Machine Talk Blog

Friction welding is rooted in a fairly simple, yet effective concept: make good parts great and strong parts even stronger.

Following a nearly seven-week closure of our buildings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, MTI reopened its doors on May 11 to resume US operations after Indiana's governor deemed it was safe for non-essential manufacturers to do so.

As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, we want to ensure our customers understand how MTI is responding to the situation and how the restrictions will impact our business operations in the coming weeks.

Whether it's as small as adding a protective case to your new smartphone or as advanced as installing a state-of-the-art security system to monitor your home, it's natural and sensible to want to keep your personal property safe.

2020. We made it.

The confetti has fallen, the noisemakers have been tucked back into storage, and now, we're left with an unfiltered view of both a new year and a new decade (unless you're one of those people who believes the new decade doesn't begin until 2021, but that's a separate discussion.)

Though MTI is eager to dive head-first into 2020, we first want to pause and reflect on our accomplishments from 2019 – after all, without them, we wouldn't be where we are now!

Long before the word "Tesla" spurred any thoughts beyond the iconic inventor of the 1800s, companies around the world were relying on friction welding to join their parts.  But just as automotive technology has shifted throughout the decades, friction welding has followed right along, aligning with the demands of the modern consumer and commercial vehicle market.

Adding to its growing list of value-added services, MTI’s Manufacturing Services division has welcomed two new CNC machines to its 117-thousand square-foot facility.

Oil sands production is a tough, demanding operation. The impact loads are earth-shattering, and the often brutally cold temperatures do little to provide any relief to the machinery operating in this highly abrasive environment.

GLASGOW — Two MTI-built rotary friction welding machines have found a new and purposeful home at the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), which specializes in innovative manufacturing technologies, metal forming and forging research.

When it comes to aerospace and automotive applications, bigger isn't always better.  In fact, companies invest a lot of time and money into figuring out how to trim the weight of their critical parts.

The world of friction welding is vast -- and so is the vocabulary used to describe it! We've compiled a list of the most commonly used friction welding terms -- from machine components to MTI's processes -- to help you grow your engineering mind!

DETROIT – The first and only linear friction welder capable of full-sized part development in North America is now fully operational and ready for project work at LIFT - Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow, a national manufacturing innovation facility operated by the American Lightweight Materials Innovation Institute, in Detroit.

Steel and Inconel: they look similar, but metallurgically speaking, they’re two very different materials. They melt at different temperatures, they have different densities and their forgeabilities vary greatly.

Kingswinford, UK – MTI Welding Technologies, Ltd. is building a state-of-the-art friction welding machine for a leading truck manufacturer in Europe.

South Bend, Ind. - Recently recognized for its role in high-profile space missions, Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) is gearing up to showcase its friction welding expertise to some of the biggest aerospace influencers in the nation.

Technology and infrastructure have certainly grown over the past 49 years, but so has MTI's commitment to helping our environment.

Friction Welding has become the premier choice for companies looking to join dissimilar metals.  Because Friction Welding is a solid-state joining process that does not require melting, it allows for the bonding of two metals, such as Copper and Aluminum, that may be impossible to join with more traditional welding techniques.

With fusion welding processes like MIG and TIG welding, it can be challenging to join dissimilar metals because they often differ substantially in composition and physical, mechanical and metallurgical properties.

Tom Budd, MTI Friction Welding Solutions Manager, poses in the MTI booth at the Pacific Design & Manufacturing Show in Anaheim, California

More companies than ever now understand the benefits of Friction Welding, thanks to MTI's recent appearance at the Pacific Design & Manufacturing Show.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The friction welding experts at Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) are helping welcome the next generation of American space travel and preparing to launch NASA astronauts on missions to deep space through the world’s only exploration-class space systems: NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft and the Exploration Ground Systems that launch these vehicles.   

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Continuing its longtime dedication to excellence, Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) has renewed its AS9100 certification, a key quality indicator for companies working in the aerospace and defense industries.

