Leading a New Millennium of EDM Technology - … · workpal robot. 2 Leading a New Millennium of...

Inside This Issue:

Leading a NewMillennium of EDMTechnology ...............2–4

An IMTS 2000 review ofthe leader in new EDMtechnology.

A New Generator ........5

Advance training provesnew Charmilles generatoroutperforms all others.

TechMold Case Study .........................6–7

Charmilles reliability takeshold in the desert.

Selecting the Correct Part .................................8

A top flight parts department is often thekey to a happy customer.

The Problem Solvers ...........................9

Customer support centerefficiently solves problems.

Mikron Update....10–11

Agie Charmilles acquiresmilling machines businessfrom Mikron.

What’s New................12

The Roboform 20 Series.

12 Good Reasons to BuyNew Equipment ..14–16

Charmilles President Harry Moser on why topurchase now!

www.charmillesus.com

PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE PAID

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

PERMIT NO. 9059

Fall 2000

Charmilles Leads a New Millennium of EDM Technology


Fall 2000

Charmilles Technologies’ newest offering, the

Robofil 230, requires no regular recalibration of

the axis due to its glass scales, insuring superior

positioning accuracy. The machine’s U-V axis

design allows customers to cut extreme tapers in

molds and extrusion die applications. The

Integrated Collision Protection (ICP) is another

feature that distinguishes the 230 from its

competitors. At IMTS 2000, the Robofil 230 was

shown with a CT-FANUC 18l control and 3R

workpal robot.

2

Leading a New Millennium of EDM Technology


Robofil 230

Even among the most impressive EDM technology showcased at IMTS 2000,Charmilles Technologies emerged as the leader. Charmilles impressed atten-dees with modern solutions to EDM needs for a variety of applications.

3New Ideas In EDM


The Robofil 290P features an interactive graphics

interface which allows programming while

machining of another workpiece is in progress.

CAM-CT enables prompt programming of 2-axis

contours, readily integrates the latest EDM

technologies from Charmilles and allows ISO

programs to be modified.

The 290P also boasts

a powerful generator.

continues on page 4 …

Robofil290P

Roboform 35QCRi The Roboform 35 utilizes Charmilles’ PILOT-Expert 3 system,

which adjusts pulsation frequency and pulsation length

according to the actual cutting depth. The new motor servo

control and 2-microsecond machining loop time allow

faster retraction during pulsation. The system monitors each

spark and cuts out bad sparks immediately, optimizing the

process. At IMTS, the Roboform 35 was featured with a

built-in Quick Change Robot (QCRi) to handle workpieces

and electrodes. In conjunction with an EROWA presetting

station, the new QCRi allows operators to further boost

their total hours of EDM productivity. By integrating the new

QCRi with the Roboform 35, Charmilles offers a total

automation solution.

4


Also shown with a QCRi and the new

Mexcel tooling from Mecatool, the

Roboform 55 features an adaptive new

generator and three new Expert systems—

Program Expert, Power Expert, and the

newest breakthrough in diesinking technol-

ogy, the Pilot Expert 3. The Roboform 55

packs a large work tank and tool changer

capability to boost productivity. This

machine can accommodate one bulky or

several smaller parts in one step.

Roboform 55QCRi

The SPS (Sinker Programming System [Roboform])Kiosk in the Charmilles Booth at IMTS 2000

Also featured at IMTS 2000 was the Bostomatic

12G. Built to ensure unprecedented accuracy and

an aggressive price point, the 12G is ideal for a

wide range of machining tasks including the

production of graphite or copper electrodes,

hardened steel cavities, medical components,

jewelry and other applications.

For more information on these and other

Charmilles Technologies products, please visit

www.charmillesus.com.

Bostomatic 12G

Penske Nascar

The winners of the 2000

U.S. Grand Prix Tickets

were Tim Aoleck of

Peshtigo, WI and Tim

Piper of Elmhurst, IL!

5New Ideas In EDM

Advanced training proves the NewCharmilles Generator Performance


Everyone in Diesinking EDM istalking about automation. To havea “lights out operation,” the following has to be considered: is the machine able to perform without flushing and operatorintervention or do you have to“baby sit” the machine to getgood and consistent results? Thiswas one of the criteria whenCharmilles Technologies devel-oped the new GeneratorGeneration (first introduced on theRoboform 35) in early 2000. Buthow can you bring the machineand the new PILOT-EXPERT 3 system to the test and what is the best testing field? How aboutcustomers using the well estab-lished ROBOFORM 100 and 20series that outperform all otherEDM machines already?

