December 3, 2012, Leesburg, Va. – Joshua Bedell of St. Petersburg, Florida and student of Pinellas Technical Education Center (PTEC) in Clearwater, Florida, will represent the United States in Leipzig, Germany in the CNC Milling contest during the biennial WorldSkills Competition. Bedell will compete as a member of the United States “WorldTeam.” The 42nd international event will be held July 2-7, 2013.

Bedell was recently awarded the silver medal in CNC Milling in November 2012 during the WorldSkills America’s competition in Brazil where the United States competed against 23 other countries in preparation for the WorldSkills Competition.

Bedell won the right to compete by winning the college/postsecondary gold medal in CNC Milling in the SkillsUSA Championships in June 2011. He has also successfully completed other qualifying prerequisites prior to being chosen for the team.

When asked how he became involved in CNC Milling, Bedell said, “My father is a precision machinist, and that led me to taking it in high school and I found out I really enjoyed it. After I graduated from high school, I went to PTEC to learn even more about it.”

Bedell graduated high school from Dixie M. Hollins High School in St. Petersburg, Florida where he studied precision machining. When asked about Bedell’s ability to compete on an international level, his teacher, Mr. James Lewis said, “Josh was a hard worker for me and a bright young man. It won’t surprise me if he wins the international competition.”

“The international CNC Milling contest requires the completion of a project containing a minimum of three modules. Each module requires the competitor to develop a CNC program from a complex drawing using MasterCam, to set up a machining center and to machine the final part. The main challenge for a United States competitor will be to think and function in metric as opposed to the imperial standard and to achieve a large number of 3-place metric (4-place imperial) tolerance requirements,” said Frank McSherry, the technical expert and trainer for Joshua Bedell. McSherry will also be traveling to Germany with Bedell.

“This experience will give me an opportunity to really test myself as a machinist, a chance to participate in a community like no other, and a shot at showing the rest of the world what America can do,” said Bedell. “A challenge will be learning to use a machine that I haven’t touched before. It will be the same type of machine, but it will be a different brand and a different model and that will make a difference.”

During the WorldSkills CNC Milling contest, competitors must create the CNC program based on drawings with the use of a CAM system. Competitors must select and mount the tools for machining themselves. Tooling offset measurements are performed on the tool setter provided for this purpose. All data of the machining tools must be entered manually into the tool carrier of the CNC machine (tool offset). The program must be optimized and corrected by the competitor.

Every two years, hundreds of young people from 53 member countries or regions compete in the prestigious WorldSkills Competition. Member countries include: Japan, England, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Brazil and many others. Considered “the best of the best,” contestants compete for four days in 45 occupational skill areas from economic sectors including manufacturing, information technology, transportation, construction and services. Accompanied by their teachers, trainers and industry technical committee experts, these young people compete before the public in contests that are run and judged by industry using demanding international standards.

Over its 60-year history, WorldSkills International (formerly known as the “Skill Olympics”) has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training. It provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy. The continued growth of WorldSkills International attests to the fact that traditional trade and craft skills along with the newer technology multi-skilled occupations makes an essential contribution to the economic and social well being of people everywhere.

In 2013, more than 1,000 competitors will test their skills in Leipzig, Germany. Five thousand international experts, delegates and judges will gather from around the world, and 3,000 volunteers will be recruited to assist in the event. A total of 150,000 student and public spectators will attend the competition at the Leipzig Trade Fair and Exhibition Center. For more information about the competition, go to: http://www.worldskills.org or http://www.worldskillsleipzig2013.com.

Joshua Bedell is a member of SkillsUSA, the organization that represents the United States in the WorldSkills Competition. Competitors in WorldSkills must be under the age of 23. There will be a total of 20 members of WorldTeam. Other occupational areas in which the United States plans to compete include: Autobody Repair; Automobile Technology, Beauty Therapy; Bricklaying; Cabinetmaking; Car Painting; CNC Turning; Cooking; Graphic Design; Hairdressing; IT Networks Systems Administration; Mechatronics (a two-person team contest); Plumbing & Heating; Print Media Technology; Refrigeration & Air Conditioning; Restaurant Service; Web Design and Welding.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA helps students discover and grow their career passions. As a nationwide partnership of students, instructors and industry working together, SkillsUSA works to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It helps every student excel. The nationwide career and technical education student organization annually serves more than 320,000 high school, college and postsecondary students—and their instructors—in technical, skilled, and service occupation instructional programs. Career and technical education is learning that works for America. SkillsUSA has the active support of more than 1,100 corporations, trade associations, business and labor unions at the national level. Over 10.5 million people have been annual members of SkillsUSA since its founding as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America in 1965. SkillsUSA programs teach leadership, citizenship and character development to complement technical skill training. The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety. For more information, go to http://www.skillsusa.org

Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) December 04, 2012

Industry Professionals, college students and educators came together in Nashville, TN, the week of November 14, 2012, to share the latest in the fields of Technology Management and Applied Engineering at the ATMAE Annual Conference.

Students participated in the annual Robotics Competition. Nine college teams designed a challenge Robot that had to scoop up ping pong balls, sort them by color and distribute the balls to various points of the field. Each team’s robot had to be programmed to do the scooping autonomously without student intervention. The teams were judged on automation, fabrication, control methodology, a technical report, design a poster and task completion.

The Winners:
1st Place Overall-Robotics: Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL
2nd Place Overall-Robotics: East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
3rd Place, Overall-Robotics: University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

Fabrication Winner-Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL
Electronics Control Methodology Winner-Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL
Technical Report Winner-Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
Poster Winner-North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, NC

Dr. Haig Vahradian Technology Challenge – A Jeopardy-style, single-elimination competition that challenges students to answer questions on manufacturing, communication, construction, safety, electronics, energy, quality, and management.

The Winners:
1st Place: Leland Denney, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
2nd Place: Jason Thornton, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
3rd Place: Brady Sims, Mississippi State University , Mississippi State, MS

Virtual Welding Competition, Sponsored by Lincoln Electric

Winner: Jeremy Ganfield, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

Outstanding Chapter Award:

Winner: University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX

Students from twenty-four schools around the country attended the ATMAE Conference to compete, present research and network with each other and industry professionals.

The National Industrial Advisory Committee (NIAC), an advisory council to the Executive Board of ATMAE, organized two sessions that brought together students who will soon be entering the workforce with leading industry professionals. One session showed students the best and worst ways to interview and the second brought the students and industry leaders together in small roundtable discussions about the current state of industry and job potential in the market in the near future. Royall Mack, Chairman of the NIAC and ATMAE Executive Board Member, said “This is a remarkable opportunity for both the industry people and the students. “

Since 1967, ATMAE (formerly known as NAIT) members have been gathering to share the latest in industrial technology and educational research. The organization has grown, but the focus has stayed the same, high quality opportunities for members to present their research, network and help people develop themselves as professionals in the field of technology, management and applied engineering.

Dr. Heshium Lawrence, Chapter Advisor for the University of Texas at Tyler ATMAE chapter, said, “The ATMAE Chapter adds value to the campus due to the visibility of the chapter going to conference and representing UT Tyler. The students that attend the conference come back expressing to others around campus how exciting ATMAE is and how great their experiences were. The ATMAE Chapter also allows for collaboration between other organizations on campus.”

Students have expressed appreciation for the opportunity to showcase their talents in an arena that appreciates their creativity and enthusiasm.

“The competition proved to be an excellent opportunity for our team members to constructively interact with other competing schools and gain the necessary practical knowledge to utilize in the future.” Phillippe Schmider, East Carolina University ATMAE Chapter President.

“The competition was a great opportunity to apply the knowledge learned in the classroom to an actual real-world project experience.” Grover Black, East Carolina University ATMAE Chapter Member.

“The Competition was a great experience for our team! We learned great skills about designing for a specified task and overcoming obstacles that were presented throughout the process. It was such a great honor to be a part of the ATMAE Competition.” Benjamin Ledbetter, Treasurer, ATMAE Chapter, Jacksonville State University.

“The whole ATMAE Robotics competition was valuable team building experience for every project member of the ECU Group.” Ryan Burk, East Carolina University Student Chapter member.

