Grinding Journal - Summer 2007 - (Page 31)

Summer 2007 Problem Solver: Baltz Kloeti Project Manager Surface & Profile Division United Grinding Ohio I coordinate all the engineering work and scheduling of our internal resources to make sure the machine gets delivered and accepted with the right components. Many of these projects are complex, with challenging geometries and tight tolerances. For example, we delivered four Mägerle machines to make components that propel nuclear submarines. W What has been the biggest change in grinding over your career? CNC controls. I grew up on old hydraulic machines. CNC machines give so much more flexibility in processes and shapes. e caught up with Baltz just before he headed out on a big install and boy were we surprised This seemingly mild mannered engineer is quite an adventurous guy - he loves to travel, ski, sail and even has his pilot’s license. He once parachuted out of an airplane over Switzerland and jokes that since he was the last one in the plane, he had to be the first one out! Baltz admits he’s never before or since felt his heart beat so fast. Baltz is originally from Meilen, Switzerland, near Zurich. After high school, Baltz went to a 4 year machine tool builders apprenticeship in Winterthur, Switzerland. He also took pneumatic hydraulic courses before joining Mägerle in Switzerland as a Technician in Research and Development. For 5 years, Baltz built prototype machines, prototype fixtures and tooling. In 1979, Baltz bought a one-way plane ticket from Zurich to Chicago to join Midwest Precision Services, which later became Mägerle, Inc. (the US subsidiary). In ‘94 all of Mägerle was consolidated into United Grinding and the US operation moved to Ohio. While in Chicago, Baltz met his wife Lauren. Baltz has 2 daughters, 2 granddaughters and 2 dogs (also female!). What are the current “hot” buttons in the industry? Anything related to aerospace or power generation is hot now. Typical materials for the turbine industry are hard to machine and everyone is trying to figure out the best way to grind those materials. What about now? What need are you constantly struggling to meet? Being able to deliver machines competitively and quickly. Price and delivery are driving industry demands. We have to be able to react quickly to our customers’ needs. We also have to be very quick to try and develop a good solution for the application the customer needs. In other words - speed is critical. What do you predict for the future of grinding? Grinding can be a very difficult process. We will need to continue to develop ways to attract young people into the manufacturing industry to learn the trade. As always, grinding will have to continue to get more efficient to compete with alternative processes. What is the funniest thing that’s happened to you in the grinding business? On one project we had to build a grinding cell with two machines and a wheel changer. For some reason we decided to give the machines names. One of the machines was Wilma, one was Betty, and we called the wheel changer Bam-Bam. We always referred to the machines by their names and some of the guys thought we were nuts! Grinding Journal 1 Baltz, what’s the role of a Project Manager? Well, as Project Manager, I step in as soon as we receive the machine order. Knowledge of the complete grinding process is a must. I also handle the order and plan all the logistics.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grinding Journal - Summer 2007

Contents My Thoughts Exactly When Lives Are at Stake Walter Consolidating Production The Art of Grinding: Knowing the Source of Grinding Errors and How to Fix Them The How and Why of Conventional Vitrified Grinding Wheel Selection Grinding Glass Flat Problem Solver

Grinding Journal - Summer 2007

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