Fab Stories Articles

Results: 52

	Welders on welding : How they feel about their jobs By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Welding ranked No. 5 on CareerCast.com's worst jobs list . The company recently researched 200 different positions using five measurement... Publish date: February 23, 2010
	Want to export? Cozy up to your globalizing customers : Stampers find road to international markets via clients, other resources While some stampers have experienced demand losses when their clients set up manufacturing facilities offshore, others have successfully... Publish date: November 30, 2009
	Waste not, want more : General MetalWorks' lean manufacturing practices have helped it earn The FABRICATOR's 2010 Industry Award By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Figure 1 Finding enough room for a group photo is not that big of a deal at General MetalWorks, Mequon, Wis. Elimination of excess raw... Publish date: February 11, 2010
	Ridin' the storm out Part I : Part I: Lean helps stamper squeeze out �automotive 5 percent� By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal� Editor Editor's Note: This is the first article in a three-part series on Tennessee Stampings LLC. Part I explores the company's lean practices.... Publish date: August 8, 2007
	Want to export? Cozy up to your globalizing customers : Stampers find road to international markets via clients, other resources While some stampers have experienced demand losses when their clients set up manufacturing facilities offshore, others have successfully... Publish date: November 30, 2009
	Welders to the rescue : Job shop specializes in repairs, cargo containers If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. In emergency situations such as fires, health crises, or... Publish date: November 6, 2009
	Raising the bar, one sink at a time : Commercial food service appliance manufacturer shrinks lead-times from weeks to days By: Tim Heston If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Figure 1 This made-to-order bar setup can be fabricated at... Publish date: October 7, 2009
	Fabricating with a digital foundation : Architectural metal fabricator embraces the 3-D model approach If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Figure 1 A. Zahner Co. uses a parametric digital model) to... Publish date: September 1, 2009
	Putting out fires, the lean way : Fire truck-maker Crimson Fire grows its backlog despite the downturn By: Tim Heston If an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Figure 1 Crimson Fire managers have transformed the... Publish date: April 14, 2009
	Rapid Creek Cutters—The second time around By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Pat Burrington, the man in the one-man shop, Inkom, Idaho-based Rapid Creek Cutters, believes that if you are thinking about a career in... Publish date: February 24, 2009
	'We are all Shickels' : Not all employees share the last name, but they do well in representing the best of Shickel Corp.--The FABRICATOR's 2009 Industry Award winner. By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Click image to view larger Shickel Corp. is no longer the small repair shop that opened in 1938 in Bridgewater, Va. It's a business with more... Publish date: February 10, 2009
	Getting it there yesterday : Greenheck Fan cuts lead-time to, in some cases, mere hours By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Figure 1 A combination laser-punch machine speeds products through Greenheck Fan's shop floor. In the building business, timing is... Publish date: November 25, 2008
	Forming metal that 'remembers' : Memry Corp. forms shape-memory alloys for the medical business By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Strips of nitinol fabricated by Memry spring back to their "remembered" shape. Dennis Norwich revels speaking at his children's school, where... Publish date: November 25, 2008
	Getting the weld right the first time : Victory Industrial Products LLC reworks its training program to improve quality efforts By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Yes, Victory, there is a quality clause. Well, it's not specifically stated as a quality clause in the employee handbook, but it's understood by... Publish date: November 25, 2008
	Rocket Science, Entrepreneur-Style : SpaceX takes a fresh approach to rocket fabrication By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Figure 1 This is a rendering of the Falcon 9 rocket SpaceX plans to launch next year. Image courtesy of SpaceX. Aerospace executive Chris... Publish date: November 11, 2008
	Japanese metal fabrication: Manufacturing on a bedrock of data : Japanese metal fabricators automate and collaborate to compete and thrive By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor I first noticed the houses in Shibayama Machi, southwest of Tokyo. Many in Japan live in extended families, and driving through communities I... Publish date: October 14, 2008
	Growing season: Fabricating for agriculture : FSI Fabrication helps drive efficiency at dairies and ranches By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor A worker at FSI Fabrication welds a heavy hitch onto the front of a mobile spreader. The Curfmans live in Sunnyside, Wash., an enviable place... Publish date: October 14, 2008
	Unfolding truth about flats : Just how much does a CAD jockey need to know about flat layouts anyway? By: Array Gerald Davis is a job shop consultant and chair Three-dimensional CAD software provides great power to generate flat layouts of sheet metal... Publish date: June 16, 2008
