Cast Metal & Diecasting Times July/ August 2016 July/August 2016 | Page 11

NEWS | 9

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Celebrating 50 years of induction heating and melting Red Dot Award
customers’ diverse needs and an
years. These devices represent
recognition
ongoing commitment to remain
the latest technology in power
Wisconsin, USA-based Pillar
Induction is celebrating 50
years of service to the thermal
processing industry and on
the leading edge of induction
technology. Established in 1966,
Pillar was based on the designs of
Phil Landis, who is still with the
company today and is actively
involved mentoring the latest
generation of design engineers.
“Pillar’s success is credited to
industry innovations, especially the
development and application of
solid-state technology for industry
requirements and a dedication
to continuous improvement and
customer satisfaction” Mr Landis
comments. The company also
manufactures systems for a wide
variety of applications including
hardening, tempering, annealing,
stress relieving, brazing, soldering,
warm forming, forging, curing of
coatings, extruding, shrink fitting
and melting etc.
After five decades of
technological advancements in
the induction industry, Pillar is
still dedicated to finding ways
to utilise the latest advances in
power devices and controls. The
company has been designing and
manufacturing induction power
supplies using IGBT and MOSFET
power devices for the past 30

electronics, for which Pillar
now has a complete range of
capabilities, covering sizes from
1kW to 6000kW and frequencies
of 200Hz to 400kHz.
Technically-oriented and salesand marketing-driven, Pillar was
founded on the strength of its
people. The Brookfield facility
is home to an expert staff of
engineering and manufacturing
professionals, excelling in
electrical and mechanical design
and applications engineering.
Pillar’s success is attributable to
clearly defining and satisfying the

an industry leader.
Pillar Induction is part of the Ajax
Tocco Magnethermic group of
companies. Ajax TOCCO is a
global leader in the design and
manufacture of induction heating
and melting equipment for various
industries throughout the world.
In addition, the group provides
a wide range of engineering and
aftermarket services including
laboratory process development,
preventative maintenance,
equipment repair and parts, coil
repair and installation services.
www.pillar.com

Example of an operating Pillar furnace.

Creaform has won the prestigious
Red Dot Award: Product Design
2016 for its HandyPROBE Next,
MetraSCAN 3D and C-Track 3D
portable measurement innovations.
The 41-member jury awarded the
Red Dot: Best of the Best for top
design quality and groundbreaking
design to Creaform’s optical CMM
solutions, which all deliver accurate
and reliable 3D measurements, even
in the harshest and most unstable
production environments.
The portable optical CMM
HandyPROBE Next was
created with a carbon structure,
optimised with FEA and featuring
excellent weight distribution.
The device can be operated
with two ergonomic positions: A
more stable stylus pen style and
a versatile joystick style. Both the
MetraSCAN 3D portable optical
CMM 3D scanner and C-Track
optical tracker feature a more
aggressive design and a reinforced
structure for improved stability.
www.creaform3d.com

Chinese investor acquires German Blasting technology website
robotics specialist

Kuka recently opened a $60 million technology centre in Augsburg.

Shenzen, China-based household
appliance manufacturer Midea has
acquired a 76.4% shareholding
in Kuka, the Augsburg-based
robotics firm. Kuka is one of the
world’s leading manufacturers of
advanced automation technology
and the spectre of it becoming
the biggest German firm to be
bought out by Chinese investors

set off expressions of concern
that reached as high as the
German cabinet. Agreement has
been reached that secures the
independence of the company’s
leadership and all of its 12,300
jobs through 2023, however. Kuka
recently opened a $60 million
technology centre in Augsburg.
www.kuka.com

Available in German, English, Polish,
French and Russian, the recently
unveiled responsive website from
AGTOS provides visitors different
opportunities to find the correct
solution to their needs. In the
‘Branch-related solutions’ section,
the menu offers the possibility
to find solutions that have been
implemented in certain industries, or

C a s t M e t a l & D i e c a s t i n g Ti m e s J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

the visitor can search for solutions
for certain workpieces and the
recommended treatment.
Another approach is offered to the
prospective customer who already
knows exactly which type of shot
blast machine is needed. In the ‘Shot
blast machines’ section, all types are
shown and described.
www.agtos.com