Author: Joe Jackson

Additional Recognition of Members at Annual Awards Banquet

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Additional Recognition of Members
at Annual Awards Banquet

 

Congratulations to the following PMPA Technical Members who were recognized at the 90th Annual Awards Banquet with the Technical Member Participation Award.

Through their active participation, PMPA’s Technical Members contribute greatly toward keeping the Association thriving and progressive.  Our thanks and congratulations for their service and engagement in PMPA activities during the 2022-2023 year.

Kevin Coffman, Champion Screw Machine Engineering Inc.

 

Johnny Freeze, GWS Tool Group

 

Todd Kriegel, Global Precision Parts

 

 

Billie and Rich Henning,
Henning Industrial Software

.

 

 

 

Jim Preston, Jr., Meier Screw Products & Mfg Co.

 

 

Technical Member Participation Award
Absolute Machine Tools
Champion Screw Machine Engineering, Inc.
GWS Tool Group
Star CNC Machine Tool Corp.
Tsugami America

Membership Milestone Anniversaries
The following member companies were recognized for their milestone membership  anniversaries in 2023.  Congratulations!

25 Years of PMPA Membership
Global Precision Parts Inc.
Henning Industrial Software Inc.
Kalkaska Screw Products, Inc.

50 Years of PMPA Membership
Automatic Turning & Machining, Inc.
Edward Koehn Co., Inc.

75 Years of PMPA Membership
Meier Screw Products & Mfg. Co.

Retiring Board Members
JoAnn Vlach, Efficient Machine Products
Tanya DiSalvo, Criterion Tool
Darlene Miller, Permac Industries
Kevin Coffman (Tech Member Chair), Champion Screw Machine Eng. Co.

   

 

Annual Meeting Summary Page

 

 

Gold Micrometer Award Recipients Honored at Annual Awards Banquet

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Gold Micrometer Award Recipients
Honored at Annual Awards Banquet

 

PMPAs 90th Anniversary was not only a celebration of the growth of our Association, it was also a special celebration of those members who have amassed 40 years in the precision machining industry and the recognition of their dedication and contributions that set them apart as a leader within their organization and PMPA.

Attendees were treated to five Gold Micrometer  Award presentations in Amelia Island.

Brian Adams (R.F. Mau Co.) began working part-time at R.F. Mau in 1980, and has worked his way to being President of the company.  He has been very active in PMPA governance since 1997 and is currently 1st Vice President

 

Glen Donaldson (Donmac Precision Machining) began his industry career in 1978 as a machine operator and eventually purchased his own company.  He is active in the Canada Chapter and is currently serving a 3-year term on the Board.

 

Jim Wrenn (Hudson Precision Products) represents the third generation from Hudson to receive this prestigious recognition, joining his grandfather (Ernest W. Schneider) and father (Peter Wrenn).  Jim has been a strong supporter of PMPA since 1987 – President in 2009, and the Annual Meeting was his 61st national meeting.  Hudson Precision Products is a founding member of PMPA.

 

 

Victor DaCruz‘s introduction to manufacturing began in Portugal as a young boy when his dad decided he should work in the family tannery business.  Victor began his manufacturing career in 1974, eventually purchasing his own company, where he now leads the DACRUZ Manufacturing family business.  Victor has served on the Board and was PMPA President in 2019.

 

Sam Prost (Weber Manufacturing & Supplies Inc.) began working at Weber Manufacturing in 1970,  and never left.  He is currently serving a 3-year term on the Board of Directors.   Unable to attend (his second attempt at receiving this award), Miles Free (PMPA) accepted the award on his behalf.

 

Congratulations to our Gold Micrometer award recipients.  Well done!

 

Annual Meeting Summary Page

 

PODCAST – 2023 Annual Meeting Recap

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PMPA Speaking of Precision Podcast:

2023 Annual Meeting Recap

Miles Free and Renee Merker give our listeners a recap into PMPA’s 90th Anniversary celebration that that took place in Amelia Island, Florida at the 2023 Annual Meeting.

