Boeing and Haimer strategic partnership
02.10.2018
The partnership between the Boeing Company and Germany-based Haimer Group has been strategically expanded to a joint membership at the OMIC R&D institution.
The Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research and Development (OMIC R&D) continues extending its strong membership base, with the latest addition, Haimer, a leading German tooling company in the field of tool holding, shrinking, balancing and presetting. Totaling now 17 manufacturing industry partners and three Oregon public universities, the Scappoose, Oregon, USA based R&D facility, continues to build a world-class operation to develop advanced metals manufacturing technologies through its collaborative R&D activities.
Through this partnership, Boeing – with its main production plant for heavy metal machining in Portland, Oregon – is intensifying its strategic partnership with Haimer by sponsoring a joint membership at OMIC R&D. The Boeing and Haimer partnership goes back over ten years when the latter's Safe-Lock pull out protection system became a game changer at Boeing. Boeing Portland has set the standard for cutting tools and tool holder applications for difficult to machine materials and has one of the globe's largest titanium machining shops. The partnership will be strategically strengthened by Haimer's investment and support as a new member at OMIC R&D.
The Haimer Safe-Lock system has become the Boeing Portland standard for roughing in their milling operations. Haimer implemented an open licensing policy where additional American and other cutting tool makers offer this technology as a standard solution which are widely used in the Boeing machining operations. The Boeing Company has also received an IP, patent and trade mark license from Haimer to be able to respond fast to their machining needs for this technology.
William Gerry, Global Technology program manager for Boeing Research and Technology said: “We are delighted about the new membership of Haimer and the company can support OMIC R&D and its members with state of the art technology and industry 4.0 connectivity solutions.”
OMIC R&D is the fifteenth such research center established with Boeing leadership worldwide, and the first Boeing has sponsored in the U.S. Its mission is to bring together manufacturing companies and higher education in an innovation environment where “outside-in” applied research with faculty and university students solves real problems for advanced manufacturers while training the next generation of engineers and technologists. Member companies share machinery, equipment such as tools, and expertise to create a highly dynamic and innovative R&D function for members.
Andreas Haimer, president of the Haimer Group, explained at the official handshake at becoming an OMIC R&D member: “The investment and membership at OMIC R&D is a clear commitment to the community, our customers and the entire manufacturing industry in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and American manufacturing. OMIC R&D is an ideal platform to share these kinds of best practices making American and Oregon manufacturers more competitive.”