Jens Bleher, CEO and chairman of the board of Fritz Studer AG since 2018, has been appointed to the United Grinding Group’s board of directors as COO.

Sandro Bottazzo, the long-standing managing director and chief sales officer (CSO) of the Swiss precision cylindrical grinding machine manufacturer, was recently appointed CEO and will take over the responsibility as chairman of the board of directors.

Bottazzo has held various management positions for the United Grinding Group and Studer for over 25 years and has been a member of Studer’s management team as CSO since 2018.

Solar Atmospheres announces the opening of its seventh U.S. heat treat operation — an existing industrial facility located in Berlin, Connecticut, slated for completion in 2026.

The 28,000-square-foot facility is located in the Spruce Brook Industrial Park and will further expand Solar Atmospheres’ footprint and capabilities in the Northeast region.

According to Solar Atmospheres, this expansion reinforces the company’s commitment to providing innovative, high-quality vacuum heat treating solutions across the country while maintaining personalized service and reliability to its partners.

“We are excited to establish a new presence in Connecticut,” says Jamie Jones, president of Solar Atmospheres of Eastern Pennsylvania and Connecticut. “This strategic location allows us to better serve our growing customer base and continue supporting the aerospace, medical and commercial manufacturing markets throughout New England.”

Zoller Inc. officially launched the during its Open House and Technology Days events in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Mississauga, Ontario. The competition, first introduced in the summer of 2023, celebrates manufacturers who use Zoller technology to optimize cutting tool management and maximize shop floor efficiency.

The Toolroom of the Year competition highlights companies that exemplify operational excellence through the strategic implementation of Zoller solutions. Entries are judged by a panel of industry leaders and Zoller experts who evaluate candidates on key factors including tool organization and setup, integration with CAD/CAM systems, tooling stock transparency and modernness of equipment.

The competition is now open to applicants across North America. Finalists will be announced in 2026, with third-, second- and first-place winners to be revealed at the (IMTS) in Chicago. The first-place winner will receive a trip for two to the Zoller global headquarters and smart factory in Pleidelsheim, Germany. All finalists
will also be featured in professionally produced videos showcasing their toolroom operations.

Zoller’s most recent competition culminated at IMTS 2024, where , based in Northbrook, Illinois, was named the inaugural winner. Specializing in high-mix, high-volume machining for the aerospace, semiconductor, electrification and defense sectors, Atlas Fibre showcased its exemplary use of Zoller systems across its 120,000-square-foot facility. Judges praised the company’s ability to make data-driven decisions that reduced setup times, increased reliability and significantly improved production performance.

Second place was awarded to , a precision machining company in Hebron, Nebraska, while , a global steel mill manufacturer with operations in Sutton, Massachusetts, took third. , a full-service CNC shop in Zeeland, Michigan, received an honorable mention.

“The future of efficient manufacturing is being shaped in the toolroom,” says Rita Conroy-Martin, Zoller Inc.’s director of marketing and CX. “With the launch of the 2026 Zoller Toolroom of the Year Award, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate Zoller customers who are setting the benchmark for what a modern, connected and future-ready toolroom should be.”

For more information or to apply for the 2026 Toolroom of the Year, .

Andreas, Dominik and Friedrich Weingärtner.
Source: Weingärtner Maschinenbau GmbH

Weingärtner Maschinenbau GmbH annoucnes its leader Friedrich Weingärtner has retired and handed over the company’s management to his son, Dominik Weingärtner, who now leads Weingärtner Maschinenbau alongside his uncle, Andreas Weingärtner.

With a deep understanding of the company and its values, Dominik Weingärtner is said to be committed to driving innovation and ensuring sustainable growth. His vision is to strengthen Weingärtner’s position as a leading technology provider, expanding its expertise in high-precision machining solutions while embracing digitalization and future-oriented manufacturing concepts.

United Grinding North America Inc. has renewed a partnership with Dynamic Machine, a Detroit-area CNC equipment dealership. Michigan-based United Grinding North America customers now have enhanced access to precision grinding machine sales, service and application support.

With over 200 years of combined machine tool and manufacturing experience in-house, Dynamic Machine’s advanced technical center features United Grinding machine demonstrations, test cuts, turnkey projects and training. Dynamic’s facility also offers machine retrofits and upgrades as well as engineering services.

“We are excited to partner with Dynamic Machine to deliver precision grinding excellence to the state of Michigan,” says Markus Stolmar, president and CEO of United Grinding North America. “Their reputation and technical prowess speak for themselves, and I have no doubt both we at United Grinding North America and our Michigan customers will benefit because of it.”

“Our reputation for excellence is one based on years of close customer relationships and thousands of machine tool installations,” said Greg Sandler, co-owner of Dynamic Machine. “We look forward to offering United Grinding North America’s customers that same level of attention and expertise.”

