Articles written by Dan Davis

Dan Davis

Editor in Chief

FMA Communications Inc.

833 Featherstone Road
Rockford, IL 61107
phone: 815-227-8281

www.thefabricator.com
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Results: 145

	Sick of setup time at the press brake Alto-Shaam, Menomonee Falls, Wis., needed to find a way to reduce setup times for its low-volume, high-mix work associated with fabricating parts for food service equipment. The company found its answer with a panel bender that management had seen in action at a FABTECH tradeshow several years... Publish date: May 2, 2013
	Welding training under the arc light Virtual weld training tools have emerged in recent years, and some organizations have looked to them to help beginners learn welding basics before firing up the arc. Meanwhile, others are looking for a training device that better reflects the real-world activities associated with welding in a... Publish date: April 25, 2013
	Surviving the storm Hurricane Sandy wasn't kind to Architectural Grille, Brooklyn, N.Y., in late October 2012. Waters from a nearby canal flooded the shop and ultimately destroyed all fabricating equipment, which was paid for. The insurance companies and local officials didn't offer much help either. The Giumenta... Publish date: April 24, 2013
	Bending software speeds up production The speed of fabricating is increasing at a rapid pace, but the press brake remains a bottleneck for many companies. Laser cutting and punching machines can run unattended if necessary without the need to program a robot, but the same can't be said for a press brake. Human operators still are... Publish date: April 17, 2013
	Fiber laser helps job shop cut thick metals After selling his metal fabricating business in 2006, Jim Lee is back in the game with North Topeka Fabrication. But even in the short time that he was gone, metal fabricating technology has advanced and forced him to ask how the shop could apply new technology to grow the business. That led the... Publish date: April 8, 2013
	New developments in tool steel Two new tooling steels can help stampers improve production efficiency. The metal formers just need to open their minds to the new possibilities. Publish date: February 28, 2013
	The reinvention of stamping The days of 1 million unit orders for simple metal blanks are over. But this doesn't mean that stamping can't survive in today's manufacturing environment. A.T. Wall Co. believes it can successfully position stamping as a go-to manufacturing process for parts that were at one time exclusively... Publish date: February 28, 2013
	Developing shop employees for the field Companies involved in heavy-duty metal fabricating and fieldwork discuss the traits they want to develop in their own workforces. Publish date: February 15, 2013
	Growing in the face of uncertainty Having survived a bankruptcy in the 1990s and the Great Recession, A&E Custom Manufcturing isn't about to embark on an aggressive growth path just to chase more business. It wants to grow intelligently, balancing investment with real opportunity. With that in mind, the company has made some very... Publish date: February 1, 2013
	Better plasma cutting on stainless steel Penn Stainless Products, Quakertown, Pa., wanted to upgrade its plasma cutting operations so that it could cut thicker stainless steel plate. It found that plasma technology advancements could deliver the thicker cut and additional benefits as well. Publish date: February 1, 2013
	Structural steel automation at the end of the line Machine tool developers have done a great job of automating many of the operations associated with structural steel processing over the years. Automated cutting, drilling, and marking are widely adopted in the industry. The same, however, can't be said for assembly and welding, but that could be... Publish date: January 7, 2013
	EuroBLECH 2012 recap: Fighting for more efficiency A terrible economy has forced European metal fabricators to focus on shortening turnaround time on jobs. If they attended EuroBLECH 2012 in Hannover, Germany, in late October, those fabricators probably discovered some tools that could help them accomplish their goals. Publish date: December 3, 2012
	What's up with helium for welding applications? Helium has been hard to get for some, and certainly the consumable gas is more expensive for welders than it used to be. The bad news is that this may be the case for some time. The good news is that alternatives are under development to help welders out as they tackle aluminum and stainless... Publish date: December 3, 2012
	Managing coil more cost-effectively A supply chain is only as strong as every link. That's why more metal formers are leaning on their material suppliers to improve their coil and sheet management. A couple of metal service centers offer up some advice for those metal stampers looking to do more. Publish date: November 9, 2012
	Stamper blazes a trail with in-die laser welding In-die capabilities are an important weapon in a metal stamper's arsenal. These capabilities provide the means to create assemblies as a strip of coil quickly moves through a progressive-die setup. Weiss-Aug, East Hanover, N.J., is taking that competitive edge to the next level by offering in-die... Publish date: November 9, 2012
	Cutting the GTAW remote control cord A truly remote-controlled foot pedal for TIG welding sounds like the perfect tool for job site fabricators, but welders that work in a small cell are also finding advantages associated with cutting the welding control cord. Publish date: October 23, 2012
