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The Fabricator April 2018
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.
Fabricator develops aluminum case to fasten communication system to wheelchair
- By Eric Lundin
- Apr 13, 2018
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Contacted to develop a metal case for a communication system, the staff at Progressive Stamping & Fabrication came up with a process to form an aluminum case on a punching machine. The result is a sturdy holder for a tablet computer and an eye-tracking device that allows physically challenged people to communicate by using eye movements only.
How to check the performance of your press brake and tooling
- By Steve Benson
- Apr 13, 2018
- Bending and Forming
- Article
The inside bend radius has far too many variables to be a metric for checking the health of your press brake, but it can check the health of your tooling. A good bending operation needs both.
3-D CAD modeling case study: A great industrial design can be burdened with inadequate planning
- By Gerald Davis
- Apr 12, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
Columnist Gerald Davis shows how an initial design concept for a commercial coffee maker was used to launch a manufacturing project.
Lean manufacturing tips for the 15-person shop
- By Jeff Sipes
- Apr 11, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
Can lean manufacturing be effective for a small, 15-person fab shop? Of course it can. Lacking the institutional inertia of a large organization, the small shop can implement lean concepts quickly and effectively.
Project nesting macro helps commercial kitchen manufacturer overcome design challenge
- Apr 11, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
SituationU.K.-based Shine Food Machinery has been fabricating sheet metal kitchen components for commercial catering environments for more than 40 years. The company supplies products to customers from small cafes and schools to the Ministry of Defence. Neil Thorne, senior design engineer,...
Why hydraulic press technology makes sense in roll forming applications
- By Dan Davis
- Apr 11, 2018
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Dahlstom Roll Form, Jamestown, N.Y., has been around since 1904. Its longevity can be attributed to many things, but one of its main areas of dedication is to customer relationships. This is evident in the company's commitment to seeking out improvement in performance and delivery of products. Part of that is always looking at new technology, including the latest in metal forming capabilities.
Smart supply chain strategies lead to quick response
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 10, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
Workplace Modular Systems has gone through a subtle evolution since 2014. It responds quicker and produces more with available resources. This is thanks not only to the quick changeover capabilities of modern equipment, but also smart inventory management.
Switching to precision plasma cutting
- By Dan Davis
- Apr 9, 2018
- Plasma Cutting
- Article
When new business opportunities require tighter tolerances and more productivity, an upgrade in cutting and design capabilities is required. Natural Structures, Baker City, Ore., did just that with an investment in new plasma cutting system.
Team building central to custom fabricator’s success
- By Joe Morgan
- Apr 6, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
Without good employees, a fabricator cannot thrive. For this very reason, SDMI, a large custom fabricator and machine shop in upstate New York, does not take employee hiring and development lightly. Training employees and building effective teams have become central to the organization’s success.
5 design elements for safe, heavy-duty racking
- By Tracy Buck
- Apr 6, 2018
- Materials Handling
- Article
Most fabricators have some type of heavy-duty racking, and the specifics behind their design shouldn’t be overlooked. Poorly designed racking can be one of the most dangerous hazards on the shop floor.
Automated fitting and welding becomes reality for Prospect Steel
- By Dan Davis
- Apr 5, 2018
- Automation and Robotics
- Article
Learn how Prospect Steel in Little Rock leaped into automated fitting and welding, and how the investment changed the structural steel fabricator’s future.
Heavy-duty sheet metal punching with the modern mechanical punch press
- By Dennis Niesborella
- Mar 30, 2018
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Article
Determining the best punch press for the job should always hinge on the application and the ROI you need. Learn more about heavy-duty sheet metal punching here.
Lean manufacturing meets custom tow truck assembly
- Mar 30, 2018
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
Fleet Sales West (FSW) has transformed its assembly operation into a finely tuned, flexible machine. Not long ago the 15-person manufacturer produced between four and five custom tow trucks a month. That just wasn’t enough; the company needed 10 a month just to break even. Today FSW assembles 12 a month, and it’s working to make even more.
Muza Metal Products perfects its sales and marketing strategy
- By Tim Heston
- Mar 29, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
Muza Metal Products scrutinized its sales and marketing strategy. The management team identified the target customer and has a plan for growth. But growth takes more than just hiring people and buying machines.
3 angles on press brake training: Part I (video enhanced)
- By Kate Bachman
- Mar 29, 2018
- Shop Management
- Article
This first in a series of articles about press brake training looks at how a classroom environment might work for fabricators. In this instance, the training took place at the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association’s new building in Elgin, Ill.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/30/2024
- Running Time:
- 53:00
Seth Feldman of Iowa-based Wertzbaugher Services joins The Fabricator Podcast to offer his take as a Gen Zer...
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- June 25 - 27, 2024
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- Upcoming Webcasts
Navigating Change: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Change Management with ERP Implementation
- May 16, 2024
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