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The Manufacturing Outlook: Specials Magazine
Five-axis machining is often discussed as though the fifth axis were a single, interchangeable capability. In practice, placing that movement in the tool produces a very different machine. It affects reach and the mass the machine must move, but it also changes how the machine responds to cutting loads and how readily the surrounding process can be automated. HELLER has built its principal five-axis platforms around both approaches. Its F series places the fifth axis in the tool through swivel- or tilting-head kinematics. By contrast, the HF series uses a numerically-controlled (NC) rotary-swivel table to move the workpiece. Manufacturers can select the architecture that best fits the part and the production requirement instead of forcing different components through one kinematic concept. That distinction defines HELLER’s approach to five-axis machining. The fifth axis is not an added feature. It determines how the machine reaches the component and how much work can remain in one controlled setup. Put the Fifth Axis Where the Part Demands HELLER’s F series keeps the workpiece on the rotary table with the spindle head providing the fifth movement. The architecture is designed for five-sided work and simultaneous five-axis machining, allowing the tool to approach complex surfaces while the component remains relatively stable. The current F generation spans flexible production machines and large machining centers designed for demanding cutting. HELLER equips the range with high-torque spindle options and direct measuring systems, while larger models use robust structural concepts intended to maintain stability under substantial machining loads. The platform is also prepared for pallet or workpiece automation.
Industrial Automation
For decades, hydraulics have done the heavy lifting in industrial machinery: powerful, well understood, and backed by a supply chain manufacturers already trust. That’s not changing. What’s changing is the equipment around them, as it goes electric, adds sensors, runs on software, and sometimes operates with less direct human input. RISE Robotics, founded in 2011 in Somerville, Massachusetts, has spent that time on the answer: Beltdraulic™, a fluid-free actuation technology built for machines that are electric and softwarecontrolled from the start, not patched onto them afterward. Beltdraulic™ replaces the pumps, valves, hoses and fluid in a conventional hydraulic cylinder with belts arranged in a patented block-and-tackle configuration, delivering hydraulic-class force without the fluid, the leaks, or the maintenance that comes with them. Running on electricity instead of hydraulic pressure also brings precise electronic control and the ability to recover energy instead of losing it as heat, on battery, hybrid or engine-powered equipment alike. “We didn’t set out to build a better hydraulic cylinder,” said Hiten Sonpal, CEO of RISE Robotics. “We set out to build an actuator for a machine that’s already running on electricity and software.”
Industrial Engineering
A product can look convincing long before it has proved itself. On a screen, a concept may appear resolved. The harder questions emerge when it has to function, survive repeated use, and eventually move into production. Ideology brings those questions into the development process earlier than most. The product design and engineering firm helps clients move from broad ambitions to concepts that can be engineered, tested, and prepared for manufacturing. At the center of its approach is a simple idea: think by making. For Ideology, prototyping is not a final stage or checkpoint. It is how the team investigates ideas, exposes blind spots, and finds out whether assumptions hold up in the physical world. “When we actually go to prototype it, it’s truth-telling,” says Zac West, Ideology’s creative lead and founder.
Industrial Engineering
When a mold fails, the problem is rarely limited to a damaged tool. For manufacturers, a failed mold can mean delayed orders, idle production lines, and pressure to find an immediate solution. Cosar Mold has built its reputation around those moments, helping customers restore production through specialized repairs, engineering changes, and maintenance support. The company serves molders worldwide, working with injection, compression, and transfer molds, including larger tools weighing up to 50,000 pounds. Its focus is not building new molds. Instead, the company concentrates on repairing existing tools and making engineering changes that allow manufacturers to continue producing parts. This specialization gives Cosar the ability to prioritize urgent repair work rather than treating it as a secondary task behind new tooling projects.
Metal Working
Every manufactured product has a story. It begins as an idea, takes shape through skilled hands and becomes a finished product. Before it leaves the hands of its maker, it gets a permanent mark that identifies the product and the people behind it. For 160 years, C.H. Hanson has been trusted by manufacturers to create those permanent marks through its proprietary steel stamps, stencils, identification products and traceability solutions. “Every mark our customers leave represents their reputation, and we’re proud to help them build products and legacies that stand the test of time,” says Phil Hanson, President of C.H. Hanson. C.H. Hanson began in 1866 as a stencil-making business, focused on helping manufacturers mark and identify their products. After rebuilding following the Great Chicago Fire, the company continued to develop around the needs of manufacturers and skilled trades professionals, listening to the people who used its tools. Over time, C.H. Hanson expanded beyond its roots to support a broader range of applications.
