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From January/February 2012 issue of
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What's driving these industries?

Published: February 1, 2012
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Interviews with several TUBE expo exhibitors reveal that two booming industries throughout the world are energy extraction and automobile production. Although some industries are expected to lag in 2012, notably the U.S. housing construction...

From February 2012 issue of
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More than a metal fabricator - a problem solver

Published: February 1, 2012
Tech Cell: For CEOs

The management team at Airtronics, San Jose, Calif., has seen the manufacturing landscape change greatly over the last 25 years. Plenty of computer and seminconductor work has gone overseas, and the fabrication work that remains is much lower in...

From January 2012 issue of
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Owners’ Gather to Benchmark and Improve Their Businesses

Published: January 19, 2012
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Sarah Miller Caldicott, author & great-grandniece of Thomas Edison Sarah Miller Caldicott, a great-grandniece of Thomas Edison, will deliver the Friday keynote presentation at The FABRICATOR®'s Leadership Summit: 7th Annual Metal...

From January 2012 issue of
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Capital spending carries the rebound into 2012

Published: January 10, 2012
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Manufacturing technology consumption took an unprecedented dive during the recession, but since then the industry has bounced back dramatically. In the metal fabrication arena, most technology categories are experiencing some healthy gains, as...

From December 2011 issue of
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8 hidden costs of material utilization

Published: December 20, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Precision Sheet Metal User Groups consist of up to six noncompetitive, geographically dispersed metal fabricators. Group members have found they can learn a lot from others, especially from other shop owners who have endured and overcome similar...

From November 2011 issue of
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High mix, fast delivery--on time

Published: November 18, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

High-product-mix manufacturers may have problems with off-theshelf TOC, as described in Eliyahu Goldratt’s The Goal, a book that tells how a fictional company manages its operations around a constraint. In a high-mix, low-volume operation, the...

From November 2011 issue of
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Growing health care revenue by selling direct

Published: November 18, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Midbrook, a Michigan fabricator of washing equipment, has worked hard to diversify outside of the automotive business. One key to its success has been its approach to selling to health care facilities. The fabricator has decided to circumvent...

From October 2011 issue of
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Who’s calling? Your machine tools

Published: October 20, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

The evolution of the smartphone has provided the opportunity to improve notification systems to include vital information along with the standard message. Imagine having real-time access to machine and production status from home or the cabin. But...

From October 2011 issue of
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Time is money--so, so much money

Published: October 20, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Quick-response manufacturing (QRM) focuses on what’s called the “manufacturing critical path time,” or MCT. In manufacturing, time is money--in fact, it’s a lot more money than many realize. Rajan Suri uncovers why in his new book

From September/October 2011 issue of
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Discover technology, opportunity at FABTECH® 2011

Published: October 10, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

North America's largest metal finishing, forming, fabricating, and welding tradeshow returns to Lake Michigan shores Nov. 14-17.

From December 2010 issue of
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Same building, new people, new business

Published: September 13, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

A Tulsa, Okla., job shop launches just as the economy starts to recover. The shop moved into a facility that was previously home to another, now defunct fabricator. The building is old--but everything else is new.

From August 2010 issue of
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Knowing the grammar of metal fabrication

Published: September 13, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Several employees at Metcam, an Atlanta-area fabricator, underwent a relatively new program--the Precision Sheet Metal Operator, or PSMO, certification from the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association. The certification requires in-depth knowledge...

From May 2010 issue of
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How the sales function became so important

Published: September 13, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Fred Wilke of Wilke Enginuity knows how important the sales function is. Small jobs helped the company grow, but in 2007 they were looking to take the company to the next level. It was time to concentrate on the larger contracts. Then the...

From July 2010 issue of
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Aerospace manufacturer champions employee ownership

Published: September 13, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

This California fabricator finds success with its employee stock ownership plan. The ESOP gives everyone a stake in the business. ESOPs go against conventional wisdom in retirement planning, where the financial gurus promote investment...

From September 2011 issue of
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Finding fabricating opportunities in the defense sector

Published: September 9, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Fabricators interested in exploring defense-related contracts need to do some homework before they get started, and they also need to understand that government agents aren’t manufacturing specialists. They buy products, not processes, so...

From September 2011 issue of
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Manufacturing's Multiplier Effect

Published: September 9, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Sales at B&W Trailer Hitches dropped severely during the recession, but the fabricator had no mass layoffs. Instead, workers gave back to the community, fixing and repairing public parks, community centers, even employees’ homes. Judging by the...