Based on that, CharmillesTechnologies held a new type ofadvanced diesinking trainingclass. The customers received agraphite rib (0.33” x 0.060” deep1 .25”) electrode prior to the train-ing and were asked to cut the ribon their machine using flushingand “tweaking” to get the bestresults. During the advanced training the CharmillesTechnologies Application Engineerexplained how to optimize thetechnology and flushing toimprove the cut. The results (seetable below) are as follows: theaverage cutting time (on their ownmachine) of 19 attendees (in 2training sessions) was 5 hours and

25 minutes, the average wear was0.049” and the surface finish wasCH24. The application engineerwho showed the group how tooptimize the technology and thecut was finished in 3 hours and 10minutes. After the training, theattendees had the opportunity tocut with the new ROBOFORM 35.The first time they tried the cut, (noflushing and technology — “out ofthe box”) they achieved an out-standing cutting time of 2 hours15 minutes and only 0.012” wear.

This proves again that CharmillesTechnologies has taken anotherstep into the future of EDM wherethe machine is designed aroundthe needs of the customer. Thenew Roboform generator provesthat automation is not a dreamanymore.

Make sure you check out the integrated QCRi robot for theROBOFORM 35 and 55 — thenext step to full automation.

AttendedFlush Y, N Machining Tweak After Cycle Time, Surface

Y, N Started Y, N Minutes Wear Finish

Avg. of 19Attendeeson FO20, FO20A, Y Y Y Average Average .049 CH-24FO200, FO2000, 5 Hr 25”FO30, FO40/41

CT AE on FO20 Y Y Y 3 Hr 10” .024 CH-24

User Operator1st Try on FO35 N N N 2 Hr 15” .012 CH-24

CT AE on FO35 N N N 2 Hr 10” .012 CH-24

Do you want to trade in your

used Charmilles EDM or buy a

used Charmilles EDM?

Log onto our website under

Used Machines.

www.charmillesus.com/prod/used_edm.cfm

Gisbert Ledvon, Charmilles Technologies’

marketing manager said the reason for

the recent revamping of the Charmilles

web site was, “We wanted to be more

customer-oriented.” The enhancements

were part of the biggest modifications to

the site since its launch in the mid-90’s.

One of the site’s new features, and a

definite example of the new customer

focus, is an area where buyers can look

at a list of used Charmilles EDMs and

sellers have the opportunity to market

their used Charmilles machines.

In terms of EDM reliability, what appar-ently grows in the desert is Charmilles.

Just ask Paul Moosbrugger, an EDMmachinist who has been at Tech Mold inTempe, AZ, for 19 years. Recently, TechMold, an ultra-precision injection molding company making molds for the plastics industry, purchased anotherCharmilles Robofil 2030SI. It’s not experienced any down time since.

Moosbrugger picks up the story asAaron Stout, Charmilles TechnologiesRegional Service Manager, is leaving thebuilding.

“Aaron left at noon one day after makinghis test cuts on our new 2030SI and by1:00 p.m. I had a job running on themachine,” Moosbrugger says. “In themonth-and-a-half since we got themachine, based on 168 hours a week,that thing has run 80 percent of the time.At this rate, the machine is going to payfor itself in less than six months. It’sincredible.”

Tech Mold records generator hours onevery machine to determine their effi-ciency. “We figure,” Moosbrugger says,“if we can use a machine 40 percent ofthe time, maybe 60 percent with a toolchanger, that’s pretty efficient. When yousee 80 percent, that’s incredible. That’sjust guys walking by, loading parts, andhitting the ‘Go’ button.”

Charmilles machines even pre-date TechMold. Owner Bill Kushmaul started the

business in 1972. He purchased a usedCharmilles in 1970. Tech Mold was 50percent owned by The Tech Group untilJuly 1999, when Tech Mold went off onits own.

Today, the private company boasts 160employees. Much of their business comesfrom the medical packaging and hi-techsectors. For instance, Tech Mold makesmolds for child-resistant closures, ink jetcartridges and medical components.

Kushmaul believes that moldmaking is aprime use for EDM’s. And he has contin-ued to put his faith in Charmilles. Thecompany owns eleven Charmillesmachines — four wire machines (twoRobofil 2020’s and two Robofil 2030SI’s)and seven sinkers. When asked if there isa particular attribute that makesCharmilles EDM’s so worthwhile,Kushmaul unhesitatingly says it’s theiraccuracy.