	Punching up productivity Mid-West Metal Products Co. Inc., Muncie, Ind., needed a new punching press for a large-volume order and soon found out just how fast production flow can change on a shop floor with new technology. Publish date: October 8, 2012
	Connecting 3-D modeling to nesting It sounds like a no-brainer in electronically connected world, but shops don't have the ability to integrate their 3-D modeling capabilities with nest creation. As more shops jump into 3-D modeling with the goal of decreasing turnaround time for jobs, they are looking at a more formal connection... Publish date: September 7, 2012
	IMTS 2012: The need for technology remains Even as the June 2012 survey numbers suggest that manufacturing activity has retreated from robust highs in early 2012, manufacturers can't afford to start cutting back. They are in a race to reinvent themselves to be more responsive to cost-sensitive customers, and for many, that means... Publish date: August 3, 2012
	Green: The color of safety Going almost 11 years with only one injury isn't luck. That fabricating operation has taken steps to ensure that safety is considered before anyone undertakes a task on the shop floor. This is how ADM Mechanical, Decatur, Ill., created that environment. Publish date: August 3, 2012
	Where is structural steel material handling moving? Structural steel fabricators now realize what their sheet metal counterparts have known for several years: It doesn't make sense to pay people for the non-value-added activity of handling beams. That's why these shops are investigating automated material handling, but before they do that, they... Publish date: August 3, 2012
	Undertaking the challenge of tube fabrication The field of aerospace tube fabricating is one marked by difficult-to-form materials and very tight tolerances. As a result, not too many shops are involved in the business. Tube Specialties, Tempe, Ariz., however, has emerged as a go-to shop for this type of challenging work. Publish date: July 16, 2012
	Remote fabricating Iowa-based Co-Line Welding hasn't let its remote location harm its chances of success. In fact, it has embraced the challenge and has emerged as a growing business, even as it faces challenges such as rural power distribution. Publish date: July 16, 2012
	Status update on hot stamping Hot stamping has been around since the early 1970s, and it still holds as much promise today as it did then. Imparting strong steel characteristics on lighter-weight metals remains as relevant today as it did then. Today, however, the desire to exploit hot stamping remains strongest in the... Publish date: June 13, 2012
	A tale of two worlds in one shop Vista Manufacturing Co., Kansas City, Kan., stands out even more than other fab shops in an industry where one metal fabricating shop is rarely an exact copy of another. The company, which has roots in electronics product manufacturing, offers electronics assembly for those customers needing... Publish date: June 13, 2012
	Shop grows by staying small EVS Metal, Riverdale, N.J., which started as a 5,000-square-foot fabricating shop in New Jersey, is now a $30 million operation with four locations. The size of the company gives its customers confidence that they are dealing with a metal services supplier that will be around for the long term.... Publish date: June 13, 2012
	The FAB 40: It's delivery time The FABRICATOR's FAB 40 suggests that the manufacturing revival in the U.S. is alive and well. Publish date: June 13, 2012
	Record achievement for metal fabricator The town of Clear Lake, Iowa, is synonymous with the names Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Those three music legends died in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959, right after performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. To help the town honor those legendary... Publish date: May 9, 2012
	The new shop on the block Rob Howell, a 38-year-old fabricating veteran in Phoenix, Ariz., opened his fab shop more than a year ago and has experienced a lifetime's worth of lessons in the months since. The biggest lesson: Just because you own a business doesn't mean you know how to run a business. Publish date: May 1, 2012
	Are cordless hand tools ready for metal fabricating? Odds are people laughed at the idea of a cordless hand tool ever replacing a corded tool on an assembly line, but the sight of a bank of charging stations at a major manufacturing plant is increasingly common. With that in mind, could more cordless tools be found on the fabricating shop floor in... Publish date: May 1, 2012
	Big bending jobs lead to high-tonnage press brake When a fabricating operation serves customers in the defense, heavy equipment, mining, and power generation industries, you know they are working with really thick and high- strength material. It's a big job and requires big equipment. It's also the main reason that Merrill Fabricators purchased... Publish date: May 1, 2012
	The problem with estimating using paper and pencil Metal fabricating companies that rely on a seasoned worker who knows all of the production processes like the back of his hand and transfers that experience into the job estimating function are common. Fabricating operations that run that department smoothly and efficiently with no fears of... Publish date: April 16, 2012
	Axes to mine More fabricators haved jumped into flat waterjet cutting, so to attract new customers and carve out a niche around 3-D design and manufacturing, Maximum Industries, Irving, Texas, started five-axis cutting in 2011. Publish date: April 3, 2012