As the global leader in Friction Welding, Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) is always looking forward, searching for ways to help put the future of innovative manufacturing into customers’ hands.

  SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 9, 2018: Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) has shipped North America’s first linear friction welder capable of full sized part development to the LIFT - Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow facility in Detroit where it will contribute to cutting edge lightweighting research in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Jamie Clews (MTI Global Controls Technical Lead), Brian Roberts (MTI Manufacturing Operations Lead), Scott Knoll (Amerisure Senior Risk Management Consultant), Daniel C. Adams (MTI President & CEO), Mark Wobbe (Gibson Principal, Risk Advisor), MariClare Osborn (MTI Director of Human Resources), and Jeff Lovin (MTI Director of Technical Operations).  

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 28, 2018:  Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) today was awarded for outstanding safety performance by Amerisure Insurance Company. MTI was presented the award at its world headquarters in South Bend, IN after maintaining 365 days without a recordable incident. The last time the company achieved this was in 2005.  Additionally, MTI has sustained an impressive 419 days without a loss time incident during the period beginning on July 2017 through September 2018.

Global joining solutions provider MTI has collaborated with technology company HMK, the Siemens motion partner, to pioneer the development of a double axle friction welding machine worth in excess of $2.4 million for one of the world’s leading trailer manufacturers.

South Bend, IN - October 6, 2017:  Manufacturing Technology, Inc (MTI) opened its doors to area high schoolers in celebration of Manufacturing Day. The nation-wide event introduces the next generation of workers to high-skilled careers in modern manufacturing.

Students from Riley, Washington, and Adams High School attended the event, which was held at MTI’s world headquarters. 

SOUTH BEND, IN -- Former astronaut Brian Duffy along with representatives from NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Orbital ATK acknowledged Manufacturing Technology, Inc (MTI) for its contributions to the NASA Space Launch System (SLS).

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Jim Hoffman (Chief Metallurgist and Quality Assurance), Sherri Lotter (Inside Sales Coordinator), Zach Danko (Process Engineer), Jordan Walser (Process Engineer), Jacob Smith (Production Manager), Gabe Hostetter (Process Engineer).

SOUTH BEND, IN - To demonstrate a continued commitment to quality, Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) announces that they have been successful in achieving Nadcap accreditation for welding at their Sheridan Street location. 

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Bob Besse (MTI VP Sales & Marketing), Jeanette Lapehn (MTI Spare Parts Manager), Mike Laiman (MTI Manufacturing Services Business Unit Manager), Dan Adams (MTI President & CEO), Brian Roberts (MTI Manufacturing Operations Lead), Mohamed Elnaggar (AR Specialist Engineer), David Sherman (AR Manufacturing Engineer), Heath Cheung (AR Project Engineer), Kent Majewski (AR Associate Engineer), James Bartlett (AR Sr. Specialist Engineer).

SOUTH BEND, IN - Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AJRD), has recognized Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) for its work on the RS-25 rocket engine, a key element of NASA’s space exploration program.  MTI was instrumental in the refurbishment of the inertia welder and production inertia welding for the RS-25 Main Injector. 

 SOUTH BEND, IN - Ball Aerospace has recognized Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) for outstanding technical performance on the TIRS-02 Program, a NASA initiative which uses thermal infrared sensors to measure the Earth’s temperature.  MTI played an integral role by joining together titanium and copper for the TIRS-02 Cryocooler, which is used on the Landsat Data Continuity satellite.

“We were thrilled to work with Ball Aerospace and work together to find a joining solution that met their needs” said Mike Laiman, MTI’s Manufacturing Services Business Unit Manager.  “Collaboration was key to our success.”

SOUTH BEND, IN - Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) today announced changes to the company’s leadership team, as well as the addition of three outside Board of Director members.  The changes are part of the company’s focus on new product development, operations, and sales.