All World Machinery Supply has announced the acquisition of CNC Solutions, a FANUC Robotics Authorized System Integrator based in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. The acquisition will help All World address the growing demand for advanced automation solutions in industrial manufacturing. This acquisition comes shortly after All World completed a significant 40,000-square-foot expansion at its headquarters in Roscoe, Illinois.

By integrating the capabilities of CNC Solutions into its portfolio, All World aims to deliver end-to-end services that support manufacturers seeking to increase production efficiency through automation. All World and CNC Solutions have worked together in the past to combine robotics and hydraulics solutions for manufacturers looking to automate for continuous operation. MMS recently ran a recent article on one of many prior collaborations.

“Automation is the future of our industry,” says Dave Koepp, president and CEO at All World Machinery Supply. “By adding robotics integration and machine tending to our existing offerings, we can provide a turnkey solution to customers who are looking to optimize their complex machine tool processes for lights-out manufacturing. We are now able to design, manufacture and integrate the entire workholding cell — robotics, fixture and hydraulic power unit — without any need for a third party. There are few other companies in the U.S. that can do that.”

CNC Solutions President Randy Tietz adds, “With this acquisition, we can leverage All World’s expertise in workholding and hydraulic power solutions. This synergy enables us to better help customers enhance productivity, drive greater efficiencies and advance automation capabilities. We look forward to future opportunities for this collaboration.”

Located between Madison and Milwaukee, CNC Solutions specializes in robotics integration and also produces the 10DER system, a pre-configured and scalable machine tending automation system for manufacturing production efficiency.

Greenleaf Corp. announces its acquisition of key assets from . This acquisition enhances Greenleaf’s position as a vertically integrated supplier of whisker-reinforced ceramic cutting tools. The company says it also solidifies its commitment to reliable supply, technical excellence and continuous innovation.

Greenleaf provides in-house production of silicon carbide whiskers and composite ceramics that are designed for demanding machining applications. This acquisition is said to underscore Greenleaf’s dedication to securing the supply chain for these critical materials, providing consistent product availability for customers worldwide.

“Our investment reaffirms our commitment to American manufacturing and to the long-term reliability of advanced tooling materials,” says James Greenleaf, president and CEO of Greenleaf Corp. “Greenleaf’s vertical integration — from raw materials through finished tools — gives our customers a dependable, high-quality alternative in the global cutting tool market.”

The acquisition also aligns with Greenleaf’s recent capital investment in expanded manufacturing operations. This investment increases the company’s capacity for producing precision-ground tools that meet the exacting standards of its customers across aerospace, automotive, energy and other high-performance industries.

Greenleaf says it remains focused on delivering tools that drive sustainable productivity for its global customer base.

Zoller recently held the grand reopening of its expanded Zoller Pacific facility in Torrance, California. As a strategic investment in the North American market, the enhanced location reflects Zoller’s long-term commitment to serving West Coast manufacturers with the full breadth of its technology portfolio.

Zoller Pacific’s new capabilities include:

• Live Demonstration Showroom – Showcases the latest tool presetting, measuring, inspection, balancing, heat-shrinking, toolholders, tool management hardware/software and automation
• Application Engineering Center – Delivers real-world problem-solving and process optimization support for shops of all sizes in every manufacturing vertical
• Hands-On Training Programs – Equips manufacturing teams with the skills to implement smart manufacturing strategies
• Collaborative Event Space – Hosts technology days, partner showcases, and educational workshops
• Regional Service and Support Hub – Provides faster response times and localized technical support for Zoller’s West Coast customers.

With this expanded footprint, Zoller says it is better positioned to support manufacturers across California and the Western U.S., enabling them to streamline production processes, reduce machine tool downtime and boost productivity through innovative, data-driven tool management solutions.

“This milestone represents more than a showroom expansion — it’s the beginning of a renewed focus on collaboration, education and regional business development,” says Alexander Zoller, president of Zoller Inc. “Our new facility is designed to be a destination for innovation and a launchpad for helping customers elevate their production with a complete and connected toolroom that enables true smart manufacturing.”

Zoller adds: “We’re building more than a facility — we’re building relationships and empowering manufacturers to take control of their tool data, reduce setup time and increase production quality and productivity for shops of all sizes. Zoller Pacific is now fully equipped to drive the future of manufacturing—right here on the West Coast.”

The (PMTS), held April 1-3 in Cleveland, Ohio, marked a record-setting 13^th edition of the biennial event. The show successfully brought together 6,662 professionals from 12 countries across the precision machining industry. Over three days, attendees engaged with cutting-edge exhibits, participated in technical education sessions and expanded their professional networks — all with the shared goal of driving innovation and addressing the evolving needs of the precision machining industry.

