Articles written by Stephanie Vaughan

Stephanie Vaughan

Contributing Writer

Results: 51

	Establishing an identity Tarter Gate, a captive tube mill operation and tube and pipe fabricator, is the largest manufacturer of animal management equipment in the U.S. Learn how the company has used a marketing plan to increase sales and maintain growth in this family-owned and -operated business. Publish date: February 13, 2007
	High Roller meets fast cutter The historic High Roller roller coaster, perched atop the Stratosphere Tower on the Las Vegas Strip, needed to be demolished. The question for contractors was what cutting process and equipment would be best to dismantle the roller coaster, all 367, 3-foot, 300-lb. sections of it. Publish date: December 12, 2006
	P is for plasma, precision Plasma arc welding (PAW) is very similar to gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), but its highly concentrated arc makes it very different - and not necessarily the best process for every application. A close look at its characteristics and equipment will help you decide if it's right for your... Publish date: December 12, 2006
	Live or die making tools A tool- and die-maker for 50 years, Leo Niemela started out successfully enough in the tool and die business. But as the industry started to decline, he and his family had to decide which direction to take: stay with tool and die or reposition the company. Publish date: December 12, 2006
	Drive fast, weld right Of all the fabrication tools necessary to build -- and repair -- race cars, welding equipment is one of the most essential. To keep a race car together, safe for drivers, and at its competitive best, welding and metallurgy come into play every day in the motorsports industry. Publish date: November 7, 2006
	New rule, new equipment Now that OSHA's new ruling on hexavalent chromium is official, fabricators and manufacturers across the country are examining their plants, monitoring their air, and making adjustments to reduce their permissible exposure limits (PELs) to the fumes produced specifically by stainless steel welding. Publish date: November 7, 2006
	Using job shop habits for a custom project Although custom welding fixtures may be just one of Ed Sauvola's current jobs, it has become one of the main business opportunities he is pursuing while deciding which track is best for his one-man shop. Publish date: November 7, 2006
	Replacing rivets Supreme Corp. prides itself on producing general-purpose and custom vehicle bodies for its customers, which include contractors. Appearance was an issue - one that led it to replace rivets with structural adhesives in its manufacturing. Publish date: October 10, 2006
	Bridging the challenges A good design doesn't guarantee challenge-free fabrication in the bridge industry, as one fabricator found out. Despite material availability obstacles, stringent welding requirements, and massive pipe cutting needs, Stinger Welding and the design team it worked with pulled off a winning... Publish date: September 12, 2006
	Opening the gate to efficiency Since 1945 family-owned and -operated Tarter Gate has grown in staff and sales as it has changed the design of its products. To keep up with sales, continue growing the company, and absorb as many rising costs as possible — particularly in steel and fuel prices — the company uses... Publish date: August 8, 2006
	Microwelding: Then and now Like the molds he repairs, Five Star Tool Welding owner Joe Canfield finds that the welding equipment he uses at his company is getting smaller and smaller. Over the years GTAW equipment has evolved to better meet the needs of its tool and die welding users. Publish date: May 15, 2006
	Hitting pay dirt -- in pipe Fabricating and repairing pipe in the oil-rich tar sands of Alberta, Canada, is an enormous, ongoing project that requires specialized equipment to meet a variety of challenges. John Page is a consultant in Canada who has been working on several of these projects and has learned what's needed to... Publish date: May 9, 2006
	Head of her class At a time when it's becoming more and more difficult to find skilled workers, it's encouraging to read about people like 18-year-old Jessica Jelinski who are studying and pursuing careers in metalworking. Jelinski is putting her welding training to good use winning competitions and working on... Publish date: March 7, 2006
	Making your way as a job shop today No matter how you start up your own job shop, it takes a delicate balance to become - and remain - successful. Profitability certainly helps, but so do flexibility and diversification. Publish date: February 7, 2006
	A new energy in appliance manufacturing In January 2006, a new 13 SEER mandate for appliancemakers takes effect. Although it isn't the only thing driving change in manufacturers' product designs, it is providing a springboard for manufacturers to make changes in their products that will help meet increasing customer demands. Publish date: February 7, 2006