Manufacturing Packaging
Greenway Plastics
Three Decades of Fast, Reliable U.S. Packaging Manufacturing
James Wu, Chief Operating Officer
Over the last 30 years, Greenway Plastics has built its customer value around being close to the market it serves. Its five manufacturing facilities in Houston can produce custom bags for retailers and other businesses that need quicker turnaround and lower minimum orders, along with direct support and flexibility when requirements change. That model also helps customers reduce the timing, tariff and shipping uncertainties that can come with overseas sourcing. “We are very focused on customer experience, and we are fast and reliable in the quality we deliver,” says James Wu, Chief Operating Officer. “If an issue arises, we respond within one business day and work quickly toward a solution.” For customers, that responsiveness matters as much as production speed. Overseas orders can take months to arrive, while Greenway Plastics can turn around custom work in weeks and react quickly when an issue arises. It also competes on price once the full overseas sourcing process is factored in, giving customers a cost-competitive U.S.-based option. Houston Manufacturing with Low Minimum Orders Across its five production points, Greenway Plastics has a capacity of about five million pounds of material each month. Its core products include t-shirt bags, can liners, poly bags and produce bags. That manufacturing footprint also gives the company the flexibility to adjust machines for different sizes and customer requirements, rather than forcing buyers into a narrow standard offering. The company has worked with major retailers over the past 30 years and uses its manufacturing footprint to keep pricing competitive. Different facilities are suited to different products, helping Greenway Plastics manage production costs while maintaining domestic capacity. That structure supports reliable supply when customers need replacements quickly or cannot afford delays in imported products. Low minimum order quantities support that flexibility. For custom-printed bags, Greenway Plastics can accept orders starting at 300 cases per print, compared with the much larger quantities that some manufacturers require. The lower threshold gives customers more room to order custom packaging without committing to a large production run.
Industrial Equipment
For seven decades, Clark Seals has built its reputation as a precision manufacturer of elastomeric sealing solutions designed to improve equipment reliability. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the company began when founder Randy Clark entered the sealing industry after working for a major bearing manufacturer. He established Clark Seals by supplying high-precision seals to the bearing sector, creating the foundation for a business centered on technical expertise and customer-driven solutions. The company expanded under second-generation leadership when Scott Zahn’s father acquired the business in 1992. Clark Seals broadened its reach into large original equipment manufacturer markets, including appliances, automotive, agriculture, and industrial applications. Over time, the company developed customized seals engineered around the specific requirements of each customer’s equipment. Engineering Performance through Customization Clark Seals differentiates itself by treating seals as critical components rather than simple replacement parts. A failed seal can cause equipment breakdowns, making durability, consistency, and long service life essential factors for manufacturers. The company focuses on producing seals that deliver dependable performance and extend equipment operating life. Scott Zahn, President explains, “Our focus is developing seals that last significantly longer than industry standards and are more consistently produced at that level over the life of the equipment.” The company’s engineering approach is built around detailed application analysis. Instead of relying on standardized designs, Clark Seals evaluates numerous variables, including sealing lip geometry, spring positioning, material selection, operating conditions, and equipment factors. This allows engineers to create optimized solutions for individual applications, even when products appear similar externally.
Top Calibration Repair Solutions 2026
Every torque tool carries a simple expectation: when it clicks, shuts off or reaches its target, the torque needs to be right. When it is not, the consequences can range from rework and warranty claims to safety concerns and liability. That is the solution Team Torque has focused on for more than three decades. “We alleviate torque anxieties,” says Mark Anderson, president and CEO. “Our customers need confidence that their tools are accurate, documented and back in service fast.” Speed has been part of the company’s identity from the beginning. Years ago, Anderson sent a torque wrench out for calibration and waited six to 12 weeks to get it back. That experience shaped Team Torques approach: customers should not have to choose between accurate calibration and keeping their operation moving. Today, Team Torque promotes a one-day turnaround and works to be among the fastest torque calibration providers in the industry while maintaining its ISO/IEC 17025 quality standards. Its accredited capabilities cover nearly every category of torque equipment, from small inch-ounce tools to equipment reaching 20,000 ft-lb. Team Torque services click and digital torque wrenches, testers, transducers, pneumatic and battery-powered tools, hydraulic equipment, and other torque systems used across manufacturing, transportation, automotive service, heavy equipment, EV, aerospace, aviation and defense.