	Ultrafabrication, ultraexpansion : Ultra Machine & Fabrication grows at lightning speed bending, welding armor plate By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Figure 1 Ultra employs more than 200 welders, all trained for heavy-plate fabrication. That sums up Ultra Machine & Fabrication, a small... Publish date: August 26, 2008
	Cycling through a business transition : Lori and Traci Tapani break out of the mold in fabrication management By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Maybe it's the fact Lori calls her sister "Trace," short for Traci. Maybe it's because they complete each other's sentences. Or that they live... Publish date: August 26, 2008
	(Un) memorable fabrication : Oceaneering fabricates subtle creations in high-profile structural projects By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor The Entertainment Systems and Manufacturing divisions of Oceaneering Intl. go to great lengths not to be noticed. Millions have seen their... Publish date: August 12, 2008
	Silicon Valley stamper sizes up, down electronics : Builds on strengths, carves niche By: Kate Bachman, Editor Scandic Springs Inc., a San Leandro, Calif., job shop that specializes in stamping and coiling spring materials, faces the challenges of a... Publish date: June 17, 2008
	Building success with the staggered truss : Structural fabricators take on a growing architectural market By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Click on image to view largerStaybridge Suites in downtown Chicago, slated for completion later this year, has a staggered-truss design that... Publish date: June 17, 2008
	Streamlined scheduling suits fabricator : Estes Design and Manufacturing implements software for efficient scheduling, work flow By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Estes has invested in a bank of automated laser cutting , folding, and bending centers, including this panel bending workcell from Salvagnini.... Publish date: May 13, 2008
	Fabrication business coming up races : Mazworx hopes to build its profile through sport compact racing By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Click on images to view larger. The 2008 Mazworx entry into National Hot Rod Association Sport Compact Drag Racing Series events was fabricated... Publish date: May 13, 2008
	Of cars, this specialty vehicle manufacturer can do it : Fabricating know-how and trustworthy ironworkers help M&M Vehicle Corp. to give new life to used cars By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief M&M Vehicle President Chris Miller stands in front of a cart of fabricated aluminum parts that help change a golf car into "anything other than... Publish date: April 15, 2008
	Work flow goes virtual By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Mid-West Metal Products Engineer Archie Adamisin views a customer's CAD file, which will follow the job through production. One look at... Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Nothing standard about this fab shop : The old approach isn't of interest to the new kid on the block, Seconn Fabrication--The FABRICATOR's 2008 Industry Award winner By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief After five years of working for a family-owned metal fabricating business in eastern Connecticut, Rob Marelli wanted to do things his way. He... Publish date: February 12, 2008
	Not your average job shop : How one fabricating company evolved and thrived in precarious times By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Figure 1 Sargent Metal Fabricators, Anderson, S.C. The route from Atlanta to Sargent Metal Fabricators in Anderson, S.C., is a scenic... Publish date: October 23, 2007
	Fabricating: Employment or enjoyment? : Making the most of metal doesn't have to be a full-time job By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal� He has a big, booming voice that matches his stature, a New Jersey accent, and a passion for motorcycles. No, you won't see him on television,... Publish date: October 9, 2007
	Ridin' the storm out : Part I: Lean helps stamper squeeze out �automotive 5 percent� By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal® Editor Editor's Note: This is the third article in a three-part series on Tennessee Stampings LLC. Part I in August explored the company's lean... Publish date: August 8, 2007
	A new spin on metal forming : Fabricator�s niche revolves around spinning sheet and plate By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal� If you traveled all over Minnesota looking for a spinning shop, you'd likely overlook Glenn Metalcraft Inc., a fabricator located in... Publish date: April 10, 2007
	Big shoulders, long strides : Four-generation family shop starts anew By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal® Editor Jeff Hansen, Dave Hansen, Cathy Hansen, and Mike Hansen (left to right) are equal partners in Hansen Steel Services. About 25 miles inland... Publish date: February 13, 2007
	Think you have a challenging bend? Bring it on : Fabricator thrives on difficult forming applications By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal� You need a simple 4D bend in 2.125-inch carbon steel tube with a wall factor of 15? Come on—that's too easy. Four 3D bends in 2.125-in.... Publish date: December 12, 2006