	5 tips for a less stressful ERP migration A migration from an older software package to a new enterprise resource planning software system is almost assured to test even the most forward-thinking metal fabricating organization. Every part of the organization is touched in this move, and everyone has to work together to ensure that... Publish date: March 12, 2012
	Out with the old batch, in with something new Siemens Industry Automation Division, West Chicago, Ill., is now living up to its own name in a big way. The organization is better able to execute its build-to-order thanks to a multimillion dollar investment in an automated material storage and retrieval system with bending, punch, and... Publish date: February 28, 2012
	Balancing effectiveness with efficiency They represent several different areas of metal fabricating, but all members of The FABRICATOR's Advisory Board share the same observation: In today' manufacturing world, working lean is OK, but only if you are working effectively. Publish date: February 1, 2012
	No holes in modern laser cutting story Fabricators want to process metal parts with the least amount of handling as possible. As a result, they are always looking to maximize the capabilities of their equipment. One example is the use of laser cutting equipment to produce high-tolerance holes in a speedy manner, instead of taking... Publish date: February 1, 2012
	First in, first to win Just over two years ago, Steel Fabrication Inc. was like many other metal fabricators that relied on its own blend of different cost calculators and spreadsheets to job quotes. This type of manual effort often led to incorrect and late quotes. That's changed, however, with the company's adoption... Publish date: February 1, 2012
	More than a metal fabricator - a problem solver The management team at Airtronics, San Jose, Calif., has seen the manufacturing landscape change greatly over the last 25 years. Plenty of computer and seminconductor work has gone overseas, and the fabrication work that remains is much lower in complex. That's why the company moved away from a... Publish date: February 1, 2012
	Lessons learned lead to big bounce back A&E Custom Manufacturing was on the ropes financially in the early 1990s, but the lessons learned during that struggle helped to put it in a position to rebound strongly after the downturn of 2009. In fact, they have been steadily rebuilding the business since the second quarter of 2009 and... Publish date: January 9, 2012
	What makes a stamper stand out? Enjoying consistent growth is not something that many stamping operations can claim over the last three years, but Waukesha Metal Products is not a typical metal forming company. It is relying on servo press technology and its talented workforce to stand out amongst its peers. Publish date: January 6, 2012
	Retrofit and ready for better bending Kysor/Warren, Columbus, Ga., cutomizes the refrigerated display cases and refrigeration systems for its customers. Unfortunately, it didn't have a very efficient bending operation to keep up with the production demands related to its diverse product line. To remedy the situation, the company... Publish date: December 12, 2011
	Supporting training with e-learning tools Manufacturing companies, both large and small, complain that they can't find skilled workers to fill open positions. Instead of waiting for local educational institutions to change their ways, they might have to assume more training responsibility, and e-learning tools can help them do just that. Publish date: November 18, 2011
	Concentrating on little things leads to big success An electric press brake is not typically found in a metal fabricating operation, but that is changing as more companies realize the accuracy, speed, and energy savings that this type of device offers. Publish date: November 7, 2011
	Engineering firm enters the 3-D world of laser cutting A defense contract drove Systems Engineering & Manufacturing, Forest, Va., to seek out a flexible fabricating tool that could handle bent tube and structural shapes, and the fabricator found its answer in a laser cutting machine that could accommodate 2-D and 3-D parts. Publish date: October 20, 2011
	Uncertainty is the new certainty for metal fabricators Metal fabricators reveal that their No. 1 concern is the economy, but that doesn't mean that business is horrible. In fact, fabricators appear to be optimistic about the future. Publish date: September 9, 2011
	Waiting for welders won't work Many metal fabricators need new welding talent, especially as they look at new business opportunities and the impending retirements of some of their best workers. Unfortunately, the local trade schools aren't producing enough talented individuals who can step right in and contribute. That's why... Publish date: September 9, 2011
	Finding customers at trade shows Metal fabricators still consider tradeshows to be an important part of their marketing efforts, but are they really doing enough to attract customers at these events? A few tips can help them maximize their sales efforts at tradeshows. Publish date: August 1, 2011
	Streamlining the purchasing job Sometimes the new guy has some good ideas. Giese Manufacturing, Dubuque, Iowa, learned that when they had a recent hire take over purchasing requirements. Publish date: August 1, 2011
	What's on the horizon for roll forming? The roll forming industry is not as straight forward as it used to be. Customers demand more sophisticated shapes and quicker turnarounds. Johnson Bros. Metal Forming, Berkeley, Ill., has rolled with the changes over the past 25 years and now sees an exciting future serving the solar equipment... Publish date: August 1, 2011
