Quality Update Vol. 4, Issue 6

The Keyence VHX-500 Digital Microscope incorporates technological innovations providing performance beyond the capabilities of most high-end optical systems. A depth-of-field 20x greater than conventional microscopes with 3-D Image Composition produces exceptional image quality. Additional features include Halation Correction to eliminate glare and reflection, real-time/on-screen measurements including particle counting, 3-D Surface Profiling with color topographic displays, and a pushbutton operator’s console. The microscope’s 18 mega-pixel CCD camera can be handheld for large target inspection. Details and specs.

Product Spotlight:

Instron’s Bluehill Lite is a general purpose software package compatible with all Instron 3300 Series universal testing systems.

Providing a wide range of tailored application solutions to meet the demands of today’s laboratory managers and test technicians, Bluehill Lite is ideal for fundamental applications and standardized tensile, compression, flexure, peel, tear, friction and simple cyclic test requirements.

Instron^® Corporation
825 University Ave.
Norwood, MA 02062-2643
1-800-564-8378
Web: www.instron.com
Email: info_news@instron.com

QUALITY NEWS

Manufacturing Activity Increases

TEMPE, AZ -- Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February following a decline in January, while the overall economy grew for the 64th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued by Norbert J. Ore, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “February proved to be a good month in the manufacturing sector as new orders, production and employment contributed to a solid growth scenario." Learn more

COMING EVENTS

April 23-26, 2007 Manufacturing & Measurement Conference & Workshop (MMCW), Clearwater, FL. Quality Magazine, (888) 530-6714. www.qualitymag.com
/mmcw

April 23    Consortium of Consortia Planning Meeting for Metrology Interoperability,
Gaithersburg, MD. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),  (301) 975-3430.
www.mel.nist.gov
/div826/msid/sima/
interopweek/consortia.htm

April 24-25   High-level Inspection Process Planning for Metrology Interoperability, Gaithersburg, MD. NIST,  (301) 975-3430. www.mel.nist.gov
/div826/msid/sima/
interopweek/hlipp.htm

May 8-11, Control 2007 Quality Assurance Trade Fair, Sinsheim, Germany. P.E. Schall GmbH, +49 (0)7025 / 92 06-641 www.control-messe.com/en/control

May 22-24 EASTEC 2007 Exposition, West Springfield, MA. Society of Manufacturing Engineers, (800) 733-4763. www.sme.org/eastec

Announcing 5 New Workshops Now Being Offered At MMCW

The Manufacturing & Measurement Conference & Workshop (MMCW) 2007 is excited to offer 5 new workshops. Workshop Topics:
- Gage Block – by Ted Doiron, NIST
- Screw Threads & Thread Gaging – by David Harris, Glastonbury Southern Gage
- Calibration Management Software – by Walter Nowicin, Medtronic
- Troubleshooting Six Sigma – by Praveen Gupta, Accelpur Consulting
- SPC For Metrology Applications – by Dilip Shah, Metrology Engineer

April 23-27, 2007 – Clearwater Beach, FL. Sponsors include: Mahr Federal Inc., Nikon, Verisurf Software, and Hexagon. For more information and to register please visit www.qualitymag.com/mmcw or call 1-888-530-6714.

Apply Now for Plant or Professional of the Year Awards

BENSENVILLE, IL—The Quality Professional of the Year will be recognized at Quality Expo, Sept. 25 to 27, 2007, in Rosemont, IL. In addition, an article profiling the recipient will appear in the August issue of Quality Magazine. The individual must be available for an interview and photographs in late May 2007. The Quality Professional of the Year will be notified in May 2007. Quality Magazine's Plant of the Year award recognizes both a small plant of 250 or fewer employees and a large plant of more than 250 employees for its outstanding achievements in quality. Anyone can nominate a plant—employees, suppliers and casual observers are welcome to make submissions. The Quality Plant of the Year will be announced at Quality Expo, Sept. 25 to 27, 2007, in Rosemont, IL. In addition, each winning plant will be profiled in the September 2007 issue of Quality Magazine. An official nomination form must be filled out and returned to Quality Magazine by April 2, 2007. Apply now at 2007 Quality Plant of the Year and
2007 Quality Professional of the Year

Wenzel Acquires Xspect Solutions

WIXOM, MI -- Wenzel GmbH of Germany has acquired Xspect Solutions Inc. (Wixom, MI). Xspect Solutions has been the distribution partner of Wenzel in North America since its formation in 2002, and has been the Wenzel Distributor-of-the-Year for both 2005 and 2006. Xspect has engineered significant market penetration in USA, which now represents the largest market for Wenzel CMM products outside of its domestic German market. Xspect Solutions supplies new Wenzel CMMs with its OpenDMIS software to the North American markets and in addition is the largest remanufacturer of CMMs in the world. Xspect Solutions annual sales exceeded $15 million in 2006. The acquisition of Xspect Solutions by Wenzel will allow further investments and market growth; plans include the immediate commencement of local assembly of Wenzel Xorbit and LH series of bridge style CMMs in Wixom, MI. The existing manufacturing facilities in Germany were producing at full capacity in 2006; additional capacity is being added in Germany and a local assembly plant in Shanghai, China came on-stream in 2006 to assemble kits supplied from Wenzel Germany serving the increasing local Chinese market. Read more

Quality Magazine Launches NDT Web Site
Quality launches a Web site for its NDT special section, www.ndtmag.com. Feature-length articles, case studies and technology features focus on: NDT and Materials Testing Equipment and Technology; NDT and Materials Test Analysis and Services; and Standards and Certification. www.ndtmag.com

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