KMT reorganizes grinding units.

Swedish equipment producer Karolin Machine Tool has created what it calls a "global joint organization" for its two grinding-machine companies--KMT Lidkoping (centerless grinders) and KMT UVA (chucking machines).

Johan Westberg, the president of the Lidkoping unit, is appointed product-area manager for the new grinding group. Thus in all those countries where they have been acting separately, the two grinder brands will have a single organization. Earlier, the two companies collaborated on development and launch of the builder's NanoGrinder.

Combining portions of its grinder operations follows an across-the-board re-branding at Karolin. Last month all operating companies in its three divisions--waterjet, grinding, and metal-forming--got the prefix "KMT" added to their names. Thus its press-brake company is now KMT Ursviken, and the tube-forming-machinery company is now KMT Herber, etc. The re-branding move follows Karolin's divestiture in June of punch-press manufacturer Pullmax Machine A.B., a long-time money loser that only recently had started breaking even.

Publicly held KMT had sales of around $185-million last year, and thus far in 2006 its revenues have gained 22%. But growth in orders had been slowing down.

A large abrasive-waterjet-cutting-system order last week may improve that trend, though. KMT Cutting Systems will supply Boeing Fabrication (Auburn, Wash.) with a complete robotized system including fixtures and programming to machine titanium alloys used in engine nacelles of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Delivery starts in the first quarter of 2007; it's KMT Cutting Systems' first Boeing order.