	Toll processor far from finished Becky and Michael Miniea purchased processing company that was in dire financial straits in the months after 9/11, and with a commitment offerings and its customers, Specialty Metals Processing is now in a position to survive whatever this economy can throw at it. Publish date: July 8, 2011
	Don't waste a good recession When others sat on the sidelines praying for a miracle during the Great Recession, Seconn Fabrication added 25,000 square feet, invested in new equipment, implemented a new MRP system, refocused its marketing efforts, and tackled other projects to better prepare itself for the economic rebound. Publish date: June 7, 2011
	The FAB 40: Back to business The FAB 40 listing for 2011 indicates that metal fabricators are gearing up to cope with an expanding manufacturing economy. Publish date: June 2, 2011
	Three waterjet heads are better than one Metals & Services, Addison, Ill., didn't get caught up in the excitement of the 90,000-PSI waterjet pumps that seemed to be all the rage at recent tradeshows. Company management did its own homework and found that using a 60,000-PSI pump with multiple heads works out just swimmingly for its... Publish date: June 2, 2011
	The personal side of metal fabricating Southern Fabricators Inc. has put a premium on the relationships it has with its customers, and that focus has led to robust growth, particularly as the metal fabricator has invested in new equipment to keep up with customer demands. Publish date: May 6, 2011
	The big job of high-tonnage bending Bending heavy plate and high-strength steel used to require multiple workers, a large amount of bending experience, and lots of time. That's not the case anymore. Publish date: May 6, 2011
	5S or 6S: What's the safe choice? Everyone wants a safe work environment, but some companies feel that the safety needs to be a separate category of 5S, making it 6S. Others argue that the safety is clearly covered in the 5S methodology. Both may be right. Publish date: April 1, 2011
	Howe brothers discover precision fabrication The stars of Howe and Howe Tech on Discovery Channel see metal fabricating as a creative outlet for their imaginations--while also catching the attention of the Department of Defense. Publish date: April 1, 2011
	Automated bending keeps the pieces flowing Emerson Network Power's Liebert Precision Cooling facility wanted to implement the idea of one-piece flow on its shop floor in Columbus, Ohio, but the only way that was going to happen effectively was with the introduction of an automated bending cell. The company found its answer with an... Publish date: March 10, 2011
	Welding ventilation goes to school The concern to protect welders from the dangers of inhaling welding fumes is not limited to just metal fabricating companies. The schools training the next generation of manufacturing workers need to be concerned as well. In fact, the pressure may be greater for the schools because if the student... Publish date: January 31, 2011
	Fabricating of the third-generation kind A commitment to a new sales strategy and a solid foundation of fabricating talent and capabilities helped Clark Metal Products, Blairsville, Pa., weather the Great Recession. It's also put the company in a position to top its record year of 2008 within the next two to three years. That... Publish date: January 27, 2011
	A case of the gas If a job shop supplies metal parts that are to be powder coated or welded, the customers likely require that those fabricated parts have no oxidized edges. That requirement forces the job shop to cut with nitrogen, which doesn't leave an oxidized edge like oxygen. Unfortunately, cutting with... Publish date: January 10, 2011
	Success going paperless By eliminating its work order packets, Advanced Laser Machining Inc. has saved time associated with trying to make corrections once engineering changes were made to jobs in progress and reduced the risk of upsetting its customers. Publish date: December 10, 2010
	The Army’s manufacturing muscle The Rock Island Arsenal has been a manufacturer of military equipment and ordnance since the 1880s, but today it has established itself as the only general-purpose, vertically integrated metal manufacturer in the U.S. Department of Defense. With that responsibility, it boasts an incredible array... Publish date: December 9, 2010
	It came from Europe Fiber laser and bending automation developments seen at EuroBLECH 2010, Oct. 26-30, Hanover, Germany, may one day be found in North American shops. Publish date: December 2, 2010
	Through thick and thin, punching tooling can help More metal fabricators are venturing into the area of thicker materials, so it's not too unusual to see 0.25-in. material thrown onto a punch press that also accommodates thin material. Luckily, the right punching tooling can help fabricators work with this mix of material thicknesses efficiently. Publish date: December 2, 2010
	Rethinking weld shielding gas selection When it comes to selecting shielding gases for certain welding processes, welders need to challenge their old-school thinking. Publish date: August 4, 2010
	Eliminating slag time in plasma cutting Vac-Con, a Green Cove Springs, Fla.-based maker of sewer cleaning vehicles, regularly participates in continuous improvement programs to identify opportunities for increased efficiency on the shop floor. As part of one exercise, the manufacturer invested in an automated grinding machine, which... Publish date: August 4, 2010
