EoW March 2008

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EuroWire – March 2008 20
english corporate news
Joachim Uhing KG GmbH & Co in
Mielkendorf is supporting the startIng!
project run by Kiel University of Applied
Sciences.
Grouped in project teams, freshman
students can gather on-site experience,
test their aptitude and get informed of
career opportunities.
For a long time, business management
students have had the privilege of
practically implementing their theoretical
knowledge.
What would be more obvious than
putting flesh on the bones of mechanical
engineering theory by allowing an insight
in the daily life of a practical engineer?
“There is hardly any other sector that
demands such a close interaction
between theoretical background and
practical skills,” says Burkhard Bohn, Uhing
KG’s Engineering head.
“This is why we decided to support the
startIng! project.”
Kiel University of Applied Sciences
launched the project in winter 2006/07.
Some 50 freshman students, grouped in
teams of 10, may take on the role of an
engineer after only six weeks of studies. To
give them an idea of what their future job
holds in store, they solve a problem posed
by a sponsoring company.
In the course of the project, originating
from a very successful initiative of
Darmstadt Technical University started
in 1998, the future engineers also learn
to understand why it is important
to study the theoretical background
often regarded as dry and removed from
reality.
“During project work, the students can find
out whether the subject they have chosen
appeals to them. We can assist young
students and also inform them of their
career opportunities,”added Bohn.
“Everybody is talking about the
threatening technological emergency
in Germany,” said Wolfgang Weber,
Uhing’s sales and marketing head, in an
attempt to explain the motives of the
likewise innovative and long-established
enterprise to sponsor a group of students.
“It is relatively easy to replicate a machine
but you cannot imitate the decades of
experience that led to its development.
We are glad to offer young students
an insight into the daily life of classical
engineering.
“They get first hand experience of what it
means to practically implement theore-
tical knowledge and realise how much
know-how is required for our work.”
Joachim Uhing KG GmbH & Co
– Germany
Fax: +49 4347 90640
Email:
Website:
Joining up with the students
SPI Lasers LLC has hired two
new senior staff members to
expand the North American
team as the company looks
to build on strong growth in
2007.
Jim Data joins SPI Lasers as
Director of Sales for North and
South America and Ken Dzurko
joins the company as Business
Development Director.
“We are pleased to welcome
Jim and Ken to the SPI Lasers
team,” said John Tinson, vice
president of worldwide sales.
“SPI have been ramping up
activities in North America for
the last year. The effects of the
increase in activity are now
proving their value in terms of
good results in the area in 2007.
“The new G3 and R4 platforms
that were recently announced
are showing significant growth
prospects for 2008.”
A sales executive with more than 17 years’
experience, Jim Data has considerable
understanding of micro-machining and
marking with a long history in lasers and
laser applications.
He is heading up the US
team and will be based at the
company’s US head-quarters
in Santa Clara, California, with
responsibility for Canada,
USA, Mexico, Central America
and South America.
Ken Dzurko joins SPI following
18 years in diode laser related
experience that includes
technology advancement
and high reliability product
development for defence,
industrial and communications
markets.
As the senior executive in the
region, Ken is responsible for
expanding the company’s
contracts business and
supporting business
development in all commercial
markets. The applications lab
has recently announced new
applications that expand the
proven capabilities of the
fibre laser.
These new applications
for the fibre laser come
as a result of the free of charge ‘Proof
of Principle’ trials where device and
component manufacturers from around
the globe are invited to work with SPI on
their own application specific trials. In
addition, SPI offers a ‘try before you buy’
programme and provides a progressive
programme to support academic
and not-for-profit research centres.
SPI Lasers – USA
Fax: +1 408 317 0407
Email:
Website:
New staff for US expansion
Jim Data ▲
Ken Dzurko ▲
Better performance
after installation
The installation of Morgan Construction
Company’s No-Twist Mill® (NTM) guide
upgrades has resulted in significant
improvements in mill utilisation at the
ArcelorMittal Georgetown steel plant
in Georgetown, South Carolina, USA,
according to rolling mill division manager
Danie Devapiriam.
“At the time of the upgrade, we had been
experiencing many delays and cobbles in
the NTM utilising outdated equipment.
“Overall we have experienced better-than-
expected performance and benefits from
this upgrade over the past five months,” he
added.
Morgan Construction Co – USA
Fax: +1 508 755 6140
Email:
Website: