Okuma Expands Application Engineering Team

Okuma America Corporation (Charlotte, NC), a world leader in computer numeric control (CNC) machine tool manufacturing, is pleased to announce the addition of three new team members: Brad Fitzpatrick, Jeff Hampton, and Lee Johnston, to the Application Engineering Department. They are responsible for demos, training, specification reviews, process developments and technical support for customers and distributors.

Fitzpatrick, a junior applications engineer, previously held positions in mechanical assembly, machine run off, options installation, mechanical inspection, and sales and project management. His area of expertise is lathes. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management from Ohio University and an Associate of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Cincinnati State Technical College.

Hampton, an applications engineer, has more than 25 years of experience in the machine tool industry in set-up and operation, CAD/CAM programming, manufacturing and application engineering. His focus is on machining centers and their technologies. He obtained his CNC Machinist Journeyman card from Jackson Community College, Jackson, MI.

Johnston, a senior applications engineer, specializes in 5-axis applications. He has several years of CNC machining experience in the automotive industry and has held positions in machine repair, retrofits, design, PLC programming, technical support and technical writing.

“We are excited to have Brad, Jeff and Lee join our team. Their passion, combined experience and superior CNC machine tool skills are an asset to us, our customers and distributors,” says Rod Tojdowski, a senior manager of application engineering for Okuma.

Okuma America is the U.S.-based sales and service affiliate of Okuma Corporation (Nagoya, Japan), a world leader in CNC machine tools that was founded in 1898. The company is the industry’s only single-source provider, with the CNC machine, drive, motors, encoders, and spindle all manufactured by Okuma. They also design their own CNC controls to integrate seamlessly with each machine tool’s functionality. In 2014 the company launched the Okuma App Store, the industry’s only centralized online marketplace for machine tool apps and related content along with its extensive distribution network and Partners in THINC.

www.okuma.com/americas