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More from Tim Heston
- From The Fabricator
Leveling for metal fabricators: Know the material you’re buying
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 4, 2018
- Metals/Materials
- Article
With better knowledge of how leveling operations make material flat, fabricators can make better buying decisions.
- From The Fabricator
FABTECH previews the future of metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 4, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
FABTECH® 2017 provided a preview of what looks to be a very positive 2018. Conferences and keynotes also brought industry trends and challenges front-and-center: flexible automation, software, Industry 4.0, and the perennial search for the engaged skilled tradesperson.
- From The Fabricator
An edge up on plasma cut quality
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 3, 2018
- Plasma Cutting
- Article
Precision plasma cutting has come a long way, and the technology that helps create the process’s clean, almost glassy edge—with little to no taper or edge rounding—continues to get better.
- From The Fabricator
Collaborative robotics in metal fabrication: Automate the boring
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 15, 2017
- Automation and Robotics
- Blog Post
Automation now can take on unskilled and semiskilled work, even in low-volume environments.
- From The Fabricator
Apprenticeship programs: Getting paid to learn
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 11, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Apprenticeship programs help connect education to the workplace.
- From The Fabricator
Trucking in metal fabrication: Delivering on promises
- By Kate Bachman and Tim Heston
- Dec 4, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Should a fabricator own its own trucks or contract with a carrier? A fabricator that also owns a full-fledged trucking company offers a unique perspective.
- 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.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/16/2024
- Running Time:
- 63:29
In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s...
- Trending Articles
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Steel industry reacts to Nucor’s new weekly published HRC price
Metal fabrication management: A guide for new supervisors
- Industry Events
16th Annual Safety Conference
- April 30 - May 1, 2024
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Pipe and Tube Conference
- May 21 - 22, 2024
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World-Class Roll Forming Workshop
- June 5 - 6, 2024
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- June 25 - 27, 2024
- Novi, MI
- Upcoming Webcasts
Nitrogen Generation for Laser Cutting: Navigating System Design for YOUR Operation
- April 24, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: Purity Gas
Navigating Change: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Change Management with ERP Implementation
- May 16, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: ECI Software Solutions, M1