Tech Mold’s shop foreman Doug Grafalso mentions accuracy when discussingthe Bostomatic 12G, a high-speed millingmachine that’s now also sold byCharmilles’ distributor network.

“The machine is very accurate,” Grafsays. “It doesn’t move around in the Xand Y axes as other machines did thatwe looked at. The machine holds it dayin and day out.”

Moosbrugger points to Charmilles’ user-friendliness and reliability when askedabout Charmilles’ best attributes. Forinstance, the Roboform 31 BA sinker is areliable machine, Moosbrugger says,and the combination of the Roboform 31

BA sinker and an attached robot resultsin good generator hours.

The Robofil 2030SI wire machine hasbeen designed to operate with increasedflexibility and unbeatable accuracy overa long working life. The 2030SI acceptswire ranging from 50 to 300 microns indiameter and has an optional add-onthat enables the use of 30-micron wire.No more than a matter of minutes isrequired to adjust from one wire width toanother - only the closed wire guidesneed to be changed.

Operator Moosbrugger describes TechMold’s buying process this way:“Whenever we say, ‘We need anotherwire or we need another sinker,’ Bill willusually send somebody out, a senior guy,to go out and make test cuts on what’sout there. Over the years when we’vedone that, Charmilles just seems to winhands down. We do go out there andwe do look at other products on the mar-ket. We find that we still think we’rebuying the best based on test cut results,user friendliness, and ability.”

That job is often done when nobody isaround. One of the great virtues ofCharmilles’ machines, both Kushmauland Moosbrugger agree, is their abilityto run unattended. Kushmaul maintainsthat type of capability is a necessity inthe current super-competitive EDM market.

Even during the middle of a workday,that autonomy is important. “Like rightnow,” Moosbrugger says, “I run fourwires by myself. I’m successful on a dailybasis getting phenomenal hours out of

6

Charmilles Reliability Takes Hold In The Desert


them because you have features like theauto rethread feature after a wire breaks.If you maintain them properly you’ll getgood results. It allows one operator torun a lot of equipment.”

Owner Kushmaul appreciates the service,too. “They’re always willing to sendsomebody out,” he says. “They’ve beenvery cooperative with training and main-tenance. Because we’re out in the middleof the desert, everybody worries abouthow you’re going to get serviced. I thinkthey’ve serviced us very well over theyears.

“And I know in our area they’ve gone tomore knowledge-based sales peopleand that’s helped a lot. They have peo-ple in the field selling machines thatknow the machines. That’s been a bigfactor.”

Accuracy, reliability, user-friendliness,good sales and service. Moosbruggercontemplates the Robofil 2030SI’s effi-ciency and sums it up neatly. “There area lot of things that go into it but the bot-tom line is if the machine was a lessermachine, we wouldn’t see those results.We’re very happy with it. If we neededanother wire tomorrow, I wouldn’t evenhesitate in getting another Charmilles.”

7New Ideas In EDM


Don Geiger, an EDM operator at Tech Mold inTempe, AZ, works with the Charmilles Robofil2020, the Robofil 2030SI, and the Roboform2000 (clockwise starting at left).

Parts have been a large part of

the new look for Charmilles

Technologies’ Customer Support

Center. Four full-time warehouse

employees are responsible for the

shipment of over 7,000 parts to cus-

tomers from Charmilles’ North

American headquarters in

Lincolnshire, IL.

Along with a streamlined service

operation, the improved performance

of the parts area, under the leader-

ship of warehouse manager Brian

Smith, has been responsible for the

great results from the Charmilles

Customer Support Center.

“I’d say our biggest problem in the

past was selecting the correct part,”

says President Harry Moser. “Now

we have a very good, highly moti-

vated team in the warehouse that

does a very good job of getting the

correct part.”

August was the busiest month of

2000 to date for the Charmilles

warehouse team. 3,703 shipments

flew out of Lincolnshire via either UPS

or Fed Ex. And the accuracy rate was

terrific – 99.43 percent of the ship-

ments left the warehouse with the

correct part!

Ordering parts will be even easier

with a soon-to-be released CD that

will enable customers to pick the part

themselves with 100 percent accu-

racy. Each of the 7,000 parts was

digitally photographed over a six-

month period. These pictures will be

put on a CD that should be in

customers’ hands by year-end.