	Finding direction for the welding industry The welding industry may be the only one forecast to show any growth between now and 2012, but growth in the U.S. is threatened by a number of factors: skilled worker shortages, welding rod litigation; and what some consider the need for greed among business executives. Publish date: January 10, 2006
	Robotic welding Rad Craig, owner of Induction Concepts, which develops high-performance twin turbo systems, has been considering robotic welding but wasn't sure where to go for information. Rad contacted Practical Welding Today ® , which contacted several robotic welding equipmentmakers and integrators to... Publish date: November 8, 2005
	Growing gains with lasers Jeff Adams may have taken the nontraditional route in manufacturing by starting out in the laser equipment vendor community, but he has since moved to the job shop side of the industry, using his laser knowledge and expertise to help grow his 12-year-old laser job shop in Libertyville, Ill. Publish date: November 8, 2005
	Ask and you shall receive Miller Welding & Machine isn't a typical job shop for a lot of reasons. This family-owned and -operated company, in business since 1963, employs almost everybody in the Miller family -- and tackled its complete inexperience in finishing by investing in a full powder coating and wet paint line in... Publish date: November 8, 2005
	Waste replaced If your welding shop hasn't implemented lean manufacturing initiatives, it's only a matter of time, the experts say. Learn and brush up on your understanding of lean manufacturing to see what tools might help boost your productivity and efficiency. Publish date: October 11, 2005
	No good deed goes unnoticed Being a good welder often means more than on-the-job performance. Whether it's volunteering to help others or otherwise giving back to one's community, these welders are examples of so many who take their time to give of themselves on the job — and outside the office. Publish date: September 13, 2005
	Applying lasers to appliances Three food service equipment makers spoke with The FABRICATOR about their investments in more automated fabrication equipment, especially lasers, and how these investments have paid off for them, even as the economy takes its time to recover. Publish date: July 12, 2005
	Laser welding in Singapore Prototyping parts for projects with shorter lead times and meeting the automotive industry's mass production needs were two large goals for Amtek more than a year ago. Amtek turned to laser welding to meet its goals. Publish date: July 12, 2005
	Metal on his mind Most people are happy just to get their thoughts down on paper. Mike Ingram takes it a step farther, capturing what he sees in his mind in the metal he shapes and welds. Publish date: June 14, 2005
	99% GTAW, 100% RAD Publish date: March 8, 2005
	The meeting of the manufacturers A new organization in Rockford, Ill., thinks job shops working together is a MARRV elous idea. Publish date: November 9, 2004
	Stamping CEO hopes to strengthen U.S. manufacturing Using his experience in the manufacturing industry, Don Wainwright plans to help improve the U.S. manufacturing industry through his position as chairman of the Department of Commerce's newly created Manufacturing Council. Publish date: October 12, 2004
	A Great Combination Publish date: September 14, 2004
	Where the welders are Publish date: July 13, 2004
	How to be successful in small business Publish date: May 4, 2004
	Personality + Protection Being expected to wear more than one hat at work these days is commonplace??but not more than one welding helmet. Publish date: April 6, 2004
	Order for earthquake resistance in the court New construction abounds all over the U.S., and Seattle is not immune to this trend. In 2002 an open-looking courthouse was completed, rising 387 feet above the city skyline. Publish date: March 25, 2004
	One system does not fit all Ventilation systems come in a variety of types for different types of welding processes and varying fabrication facility setups. The emphasis on proper application of these systems and best use of the components used in them comes from an increased interest in cleaner air for the welder. Publish date: January 13, 2004
	Camp Manufacturing Ah, the memories of summer camp. Swimming, sunscreen, hiking, bug spray, camping, arts and crafts. And the promise of an exciting experience with friends. Like youths all over the U.S., 10 students from the Rockford, Ill., region have their own summer camp recollections. Theirs are from a... Publish date: October 1, 2003
	Budget cuts hit welding hard Publish date: September 25, 2003
