New Acquisitions

The Liebherr Model 180 Gear Hobbing Machine

Several months ago, a new Model 180 Automatic Gear Hobbing machine arrived at ASI. It is a conveyor fed, automatic blank-changing machine with a conveyor capacity of up to 42 gear blanks. Using the latest solid carbide hobbing tools, the machine finish cuts through hardened gear blanks much quicker than older machines, creates excellent accuracies and has a blank changing time of just 4 seconds from cut to cut. As a result, ASI's gear quality level and productivity has been markedly enhanced. Another Model 180 with similar characteristics will be delivered to ASI in October 2014.

The James Engineering Model 462 Gear Deburring machine

The Model 462 is another recent addition to the ASI machinery complement. The removal of gear burrs (the result of cutting through steel while leaving a small chip at the end of the cut) can be an inconsistent process and, if done improperly, can directly affect the quality of a gear. The Model 462 has the flexibility to deburr various sizes and types of gears with a reliable, consistent and rapid process using thin carbide wheels. Outstanding processing times of less than 30 seconds per gear are common. Major advancements in ASI productivity and quality of product will result from the addition of these new machines.

People News

Curt Swanson is ASI's new quality manager. A graduate of LeTourneau University in Longview, Tex., Swanson came to ASI after spending almost 15 years at CARDONE Industries in Philadelphia, where he was most recently a product manager. Swanson was drawn to ASI due to its fast-paced design and manufacturing flexibility.

Stephen Constable is ASI's new manufacturing engineer. He arrived at ASI after two years as a process engineer at SPS Technologies in Jenkintown, Pa., where he received Six Sigma: Black Belt Certification. Before that, he graduated from The Pennsylvania State University. Constable also was drawn to ASI by its fast-paced design, as well as its history of growth.