IRMCO, a 93-year-old manufacturer of environmentally friendly lubricant technologies for the metal forming industry, is not only surviving but thriving in an industry that's facing tough times with plant closures, downsizing, and fierce foreign competition.

2007 U.S. appliance shipments are forecast to grow only 1 percent because of a sluggish housing market. Shifts in channel preferences; successful market penetration by offshore brands; a strong demand for high-priced, innovative white goods; and the Maytag/Whirlpool merger are changing the industry's landscape.

How tool steel is machined can make a big difference in its performance and life. A poor grinding job might look good, but unseen stress can cause premature failure.With the correct grinding and wire burning techniques, tool steel results can be optimized.

Every metal coil has unique characteristics. Leveling is achieved by precisely bending metal strip back and forth as it's passed through a series of small-diameter offset rolls.

A servomotor gives a press slide motion flexibility in terms of accurate speed, motion, and position control. This flexibility produces infinite slide motion variations that may improve part quality and operations such as painting and assembly during one press stroke.

A servomotor gives a press slide motion flexibility in terms of accurate speed, motion, and position control. This flexibility produces infinite slide motion variations that may improve part quality and operations such as painting and assembly during one press stroke.