8


“A customer will be able to click on

the model name or number, and a

picture of the machine will come up,”

Harry Moser says in describing the

process. “The customer then clicks on

the portion of the machine that

they’re interested in. A picture of the

sub-assembly comes up and then the

user can scroll down on all the parts

and part numbers within that sub-

assembly. Click on any part and the

picture of that part will show up so

that the customer who is trying to

identify a correct part will be able to

see it on the CD.”

Harry is excited about the CD’s

potential. “We’re confident that this

will dramatically reduce the inci-

dence of an incorrect part being

shipped and assure the customers

get the correct part.”

If a customer calls in during a busi-

ness day, it is almost a certainty that

they’ll receive the requested part the

next day. Ninety-six percent of parts

orders are shipped the same day the

order is taken. The other four percent

are parts that are emergency

ordered from Charmilles’ headquar-

ters in Geneva,Switzerland.

The Lincolnshire warehouse is open

Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00

p.m. CST.

Parts Department Key toCustomer Support Center

• Stratified Wire

• Brass Wire

• Zinc CoatedWire

• Wire Guides

• Power FeedContacts

• Flush Nozzles

and more …

Tell us yourneeds!Charmilles’ gotthe goods!

ContactCharmilles’ConsumableDepartment1-800-CTC-1EDMext. 153 or 154.

New technology has

made Charmilles more

accessible than ever.

Ninety percent of callers

now get through to a

live service engineer

when they call in. The

average hold time is

only 50 seconds.

Customers have noticed

the improvement accord-

ing to Charmilles

President Harry Moser.

“Customer response has

been wonderful on the

improved live response

and reduced queue time,” Moser says.

“When I talk to customers, they remind

me that we weren’t great in the past but

we’re very good now, and they seem

very appreciative of that.”

Another example of technology working

to enhance the customer experience is

Office Link — a phone system feature that

more evenly distributes incoming calls

between inside service engineers located

in Lincolnshire and outside service engi-

neers around North America.

Before Office Link, the Lincolnshire-based

service engineers were beleaguered

because they received all of the phone

calls. The result was long hold times and

an uneven distribution of phone calls

between inside and outside service

engineers.

“Office Link was our solution,” says Scott

Kieta, Charmilles’ manager of technical

services. “It was our solution to boosting

our live response rate as well as getting

our remote resources staffed adequately

and not using resources here to transfer

calls out.”

Scott has been with Charmilles for 10

years, the last three in his current

position, where he is in charge of the

Customer Support Center. He knows that

at its core, the Customer Support Center

9New Ideas In EDM


Greg Thomas politely requests his caller

hold the line a minute. He puts his head-

set down and calmly walks over to a

bank of eight color television monitors.

No, Greg isn’t a director for the local

station’s news show. He is a telephone

service engineer at Charmilles

Technologies’ Customer Support Center

in Lincolnshire, IL and he has a problem

— a customer on the East Coast needs a

new machine installed right away.

Actually, the wire EDM arrived a few

days ahead of schedule so the install

date has to be moved up.

Greg faces the bank of monitors and

positions his computer mouse to click on

the service engineer who will handle the

call. His schedule for the next four weeks

is available to Greg with simply a mouse

click. Greg sees that with customer

approval, a preventative maintenance

call can be delayed to early next week

to accommodate the installation job.

Just another day at the office for Greg.

“When a customer needs something

quickly or needs something changed,” he

says, “we can work it out.”

The Customer Support Center includes

both service and spare parts, the result

of a 1999 merger between the two

functions.

is about customer service.

Scott holds a staff meeting every other

week and devotes half of it to customer

service training. “It could be video or

some sort of literature. We discuss tech-

niques and what is working and what is

not working. It’s good communication.”

And it’s working. Telephone service engi-

neer Kirk Walker has been in the EDM

field for 15 years, the last 3 1/2 with

Charmilles. He says the biggest chal-

lenge when he talks to customers is,

“trying to understand what their problem

is and both of us agreeing on where to

look and what to look for and how to go

about fixing it.”

Customer Support CenterEfficiently Solves Problems

Kirk has built up quite a rapport with

many customers. “They pretty much

become your friends over time,” he says.

“You are talking to the same guy every

time when he calls in and they like to

speak with you.”

Charmilles’ Customer Support Center is

open Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to

7:00 p.m. CST.

