Blue Ash-based Roto Press International, a manufacturer of narrow web presses for the label and packaging industry, has been acquired by Nilpeter A/S, a leading international manufacturer of web presses based in Denmark. The purchase price for privately held Roto Press, which employs 85, wasn't disclosed.

        Officials of Roto Press said the acquisition will broaden its access to international markets. For Nilpeter, which operates a distribution subsidiary in Davie, Fla., the acquisition gives it a U.S. manufacturing presence as well as access to Roto Press' 16-inch web product and servo-motor technology.

Orders for machines that cut metal off 22%

        Further evidence of the economic slowdown comes in the latest machine tool consumption report by AMT — Association for Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA — American Machine Tool Distributors' Association.

        Orders for machines that cut and form metal, an indicator of future manufacturing activity, declined 22 percent in January from a year ago.

        Orders reported by participating manufacturers and distributors totaled $246.15 million in January, down from $317.21 million in January a year ago. The total was also down 17 percent from December's $296.6 million, the trade groups said.

        In the Midwest region, including Ohio and Indiana, January orders totaled $89.8 million, off 27 percent from $123.7 million a year ago.

Intl. TechneGroup forms new data unit

        Milford-based International TechneGroup Inc. has formed a new unit, TranscenData, from its product data interoperability business.

        It will focus on solutions that enable companies to effectively exchange, reuse and share engineering product data among diverse software applications used throughout a manufacturing enterprise and its supply chain.

        It will focus on three areas: engineering supply chains, computer automated design, manufacturing and engineering systems, and product data management systems.

LSI Industries launches new group

        LSI Industries Inc. in Blue Ash has launched a retail national account group to provide full-service lighting and custom graphic systems to the commercial retail market.

        The new organization will market LSI's line of indoor and outdoor lighting and graphics, as well as offer project management, including design, site engineering, permitting and construction management.

        In January, LSI acquired Cleveland-based Adapt, a privately held engineering consulting firm which handles site engineering, permitting and construction management for new petroleum retail store re-imaging programs.
       

Industrial hose outlet opens in West Chester

        Aeroquip Express, a new industrial hose retail outlet, has opened at 9005 Sutton Place, West Chester.

        The outlet, operated by F.B. Wright Co., a distributor for Eaton Corp.'s Aeroquip products, is a new concept offering a broad selection and rapid turnaround on hydraulic and fluid transfer hoses and fittings for the farm, construction, trucking, steel and pipe mill, food processing and aggregates industries.

        Mike Boyer covers manufacturing for the Enquirer. Have news? Call him at 768-8494, e-mail at mboyer@enquirer.com or fax 564-6991.

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