Cycle time reduction has become a key area of opportunity for organizations that are under increasing pressure to get more done with fewer resources in order to remain competitive. By reducing cycle time organizations can reduce cost (or opportunity cost), increase quality, and improve customer service....
To stay competitive, today's manufacturers must balance significant investments in current technology with the overall return on those investments. THE RIGHT MACHINING INVESTMENT PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS To stay competitive, today’s manufacturers must balance significant...
The adage "don't put all of your eggs in one basket" certainly rings true for Sipco Molding Technologies of Meadville, Pennsylvania. Today, the company provides design and engineering, precision machining, custom injection molding, and mold-making services to the auto-motive, electronics,...
SITUATION Cast Technologies is a family-owned-and-operated foundry and machine shop that got its start 120 years ago making brass plumbing products. Today, the Peoria, Ill., company primarily machines aluminum and brass diesel engine, transmission and earth-moving components such...
SITUATION -->FPD Company of McMurray, Pennsylvania is a leading manufacturer of implantable medical devices. When a customer approached the company with a new femoral component for an artificial knee, FPD faced several unique manufacturing challenges, including: • Precision...
THE CHALLENGE Vanderhorst Brothers Inc. performs milling, turning, EDM, programming and assembly services. This mid-sized Simi Valley, Calif., machining company has been around for four decades, performing work for customers in the aerospace, medical, semiconductor and commercial...
THE CHALLENGE Mid-State Machine Products of Winslow, Maine, works with large part production components with intricate geometric tolerances, especially in difficult-to-machine alloys. The company serves customers in the defense, gas- and oil-exploration, and power-generation industries...
THE CHALLENGE Twin Disc of Racine, Wis., develops, engineers, manufactures and distributes power transmission products that make things work. These products are installed in the drivelines and powertrains of farm tractors, road pavers, cranes, oil rigs, firefighting and rescue vehicles,...
THE CHALLENGE All Axis Research & Development LLC of Claremont, N.H., creates prototypes for clients in the electronics, aerospace, glass and industrial printing industries. It also manages larger runs and creates fixtures for the parts it designs. Because it is regularly...
Starting with a flexible cell, this shop added efficient tool management plus workholding hardware designed for fast and error-free changeover. A PLATFORM FOR FLEXIBILITY In some ways, Muller Martini’s process used to be too flexible. At least the workholding...