	Moving in the right direction : New building = better work flow for curb adapter manufacturer To overcome the logistical challenges of its 21,000-sq.-ft. curb adapter manufacturing facility, Crystal Distribution moved from its Maple... Publish date: December 12, 2006
	Structurally, it's a job shop : Suburban Steel doesn't operate like a typical structural steel fabricator By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Structural steel from Suburban Steel Co. is used to frame a Huntington Bank branch in Grove City, Ohio. Structural steel shops can be as... Publish date: December 12, 2006
	Using job shop habits for a custom project : Michigan welder, machinist finds specialty jig-building a viable business option By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Like any good businessman, Ed Sauvola wants to take his company in a successful direction. That's why this instructor-artist-welder-machinist... Publish date: November 7, 2006
	Growing, growing ... gone? : Some customers left, but a contract manufacturer finds new ones on the Web Fabrication jobs for Custom Tool & Mfg. Co. sometimes are very large and intricate in nature. Some customers left, but a contract... Publish date: October 10, 2006
	Small but great : Successful working environments come in all sizes Editor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of Winning Workplaces, a not-for-profit organization that helps small and midsized businesses... Publish date: August 8, 2006
	Right on schedule : Shop management software streamlines QC Metal Fabricators' operations By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief The wall doesn't look like much, but it represents an important part of QC Metal Fabricators' business: the up-and-out style of hinges... Publish date: June 12, 2006
	Stamper, prototyper, assembler, or fabricator : One company, many roles By: Eric Lundin, Senior Editor, and Amanda Carlson, News Editor Tooling build takes as little as a week. Quasar designs the tooling, keeps an extensive variety of raw materials in its inventory, and does... Publish date: April 11, 2006
	Metalfab: All that glitters is metal By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal� Editor Flying Car, "Monster Garage," Discovery Channel; Photo courtesy of DCI. Race-car House, "Monster House," Discovery Channel; Photo... Publish date: April 11, 2006
	Up with energy prices and wind towers : Automation, consultation help plate fabricator meet demand for wind tower masts By: Sue DiBianca The recent surges in gasoline and natural gas prices have reawakened many Americans' interest in alternative energy resources. Aerisyn LLC, a... Publish date: February 7, 2006
	Bulletproof processes : Alpha Stamping is reinventing itself with lean manufacturing By: Kathleen McLaughlin, Contributing Writer Alpha Stamping Company is creating bulletproof processes. Sound dangerous? It is for competing medium-sized stampers and assemblers.... Publish date: December 13, 2005
	Reality TV: Frame-making in the U.S. : Oceanside, Calif.-based fabricator successfully competes in global CRT framemaking market By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief The A member of the CRT frame is a roll formed strip of chromium molybdenum steel, and the B member is a cold-rolled steel tube cut and... Publish date: November 8, 2005
	On the road again : Heavy-duty-equipment fabricator ramps up By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal� Editor Just a missed exit away from the Caterpillar facility in Morton, Ill., contract manufacturer Morton Metalcraft Co. teems with noise and... Publish date: November 9, 2004
	Stamping CEO hopes to strengthen U.S. manufacturing By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Manufacturing is not foreign to Don Wainwright. At the helm of Wainwright Industries, a St. Peters, Mo.-based stamping and machining firm,... Publish date: October 12, 2004
	Skilled workers make new press brake technology even more valuable By: Steve D. Benson, Contributing Writer This article grew out of an FMA discussion board posting about new press brake controllers and software in which someone asked, "Do I really need... Publish date: September 14, 2004
	Where the welders are : Skilled welders are out of work, but employers can�t find them By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Making sense of the skilled labor shortage in the welding industry is like having conversations with five different people simultaneously... Publish date: July 13, 2004
	A most excellent fabricator : Pride, passion, and perseverance�these p's help separate BEGNEAUD Manufacturing Inc. from the rest of the pod By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief One recent afternoon Don Begneaud was on the phone with his contractor trying to drive home a point. "I don't want to drill shafts. I... Publish date: April 6, 2004
	Beating 'world' pricing : Nu-Way Industries finds the formula to take on competition from China By: Scot Stevens, Contributing Writer This Finn-Power Express Bending Cell, which automates complex bending and reduces tedious and costly work stages, has last bend negative... Publish date: January 13, 2004
	Family business going strong after 100 years By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Editor's Note: The Peddinghaus Corporation, featured in this article, is the longest-standing active member of the Fabricators &... Publish date: December 11, 2003

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