	So you want to be a certified welding inspector? Not many people who enter the welding profession think about their long-term career path. A certified welding inspector may be the next logical step for the right welder. Publish date: July 8, 2010
	Doing what was always done doesn't cut it ABMyr, Belleville, Mich., is a manufacturer of finishing systems for its automotive clients, but at the heart of the company is its fabricating talent. That is what will serve the company best as it looks to rebound from the recent downturn. Publish date: July 1, 2010
	How to set up an internship program Insight from a metal fabricator and the head of Kansas State's Advanced Manufacturing Institute provides companies with good tips for setting up an internship program. Publish date: June 8, 2010
	The Wisconsin Family Robinson Anyone that works for Robinson Metal Inc. learns the business from the ground up. This approach has served it well as the De Pere, Wis., company has grown to become one of the largest fabricating job shops in the U.S. Publish date: May 28, 2010
	Green efforts save greenbacks Publish date: April 30, 2010
	The 'hole' story about the Tampa Museum of Art How does an architect create a building that mirrors the daylight and a nearby river? In the case of the new Tampa Museum of Art, architect Stanely Saitowitz turned to perforated metal panels that enveloped the entire building, all 96,000 square feet of building surface. Publish date: April 30, 2010
	Noting advances in powder coating Customers are asking their metal fabricating suppliers to assume more production responsibilities as they look to reduce the size their vendor bases. As a result, more fabricators are becoming involved in powder coating, either doing it themselves or coordinating the finishing process with a... Publish date: April 1, 2010
	Waste not, want more In recent years General Metal Works, Mequon, Wis., has leaned heavily on practices that eliminate waste in its shop floor operations and kept its work force engaged. The efforts have paid off in that no layoffs have occurred during the recent economic downturn, and the company is still on track... Publish date: February 11, 2010
	Tons of reasons for a new welding positioner P&H Mining equipment, Milwaukee, Wis., makes very large equipment, such as its largest electric shovel that weighs 1,200 tons. Shovel components keep getting larger, and to keep up with the market trends, the company needed a new welding positioner. That's a "big" deal in every sense of the word.... Publish date: February 9, 2010
	2010 Capital Spending Report indicates rebuilding set to begin The metal fabricating and forming market isclearly in a rebuilding mode after theeconomic downturn in 2009. The 2010 FMACCapital Spending Survey indicates thatcompanies are interested in spending money oncapital equipment, around $1.3 billion worth,but that's down significantly from the $2.2that... Publish date: January 14, 2010
	5 traits to look for in a robotic cell operator Automated welding holds great promise forkeeping U.S. metal fabricators competitiveagainst their international counterpartsbecause it keeps labor costs down, but theserobotic welding cells still require somehuman intervention. Having said that,management doesn't want just anyone in therole of... Publish date: January 14, 2010
	Punching holes in aerospace manufacturing theories Unison Industries, an aerospace partsmanufacturer, found out that a metalfabricator can offer a lot to theirmanufacturing efforts. Publish date: December 4, 2009
	Finishing off oxide layer problems General Sheet Metal Works, South Bend, Ind.,had a 0.25-in. part that forced them tochoose between stamping and laser cutting tofabricate the part. Luckily, the companydiscovered an oxidation removal machine thathelped to make laser cutting with oxygen thelogical choice for the job. Publish date: December 3, 2009
	Tapping into new capabilities on punching machines Whether in the guise of bolt-on tapping units or actual tapping tools that are housed in a turret, precision punch presses can handle tapping chores like never before. As a result, metal fabricators are considering these options to take the manual activity out of the fabricating mix. Publish date: October 1, 2009
	Die not in the mix for tool shop Nortool Precision Machining and Tool has turned to a 3-D CAD/CAM package for both design and NC and has found that it is delivering quicker and more accurate bids, while simultaneously improving the quality of tool- and diemaking. Publish date: September 1, 2009
	Beginning the lean manufacturing journey LAI International, Scottsdale, Ariz., is a precision manufacturer that supplies specialized parts to many of the most-demanding OEMs in the world. Even with that success, the company realized there was still room to improve. As a result, it embarked on a lean journey and is seeing immediate results. Publish date: August 1, 2009
	Nontraditional fabricator chasing nontraditional markets Matrix Metalcraft, Clinton Township, Mich.,has done plenty of prototype and production work for the automotive industry in the past, but with the downturn in the industry, it is targeting industries aligned with alternative power generation for new business. In doing so, it has found out that its... Publish date: July 2, 2009
	Is it time to put a robot in front of a press brake? North American fabricators have not been as active in adoptingautomated bending cells as their counterparts in other parts of theworld. But that may be changing. These five questions can help afabricator decide how to justify the case for a robotic press brake. Publish date: June 8, 2009