Additive Manufacturing
Rising Applications for Cast Products in Modern Product Design
Michelle Jones, Creative Marketing and EX Manager, East West Manufacturing
Industrial Maintenance
Advancing Industrial Maintenance With Innovative Technologies
Thiago Jube, Production And Maintenance Manager, Barry Callebaut Group
Fabrication
Redefining the Automotive Sector with Innovative Manufacturing Systems
Trent Randles, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, BorgWarner
Composite
Driving Holistic Sustainable Packaging Solutions
Martin Rathgeber, Director of Engineering, Studio One Eleven
Industrial Equipment
How To Make The Most Of Your Process Failure Mode And Effects Analysis
Monte Heisler, Director, Manufacturing Quality, North American Stamping Group
Chemical Manufacturing
Robotics and Revolutionizing Technology
Yongyao (Max) Cai, Director of Engineering, Lighting and Precision Connectivity, TE Connectivity
Industrial Engineering
Leading Manufacturing Transformation Through Operational Excellence
Marcelo Varreira, Manufacturing Engineering Director - North America, Electrolux
Manufacturing Supply Chain
The Human Side of Lean Transformation
Billy Ingram, Director, Lean Product and Process Development, Interface
Contract Manufacturing
Driving Smarter and Greener Peptide Production
Lin Chen, Associate Vice President, Peptide Manufacturing Technology and R&D, Asymchem Group
IN MY OPINION
Material Handling
Making Agile Manufacturing Stick
Larry Saidman, Chief Technologist -R&D, Nordson [NASDAQ:NDSN]
LAST WORD
Industrial Engineering
Leadership in Manufacturing: Caring About People Is Not Optional
Jeremy Robinson, Industrial Engineering Manager, Ashley Furniture Industries
IN FOCUS
Commercial Heat Treating Services: Recognizing Their Importance in the Manufacturing Process
Commercial heat treating enhances material performance, durability, consistency, manufacturing efficiency, and long-term product reliability.
Advancements in CNC Deep Hole Drilling and Milling Solutions
Advanced CNC drilling and milling improve precision, productivity, efficiency, and manufacturing quality for complex components.
EDITORIAL
Precision and Flexibility Defining Modern Manufacturing
Manufacturing is advancing through technologies and Practices that connect precision, flexibility and practical engineering expertise. This issue of Manufacturing Outlook examines that progress across five-axis machining, industrial marking, mold repair, custom packaging, product development, robotics and calibration, while contributor perspectives explore smarter automation and stronger mold-making partnerships.
Our cover story recognizes HELLER as the Top 5-axis Machining Services 2026. Its F and HF platforms take distinct approaches to five-axis movement, allowing manufacturers to select the architecture suited to the component and production requirement. By reducing setups, supporting automation and integrating digital services for machine performance and condition monitoring, HELLER connects machining flexibility with sustained production availability.
The issue also features C.H. Hanson as the Top Steel Stamps Tool Manufacturer 2026. Its 160-year history and customer-driven approach have supported manufacturers and skilled trades with standard and customized identification tools. Cosar Mold, recognized for Top Mold Repair Solutions 2026, protects production continuity through in-house mold repair and engineering changes. Clark Seals, Top Elastomeric Seals Precision Manufacturer 2026, delivers precision-engineered elastomeric sealing solutions that enhance equipment reliability, performance, and longevity.
Greenway Plastics, recognized as the Top Custom Bag Packaging Manufacturer 2026, combines five Houston manufacturing facilities with low minimum orders, domestic production and expanding biodegradable and paper packaging capabilities. Ideology, the Top Product Design & Engineering Firm 2026, brings industrial design and engineering together through prototyping and multidisciplinary development across hard goods, soft goods and electronics. RISE Robotics, the Top Robotics Manufacturing Company 2026, advances electric actuation through its Beltdraulic technology, while Team Torque, the Top Calibration Repair Solutions 2026, combines ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation with calibration, repair and rapid service.
Contributor perspectives add further depth. Yongyao (Max) Cai, Director of Engineering, TE Connectivity, examines collaborative robotics, 3D vision, machine monitoring and the software foundation of smart manufacturing. Eric Huang, Engineering Manager at Alcon, explores how mold makers can strengthen customer outcomes through early collaboration, documentation, workforce development and manufacturability feedback.
Together, these stories show manufacturing becoming more connected, precise and responsive, where technology gains value when engineering expertise and production realities remain at the center.