Thank you, Amy Frank for this video from East Carolina University, that features all of the robots:

The 2013 ATMAE Conference will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 20 through 23, 2013 at the Astor Crowne Plaza, in the heart of the French Quarter.

The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) is an international organization that sets standards for academic program accreditation, personal certification, and professional development for educators and industry professionals involved in integrating technology, leadership and design. For more information, visit our website at http://www.atmae.org.

MINNEAPOLIS & REHOVOT, Israel– Stratasys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSYS) and Objet Ltd. today announced the completion of their merger, forming a leader in 3D printing and direct digital manufacturing. The combined company will trade on the NASDAQ stock exchange as Stratasys Ltd. (“Stratasys”) under the symbol SSYS beginning December 3, 2012. Based on the closing price of Stratasys, Inc. stock on November 30, 2012, the market capitalization of the new company will be approximately $3.0 billion.

Stratasys boasts an impressive portfolio of 3D printing and direct digital manufacturing solutions, with systems that produce parts with a wide range of capabilities and materials. The company will offer three leading technologies: FDM® for functional prototypes and production parts; inkjet-based PolyJet® for prototyping parts with high feature detail and fine surface finish; and

Solidscape® Drop-on-Demand (“DoD”) thermoplastic ink-jetting technology for complex wax patterns for investment casting of finished parts. With more than 260 channel partners around the world, Stratasys can leverage the extensive geographic reach of its marketing and sales organization to serve customers and grow awareness of 3D printing for rapid prototyping and production. In addition, Stratasys will have a world-class R&D team focused on developing new consumables and systems.

David Reis, chief executive officer of Stratasys, stated, “We are excited to move forward as one company and deliver the benefits this combination creates for our shareholders, our customers and our employees. Stratasys is now uniquely positioned to offer a comprehensive portfolio of innovative products and technologies, and we have the scale, team and financial strength to achieve our goals. I look forward to working closely with the board of directors, our senior management team and all of our employees to ensure a seamless transition as we continue to deliver advanced solutions to our customers worldwide.”

“We are pleased to announce the successful completion of this merger,” said Scott Crump, full-time executive chairman of Stratasys. “With our breadth of products, commitment to innovation, and outstanding, service-focused team, we will be well positioned to address customer needs across the entire 3D design and manufacturing spectrum. The combined company has a deep well of talent and a strong board and management team to lead us successfully as we continue to pave a new way forward for the 3D printing industry.”

Transaction Information

Consistent with the terms of the transaction, which was announced on April 16, 2012, Stratasys, Inc. has merged with a subsidiary of Objet, each former Stratasys common share has been converted into the right to receive one newly issued ordinary share of Stratasys Ltd., and Objet has changed its name to Stratasys Ltd. Former Stratasys stockholders hold approximately 55 percent of the combined company’s common stock, and former Objet shareholders hold approximately 45 percent on a fully diluted basis using the treasury stock method. Stratasys is maintaining dual headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, and is incorporated in Israel.

Financial Benefits of the Transaction

The transaction is expected to create significant revenue synergies from increased sales, and to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share immediately. Beginning 18 months after closing, Stratasys expects to be generating between $7 and $8 million of annual net cost synergies and between $3 and $4 million in annual tax savings.

Leadership

David Reis, former chief executive officer of Objet, has assumed the role of chief executive officer; Erez Simha, former chief operations officer and chief financial officer of Objet, has assumed the role of chief operations officer (IL) and chief financial officer; Scott Crump, co-founder and former chief executive officer of Stratasys, Inc., has become full-time executive chairman of the board; and Elchanan Jaglom, formerly chairman of Objet, is serving as the full-time chairman of the executive committee.

Integration

Stratasys management will immediately begin the process of fully integrating the two companies, and the company has formed an executive committee comprised of four members of the board of directors to oversee the integration process. In the near term, customers can expect to work with each company as they always have, and in the coming months, will have the ability to purchase both Stratasys and Objet products from one channel partner point of contact. Learn more at www.StratasysForA3DWorld.com.

Advisors

Piper Jaffray & Co. acted as financial advisor to Stratasys and the firms McLaughlin & Stern, LLP, Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Latham & Watkins LLP, and Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co. acted as its legal advisors. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisor to Objet and the firms Meitar Liquornik Geva & Leshem Brandwein and Cooley LLP acted as its legal advisors.