	Armored and ready to make a difference Doug Bergeson of Bergeson Technology, Dawson, Minn., saw the carnage that improvised explosive devices caused in Iraq, so when he came on, he worked on a solution. He has one now and wants others to know about it. Publish date: June 2, 2009
	'We are all Shickels' Shickel Corp., Bridgewater, Va., has a very diversified customer base, a strong manufacturing tradition, and a commitment to exposing youngsters to the exciting world of manufacturing. For all those reasons, this 70-year-old company is the recipient of The FABRICATOR's 2009 Industry Award. Publish date: February 10, 2009
	EuroBLECH 2008: A celebration of metal fabricating and forming EuroBLECH is a celebration more than anything. Most of the booths have plenty of tables and, usually, a bar for customers, distributors, business partners, and friends to swing by, chat, have a drink, and talk about life both in and out of the industry. In fact, unlike shows in North America, a... Publish date: January 13, 2009
	Cutting more than metal with a waterjet With waterjet cutting equipment, shops are no longer limited to the world of metal fabrications. They can search for new business in areas that were once considered unrealistic. Publish date: December 15, 2008
	Laser cutting for the first time M&L Industries found a laser cutting machine for the right price and at the right size. After a year of laser cutting and bringing in new business, it looks like the right choice. Publish date: December 15, 2008
	Getting the weld right the first time When a metal fabricating company moves into a new, larger building, it has a great opportunity to take a hard look at production flow. Victory Industrial Products, Batavia, Ohio, did just that and the results were extremely powerful. Publish date: November 25, 2008
	A new look at lift trucks California is on the leading edge of environmental protectionism, and because it is such a large industrial market, the state's environmental regulations are influencing what metal fabricators might be drivng in their facilities. Publish date: July 15, 2008
	One nesting software for all Maurer Manufacturing, Spencer, Iowa, purchased a new plasma cutting table in late 2006 and decided it wanted one nesting program to run both the new plasma table and its slightly older Cincinnati laser cutting machine. After a slight stumble, the company found the solution it needed with MTC... Publish date: June 17, 2008
	Auto weld that ends well Robotically welding a part made sense for Tommy Gate Co./Woodbine Manufacturing, Woodbine, Iowa, so they then made plenty of cents available to invest in a robotic welding cell from Genesis Systems. Publish date: June 17, 2008
	The dirt on laser lenses This roundup of laser lens providers gives tips on extending the life of lenses used in laser cutting. Publish date: June 17, 2008
	Fabrication business coming up races Mazworx, a shop that rebuilds engines for racing, fabricates custom parts for racing upgrades, and works on compact cars to prepare them for racing, is also involved in racing. The belief is that it can build up its reputation for racing parts through appearances at NHRA sport compact races... Publish date: May 13, 2008
	New roll bender 'bales' out farm implement manufacturer Powder River, a Provo, Utah-based fabricator of farm implements, turned to KNUTH Machine Tools USA for a three-roll bender the company uses to make its round bale feeders for horses. Publish date: May 13, 2008
	The right trace at the right time Publish date: April 15, 2008
	Of cars, this specialty vehicle manufacturer can do it M&M Vehicles Corp., Mexico, Mo., is less a car company and more of a fabricating shop. That's been the case from the beginning when Chris Miller and another employee cut diamond-plate aluminum sheet with a Skil saw blade turned backwards and then hand-bent the sheet to form boxes that graced... Publish date: April 15, 2008
	Coming to your sensors Stamping sensors can go a long way in protecting valuable dies and eliminating downtime associated with repairing dies after crashes. So why aren't more shops using them? Perhaps it's because their misconceptions get in the way of making a wise investment. Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Machine shop sees the (laser) light MG Products Inc., Elkhart, Ind., successfully made the transition from a machine shop to a full-scale tube fabricator thanks to the investment in a laser tube cutter. Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Service center fabricates its future Denman & Davis calls itself the largest general-line, independent service center in the Northeast. The company has about 65,000 square feet of inventory and manufacturing space in Clifton, N.J., another 70,000 square feet in Slatersville, R.I., and another 35,000 in Albany, N.Y. The company... Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Recruit, train, and retain Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Nothing standard about this fab shop Rob Marelli left a family-owned metal fabricating company four years ago with the intention of doing things his way. Joined by a loyal group of managers and employees, he's found success at Seconn Fabrication. In the short time the company has been open, it has earned revenues of $9 million. And... Publish date: February 12, 2008
