Since the early days of metal stamping, removing scrap from stamping dies and presses has caused many headaches. Because scrap is not the primary product companies produce, it receives less attention than the finished products coming off the press.

The design of every machine, no matter how simple or complex, requires attention to operator safety

With the tooling trade in its current challenging economic situation, some tool companies are being forced out of business, losing money, or entering into highly competitive markets.

As a consultant for the sheet metal stamping industry, I have had the opportunity to visit numerous stamping plants, die shops, and engineering facilities. One comment I often hear during these adventures is how arrogant or "know-it-all" some of the toolmakers or engineers are.

Today more than ever, the metal forming industry is economically challenged. Everyone is scrambling to find new ways to lower process costs without sacrificing quality. In the case of metal formability, a lot is at stake. With metal prices and operating overhead continuing to rise, any downtime or wasted material significantly impacts the bottom line.

If you're a die designer, a standard precision progressive die can present countless challenges for you. Some of these dies have to produce thin slots, small holes, or tricky coins.