10


Agie Charmilles Acquires Milling MachinesBusiness From Mikron

Agie Charmilles recently announced the acquisition of the“Standard Machines” product group from the MikronTechnology Group. As a result of this acquisition, the millingmachine product group is expected to grow by twenty percent during this fiscal year.

The Mikron “Standard Machines” productgroup includes the core companies ofMikron AG Nidau (marketing, sales andservice) and Comp-Tec AG (research,development, and production) along withthe sales and service organizations withcompanies in Switzerland, Germany,France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, the USA,Singapore and China.

Agie Charmilles will preserve the Mikronbrand and add it to its existing range.Supplementing Agie Charmilles’ EDM prod-uct group, the wide range of products which will continue to be marketed underthe trademark “Mikron,” includes millingmachines suitable for start-up companies tohighly complex HSM machining centers atthe top end of the market.

“For us, this acquisition is a unique opportu-nity to now concentrate our efforts to turnthe strategy pursued in the USA with theacquisition of Bostomatic into a sustainablereality in the most significant Europeanmarkets with immediate effect,” explainsKurt E. Stirnemann, Agie Charmilles GroupCEO. “The Mikron acquisition brings with ita bundle of market advantages includingadded technical competence, strong brand

11New Ideas In EDM


You Can See Your Ad

in the Next Edition of

New Ideas In EDMby calling Steph Meyers

at DGS Group • 317-479-3155

recognition, an existing customerbase and established sales channels.”

Agie Charmilles, the worldwideleader in EDM technology, is nowin position to become one of theworld’s leading system supplierswith two complementary technolo-gies and a comprehensiveproduct range. High-speedmachining centers are increasinglybeing used for processing steeland hard metals in die-casting,tool making, and the manufactureof EDM electrodes.

12


Charmilles Technologies nowoffers an upgrade from 32 amp to64 amp for the Roboform 20series machines.

The upgrade, which features anelectrode with a frontal surfaceequal or bigger than 1 in2, doubles the roughing speed forgraphite and steel.

The upgrade is part #852 8550.Check the electrical cabinetbehind the front door of yourRoboform 20 series machine, level13, to see if you still need to pur-chase your upgrade.

Best of all, installation of theupgrade does not require theassistance of a specialist.

Please call 800-233-1782 for pricing information.

What’s New: Upgrade Your Roboform 20/20A/20CNC/22/30/31,Form 20/20A

14


Lincolnshire, IL – With the stock mar-ket fluctuating wildly and the FederalReserve Board repeatedly raisingrates, it’s easy to become distracted.What’s going to happen next?Deciding on equipment purchases istough enough but in an atmospheresuddenly fogged with economicunpredictability, there’s a tendency to panic.

At least one top machine tool execu-tive says this is no time to lose focus.Harry Moser is president of EDMmanufacturer, CharmillesTechnologies (Lincolnshire, Illinois). Inthe September 11, 1998 IMTS ShowDaily, when the markets looked mostunstable, Moser predicted that theFed would loosen monetary policy.Subsequently, the Fed reduced rateson October 2nd, October 16th andNovember 19th of 1998. He recentlyupdated his analysis, outlining thereasons why the Wall Street roller-coaster should be ignored. “If youintend to stay in business, this is agreat time to buy new machine toolsand manufacturing equipment,” hestates. Here are his twelve reasons:

1. Low Cost Financing isAvailable.

Since the interest rate valley in thefourth quarter of 1998, the Fed hasraised the short term federal fundsrate 1 .75 percentage points but Five-Year Treasuries, the basis forequipment leases, have only

increased 1 .58%. Thus, leases are still quite affordable. In fact, aggressive machine tool manufac-turers, like Charmilles, often furthersubsidized rates for credit-worthycustomers during IMTS 2000.

2. It’s the Best InvestmentAlternative.

Invest in what you know and cancontrol—productive equipment foryour business. Other alternativeinvestments are outside of your con-trol and have uncertain projectedreturns. In fact, stock returns are likelyto be low or negative, probably“reverting to the mean” after a periodof “irrational exuberance.”

3. Only Productivity and QualityCan Beat Lower-pricedCompetitors.

Low labor rates make foreign companies price competitive. Youcan’t compete against price by notinvesting. You can only compete byhaving the equipment that allowsyour employees to produce at a levelabove the competition and at a productivity level that overcomes thelabor rate disadvantages. U.S. manu-facturing productivity increased at a6.9% annual rate in the first quarterof 2000 showing that U.S. industrycan be competitive. Adding a robotto a CNC EDM can increase yourproductivity by 50% while reducingthe fully burdened operating cost perhour by 30%, reaching the operatingcost level of low wage, non-robotic,Southeast Asian installations.