From April 2010 issue of
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Distributor, metal fabricator, metal finisher--wraparound service

Published: September 2, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

This Atlanta area company is an extruded metal distributor, architectural metal fabricator, and metal finisher all rolled into one. Such vertical integration gives the company a leg up over the competition.

From January 2010 issue of
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Metal fabricator asks what else customers need--and grows

Published: September 2, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

This Buffalo, N.Y., job shop is difficult to pigeonhole. It offers contract fabrication services, assembles complex material handling systems, and distributes certain products, including rooftop support systems. The company grew so diverse simply...

From March 2010 issue of
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Being fair and competitive

Published: September 2, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Salem Metal Fabricators quotes a fair price, regardless of the economy, and has been able to maintain long-term customer relationships because of it.

From February 2010 issue of
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Metal fabricator’s product launch proves profitable

Published: September 2, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

A business doesn't have to be glamorous to be profitable. For Zeus metal Works, a Siler City, N.C., fabricator, heavy-duty cabinets, a necessity in many industries, have opened the door (so to speak) to new business opportunities.

From September/October 2011 issue of
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Maximizing scrap yield

Published: August 31, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Do you feel like you are getting the best price for all of the metal that you scrap?

From September/October 2011 issue of
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Stamper enters solar market via partner

Published: August 31, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Bennett Machine & Stamping Co., Geneva, Ohio, made its foray into the solar energy market from another manufacturer in Painesville, Ohio, American Roll Form. Bennett's ability to construct dies of various complexities, run them in a variety of...

From August 2011 issue of
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Finding customers at trade shows

Published: August 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Metal fabricators still consider tradeshows to be an important part of their marketing efforts, but are they really doing enough to attract customers at these events? A few tips can help them maximize their sales efforts at tradeshows.

From August 2011 issue of
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Streamlining the purchasing job

Published: August 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Sometimes the new guy has some good ideas. Giese Manufacturing, Dubuque, Iowa, learned that when they had a recent hire take over purchasing requirements.

From January 2011 issue of
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Fabricator touts precision production

Published: August 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Diversified Metal Products’ demanding niche—nuclear fabrication—spurred growth throughout the economic downturn. Its mix of production and one-off fabrication may give the contract fabricator a leg up in the years ahead.

From April 2011 issue of
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Shaking off the albatross of manufacturing’s image

Published: August 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

A northeastern job shop gets a new building and a complete makeover, with bright colors, a sleek front office, a quality assurance room that looks like a laboratory, and with it all, a new image.

From March 2011 issue of
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How small batch sizes define modern manufacturing

Published: August 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

The long-held belief that setups should be amortized over the largest possible lot sizes needs to change. As setup times become shorter, they become less relevant, and, according to some, so does the old notion of economic order quantities.

From May 2011 issue of
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Managing people as people, not assets

Published: August 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Elizabeth Miller never thought about managing a metal fabrication shop, that is, until the unthinkable happened. When her husband died, her life changed dramatically, in more ways than she could have ever imagined.

From June 2011 issue of
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Metal Fabrication Industry: A portrait in prose

Published: August 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Three books together paint a good picture of this industry. It’s a combination of technical knowhow, pragmatism, down-to-earth humor, and big-picture thinking.

From July/August 2011 issue of
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What are the differences between quality control and quality assurance?

Published: July 20, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

The terms quality control and quality assurance are often used interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. Quality assurance is a big-picture program executed by company management; quality control is a small-picture initiative that takes place...

From June 2011 issue of
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Implementing an environmental policy

Published: June 18, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

No longer a green dream, environmental stewardship is becoming an imperative for manufacturers and fabricators. Thanks to its nearly decade long efforts, Alpharetta, Ga.-based Metcam has made impressive strides toward achieving this goal.

From June 2011 issue of
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How a big fabricator grows even bigger

Published: June 7, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Mayville Engineering Co. of Mayville, Wis., has grown into a metal fabrication powerhouse, with seven plants that altogether employ more than 1,000 workers. But it hasn’t been an easy ride. Less than a decade ago, MEC was struggling to find its...

From June 2011 issue of
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Get the most from your quoting software

Published: June 7, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Even a modern quoting software package is no guarantee that all job estimates will be done consistently and correctly. But tips, such as investigating the software's full capabilities and establishing master routing templates, can help the...

