Farmington Hills, Mich., March 28, 2024

For 2024, five Star Cutter locations are benefiting from this valuable award, which they will apply to a  range of training curriculums. The facilities include H.B. Carbide (Lewiston), Ossineke Industries (Ossineke), Tawas Tool ������Ƶ (Tawas City), Elk Rapids Engineering (Elk Rapids), and Northern Tool (Farmington Hills). These facilities will be offered instruction appropriate for both shop floor and front office processes from safety to ISO training to Lean Manufacturing, such as:

• Project Management
• Supervisory skills
• GD & T Fundamentals and Comprehensive ISO-9001: Internal Auditing
• 8D Problem Solving
• Intro to Collaborative Robots
• Safety Training
• Bluer Print Reading
• Tool Set-Up Reduction
• Total Production Maintenance/Quick Changeover 5 S Applications
• Mistake Proofing
• Lean Manufacturing

The curriculum is offered through the (MMTC), as well as nearby community colleges.

“We are thrilled to again be able to make use of these valuable training programs, thanks to the Going PRO funds”, said Lindsey Bielby, human resources manager. “As we are a company that strongly believes in continuous improvement with associates constantly interested in gaining new skill sets, we will make use of all the resources provided”, continued Bielby.

In addition to the training being provided through the Going PRO funding, Star Cutter runs apprentice programs and ongoing training for its employees.

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Farmington Hills, Mich., March 6, 2024

“We are pleased to have Andrew take this important role for Star Cutter”, said Jeff Lawton, Star Cutter President, and COO. “He brings with him a valuable experience, not only as an HR leader, but one with many years in manufacturing that will complement and advance our culture.”

Epstein’s previous employers include organizations such as Metaldyne, The Flint Group, and AJM Packaging.  Most recently, he was the director of human resources for Real Truck in Ann Arbor, Michigan, supporting more than 3,000 employees across multiple locations.

“I am genuinely excited to join Star Cutter”, said Epstein.  “The team spirit is clearly part of this dynamic organization, which has its roots in values and a positive culture. I continue to gain appreciation of our history and am excited to partner in further strengthening our initiatives in employee development, engagement, and teamwork.”

Epstein is a graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in employee relations and also holds an MBA from Kent State.  He is located at the Star Cutter corporate office in Farmington Hills, Mich.

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Star Cutter ������Ƶ, a provider of custom-engineered tooling solutions for precision applications, will be displaying its cutting tools tailored for firearms manufacturing at the Shot Show 2024, Jan. 23 – 26 in the Supplier Showcase, booth #51317 at the Venetian Expo + Caesar’s Forum in Las Vegas. On display will tooling and solutions to machine the following:

• Rifle and Shot Gun Barrels, including best practices with TIR Control and quality for hole size and button rifling utilizing the star gundrills, push/pull reamer and rifling buttons.
• Gundrills, including Custom Express Gundrill Line for fast deliveries needs in 17-50 caliber sizes.
• Pistol Barrel inner diameters
• Firing Pin Holes
• Aluminum Upper Bores, which includes Star Cutter’s patented SRT Reamer for optimization of bore quality.

Star Cutter ������Ƶ is recognized for solving unique challenges, reducing machining time and improving quality and productivity for overall cost savings. For example, special-designed gundrills can reduce tool drift to provide excellent TIR from entry to exit and optimized chip control that leads to longer tool life.

For more information, visit Star Cutter tools are sold through Star SU.

Star Cutter ������Ƶ, a provider of custom-engineered tooling solutions for precision applications, will be displaying its cutting tools tailored for firearms manufacturing at the Shot Show 2024, Jan. 23 – 26 in the Supplier Showcase, booth #51317 at the Venetian Expo + Caesar’s Forum in Las Vegas. On display will tooling and solutions to machine the following:

• Rifle and Shot Gun Barrels, including best practices with TIR Control and quality for hole size and button rifling utilizing the star gundrills, push/pull reamer and rifling buttons.
• Gundrills, including Custom Express Gundrill Line for fast deliveries needs in 17-50 caliber sizes.
• Pistol Barrel inner diameters
• Firing Pin Holes
• Aluminum Upper Bores, which includes Star Cutter’s patented SRT Reamer for optimization of bore quality.

Star Cutter ������Ƶ is recognized for solving unique challenges, reducing machining time and improving quality and productivity for overall cost savings. For example, special-designed gundrills can reduce tool drift to provide excellent TIR from entry to exit and optimized chip control that leads to longer tool life.

For more information, visit Star Cutter tools are sold through Star SU.

