EoW March 2008

english corporate news

Joining up with the students

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 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.” is talking about

Joachim Uhing KG GmbH & Co – Germany Fax : +49 4347 90640 Email : sales@uhing.com Website : www.uhing.com

New staff for US expansion

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.”

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

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 : info@spilasers.com Website : www.spilasers.com 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

Jim Data

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Ken Dzurko

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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.

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

Email : sales@morganco.com Website : www.morganco.com

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EuroWire – March 2008