From June 2011 issue of
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The FAB 40: Back to business

Published: June 2, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

The FAB 40 listing for 2011 indicates that metal fabricators are gearing up to cope with an expanding manufacturing economy.

From May/June 2011 issue of
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Lower-tier suppliers and the automotive recovery

Published: May 11, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

The automotive suppliers who survived the recent economic crisis are smaller than before and their capability to add capacity has been reduced. With predictions of 15 million cars sold in 2011, this is a big concern.

From May 2011 issue of
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Field selling for fabricators: direct or rep?

Published: May 6, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

When stepping up sales initiatives, shop owners stand at a crossroads: Should they hire a direct salesperson or go with a manufacturer’s rep? There are pros and cons to each. To start, fabricators should fully understand the economics behind the...

From April/May 2011 issue of
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Government procurement provides potential profit

Published: April 27, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

The U.S. military has a large and stable demand for tube and pipe. Learning about this demand is the first step for a fabricator interested in becoming a U.S. government supplier.

From April 2011 issue of
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Diverse, quick, and growing

Published: April 1, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Tennessee job shop finds success through diversifying its capabilities, from laser cutting, press brake bending, and robotic welding, to milling, turning, and boring. The shop turns around many jobs in only a few days.

From April 2011 issue of
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3-D CAD: Modeling with limited resources

Published: March 14, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Columnist Gerald Davis reminds us that CAD modeling has its limitations and that it's still necessary to build a prototype rather than just relying on simulation.

From March 2011 issue of
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Everyone on the same page—electronically

Published: March 10, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

E-commerce now involves the full gamut of business communications, from quoting and paying invoices to job tracking. Technology, sources said, has made the supply chain more transparent, accountable, and efficient.

From March 2011 issue of
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Hamburgers, metal, and mettle

Published: February 25, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

White Castle’s metal fabrication subsidiary has abided by continuous improvement principles for decades—long before Toyota became a major player in the United States.

From February 2011 issue of
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The repatriation of U.S. manufacturing: The case for bringing business home

Published: February 7, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Some manufacturing work formerly outsourced to other countries is beginning to return to the U.S. What’s behind this shift, and how can fabricators best position themselves to acquire some of this repatriated work?

From February 2011 issue of
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CRM and the job shop

Published: January 31, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

In manufacturing, measuring is everything. If you don't measure the process--and use the best metrics--you can't improve it. That thinking applies to sales and marketing just as it does the manufacturing floor--and this is where customer...

From January 2011 issue of
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Capital spending set to spike

Published: January 17, 2011
Tech Cell: For CEOs

2011 capital equipment spending could rise significantly, according to a recent survey from FMA Communications, publisher of The FABRICATOR. When compared with 2010 projections, projected plasma arc cutting investment jumped 47 percent, turret...

From December 2010 issue of
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Success going paperless

Published: December 10, 2010
Tech Cell: For CEOs

By eliminating its work order packets, Advanced Laser Machining Inc. has saved time associated with trying to make corrections once engineering changes were made to jobs in progress and reduced the risk of upsetting its customers.

From December 2010 issue of
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FABTECH ushers in growth

Published: December 2, 2010
Tech Cell: For CEOs

At this year’s show, many attendees said they expected significant growth ahead. Some companies have acquired previous competitors, and the recession’s survivors are gearing up for growth.

From December 2010 issue of
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Fabricators anticipate growth in 2011

Published: December 2, 2010
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Metal fabricators expect continued growth in 2011, but uncertainties abound. Many firms are going into the New Year with a straightforward strategy: Improve what you can control to prepare for what they can’t.

From December 2010 issue of
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11 ways to increase your job shop's online presence

Published: December 2, 2010
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Most job shops have Web site, but they don't do much with them. They might as well be billboards on a road to nowhere. However, with a little knowledge about constructing a proper Web site and optimizing the site for Internet search engines, those...

From November 2010 issue of
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The 3 P’s of sustainability

Published: November 22, 2010
Tech Cell: For CEOs

To remain viable in the future, companies must focus on sustainability and pay attention to three key components of the sustainability puzzle: people, profit, and planet. Safety also is an important part of this puzzle.

From October/November 2010 issue of
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Sizing up the job

Published: November 1, 2010
Tech Cell: For CEOs

Accounting is straightforward, but it’s not iron-clad; fabricators have latitude in the accounting system they use to bid on contracts. A bottom-up approach, one that analyzes all the costs that go into making a component, is suitable for many...