Ace Metal Crafts one of four plants to be featured in the Largest Laser Tour in America

Stainless steel fabricator Ace Metal Crafts, Franklin Park, Ill., is one of four Chicago-area plants to be featured in the Largest Laser Tour in America. The tour is part of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl.®'s (FMA) first LaserFab Conference to showcase the latest technologies in lasers from industry experts and then provide first-hand looks at how technology, processes, and continuous improvement are applied at leading fabrication shops.

The tour of the Ace Metal Crafts manufacturing facility will be held from 4-5 p.m., Wednesday, September 22, 2010.

"We're honored and excited to be chosen as one of the sites for this year's LaserFab Conference." said Ace Metal Crafts President Dale Ball. "The Ace model for continuous process improvement and empowerment of our people has yielded significant advances and advantages for our company. Now, through this year's LaserFab Conference, we have the opportunity to share insight into what has worked for us with the hope of helping our peers, partners and suppliers, which benefits all of us in manufacturing."

During the past 10 years, Ace management has invested in technology and melded Lean principles into its culture to reduce cycle time by 60 percent and improve inventory turns from seven to more than 20. Since 2003 company revenue has increased by more than 120 percent.

During the visit, Ace will showcase offerings such as its automated flat laser, and its new six-axis laser for automated cutting and tapping of structural components, as part of a dedicated frame cell. To OEMs in food processing, pharmaceutical, packaging, environmental, and plastics industries, Ace is known for delivering value not only through key capabilities but also through its integration with proven Lean processes. Leadership at the company has focused much attention on fostering a culture of empowerment — where the employees are trusted to have the responsibility and authority to do what's right for the customer and the company. Time and again the company has proven that while technology is key to providing value to customers, it is the people and the culture that create the winning combination.

Ace Metal Crafts was founded in 1960 by 16 sheet metal workers specializing in high-variety, low volume stainless steel fabrication. Today through its 40,000-square-foot location in Franklin Park, Illinois, the company provides laser cutting, forming, rolling, welding, finishing, light assembly, and value engineering for OEMs in the food processing, packaging, environmental, nuclear, pharmaceutical, and plastics industries. The metals Ace handles include stainless, mild and aluminum.

More information about LaserFab Chicago 2010 can be found here.