About Stratasys Ltd.
Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS) is the corporate entity formed in 2012 by the merger of 3D printing companies Stratasys, Inc.and Objet Ltd., based in Minneapolis, Minn. and Rehovot, Israel. The company manufactures 3D printers and materials for prototyping and production. Prior to merging, the two companies’ revenues totaled $277 million for 2011. Its patented FDM® and inkjet-based PolyJet® processes produce prototypes or manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD files or other 3D content. Systems include affordable desktop 3D printers for idea development, a range of systems for prototyping, and large production systems for direct digital manufacturing. The company’s range of more than 120 3D printing materials is believed to be the widest in the industry and includes over 100 proprietary inkjet-based photopolymer materials and 10 proprietary FDM- based thermoplastic materials. Stratasys also manufacturers Solidscape 3D Printers and operates the RedEye On Demand digital-manufacturing service. The company has over 1,000 employees, holds over 500 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally, and has received 19 awards for its technology and leadership. Online at: www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com / www.objet.com or http://blog.objet.com

Nexus Cutting Tools—a new product line from Techniks—introduces its PowerLOC System, unveiled at IMTS 2012. This innovative system is built around the patented PowerLOC indexable end mill with a square shank end that locks into the PowerLOC Square Shank Adapter. The adapter is another patented idea from Nexus which allows the square end of their end mill shanks to positively engage with the holder. This PowerLOC System significantly improves T.I.R. compared to standard end mill holders, because the endmill is held in an accurate collet chuck and the threat of tool slippage is eliminated from the manufacturing process.

According to National Sales Manager Mike Raper, “Machinists can use the PowerLOC system with a Nexus collet chuck as a replacement for expensive, dedicated milling chucks. The improved T.I.R. offered by PowerLOC tool holders extends insert life, reduces scrap rates, and permits higher feed rates than possible with standard end mill holders.”

The PowerLOC System is backed by Nexus Tool’s 100% Performance Guarantee. Visit their website to see PowerLOC and other innovative tooling solutions such as ShrinkMILL at www.techniksusa.com/nexus.

Techniks is a full-line manufacturer of toolholders, cutting tools, and magnetic workholding located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Call (800) 597-3921 or (317) 803-8000 for more information. email: info@techniksusa.com.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the leading provider of rigorous and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education curricular programs used in middle and high schools across the U.S..

“Research shows that the American economy will add 1.2 million new STEM-related jobs by 2018,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of PLTW. “It is critical that we equip today’s students with the knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills they need to fill these jobs and be prepared for the global economy.

Through rigorous curriculum, hands-on classroom activities, and real-world experiences, PLTW engages students in activities, projects, and problem-based learning. Students create, design, build, discover, collaborate and solve problems while being exposed to areas of study that they typically do not pursue. It’s a great foundation for them and a proven path to college and career success.

“We’re passionate about the industry and what PLTW is doing to prepare these children to be the next great innovators. The impact their having on these kids is inspiring and is right in line with our mission of people helping people in the engineering community.” states Ken Wilson, CEO of CADCAMConnect.com.

The curriculum, delivered through PLTW’s Virtual Academy, is provided free of charge to schools that register with PLTW. More than 4,700 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are offering PLTW courses to their students.

PLTW was recently cited by the Harvard Graduate School of Education as a “model for 21st century career and technical education.”

To find out more about Project Lead The Way, visit http://www.pltw.org, call (877) 335-7589, or email schoolsupport(at)pltw(dot)org.

About CADCAMConnect.com:
Unlike traditional resellers, CADCAMConnect.com partners with multiple CAD/CAM/CAE suppliers who are among the top in their industry. Products ranging from reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, CAM nesting, and more. The site offers industry news, trends, user forums and discussion groups, with various deals on different products giving mechanical engineers and machinists one place to go for all of their needs.

About Project Lead the Way:
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the leading provider of rigorous and innovative STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education curricular programs used in schools. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, PLTW exists to prepare students for the global economy through its world-class curriculum.