	Capital equipment spending remains upbeat Metal fabricators and formers are expected to spend more than $2.2 billion on capital equipment in 2008. The 2008 FMAC Capital Spending Survey provides more details. Publish date: January 15, 2008
	Festivus poles for the rest of us souls The Wagner Cos. has staked out its position as the world's foremost producer of Festivus poles. Yes, it's the plain pole that Frank Costanza put up in his living room as a rebuke of Christmas' commercialism in a Seinfeld episode in 1997. Publish date: December 11, 2007
	Forming a new approach Attendees of the fifth Hydroforming Conference and Exhibition, organized by the Tube & Pipe Association, International, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, learned that hydroforming technology is not dead yet. Publish date: November 6, 2007
	A new standard in forming bathtubs The main hurdle to automating American Standard's bathtub forming line in its Salem, Ohio, facility was integrating new material handling tools into the older press line. Publish date: October 9, 2007
	Fabrication in transition Arcadia, Albany, N.Y., transitions from a metal supplier to a waterjet cutting shop to a laser cutting shop to a metal bender. Future plans call for the shop to evolve into a full-scale contract manufacturer. Publish date: September 11, 2007
	Better safe than saw awry When a machine operator cut a bundle of barstock open to load into a saw, the bands popped, moving the blocks that were put there to safely contain the bars. The bars fell on the operator's foot and trapped it. Not wanting to duplicate that nightmare, engineers at Kirsan Engineering, Kenosha,... Publish date: July 10, 2007
	Tube fabricator, machine tool builder automates to accelerate Stealth Manufacturing Inc., Savage, Minn., is a tube fabricator, and machine tool builder that automated its tube punching, laser cutting, and material handling to improve the efficiency of manufacturing its gas heater tubes and other tubular products. Publish date: June 12, 2007
	Laser cutting with less labor and less hassle Can a four-man job shop keep up with the demands of its manufacturing customers? IMS, Shakopee, Minn., will make you think about that and give you reason to question other practices going on in your job shop. Publish date: June 12, 2007
	Tube fabricator bends with industry changes As customers look for ways to add to their bottom-line performance, Harco Metal Products, Tempe, Ariz., has stepped forward with services that make the tube fabricator more valuable to its customer--and harder to replace. Publish date: June 12, 2007
	Making it in Mexico Mexico is the land of fabricating opportunity, and those that believe that could be found at TECMA 2007, March 6-9, in Mexico City. Publish date: May 8, 2007
	Pipe fabricator saves big time with big bends Universal Pipe and Steel Supply, Fort Myers, Fla., needed a roll bender with greater capacity to capitalize on the market for larger pipe sections. The company found its answer with a four-roll bender from Bertsch. Publish date: April 10, 2007
	Automotive blanker presses on Amidst the bad news associated with Ford Motor Co., good news is surfacing in Jeffersonville, Ind., home of Kasle Metal Processing. The company is using a software tool to ensure it is operating as efficiently as possible as it heads into one of its busiest months ever. Publish date: March 13, 2007
	Spending time with capital equipment Metal fabricators and formers are expected to spend more than $2.3 billion on capital equipment in 2007. The 2007 FMAC Capital Spending Survey provides more details. Publish date: January 9, 2007
	Can your manufacturing software do this? Manufacturing software has come a long way in just the last five years. Independent software developers point out some of the advancements in manufacturing software in the hopes that some fabricators realize they may be missing out on some real production-optimization tools. Publish date: December 12, 2006
	Structurally, it's a job shop Structural steel shops book jobs by the shop hour. More jobs lead to more hours and inevitably longer delivery times. In many instances, just-in-time deliveries in the structural business can be measured with calendars, not stopwatches. Suburban Steel Supply Co., Gahanna, Ohio, tries not to fall... Publish date: December 12, 2006
	Drawing on new experiences In the past metal forming in the appliance industry meant giant presses with expensive tooling. Lead-times were forever, and change didn't come easy. Whirlpool Corp. in Fort Smith, Ark., is taking a new approach to metal forming, and flexible technologies are the key. Publish date: October 10, 2006
	Expanding upward and outward Watson Engineering didn't have to add any laser operators during its most recent expansion effort. The reason was technology advancements associated with material handling and modern laser cutting devices. Publish date: September 12, 2006
	Euros zoned in on competing European metal fabricators, among them a stainless steel cabinet-maker, an electronics contract manufacturer, and a commercial refrigerator appliance manufacturer, are staying competitive in the global marketplace with automated material handling systems that feed modern punching, laser cutting,... Publish date: July 11, 2006
	Job diversity through a waterjet Pacific Metal Cutting of Placentia, Calif., wasn't struggling when it bought its first waterjet in May 2004. After two years of waterjet ownership and the addition of a second table, the metal cutter is struggling to keep up with new business. Publish date: June 13, 2006
	Right on schedule QC Metal Fabricators of Elkhart, Ind., witnessed improved scheduling and shipping with the implementation of new job shop management software. Publish date: June 12, 2006
