operator to potential grinding wheel crash conditions by using proprietary AE detection technology to monitor the high frequency signals generated by the grinding process.
Notable features of the SBS system include its ability to fit almost all grinding machines, ease of installation, compact and modular construction, ability to
balance a wheel while on a machine, virtual elimination of wheel vibration, automatic monitoring of balancing, display in a variety of languages and in metric units of measurement, instrument grade calibration, short balance process, measurement of
both displacement and/or velocity and minimal operator maintenance. The
SB-5500
also offers the capability of fully integrating its operation and output within any grinding machines CNC operating system
by the use of its IVIS (Intelligent Visualization) software.
Benefits of using the SBS system include improved quality of finished parts, elimination of
grinding gap time in the grind cycle resulting in increased efficiency and part throughput, ease of product adaptation, monitoring and correction of part crash, minimal downtime, complete and ready installation, elimination of static balancing,
longer life of the grinding wheel, diamond dressings and spindle bearings, the ability to balance within 0.02 microns and its adaptability to all types of machines.
Precision grinding is necessary in major manufacturing areas including the automotive industry (gear trains, camshafts, crankshafts, valves), bearings (roller
and tapered types), ceramics (precision shaping), electric motors (shafts), pumps (shafts and turbines), aircraft (engine parts such as turbine blades), and general manufacturing. Precision grinding has an established worldwide presence in all
industrialized countries and is expanding as a method of material removal and part processing.
Within the Companys customer base for the SBS
system, there are three major market segments:
Machine Tool Builders
These companies design and
manufacture a variety of specialty application grinding machines. SBS systems are distributed to markets throughout the world through machine tool original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who incorporate the SBS system into their products.
Examples of some
well-known
worldwide machine tool builders who have offered and/or installed the SBS
System include Shanghai Machine Tool Works (China), ANCA (Australia), Capco Machinery (U.S.), Drake Manufacturing (U.S.), Ecotech/SMTW (China/U.S.), Erwin Junker (U.S.), Matrix Machine Tool (UK), Schleifring Group (Germany, China), Shaanxi Qinchuan
Machinery Development Co. (China), Cinetic Landis Grinding (U.S.), Koyo Machinery (U.S./Japan), Micron Machinery Limited (Japan/U.S.), USACH Technologies (U.S.), Tschudin (U.S.) and Weldon Solutions (U.S.). The Company currently sells its products
directly to major machine builders throughout the world.
Machine Tool Rebuilders
These customers, found
in most, if not all, industrialized nations, develop their business by offering to completely update and refurbish older grinding machines. These rebuilders typically tear the old machine apart and install new components, such as the SBS system. The
Company currently sells its products directly to major machine tool rebuilders throughout the world.
Grinding Machine
Users
These end users become aware of the SBS system through trade shows, trade magazine advertising, distributors, field representatives, referrals and new machine suppliers. The Companys business is conducted
worldwide with some better known customers including: Black & Decker, Briggs and Stratton, Schaeffler, Caterpillar, Eaton, Emerson Power Transmission, Cummins Engine, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Ingersoll Rand,
Komatsu, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, SKF Bearing Industries, Timken, TRW Automotive Components and Universal Bearing.
For the years ended May 31,
2018, May 31, 2017 and May 31, 2016 (Fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016), net sales of the Companys balancing products totaled $9,026,830, $7,082,474 and $6,962,746, respectively. Net sales of balancing products accounted for 65%, 57% and
60% of the Companys total sales in Fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. See Note 5 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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