Sandvik Coromant and Pathtrace Collaborate to Improve Mold and Die Productivity

Sandvik Coromant and Pathtrace Collaborate to Improve Mold and Die Productivity

Sandvik Coromant and Pathtrace PLC have signed a global agreement to cooperate on new machining techniques for both production machining and mold and die applications. Sandvik and Pathtrace will carry out joint research and development to meet future demands across the broad spectrum of manufacturing. Die and mold makers will be able to use Sandvik Coromant machining data and tooling throughout their processes.

As part of the agreement, Pathtrace will supply its EdgeCAM software, training, and technical support to Sandvik's worldwide network of productivity and training centers. The collaboration will give customers the benefits of Sandvik tooling combined with EdgeCAM machining expertise. Future releases of EdgeCAM will benefit from a comprehensive Sandvik database, complete with cutting feed and speed data for the complete range of Sandvik tools.

The deal extends the long-standing collaboration between the two companies. Past projects used data from the Sandvik AutoTAS tool management system within EdgeCAM.

According to Waino Kaarto, Sandvik Coromant manager of business development for die and mold, "Productivity improvement is critical to reduced manufacturing costs. By integrating Sandvik tooling and cutting data into EdgeCAM, users can benefit immediately from the latest developments in tooling and machining technology. They can achieve the highest level of return on their investment."

David Boucher, R&D director of Pathtrace commented, "Experience has shown that tooling manufacturers and CAM software developers need to work closely together. That ensures customers are able to get the major benefits from deploying new tooling technologies with optimized machining strategies. Our collaboration with Sandvik gives us advance access to the very latest developments in tooling technology. It allows us to bring forward new developments to compliment these advances."

Sandvik is an international group of materials-technology companies with 34,000 employees in 130 countries and over $5 billion in annual sales. Products include cemented carbide and high-speed steel tools for metalworking; machinery and equipment for mining and construction; and stainless steels, special alloys and heating materials. Each company in the Sandvik group prides itself on large investments in research and development, a strong commitment to superior customer service and the willingness and capability to lead the way in technology.

Pathtrace Engineering Systems, and Pathtrace.net are divisions of Pathtrace Plc. Pathtrace Systems Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary. Offices are also established in Scandinavia and Japan, complementing a worldwide network of resellers. Pathtrace Engineering Systems is the developer of EdgeCAMª, a powerful, but easy-to-use software solution devoted to automating the process of NC programming for metalcutting machine tools, EdgeCAM is Windows 2000 Professional and NT4 compliant and has over 20,000 users worldwide.

For more information contact:

Thomas Carlberg

Sandvik Coromant

1702 Nevins Road

Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-0428

800-726-3845

201-794-5000

www.sandvik.com

E-mail: thomas.carlberg@sandvik.com

Tom Hall

Sandvik Coromant

13023 Trinity Drive