Pacific Bearing apologizes, settles with Rollon
Rollon Corp., Sparta, N.J., announces that it has settled with Pacific Bearing Co., Roscoe, Ill., in a lawsuit regarding the latter's advertising campaign in Machine Design magazine. The settlement, which included financial compensation and an apology, came shortly before the companies were due to appear in court. The advertisements contained inaccurate claims about Rollon's Compact Rail linear bearings.
Pacific Bearing's CEO, Robert Schroeder, has apologized to Rollon for the fact that their advertisement “contained errors” and “inaccurate information” trying to compare a product sold by Pacific Bearing to Rollon's Compact Rail, which features patented self-aligning abilities.
Andrew Cook, Rollon's general manager, says, “It is our policy to aggressively pursue companies who portray Rollon or its products in an incorrect manner. I thank Mr. Schroeder for apologizing and ending this matter.”
Learning Ladder winners announced
Divelbiss Corp., Fredericktown, Ohio, announces five First Prize winners in the Learning Ladder contest sponsored by Motion System Design. Winners will receive the PLC/Programming Learning Package introduced by Divelbiss last year, which allows companies to provide comprehensive technical training for technical/maintenance personnel. The study outline is comprised of 16 blocks that build on one another to teach a student the basics of PLCs in addition to programming a controller using ladder logic with function blocks. The five selected winners represent unique examples of why these learning tools were created, as noted in their contest essays. Below are excerpts from two of the winning entries:
Kirk Rosenhan teaches at a state university and writes, “I teach an engineering course at Mississippi State University. My students don't have a clue regarding PLC or industrial computer usage. The present courses cover PCs, with Microsoft EXCEL and some odds and ends of engineering-type packages. This package would be a valuable and useable adjunct to our laboratory projects, which would complement existing material on robotics, machinery control, and mechanisms. Our budget is always limited.”
Stephen Van Dusen is an electrician and hopes the knowledge gained will lead to better jobs. He writes, “I plan to use the Learning Package as a real-world simulator, and a gateway to a better position in a manufacturing plant. Currently, my job involves digging ditches, fastening conduit, and pulling wire, but if I received these tools, they would help me get out of the ditch and into a position that I enjoy.”
Ormec goes international
Ormec Systems Corp., Rochester, N.Y., traditionally a North American supplier of motion controllers, drives, and motors for automating sophisticated converting, assembly, and packaging machinery, has branched out across the world. Over the past two years, Ormec has established distributors covering France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, as well as Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan. Products are distributed in India by the company's trade partner headquartered in Belgaum Karnataka. Ormec is also busy investigating or negotiating coverage in Italy, Poland, Spain, Korea, China, Australia, and Brazil.
Schunk appoints Tom Jerry national sales manager
Schunk Inc., Morrisville, N.C., a supplier of automation, workholding, and toolholding technology, announces the promotion of Tom Jerry to national sales manager of Schunk USA. Jerry has been with the company for three years, most recently serving as the distribution development manager for toolholding and workholding. In his new position, Jerry will be responsible for sales of all products in the U.S., which includes automation as well as toolholding and workholding.