In addition to the packed show floor and educational sessions, the Parts Cleaning Workshop was held onsite, offering focused insights and a one-day training event designed to directly immerse attendees in the latest techniques and innovations for critical cleaning applications.

Presented by Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) and produced in association with Gardner Business Media’s 91±¬ÁÏÍø, Production Machining and Products Finishing, PMTS 2025 was the largest show to date and featured a sold-out exhibit hall showcasing new innovations for precision machining professionals. This year’s event underscored PMTS’ role as a premier platform for industry advancement and collaboration.​

Show highlights included:

• The largest exhibit floor yet, featuring 338 exhibitors covering 81,200 square feet
• Parts Cleaning Workshop featuring hands-on training sessions on key practical techniques and topics across the industrial cleaning industry
• Networking events including the first-ever Opening Night Reception at BrewDog Cleveland and featured happy hours in the PMTS Biergarten
• Educational speakers, live interactive in-booth machinery demonstrations and free expert-led Tech Talks on emerging trends and processes.

PMTS will return to Cleveland, Ohio, on May 4-6, 2027, for precision machining insights and innovation at PMTS 2027.

For more information about PMTS 2027, visit PMTS.com or contact Jacquie Myers, director of events, .

The Integrex i-500S advanced multitasking machine will be showcased at Mazak’s Discover More With Mazak Southwest Open House event in Houston, Texas.
Source: Mazak North America

Mazak will demonstrate machine tool technology at its event May 13-14, 2025 — taking place at Mazak’s Northeast Technology Center in Windsor Locks, Connecticut — as well as its, which takes place June 18-19, 2025, at the Mazak Southwest Technology Center in Houston, Texas.

With live cutting demonstrations, Mazak will showcase the production capabilities of its CNC horizontal and vertical machines and turning centers along with Done In One Multi-Tasking and full five-axis machines, all working on real-world part applications. 

Featured machines at the Northeast event will include:

• The HCN-4000 NEO HMC paired with a two-pallet changer, which enables the machine to keep working uninterrupted on one pallet while operators set up the next job on the second pallet
• The HCR-5000 simultaneous five-axis horizonal machining center, which provides high-speed axial acceleration/deceleration with an integrated spindle/motor design that eliminates power loss and minimizes vibration for improved tool life and superior surface finishes
• The Integrex i-350H S Auto Gear (AG), featuring a second turning spindle and Hybrid AG package and the Integrex i-100H ST with a second turning spindle and lower turret
• The QT-Ez 10MY featuring milling and Y-axis off-centerline capability. The machine performs multiple operations on a workpiece in single setups to reduce cycle times and improve accuracy
• The VC-Ez 20 VMC, which provides easy programming, machining and setup for virtually any size shop. It is optimized for simple operation and will demonstrate Mazak’s Thermal Displacement Control for stable and reliable part processing during the event.

As part of Mazak’s network of regional Technology Centers and Technical Centers, the Northeast facility gives Mazak customers access to process and application engineering expertise, training and collaboration opportunities for new manufacturing solution development. The center works closely with manufacturers in all industry segments with a special focus on the medical and aerospace sectors.

During the company’s two-day Discover More With Mazak Southwest Open House event, Mazak will highlight its extensive range of machine tool technology and automation that boosts production and profitability for manufacturers in the oil & gas and aerospace industry sectors.

Attendees will experience live real-world cutting demonstrations, lectures and a variety of automation, technology and application displays. Mazak will spotlight its full five-axis and multitasking lineup, as well as CNC horizontal, vertical and turning machine technologies.

Featured technologies at the Southwest event will include:

• The Variaxis i-800 NEO with a two-pallet changer and the VC-Ez 16X. The Variaxis i-800 NEO is Mazak’s full five-axis VMC designed to provide advanced multisurface machining for parts with complex profiled surfaces
• The VC-Ez 16X VMC, which is said to provide cost-effective, long-term part processing reliability, will demonstrate its ability to machine medical-related five-axis parts
• The Integrex i-500S advanced multitasking machine, which features a second turning spindle and combines the functions and capabilities of a CNC turning center with those of a milling machine
• The HCN-5000 NEO paired with the company’s Multi Pallet Pool (MPP) automation for part processing within a minimal amount of floor space
• The Slant Turn 550M heavy-duty CNC turning center for powerful machining of large, long shaft workpieces. Well suited to the oil & gas sector, the Slant Turn 550M can perform high-efficiency machining with full power even at low-speed ranges.

The Southwest Technology Center is a 30,000-square-foot facility that enables Mazak to work closely with all industry segment manufacturers, with a special focus on the energy sector. The center provides Mazak customers with access to process and application engineering expertise, training and collaboration opportunities for new manufacturing solution development.