There are many factors to consider when selecting a drive and control system for a cut-to-length line. After choosing the line, you need to choose the drive, calculate the load inertia, calculate the feeder speed, and choose a motion controller.

In-process sampling and between-process checks can prevent problems at the production stage. Although using an inspection jig can be costly, some testing approaches that are not as rigorous as using an inspection jig are: stacking and blocking a sheared batch in order to scan the batch for variations; weighing castings; touring a customer's facility; and doing small batch inspections.

One of the loudest messages of the day was that managers, presidents, and owners need to ask the employees actually doing the work for their suggestions on how things should be done. And then listen.

New power plants are in high demand and several hundred can be expected to be built over the next decade. Chromium-molybdenum steel pipe (P91) is a major construction material in these plants and there are particular methods for welding it properly to insure it will hold up. Preheat and postweld heat treatment are mandatory and absolutely critical to the service life of the alloy. Induction heating is a growing method for preheating and postweld heat treating.

Del and Sally Halling started a business together, selling the custom residential iron art they create. Through their process, they found that much marketing and research was needed before they could be successful.