in-process measurements and scanning of the contour machined. Each of these features contributes to the overall efficiency and accuracy of the CUT X Series.

For more information on the CUT X Series, please contact your local GF Machining Solutions AgieCharmilles distributor or visit http://www.gfms.com/content/gfac/country_US/en/Products/EDM/wire-cut-edm.html.

      
We are very happy and proud to announce that effective January 1, 2017, Matthias Wandfluh will assume the position of CEO of Wandfluh AG, Frutigen. After his sister Anita Wandfluh, having made the education as HR Manager and today being responsible for Human Resources, he is the second member of the third generation that is joining the company. Matthias has made a master degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University in Zürich (Federal Institute of Technology, ETH). His studies and several traineeships were followed by a PhD degree in the field of Supply Chain Management at the Institute for Management and Technology at the ETH. During this time, he was leading different industrial projects in Europe and Asia. After his diploma he worked with a Wandfluh distributor in the USA. May 1st, 2016, Matthias Wandfluh joined Wandfluh AG as an assistant to the Management. After a thorough training in the various departments, he will now assume management responsibility for the company. The undersigned will remain connected with the company in his function as president of the board of directors. In the near future, he will furthermore sign as the person responsible for Wandfluh Holding AG and its affiliates. Please join us in welcoming Matthias Wandfluh to the Wandfluh Company and organization and lending your support to him and the Wandfluh team for our common continued success.




Picture:
Groundbreaking ceremony in Germany with Walter and Thomas Herrmann, special guests and management.

Over the course of the last seven years Herrmann Ultraschall (headquarters to Herrmann Ultrasonics) has successfully grown, in 2016 revenue doubled to 67 million euros. This growth has led the company to reach a milestone moment, embarking on the third building expansion since 2000.

An additional 9,500 square meters will be built, bringing the total floor space to 17,100 square meters after the expansion. Milestone numbers abound: with an estimated cost of 15 million euro, 35,000 tons of excavated soil and an impressive 6,500 tons of building materials being used. The additional space will be put to good use as the company plans to hire an additional 70 -100 new employees, over the next five years.

Expansion plans continue in the US as Herrmann Ultrasonics, in Bartlett, IL will increase their building capacity by 50%. Planning is already underway.

Herrmann Ultrasonics provides comprehensive innovative solutions for the welding or joining tasks of thermoplastic materials. The scope of applications Herrmann equipment comes in contact with is vast: diapers, coffee capsules, drink cartons, painter’s masks, and a large array of automotive products just to name a few.




Should Your Business Have a Small Captive Insurance Company? 
For a profitable business, a captive insurance company arrangement can be an effective and flexible business risk management tool that can also provide asset protection and tax benefits. A recent article authored by a member of the Barnes & Thornburg Corporate Department considers the benefits of a small casualty insurance company arrangement for a closely held business. It also discusses recent tax developments that not only increase the benefits of such arrangements, but also increase the need for proper planning and implementation.
 
http://www.btlaw.com/Should-Your-Business-Have-a-Small-Captive-Insurance-Company-03-10-2017/
 
Barnes & Thornburg’s Global Services Group counsels Swiss and other European entities engaged in business in the United States in corporate, immigration, regulatory, intellectual property and other legal matters. Our clients gain access to more than 600 legal professionals throughout 13 offices across the country. We are among the 100 largest U.S. firms and have experience in virtually all the legal practice areas required to do business in the U.S.
 
SABC board member Will Turner has more than 20 years advising domestic and international companies in a wide range of industries on U.S. commercial and transactional matters. If you have any questions, please contact Will Turner

New SWISS flagship serving Chicago this summer

From June through October 2017, Swiss International Air Lines will be operating its beautiful new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft on six of its 12 weekly non stop services from to Chicago to Zurich. Enjoy a premium atmosphere on board this brand-new, state-of-the-art aircraft with a completely redesigned cabin interior. With three seating classes – First, Business, and Economy – the new “Triple Seven”, as well as the Airbus A330-300 aircraft serving this route, also offers inflight WiFi to every passenger. Visit swiss.com.

 
The autoneum plant in Jeffersonville, Indiana (pictured on the left) produces Needlepunch Carpets (Di-Light; pictured below).

Autoneum
is the global market and technology leader in acoustic and thermal management solutions for vehicles. As a partner for light vehicle manufacturers around the world, the Company provides multifunctional components and technologies for noise and heat protection and thereby increases a vehicle’s comfort and value. Based on its long-standing expertise and unique technological know-how, Autoneum develops and produces systems and components for the engine bay, underbody, interior floor and body-in-white of vehicles.

Autoneum’s customers are the leading automobile manufacturers in the key markets of Europe, North America, South America and Asia. Global presence and being close to the customer is not only a key success factor but also a crucial competitive advantage. Accordingly, the Company, which is headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, operates and conducts research and development on a global scale: Autoneum is represented at around 50 locations in over 20 countries and has a workforce of more than 11,000 employees worldwide. Autoneum operates 10 plants and development centers throughout the US. The Business Group North America headquarters are located in Novi, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.autoneum.com


EROWA Technology, based in Arlington Heights, IL., is a full service supplier of palletization and automation systems for the North American manufacturing market. Our goal is to provide complete turnkey solutions for precision parts handling through most any group of manufacturing processes (from one type of machine to the next). We are capable of providing a simple manual palletization system or a fully integrated, custom designed workholding and automation system to meet the current needs and expectations of our customers.

In the market segments of precision mechanics, tool- and mold-making, as well as chip-cutting production, we offer concepts and products that provide customers with considerable optimization possibilities throughout the whole range of machining processes. Primarily, we achieve this through comprehensive knowledge of the application of our products, through individual and customized consultation, and through the use of our Flexible Manufacturing Concept (FMC), which cover the following four areas:

- Standardization (tooling system, tooling technology)

- Organization (setting-up, presetting and measuring technologies)

- Automation (loading/unloading technologies)

- Integration (process sequence, process control and planning technologies)


For More Information:
EROWA Technology, Inc.
2535 S. Clearbrook Dr.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
www.erowa.com
info.usa@erowa.com


SABC Past Event
2017 SABC Annual Members Meeting