Dan Adams, who is currently MTI’s President and one of the company’s fourth generation owners, is assuming the role of CEO.  He will continue overseeing the company’s recently launched new product development efforts. 

SOUTH BEND, IN-  As part of an ongoing strategy of investing in and adapting to the best market opportunities, Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) is proactively realigning its US machine build and corporate operations.  This allows the company to be more cost competitive, and will result in 24 positions being eliminated or reassigned. MTI’s UK operation is not affected.

MTI’s US business is built around large complex friction welding machines, a successful niche, but only a small portion of the global market.  The global friction welding machine market is dominated by smaller automated machines.  This is a segment where the US operation has become much less cost competitive over time.

SOUTH BEND, IN - September 16, 2016: Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) reconnected with leadership guru and award-winning author David Marquet.

During an Executive Forums Leadership Summit attended by MTI and other organizations, Marquet demonstrated the importance of leading with intent. Marquet believes the ideal workplace is one where everyone participates and contributes their full intellectual capacity.

Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) announced that the company has finalized the purchase of ProSpot, a resistance welding company located in Tamworth, United Kingdom.  The acquisition doubles the size of MTI’s UK subsidiary and serves as a springboard into further European expansion.

Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) today announced that the company has finalized the purchase of a 117,000 square foot building located on Sheridan Street in South Bend. The new facility will more than double the size of the company’s growing Manufacturing Services division, which designs, develops and produces friction-welded parts for the aerospace, automotive and medical device industries. The building was formerly owned by the Mohawk Door division of Masonite International Corporation.

Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) is saddened to announce that Bob Adams passed away on June 28th after a yearlong battle with liver cancer. He was 46. Bob, along with his brother Daniel and sister Jennifer, comprised the fourth generation of company owners and was a member of the Board of Directors.

Manufacturing Technology, Inc., has shipped the world’s largest capacity linear friction welding machine, to Pratt & Whitney’s world-class Middletown facility in Connecticut. The machine will be used to friction-weld critical aircraft engine components to support Pratt & Whitney’s most advanced military programs and next generation product family.

One of the world’s largest aerospace companies has awarded Manufacturing Technology, Inc., a contract worth approximately $25 million for three aerospace Rotary Friction Welding (RFW) machines to be developed and built in South Bend over a twoyear period. One of the machines being built will be the world’s largest Rotary Friction Welder, with inertia capacity twice that of any other machine on the planet. This contract, along with other recent orders, has resulted in the hiring of six new employees with an additional 11 open positions at the company’s South Bend location.

Manufacturing Technology, Inc. has established a working relationship with Bond Technologies, Inc., which is licensing certain Friction Stir Welding intellectual property from the company. MTI recently announced that it is exiting the FSW machine building business to focus on other business segments, including contract welding.

Manufacturing Technology, Inc. has announced that it is divesting from the Friction Stir Welding business to better focus on the company’s growing Rotary and Linear business units. As part of that effort, a portion of the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) employees will be reassigned to the Rotary and Linear businesses.

A state of the art Rotary Friction Welding (RFW) machine developed and built by South Bend based Manufacturing Technology Inc., is leaving Michiana to begin a 4,000 mile journey to the United Kingdom. The final destination is the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), a research facility for new manufacturing techniques that bridges the technology readiness gap between development in academia and execution in industry. The machine is designed for research and development on jet engine components for companies like Rolls Royce, General Electric, and Pratt and Whitney.

In January of 2014, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, a British Cabinet position responsible for economic and financial matters, toured the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) located in Ansty Park, Coventry in January 2014. The Chancellor was duly impressed with the facility and its potential to provide state-of-the art collaborative research to the aerospace industry and advanced manufacturing fields.

A world leader in the niche market of friction welding systems suppliers, MTI has excelled at listening to its customers; supplying production and R&D solutions to OEMS for over 80 years. Looking to the future, MTI plans on extending its global reach further for when the fifth generation of family owners take the helm.