 

Published October 30, 2023

 

 

PMPA Elects 2023-2024 Officers

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PMPA Elects 2023-2024 Officers

 

At the recent PMPA Board of Directors meeting held on Thursday, September 28, prior to the PMPA Annual Meeting at the Omni Amelia Island Resort, Amelia Island, Florida, the following Officers were elected to serve on the Board:

Steve Sorenson, Sorenson Engineering, was elected President of the PMPA for 2023-2024

Brian Adams, R. F. Mau Co. – PMPA 1st Vice President

Tanya DiSalvo, Criterion Tool – PMPA 2nd Vice President

Richard Hoster, III, Smith & Richardson, Inc. continues another year as PMPA Treasurer

The following members were elected to the Board:

And during the Technical Members meeting on September 28 in Florida, Kyle Detterbeck,Lester Detterbeck Enterprises Ltd., began his tenure as Technical Member Chair; Jeff Reinert, Schutte Corp., moved to 1st Vice Chair, and Jeremy Rose, TAJMAC-USA, was elected 2nd Vice Chair. Congratulations to all our new officers!

Our heartfelt thanks to outgoing President John Habe, IV, Metal Seal Precision Ltd. for his dedication and service to PMPA over the past year. 

 

Annual Meeting Summary Page

 

PODCAST – Safety Needs to Be Comfortable

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PMPA Speaking of Precision Podcast:

Safety Needs to Be Comfortable

Miles Free, Carli Kistler-Miller and David Wynn discuss the importance of comfortability when it comes to performance in our precision machining shops apart.

 

Published October 9, 2023

 

 

2023 Annual Meeting Wrap-Up

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2023 Annual Meeting Wrap-Up 

Omni Amelia Island Resort
Amelia Island, Florida
September 28 – October 1

 

PMPA welcomed 165 members from 76 companies to Amelia Island, Florida, last weekend to celebrate PMPA’s 90th Anniversary. 

It was a great opportunity to reconnect with PMPA peers and friends, as well as welcome 30 first-time attendees (which included two new members.)   We also had 13 past (PMPA) presidents in attendance.  

The resort was beautiful, the food fabulous, and the weather eventually cooperated.  And (despite all that), the business sessions were very well attended! 

Be sure to visit the Annual Meeting Summary webpage to browse the photographer photos and download the speaker presentations. 

Mark your calendar for the 2024 Annual Meeting to be held at the JW Marriott Laguna Cliffs Resort, Dana Point, California – October 9-14. 

 

 

Annual Meeting Summary Page

 

CRIBSHEET – #120: Safety Needs to Be Comfortable

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PMPA Craftsman Cribsheet #120:
Safety Needs to Be Comfortable

It’s important to be conscious of how comfortability affects performance.

Published October 1, 2023

By David Wynn, Technical Services Manager, PMPA

Download Magazine Article

 

Our performers can be focused on safety when they are comfortable. Think of it being like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for the shop. For our performers to be safe, they must be well fed, have plenty of rest, and be comfortable, then they can move up to safety, then to productivity.  

I started thinking about this when a friend of mine got a new pair of work boots. The boots chaffed his feet to the point he found himself not concentrating on his tasks. The lack of focus was making him inherently less safe. As he told me this, I realized that for him to be safe and successful he had to be comfortable.

Once a performer is comfortable and safe, they can concentrate on the higher aspects of doing their daily work. Here are some points to consider to ensure that performers are both comfortable and safe with their personal protective equipment (PPE).

Eye Protection

  • Must fit right.
  • Must have adequate ventilation/no fog.
  • Must adequately cover the eyes.

Shirts

  • Must be good fitting and not excessively baggy or uncomfortably tight.  
  • Cotton is a preferred fabric because it cools easily and is safer around sparks. Synthetic fibers will easily burn and melt to the skin. (Moisture wicking shirts should never be worn when the possibility of catching sparks for flames is present.)

Pants

  • Must be well fitting.
  • Fabric must adequately protect legs from minor scrapes and cuts.  
  • Fabric must be weighted according to the season.  
  • Must provide flexibility if tasks include bending and lifting.
  • Belts must be comfortable and fit the job, be flexible enough to do the work, and be worn all day. If tools are mounted to the belt it must ride on the hip appropriately to help carry the load balanced not just hang off the pants.

Footwear

  • Good fitting and an appropriate weight for the individual. (A 100-pound person shouldn’t be wearing 10-pound work boots.)   
  • Great quality socks will amplify the comfort of the work boot as well as protect feet from blisters, fatigue and moisture-born illness.
  • Must have slip-resistant soles.
  • Steel toes (if required).

Be conscious of how comfortability affects performers.  Encouraging performers to be comfortable while being safe will make them productive.

 

 

Author

David Wynn

David Wynn, MBA, is the PMPA Technical Services Manager with over 20 years of experience in the areas of manufacturing, quality, ownership, IT and economics. Email: gro.apmp@nnywd — Website: pmpa.org.