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More from Tim Heston
- From The Fabricator
2018 forecast: Another year of growth for metal fabricators
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 1, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
2018 is shaping up to be a good year, despite uncertainties in the political world. The industry’s largest fabricators are firing on all cylinders.
- From The Fabricator
Capital spending in metal fabrication scales up in 2018
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 30, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
The results of the “2018 Capital Spending Forecast,” published by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, predicts an extremely healthy capital equipment market next year. It’s one of the most positive spending reports metal fabrication has seen in years.
- From The Fabricator
Shaping a metal fabricator to attract the best
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 30, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
To attract the right talent, a Wisconsin custom fabricator works with a foundation of modern technology and revenue diversification.
- From The Fabricator
CO2 laser machine maintenance: Keep it clean, save money
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 29, 2017
- Laser Cutting
- Article
Good CO2 laser maintenance boils down to keeping the machine clean. This includes the beam path and cooling system.
Specialized GTAW process a key factor in water purification system project
- By Eric Lundin and Tim Heston
- Nov 20, 2017
- Arc Welding
- Article
When Gustavo Gonzalez, one of the owners of industrial supplier Puertotrans SRL, began researching welding processes for an aqueduct project, he stumbled across an emerging welding technology: keyhole gas tungsten arc welding. Use of this technology cut the project time from 720 days to 162 days.
- From The Fabricator
Technology Spotlight - Pipe weld prep without grinding
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 11, 2017
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Article
When it comes to beveling, the industry has had alternatives to the grinding wheel, including nibbling and milling options. One portable milling option available now has been specifically designed for pipe applications.
- From The Fabricator
Laser cutting at FABTECH: Not just about inches-per-minute
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 10, 2017
- Laser Cutting
- Blog Post
When people and automation can't keep up with machines, the actual speed or power of this or that machine matters less. Flow matters more.
- From The Fabricator
How a good company culture spurs a virtuous cycle
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 7, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Achieving and improving a stellar company culture remains an elusive goal to quantify in metal fabrication. But some companies are measuring it. In one sense, it could be treated as a central tenet of process improvement.
- From The Fabricator
Big data wellspring for optimal flow in metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 3, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
A tour for the North American industry press of Belgian and Dutch fabricators reveals that no matter how complicated an operation becomes, it’s still all about flow—and driving that flow, now and in the future, are software and big data.
- From The Fabricator
Lean meets the internet of things
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 3, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Industrial Sales & Manufacturing launched a unique improvement methodology while investing in machine monitoring and connectivity. The two initiatives go hand in hand.
- From The Fabricator
Laser cutting, no gas delivery trucks required
- By Tim Heston
- Oct 30, 2017
- Laser Cutting
- Article
Nitrogen generation has become more established in laser cutting circles. The latest technology can adapt to the highly variable needs of the custom fabricator.
- From The Fabricator
Mastering fabrication by mastering cash management
- By Tim Heston
- Oct 26, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
The latest “Financial Ratios & Operational Benchmarking Survey” shows a slight decline in sales for participating shops. But even during not-so-stellar times, top-performing shops ended the year with a healthy profit.
- From The Fabricator
Metal fabricating in sequence, by color
- By Tim Heston
- Oct 18, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Six years ago workers at Hillphoenix’s Iowa operation spent 13 weeks getting an order ready to ship to a customer—and they put in a lot of overtime to make it happen. It now takes them less than half the time. The company got there by manufacturing in sequence and focusing on job velocity.
- From The Fabricator
Good engineering, better metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Oct 16, 2017
- Finishing
- Article
Good engineering practice drives everything at Royal Welding & Fabricating, a custom fabricator in California. It can be seen in the design of some of its tanks and vessels, as well as its manufacturing processes on the floor—including grinding and polishing.
- From The Fabricator
Plate rolling, cutting, welding, and thinking big
- By Tim Heston
- Oct 16, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Nuclear industry manufacturer Holtec International opened a new fabrication facility on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. But it’s not a traditional industrial fabrication plant. The company has introduced single-piece part flow to extremely large-workpiece fabrication.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 03/05/2024
- Running Time:
- 65:35
After Ludlow Manufacturing Inc. (LMI) received The Fabricator's 2024 Industry Award, Todd Ludlow, founder and president of the...
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- Upcoming Webcasts
Nitrogen Generation for Laser Cutting: Navigating System Design for YOUR Operation
- April 24, 2024
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- Presented By: Purity Gas