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Farmington Hills, Mich., Sept. 22, 2023 – Star Cutter ������Ƶ announced that Dean Stetson has been named the vice president of information technology. Stetson is charged with leading corporate IT for all of Star Cutter’s manufacturing facilities, as well as the Star SU’s sales and marketing offices across North America, Europe, Brazil, China, and India enabling the company’s vision to expand its global capabilities.

Stetson is joining Star Cutter with over 25 years as an IT leader in enterprise software applications and enterprise resource planning. His experience spans the manufacturing, mining, life science, automotive, service, and food and beverage industries.

“Dean has experience and a track record of aligning IT initiatives with the strategic direction of the business while managing costs and ensuring exceptional levels of service and response. I am pleased to welcome him to the company,” said Star Cutter President and COO Jeffery Lawton.

As IT vice president, Stetson will assume oversight responsibilities of all business system and IT aspects of the organization. He will align the enterprise resource management systems to enhance the organization’s ability to collaborate and improve responsiveness to our customers, Lawton said.

Stetson earned a computer engineering bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in operations management from Michigan Technical University.

“Star Cutter ������Ƶ has established itself as a world leader in the cutting tool industry. I am excited to join the leadership team as the company continues its steady growth of its global operations,” Stetson said.

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Farmington Hills, Mich., Sept. 1, 2023

“Tru Tech is a strategic purchase that perfectly complements our existing business,” said Brad Lawton, Star Cutter ������Ƶ chairman and CEO. “It expands our technology offering to address earlier operations in the tool grinding process. New capability in blank preparation and cylindrical grinding, as well as Tru Tech’s large install base, will create synergies with Star Cutter ������Ƶ’s existing business units. This is a true win-win that benefits both our company and, most importantly, our customers.”

A key differentiator of the Tru Tech systems is their ease of use and ultrafast set-up while delivering great accuracy and repetitive results. Tru Tech’s Perimetric grinding technology and CNC Pick-N-Place software enable these machines to achieve extremely high accuracy suited for high precision and micro components in the medical, aerospace, electronics, and other industries. These systems are also capable of handling diverse needs from one-piece, small lot runs through lights-out production.

Star Cutter’s experience in carbide pre-forms, high-end custom tool production, tool grinding, reconditioning services and customer services, backed by a global 700-employee deep and financially strong global organization, ensures continued investment in Tru Tech’s people, machine platforms and service capabilities. For the near future, all Tru Tech employees will continue to function as they have at the Mt. Clemens and Lewiston operations with the Tru Tech machines and offerings ultimately becoming part of Star Cutter’s Machine Tool business unit.

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Farmington Hills, Mich., August 22, 2023– Star Cutter ������Ƶ has announced the promotion of Bradley Cooper from his current position as service manager to plant manager, responsible for optimizing the day-to-day operations of the Elk Rapids facility. In addition to managing production, ensuring safety and quality, and developing and driving continuous improvement initiatives, Cooper will also help drive product line advancement and engineering solutions development.

“Brad has a proven talent for innovation, developing several new offerings and initiatives in his role as service manager,” said Mike Billiel, Star Cutter’s vice president of operations. “With his dedication and creativity, we are excited to see the additional impact we believe he will bring to the company and our customers.”

An employee of Star Cutter since 2018, Cooper quickly moved from his original position as production supervisor to service manage, providing him a broad understanding of the company’s  business and suiting him for the plant manager role. He had experience as a plant manager for Inphastos before joining Star Cutter.

Cooper has a Bachelor of Science degree in business and organizational leadership from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Central Michigan University. He is also a certified ABB US420 Programmer and CIT (Association Connecting Electronics Industries) trainer. Before entering the private sector, he served as a United States Marine and recipient of the Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

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Farmington Hills, Mich., July 11, 2023 – Star Cutter ������Ƶ has announced the hiring of Robert (Bob) Tennant as its round tool engineering manager overseeing three product lines, each produced at a dedicated facility. He will support the facilities and teams manufacturing gundrills (Ossineke, Mich.); solid carbide drills and reamers (Farmington Hills); and PCD tooling and services (Farmington Hills). His responsibilities include supervising the engineering teams, communicating with management and production on project plans, and evaluating the feasibility of new projects in conjunction with the application support teams.

Tennant comes to Star with a strong background in manufacturing engineering, product design, part processing and application support. Most recently, he was a process engineering manager for SECO Tools (Troy, Mich.), supporting new business opportunities across the Americas. Experience as a tooling designer/ engineer at Transnav and Ferris State University studies in Manufacturing Tooling Technologies and CAD Drafting Tool Design provides him with in-depth knowledge of computer aided design, CNC programming and manufacturing processes with a strong background in multiple design software platforms.