4. Consistent Investment Pays Off.

The best companies invest consis-tently year after year regardless ofshort-term economic conditions. Theyalways have the most recent technol-ogy and they have sufficient capacityto deal with increases in demand. Ifyou let your technology fall behind,you may never be able to catch up.

5. Capital Equipment is the OnlyCost that is Competitive versusForeign Companies.

In Southeast Asia, the dollar cost oflabor can be 10% of North Americanlevels but the cost of importedmachine tools is the same as in the U.S.

6. Southeast Asia’s Short-termAdvantage is Gone.

In late ’98 and early ’99, SoutheastAsian shops had two special tempo-rary advantages. Costs were cutdramatically due to depressednational currencies and they hadhuge excess capacity due to theirdevastated domestic demand. Since

“The best companiesinvest consistentlyyear afteryear regardless of short-termeconomicconditions.”

Wall Street Or Asia Got You Worried?Forget It! Charmilles Technologies’ President

Harry Moser Offers Twelve Good Reasons

To Buy New Equipment Now!

15New Ideas In EDM


then, the Southeast Asian currencieshave strengthened and their domesticdemand and manufacturing capacityutilization are soaring.

7. Booming European andSoutheast Asian EconomiesWill Strengthen U.S.Manufacturing.

U.S. retail sales and homebuildingare softening due to the Fed’sactions. The manufacturing boom inEurope and Southeast Asia willdecrease U.S. imports and increaseU.S. exports, compensating for any

and June 2000 were the best Mayand June ever; 33% greater than thesame months in 1999.

9. It Makes Your Services MoreMarketable.

Your customers are shrinking theirvendor bases. They will stick with thevendors that offer a broad range ofprocesses and that have continued toinvest in the most modern technology.

10. To Attract and Retain TopEmployees.

Skilled toolmakers/precision machin-ists are always very hard to find. This

was true even at the slowesttimes in early 1999. Top per-formers are easier to attractand retain with the latestequipment that makes themmore productive and demon-strates your commitment to thefuture of the company and theemployees.

11. 2000 and 2001 WillProbably be GoodYears.

Inflation is still low, and thereare enough signs of moderat-ing growth that the Fed isunlikely to raise rates morethan another 0.25%. In fact,

NTMA forecasts call for the followingincreases: moldmaking 6%, diemak-ing 8%, and precision machining 4%.Capacity utilization rates in theFabricated Metal Products sector, SICcode 34, is an excellent measure ofmetalworking activity. The indicatorbottomed in May ’99 and has sincerecovered 2/3 of the ground lostsince manufacturing was last reallystrong in the first half of 1998.

I’m confident enough in the futurethat Charmilles-US has hired 15 service engineers since January andordered as many stock machines inJune and July 2000 as in the previousfive months combined. We are readyfor a continued recovery!

12. Recently Introduced TechnologySome recent breakthroughs inmachine tool technology can significantly improve a company’scompetitive position. For example, thenewest CNC diesinker EDM’s cut themost difficult jobs in 50% of the time,unattended. This is the same resultthat was typically achieved with ear-lier models that were attended. New,fully integrated robotic systems helpto make the transition towards 24/7much simpler and affordable.

Charmilles Technologies Corp. is theworldwide leading manufacturer ofmanual and CNC die-sinking EDMsystems and wire EDM systems. Formore information on the company’sproducts and services, contactGisbert Ledvon, CharmillesTechnologies Corp., 560 Bond Street,Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4224. Tel: 1-800-CTC-1EDM. Fax: 847-913-5340.http://www.charmillesus.com.

An earlier version of this story appearedin the IMTS Show Daily, Sept. 2000,published by Gardner Publications, Inc.Redistributed with permission.

drop in domestic U.S. demand. AsU.S. interest rate expectations soften,the dollar will drop versus Europeancurrencies, further strengtheningexport demand.

8. Your Domestic Competitors are Investing.

U.S. machine tool orders are up 4%YTD May 2000 vs. 1999. Charmilles’U.S. and Canadian orders in May

GEORG FISCHER Manufacturing TechnologyGF

560 Bond St.Lincolnshire, IL 60069


Tel: (888) CTC 1EDM

AGIE CHARMILLES Group

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