	New handling instructions In 2005 precision stamper Weiss-Aug of East Hanover, N.J., achieved a reject rate of less than 1 part per million. The company credits the success to meticulous planning and almost flawless execution. Such an approach applies for Weiss-Aug even when it comes to uncoiling metal. Publish date: May 9, 2006
	Bernie and the jet Jay Leno's car collection, housed at the Big Dog Garage in Burbank, Calif., is not meant to collect dust. These cars are to be driven. Bernard Juchli is in charge of that, and now he has a waterjet to help him fabricate hard-to-find or non-existent parts and to keep the cars on the road. Publish date: April 11, 2006
	Editorial Advisory Board Roundtable The FABRICATOR invited the members of its Editorial Advisory Board together to discuss the state of skilled labor in North America and what the future looks like for tomorrow's fabricating and forming employees and employers. Publish date: March 7, 2006
	Simplicity 'n' press brakes Simplicity Manufacturing Inc. of Port Washington, Wis., needed new press brakes because it was about to increase its laser cutting capacity. The outdoor power equipment manufacturer turned to a vendor of Turkish-built press brakes for help and found the answer for which they were looking. Publish date: February 7, 2006
	Scrap the belt conveyors The traditional belt conveyors used to remove scrap from the stamping operations at American Trim's facility on Baxter Street in Lima, Ohio, just couldn't stand up to the gritty shop environment. The company found a successful alternative with a belt-less material movement solution from GSW... Publish date: December 13, 2005
	Reality TV: Frame-making in the U.S. Sumitomo Metal Mining USA (SMMU) Inc. has supplied cathode ray tube frams to some of the largest, high-end television manufacturers in the world from its Oceanside, Calif., facility. Despite the trend in moving manufacturing overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor pools, SMMU believes it is... Publish date: November 8, 2005
	Cushioning the blow Hercules Machine Tool & Die Co. has intalled a fully programmable hydraulic cushion onto a mechanical press in hopes that it can cut down on try-out time and attract more business involving specialty stamped parts Publish date: November 8, 2005
	Recreational tube cutting In the 1990s, Polaris Industries Inc. realized it needed to rethink the way tube fabricating was done at its Osceola, Wis., facility. Laser tube cutting proved to be the answer. Publish date: August 9, 2005
	Boiled over by laser's performance Kvaerner Power Inc.'s Fairmont, W.V., metal fabricating operation needed new market opportunities and someone to take over plasma cutting chores after its business partner went out of business. They found a Pennsylvania job shop to help with metal cutting and eventually learned that a 3-D laser... Publish date: August 9, 2005
	Metal spinner takes on OSHA On May 10 Jerrold Dodd was not spinning a yarn about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The general manager and chief operating officer of a spinning company warned a congressional subcommittee about OSHA's aggressive action against his small company. Publish date: August 9, 2005
	Beyond Tool and Die In the 1990s, Polaris Industries Inc. realized it needed to rethink the way tube fabricating was done at its Osceola, Wis., facility. Laser tube cutting proved to be the answer. Publish date: July 12, 2005
	Anchor's a way down the road to improvement A Fort Worth, Texas-based fabricator found that it was spending thousands in moving material from one building to the next for various operations. The company embarked on several expansion projects and invested in new equipment to help remedy the situation. Publish date: March 8, 2005
	Metal formers: Keep an eye on monitoring program Publish date: January 11, 2005
	Lean on it Publish date: August 10, 2004
	Plasma pleases plenty Technological developments in lasers are positioning them as an attractive alternative to plasma. But fabricators are still sticking with plasma cutting for many applications where speed and cost-effective operation are concerns. Publish date: June 8, 2004
	A most excellent fabricator A South Louisiana fabricator believes success in his fabricating endeavors involves a pride in workmanship, a passion in the craft, and perseverance in being the best. After 11 building expansions, Don Begneaud can say he has found a winning business philosophy. Publish date: April 6, 2004
	A 'bout' with the champion Rep. Don Manzullo speaks about taxes, steel tariffs, health care, and manufacturing's future. Publish date: February 26, 2004
	Do you see the light? In this article, The FABRICATOR® attempts to shine the light on opportunities for improvement in both the front office and on the shop floor. In this case, the light is on the lights—as well as the heating and ventilating system and other energy-sapping devices. Publish date: February 26, 2004
	Taxing situation Most fabricators aren't knowledgeable about tax laws and don't have time to immerse themselves in tax updates. They're too busy on the shop floor. Publish date: January 29, 2004
	The Bold in Arches The phrase "obstructed view" is probably most connected with older sports stadiums. For example, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, depending on where your seat is, watching Sammy Sosa in action in right field might be replaced by a view of a rusting steel girder. Publish date: June 26, 2003