	The end of the (welding) world as we know it? The end of manufacturing is near for the state of Connecticut, some fear. Publish date: June 26, 2003
	KNOWLEDGE: The key to welding productivity? In the year 2000 manufacturing, construction, and mining industries had $34.1 billion worth of welding-related expenses. At the same time more than a half million people in the U.S. had welding-related jobs -- and that's not counting self-employed and nonproduction welders. Publish date: January 16, 2003
	Working in a welder's wonderland A good welder is a lazy welder, according to Greg Lamm -- but when he says lazy, hemeans comfortable. His microwelding workstation has been set up with ergonomics inmind. Publish date: November 21, 2002
	Man of Steel: FABTECH keynote speaker Ferriola discusses harnessing change in steel Nucor Corp., recycler and manufacturer of steel products, is using new technology, such as the HIsmelt® process and the micromill, both of which are allowing them to start out with thinner steel strip to more efficiently process steel for its customers. John Ferriola, executive vice president... Publish date: October 10, 2002
	A monument(al) rememberance Welder Bill Capozzoli owns and operates a small specialty fabrication company. He works with architect Phillip Conte to fabricate a memorial made of stainless steel to honor fallen Delaware County, Pa. law enforcement officers. Publish date: October 4, 2002
	Set loose the juice As in other facets of welding equipment technology, arc welding power sources are evolving as fabricators' needs change. Electronics is playing a large role in power source modernization as power source equipmentmakers begin to employ digital interfacing, Internet access, software control, and... Publish date: September 26, 2002
	Embracing change Automakers are constantly trying to improve automotive designs, making vehicles lighter and stronger, using thinner materials, and redesigning points of strength for better crash resistance. At the same time, welding equipmentmakers who serve the industry are focusing on this quest for quality by... Publish date: July 25, 2002
	Welder, beware This article provides some statistical analysis, causes for, and tips to consider regarding welding and cutting fire and explosions. It includes a sidebar about governing codes and questions to ask regarding fires and explosions when welding or cutting is suspected in an incident. Publish date: June 27, 2002
	Terrorist attacks inspire Washington welder John Jackson is a welder in Lacey, Wash. who has started The Spirit of America Foundation with a group of people. He established the foundation so that memorials to honor those who were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Publish date: May 30, 2002
	Now's the time to AUTOMATE This article outlines some of the challenges fabricators are facing and how robotics and automation equipmentmakers are trying to address these challenges. Also addressed are different equipment and technological advancements and other factors affecting welding automation. Publish date: May 30, 2002
	Beating the welder shortage, recession blues Seven OEMs of welding torches and guns talk about fabricator challenges and how they see gun and torch technology changing to help them in the future. Some challenges fabricators face are a skilled welder shortage, an economic recession, and welder safety. Publish date: March 14, 2002
	Taking a closer look at welding robotics and automation Robotics and automation are on the rise in welding, especially as the need for welders remains. This article discusses the future of robotics and automation in welding: improvements expected to be necessary, e-commerce concerns, and higher customer demands. Publish date: February 28, 2002
	Steering toward aluminum Trends in the automotive industry Advances in the use of aluminum for cars and trucks could pave the way for greater use of the metal in the future. Publish date: February 28, 2002
	A dream come true By the time he was 12, John Rubino was on a quest: He wanted to weld sculptures. Publish date: January 24, 2002
	One person's trash is another person's ... seahorse? Washington artist Dan Klennert and his quest to renew the spirit of old scrap metal in new sculptures is distinctive, to say the least. He welds uses the shielded metal arc welding process and creates dinosaurs, horses, fish, giraffes, and almost anything else he sets his mind on. Publish date: August 16, 2001
	Common threads in workplace safety: How different committees work to ensure the health and safety of their workers Although various safety committees differ somewhat from plan to plan, they all function as a means to promote workplace health and safety. Different components of a safety plan include responsibilities, activities, and the structure of each company's committee. Publish date: April 24, 2001