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The Fabricator September 2014
The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The Fabricator has served the industry since 1970.
Having the right information at the right time
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 29, 2014
- Shop Management
- Article
Advanced Metal Components has endured tragedy and evolved into a major employer in rural Swainsboro, Ga. Part of it comes from having the right technology, but most of the company’s evolution has involved a perception change about inventory management.
Why safety is personal at Michigan metal fabricator
- By Tim Heston
- Sep 29, 2014
- Safety
- Article
Sue Rollins takes safety personally, and for good reason. The quality assurance manager and safety coordinator at Genzink Steel, Holland Mich., has a life history greatly affected by workplace hazards. To be effective and to convey her message, she makes quality and safety personal.
Weld Cleanup Poses Challenges for Oilfield Workers
- By David Jescovitch
- Sep 15, 2014
- Cutting and Weld Prep
- Article
Attention to proper weld cleaning is especially critical in field applications.
Want to take up powder coating?
- By Larry Savage
- Sep 15, 2014
- Finishing
- Article
As more metal fabricators look to increase value-added activities, they are considering adding a powder coating line. Before they do that, however, they need to know what's involved. They need to select a system that fits a specific footprint, can deliver the customers’ surface appearance and corrosion protection requirements, and meets budget constraints. In other words, they really need to do their homework.
Selecting the right waterjet abrasive
- By R. Randolph Rapple
- Sep 8, 2014
- Waterjet Cutting
- Article
Almost every natural and synthetic material has been tried as a waterjet cutting abrasive. The best material appears to be almandine garnet. However, it's the right combination of hardness, density, toughness, and particle shape in the garnet that maximizes a waterjet's cutting capabilities.
A new dimension in CAD models
- By Dan Davis
- Sep 4, 2014
- Manufacturing Software
- Article
AGCO engineers don’t have to rely solely on the traditional product development process any longer. They have implemented a new virtual reality system that enables engineers to correct design flaws without having to build multiple prototypes. Now the tool is being used to build the company’s first generation of global agricultural equipment.
Shop technology and 3-D CAD: Creating animations to explain the invention
- By Gerald Davis
- Sep 3, 2014
- Shop Management
- Article
Columnist Gerald Davis walks the reader through the steps needed to create a 3-D CAD movie that can be used to bring an assembly or product idea to life.
Two-coat powder process fights corrosion
A powder-on-powder process developed by Hartford Finishing in Wisconsin is providing customers with corrosion protection that they weren't getting with e-coat or other powder finishes.
TPJ celebrates 25 years
- By Eric Lundin
- Sep 3, 2014
- Shop Management
- Article
Editor Eric Lundin recounts some of the more interesting articles published in TPJ since it was founded in 1990, discusses some of the trends, and provides some input from early members of TPA’s board of directors.
The miraculous effect of spare capacity
- By Bill Ritchie
- Aug 29, 2014
- Shop Management
- Article
The traditional cost-based approach to manufacturing promotes using your resources—people and machines—to the fullest extent, but this can wreak havoc in high-product-mix manufacturing, especially in contract operations with varying and unpredictable levels of demand. This is where the value of spare capacity comes into play.
Stand apart in a crowded marketplace
- By Kevin McArdle
- Aug 29, 2014
- Shop Management
- Article
As a custom fabricator, you need to establish contrast—that is, why a customer should choose your company over others. You establish contrast not with generic platitudes, but by specifically addressing customer pain points and describing how you can eliminate them.
Why similar fabricators can have very different financial results
- By Tim Heston
- Aug 28, 2014
- Shop Management
- Article
Contract metal fabricators may have similar assets and offer similar services, but have very different financial results. The differences may come from differing customer mixes, but it also comes from the fact that many shops have highly concentrated sources of revenue. Lose one big account, and financial results seriously suffer.
How to get scheduling right
- By Dick Kallage
- Aug 28, 2014
- Shop Management
- Article
Many point to scheduling as one of the most challenging aspects of running a custom fabrication business. Why, exactly? Sometimes it’s the software, but quite often, it boils down to the inputs used to create the schedule in the first place.
The economics of small-parts bending
- By Casey Schlachter
- Aug 27, 2014
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Bending small parts presents various challenges for press brake technicians, who need to make sure they can bend these small parts quickly and, most importantly, safely. Although the best approach to bending depends on the application, the electric press brake can help make the job much easier.
How to prepare for the aging workforce
- By Brian Roberts
- Aug 27, 2014
- Safety
- Article
The aging workforce is a complex, multifaceted issue, but it has one immutable fact: There will be more older people working than ever before. Older workers can be incredibly valuable to a manufacturer. They have the experience and skill that this industry craves. But you can’t escape biology. As we get older, the body changes, and the workplace needs to account for these changes. The good news is that these changes not only help older workers, but every employee at the company.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/16/2024
- Running Time:
- 63:29
In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s...
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