“Bob’s proven applications experience, problem solving skills in custom engineering solutions, and time as a machinist brings both a depth and breadth of knowledge to company,” said Mike Billiel, Star Cutter VP of operations. “We’re looking forward to some exciting advancement and growth in our round tool product offerings.”

For more information, contact sales@starcutter.com

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Noah Cantara, Western States and Canadian Provinces
Prior to joining Star SU, Noah Cantara served as a carbide rods product specialist at Sandvik Hyperion and Hyperion Materials and Technology, as well as having experience as a machine operator responsible for grinding and manufacturing carbide inserts.

Cantara served in the United States Army Reserve (Fort Custer, Mich.) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Operations Management from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.

David Johnson, Michigan
David Johnson comes to the Star SU family after working as a sales application engineer for Mapal, Inc., as well as having been a test technician for Mahle Engine. His primary product focus will be on the company’s round tools and gear tools offerings.

He has a Bachelor of Science in Heavy Equipment Service and Engineering Technology from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.

Daniel Larsen, Indiana
Daniel Larsen joins Star SU with a strong background in machine tools after being employed as a software support engineer at Hurco, responsible for testing and validation of new software, as well as working as an applications engineer at Index Corporation and Meredith Machinery.  Additionally, he has sales experience, having recently served as a territory manager for JMC Sales and Engineering, a cutting tools and MRO distributor.

About the Star Cutter Family of Companies
Star SU LLC is the marketing, sales, and service partner for Star Cutter ������Ƶ in North America, South America, Europe and the Far East.
Star Cutter ������Ƶ is a provider of custom-engineered tooling solutions and machine tools for precision applications. Headquartered in Farmington Hills, MI, it has over 700 employees working in 15 manufacturing facilities. Each facility specializes in producing a specific type of product or service: carbide blanks and preforms, solid carbide cutting tools, gundrills, PCD tooling, gear cutting tools, and 5-axis CNC tool and cutter grinding machines.

For more information on product and capability, visit or

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Farmington Hills, Mich., March 15, 2023

“The Going Pro Grant Funding is an excellent opportunity for Star Cutter to invest in training for our most important assets, our employees,” said Lindsey Bielby, human resources manager. “The funds provided cover a wide range of our training needs as we continue to develop our employees’ skill sets and career paths.”

Tawas Tool ������Ƶ, (East Tawas, Mich.), a designer and manufacturer of gear tools, is using the funds to provide education through 18 different online courses at the (MMTC), where they will become certified in everything from ISO 9001 Auditing to Blue Print Reading to Introduction to Collaborative Robotics. Additionally, selected employees will attend electrical studies and industrial safety classes at .

At Ossineke Industries, (Ossineke, Mich.), Star Cutter’s deep hole drills manufacturing location, funds will be used to provide Solidworks® CAD program training to two employees, as well as sending four employees to classes at the MMTC in ISO 9001: 2015 Internal Auditor, 8-D Problem Solving, and Core Tools training. Additionally, Ossineke plans to hire two new team members and these funds will allow them to receive six weeks of cross-training on different plant responsibilities.

At the H.B. Carbide facility (Lewiston, Mich.), where the company manufactures tungsten carbide blanks and preforms, the funding is being used to provide training to two new team leaders in the areas of Lean Office Practitioner, Lean Manufacturing Practitioner, and Lean Single Method Exchange of Die, SMED.

In addition to the training being provided through the Going PRO funding, Star Cutter runs apprentice programs and ongoing training for its employees.

For more information on Star Cutter visit

Employees from Star Cutter’s Tawas Tool location showcase their Going Pro funding.

THE STAR CUTTER FAMILY OF COMPANIES
Headquartered in Farmington Hills, MI, and originally founded in 1927, the Star Cutter ������Ƶ is a global leader in the cutting tool industry with over 700 employees working in 14 manufacturing facilities. Each facility specializes in producing a specific type of product or service: carbide blanks and preforms, solid carbide cutting tools, gundrills, PCD tooling, gear cutting tools, and 5-axis CNC tool and cutter grinding machines.

Star SU LLC is the marketing, sales, and service partner in North America, South America, Europe and the Far East.

Contact information
Agency:  Industry-Scope
Nancy Lesinski
248-709-3040
nlesinski@industry-scope.com

������Ƶ
Star Cutter
Mark Parillo
mparillo@star-su.com
Phone: 248-442-3137
Mobile: 248-595-6320
www.star-su.com

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