Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America, U.S. headquarters for Sumitomo Drive Technologies, is pleased to announce that Phase I of the Cyclo Bevel Buddybox (Cyclo BBB) bevel gear Domestic Manufacturing Initiative has been completed and the company has transitioned to full production runs. As part of a 2015 Manufacturing Vision launched in 2011, this represents a major milestone in the plan to increase the company’s domestic manufacturing capabilities. SMA’s new bevel gear manufacturing process utilizes some of the most state-of-the-art technology the market offers today.Gears are cut on a newly installed Gleason bevel gear generator, which boasts 35 percent productivity increases over any bevel equipment offered in the past decade. These productivity increases are due to advances in dry cutting technology and an integrated chamfering and deburring station. In addition to the gear generator, a new gear lapper and tester are helping to increase assembly through-put and accuracy. The last major component of our Cyclo BBB Phase I Domestic Manufacturing Initiative, a new hollow shaft machine from Bardons & Oliver, has also been installed and is now producing completed Hyponic blanks. Completed hollow bore shafts are currently being developed, and the company expects this machine to produce all Hyponic shafts in house by end of March 2013. Once that stage is finished, they will begin developing Cyclo BBB Keyed Hollow Bore and Taper Grip Hub shafts (estimated to be complete by end of April 2013).