Close to 300 people gathered at Canada’s newest machine tool builder’s facility last week to celebrate its grand opening.

The Italian machine tool industry is seeing a resurgence in manufacturing with machine tool orders doubling in the first quarter of 2011, a 19.1 per cent increase compared to the same period in the previous year, according to the latest figures from UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre, the Italian Machine Tools, Robots and Automation Manufacturers’ Association. While the numbers indicate a rebound, the association says there’s a still a gap in growth between the domestic market, which is still weak, and the export market, which is spurring the recovery. The top export market for Italian machine tools is China, representing 14.2 per cent of total exports, followed by Germany (10.5 per cent), US (5.8 per cent), India, (5.6 per cent), France (5.6 per cent), Russia (4.8 per cent) and Brazil (4.7 per cent).

We recently ran a few questions about automating paint handling systems past a few experts.

MISUMI USA, Inc. has announced the addition of several new products to its family of standard precision positioning stages. With 22 different styles available in the company’s 2011 lineup, users can select from among a broad range of products, depending on specific application requirements such as moving axes, positioning accuracy, load capacity, feed mechanism (rapid or fine), linear guidance structure and type of clamping mechanism.

Check out the Gold Award winning entry for the top manufacturing model at 2011 National Robotics Challenge:

TORONTO —Celestica Inc. is paying $80 million for Brooks Automation’s contract manufacturing operations in Portland, Ore.

KINGSEY FALLS, Que.: Cascades Forma-Pak has inaugurated a new machine used in the manufacturing of moulded pulp products. The Kingsey, Que. manufacturer of paper packaging invested $3.5 million in the machine and the automation of existing equipment

Omega’s released its UWTC-REC6 series which adds wireless sensor capability to meters, controllers, recorders or data loggers. It features analog output signal and is powered from host instrument or external power supply

Rockwell Automation has announced the addition of EtherNet/IP to its Centerline motor control centers (MCCs), allowing manufacturers to have access to production information throughout the enterprise.”With EtherNet/IP integrated into our Centerline MCCs, customers can access more detailed production data,” said Paul Krause, Product Marketing Manager, Rockwell Automation. “This allows plant engineers to predict potential problems and help prevent equipment failures – ultimately resulting in higher asset availability, improved productivity and reduced maintenance costs.”As a single, standard network is used, communication for the entire enterprise is simplified and users can have the flexibility to control, configure and collect data from any point in the system.In addition, by taking advantage of Premier Integration, users can configure and commission their MCC faster with RSLogix 5000 software, helping to eliminate errors associated with redundant programming as according to Rockwell Automation.Furthermore, the Ethernet connection allows Centerline MCC users to access information remotely

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturer’s Institute ‘s ( PMMI ‘s) Board of Directors has added 22 new companies to its membership roster. The Spring 2011 class adds to all four membership types: four processing members; nine general members; three materials members, and; six supplier members. “PMMI members are the leading companies in packaging and processing