Guest columnist Chris Kuehl of FMA explains how the U.S. economy can grow in 2012 if four key issues are addressed clearly, logically, and in a coordinated manner.
January 2012
EXPERT COLUMNS
EDITOR'S FORUM
CNC INSIDER
WHY OPEN HOUSE COLLABORATIONS MEAN BUSINESS FOR YOU
Randy Pearson of Siemens Industry explains how, by working together as a team, large and small shop operations can all benefit from the collective talents of dealer and control personnel.
WELDING TIPS
TIPS FOR OVERLAYING JOURNALS AND CASTER ROLLS
Although the ultimate hardfacing deposit selected will vary based on the intended application, Regis Geisler of Lincoln Electric explains the welding and fabrication techniques to follow for rebuilding caster rolls, crankshafts, roll pins, extrusion rolls, crusher rolls, or other types of journals made of low alloy steel.
THE SAFE SIDE
Safety at a Crossroads: To some, the future of safety holds great promise, with jobs being created faster than colleges can graduate qualified professionals. But others see storm clouds on the horizon. Phil La Duke of Rockford Greene International takes an insightful look into both sides and exposes some trends in safety that you are definitely not aware of.
THE CUTTING EDGE
NOT YOUR FATHER’S PUNCHING MACHINE
Do punching machines still have a place in the sheet metal industry? The answer that Mike Kroll of Trumpf provides may surprise you.
PROFIT MASTERY
Need credit access and capital? There are seven financial issues that are critical to improving the communication between the banker and business owner. Steve LeFevre of Profit Mastery explains some ways to manage these factors, gain better control and improve their business performance.
METAL FORMING & FABRICATING
Ryerson Purchases Multi-Blanking Line
The new combination line from Red Bud Industries gives the Charlotte facility the ability to produce blanks with width and length tolerances of +.005 in.
Bystronic Announces New Representation in Western Canada
The sheet metal fabrication equipment builder adds Akhurst Machinery, one of the largest independent equipment distributors in Canada.
Acquisition and Showtime at WMP
Waukesha® Metal Products acquires Metal Skills Plus, LLC and highlights its servo press stamping technology on the World’s Greatest television series.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Metal Forming & Fabricating Software
Forecast: Look for more intelligent solid CAD models, design automation and direct flow through to manufacturing, where more agile software supports mass customization throughout the new breed of fabrication machines that perform first and second operations in a single step.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Metal Forming & Fabricating Machine Tools
Forecast: Advanced technology and automation will keep this business sector strong overall and growing in the agriculture, transportation, medical, aerospace, and oil and gas sectors.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Manufacturing Carries the Load
Insights for Strategy and Planning: In our deepest survey ever, fabrication and metalworking executives share their personal assessments of the current state of business, the market sectors they see with the most business activity, the critical issues and major trends that are developing within the industry, and how advancements in technology are changing how companies will compete during the coming year.
NY Metal Stamper Installs First Micro Waterjet In U.S.
The unique abrasive cutting system helps the plant decrease its scrap rates and deburring while producing precision parts with tolerances of ±0.01 mm, depending on material and thickness.
Hydraulic Press Builder Implements ERP System
The enterprise resource planning system refines internal operations and procedures so that customers are granted unprecedented access to manufacturing schedules, approval and systems drawings, with the added ability to order spare and replacement components on-demand.
People making recent headlines in the business of fabricating and metalworking.
WELDING
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Welding
Forecast: Look for modest increases in oil and gas, agriculture, mining, railroad, transportation, defense as total system solutions get new talent up to speed as quickly as possible, focus on shorter ROI, and are customized by industry needs.
METAL CUTTING
WORLD OF WATERJETS: A Cutting Edge
Whether the application requires high precision and tight tolerances or cutting a wide variety of materials at high speeds, abrasive waterjet technology from Jet Edge has proven up to the task. Two diverse shops, Pegasus Northwest and China Steel, show how these capabilities can be strategically positioned to gain a competitive business advantage in demanding markets.
WORLD OF WATERJETS:
Precision Cuts in a Variety of Sheet Sizes
Full line service center Penn Stainless Products needed to reduce its turnaround times on precision alloy cutting. A new state-of-the-art cutting system from Flow International not only cut the lead times, it expanded the center’s capabilities as well.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Metal Cutting Software
Forecast: Software must support demand for automation by driving the growth of more complicated machine tools that reduce setups.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Saws
Forecast: Increasing automation and higher machining speeds on composite materials is creating strong opportunities in the aerospace, oil and gas, agricultural sectors for saw manufacturers.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Waterjets
Forecast: The metal fabrication sector will continue to recover faster than metal cutting sector, with strong opportunities and more investment in higher end machine tool applications in the aerospace and medical markets.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Lasers
Forecast: There will be increasing consolidation in this high growth industry, as advanced automation provides strong opportunities in the agricultural sector and other markets.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Metal Cutting Machine Tools
Forecast: Watch for increasing supplier-customer collaboration on increasing automation, smart operations, and networking of machinery and equipment in the aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, agricultural, die and mold sectors.
Recent activities and events going on in the business of fabricating and metalworking.
TOOLING & WORKHOLDING
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Tooling
Forecast: Look for the strong demand in high-end, high-tolerance applications to continue growing well into the future as increased demands surface for the next generation of tooling, aircraft and medical devices, where tolerances will be tighter than ever.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Cutting Tools
Forecast: Creative metal-cutting tactics abound as shops focus on optimizing their manufacturing processes to tackle notable growth in the automotive and aerospace sectors.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Robotics
Forecast: Very strong opportunities to expand into job shops and smaller manufacturers, along with continued strength in the traditional automotive, agricultural, heavy equipment and aerospace sectors.
MEASUREMENT & INSPECTION
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Measurement and Inspection
Forecast: Disruptive non-contact measurement technologies will continue to grow to support mass customization in job shops for strong opportunities in anything formed and fabricated, particularly in the automotive, commercial aircraft and energy markets.
MAINTENANCE
Every time you touch that part adds cost to it. These material handling tools can help keep your part costs down by making your handling processes more competitive.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY
PROTECTION AND GUARDING IN ROBOT WELDING CELLS
The sophisticated Guardian Defender barrier door from Frommelt Safety features improved controls and more resilient curtain material that is ideal for use in robotic welding cells, material handling, automated assembly, palletizing/packaging machinery and other applications.
2012 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Global Energy Efficiency Indicator
Forecast: Watch for a continuing global increase in interest in energy efficiency, motivated by incentives and public image concerns in addition to energy cost savings. While interest is strong and savings targets are common, barriers lie in the path.
