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More from Tim Heston
- From The Fabricator
Streamlining diverse part flow in metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Oct 7, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
The people at Prince Precision Products may be fabricating thin sheet one hour and thick plate the next hour. Managers at PPP call their operation a hybrid—part job shop focusing on small runs, part production operation. Juggling it all requires focus on good communication and minimizing rework.
- From The Fabricator
Why scaling up may be tough in metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 17, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Hefty competition usually drives companies to consolidate to achieve economies of scale. For metal fabrication, this rule may not apply.
- From The Fabricator
Consolidation in metal fabrication: horizontal, vertical, or both?
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 16, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
M&A activity has been on the rise in metal fabrication in recent years, but what's the strategy behind it all? Fabricators seem to be diversifying, both in terms of process offerings and customer bases.
- From The Fabricator
Measuring the manufacturing cycle in metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 15, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Many fabricators scrutinize how fast a laser cuts: How quickly can a machine finish a nest, how many blanks per minute can a press brake form. But how do these processing speeds correlate to a custom fabricator’s profitability?
- From The Fabricator
How small batches simplify metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 14, 2015
- Bending and Forming
- Blog Post
When order quantities shrink, things can get really complicated on the job shop floor--unless the order-to-ship cycle shrinks as well.
- From The Fabricator
Plasma cutting meets biochemistry
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 8, 2015
- Plasma Cutting
- Article
A fluid for plasma cutting tables is designed to coat workpieces to prevent rust and corrosion. The fluid effectively biodegrades bacteria on contact. The company also reports that the fluid is safe enough to send down the sewer.
- From The Fabricator
Parts identification for extreme environments
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 8, 2015
- Materials Handling
- Article
A marking technology—which involves the interaction between a laser, coating, and metal substrate—is designed to withstand harsh processing environments, including blast cleaning and hot-dipped galvanizing.
- From The Fabricator
Metal fabrication, automation, and the big picture
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 8, 2015
- Automation and Robotics
- Article
Ludlow Manufacturing Inc.’s managers are big believers in automation, but they’re not just interested in shortening machine cycle times. They look at the big picture, from the first order to the final shipment.
- From The Fabricator
Will this stainless steel weld rust?
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 3, 2015
- Metals/Materials
- Article
Is a stainless weld truly passivated, or will some unexpected rust emerge down the road? New testing technology, used in-house by fabricators, helps answer this question
- From The Fabricator
Are workers really less productive?
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 2, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
According to the Labor Department, American workers aren’t as productive as they once were. But how do we measure productivity? Perhaps most important, do customers value it?
- From The Fabricator
Five insights on metal fabrication hand tool basics
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 1, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Metalworker Tom Lipton speaks about metal fabrication hand tools, something often taken for granted in the fab shop. Learn about metal working tools here.
- From The Fabricator
Better testing leads to better roll forming
- By Tim Heston
- Aug 25, 2015
- Roll Forming
- Article
A new testing device uncovers the range of yield stresses in specific materials and thus helps roll forming technicians better predict how certain materials will perform.
- From The Fabricator
Oxyfuel cutting thick, fast—and safely
- By Tim Heston
- Aug 11, 2015
- Oxyfuel Cutting
- Article
An oxyfuel cutting gas from MagneGas Corp. cuts thick plate with a highly concentrated flame. The gas—created from liquid biomass via plasma gasification—has in a mechanized setup cut 3.5-in.-thick plate at 18 IPM. The company also says that the gas is especially safe because it’s lighter than air.
- From The Fabricator
Custom metal fabricator grows beyond sheet metal
- By Tim Heston
- Aug 4, 2015
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
Nu-Way Industries, a fabricator near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, launched a new touchscreen display business, combining expertise in metal fabrication, assembly, and supply chain management.
- From The Fabricator
4 tips on avoiding property tax sticker shock
- By Tim Heston
- Aug 4, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Planning for your next commercial property tax assessment boils down to having the right information at the right time, and using the right strategy.
- 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...
- Industry Events
16th Annual Safety Conference
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- May 21 - 22, 2024
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- June 5 - 6, 2024
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- June 25 - 27, 2024
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- 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