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Plasma cutting system improves electrode life, cutting quality

Bunting Magnetics Co. acquires MAGL

Airgas acquires A&N Plant

Manual waterjet bevel head cuts up to a 45-degree angle

Captive screw fasteners function as slam-to-close latches

Pneumatic presses accommodate 3 to 210 tons

How to implement quick die change

Mark Scanlan — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:00:00 AM CDT

Click image to view larger Key quick die change components are clamps (blue), die lifters (red), and bolster extensions (yellow). Few lean manufacturing methods increase press uptime, lower per-part costs, and provide an immediate return on investment (ROI) as readily as quick die change (QDC) does. Although the merits of QDC likely are well understood within the stamping field, tailoring a program to a company's current equipment and operational requirements can b...

A ‘weld-done’ finish

Tom Carroll — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:00:00 AM CDT

Stainless steel products are used in all parts of our daily life. Think about how many stainless steel surfaces your fingers touch before you even arrive at work. With the popularity of stainless steel has come the demand for high-quality stainless steel finishes. Customers have certain expectations for the surface finish, and one of the major challenges in stainless steel treatment is meeting these expectations. The biggest problem has been the labor and time required to ...

Custom or standard?

Seth Cook — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:00:00 AM CDT

Contrary to a popular misconception, the output of durable goods in the U.S. has been on an upward trend for decades. This growth is interrupted by intermittent, short-term slowdowns, of course, but the fact is that the U.S. continues to be a productive nation, and its output continues to climb. The common observation that "we don't make anything in the U.S. anymore" simply isn't true. On the other hand, surviving in manufacturing keeps getting tougher. In...