Dayton Rogers Under New Ownership

Dayton Rogers, Minneapolis, MN, a privately held metalforming company with six U.S. regional manufacturing locations, announced that company president Ron Lowry has acquired the company from the Seeger family. The firm, which began as a supplier of short-run metal stampings, performs sheetmetal fabrication, machining, and metal stamping, as well as rapid prototyping and assembly; www.daytorogers.com.

Ohio Sheetmetal-Enclosure Fabricator
to Open Plant in Indiana

Koester Metals Inc., Defiance, OH, a producer of sheetmetal enclosures and other fabricated components, announced plans to open a new facility in Fremont, IN, by 2012. The company will set up shop in an existing 130,000-sq.-ft. plant, with help from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., which offered Koester as much as $185,000 in performance-based tax credits and $25,000 in training grants. Among its hopes for the new plant is the inclusion of a “green” powder-coating line. The Koester headquarters plant in Defiance performs, among other processes, laser cutting and robotic welding; www.kmienclosures.com.

HVAC Sheetmetal Fabricator
Adds 4-kW Laser-Cutting Machine

M&M Manufacturing Co. has installed a Mazak Hypergear 2D FMS laser-cutting system at its Precision Products Division in Fort Worth, TX. The machine features a 4-kW laser to cut mild steel to 1 in. thick, as well as a material-storage tower for holding and retrieving as many as10 different sheet specifications. A pneumatic load system positions each sheet on the cutting table—with material loaded in the tower, the setup can run untended for complete shifts or over the weekend. M&M fabricates round, rectangular and spiral HVAC duct pipe and fittings, as well as sheetmetal products for roofing, ventilating and architectural applications; www.mmmfg.com. Learn more about the lineup of laser-cutting equipment from Mazak Optonics Corp., Elgin, IL, at www.mazaklaser.com

Automotive Stamper Announces $6.4 Million Expansion

Ralco Industries Inc., Pontiac, MI, announced plans to invest $6.4 million to expand to a larger facility, thanks in part to state tax credits worth a combined $2.6 million over seven years. The tax credit helped to convince the firm to expand in Michigan rather than move to a competing site in Tennessee. Ralco, which according to its website “specializes in converting expensive castings into low-cost welded assemblies for automotive exhaust-gas-recirculation (EGR) systems,” expects to hire 100 additional workers as part of its expansion. It also manufactures steering components, suspension and chassis brackets, seating components and other automotive parts; www.ralcoind.com.

MI Stamper Adds 600-Ton Press, New Coil Line

PTM Corp., Fair Haven, MI, has installed a new 600-ton mechanical press from Eagle Press & Equipment Co., Ltd., Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada (www.eaglepresses.com), rated to 60 strokes/min. and equipped with an Allen Bradley Panel Vision control. Feeding the press is a 48-in. feed line provided by Dallas Industries, Inc., Troy, MI (www.dallasindustries.com) and a 20,000-lb.-capacity straightener and uncoiler from Mecon Industries, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada (www.mecon.com). Press bed size: 144 by 54 in. PTM, which supplies metal stampings fourslide parts, is online at www.ptmcorporation.com.

P&G Steel Products Adds
Plastic Injection Molding to its Resume

Family-owned metalforming company P&G Steel Products, Buffalo, NY, has installed four Cincinnati Milacron presses, from 110-1000 tons, to add plastic injection molding to its list of manufacturing capabilities. Its 1000-ton press can handle shot sizes to 165 oz. The firm operates more than 25 metal-stamping presses, robotic-welding cells and CNC machining centers; www.pgsteel.co.

Long-Stanton Inks Lucrative
Asian Manufacturing/Distribution Deal

Metal stamper and sheetmetal fabricator Long-Stanton Manufacturing Co., Inc., West Chester, OH, and its sister company Long-Stanton & Lee, an integrated global manufacturing company with five plants in China and two in the United States, will manufacture, sell and distribute specialty truck equipment in China. Its recently announced deal is expected to generate $10 million in revenue over a 3-yr. period, with projected annual market growth of 20 percent for the next 3 to 5 years. Learn more at www.longstanton.com.

Fort Wayne Tool and Die Shop Adding Equipment

GT Automation Group, Fort Wayne, IN, a designer and manufacturer of metal stamping dies and special machines, and a precision machining house, plans to invest $180,000 in new equipment by the end of the year. The company, founded in 2003, will acquire a new CNC table-type horizontal boring mill, other CNC milling equipment and new cranes. It also plans to hire three additional skilled workers—machinists and toolmakers. Learn more at www.gtautomation.com.

Indiana Tool and Die Maker
Growing by Leaps and Bounds

C&A Tool Engineering, Inc., Churubusco, IN, has acquired the former Dana engine-parts facility in Churubusco, to accommodate future company growth. The company, which operates a 200,000-sq.-ft. headquarters and production machining facility as well as a newly acquired 105,000-sq.-ft. facility in nearby Auburn, IN, employs 530, and manufactures molds and dies, specialty tooling and tightly toleranced precision machined parts from prototype runs to production runs. Learn more at www.catool.com.

Worthington Industries Acquires
Mississippi Metalforming Company

Columbus, OH-based Worthington Industries Inc., a diversified company with 60 manufacturing facilities in 10 countries, acquired Piper Metal Forming Corp., New Albany, MS, a producer of aluminum high-pressure cylinders and impact extruded steel and aluminum parts. The acquisition includes Piper’s related companies—U.S. Respiratory, which assembles and distributes medical cylinder products; and Pacific Cylinders, which provides West Coast distribution from Diamond Springs, CA. Worthington Industries (www.worthingtonindustries.com) produces metal framing, pressure cylinders, automotive stampings, metal-ceiling grid systems and laser-welded blanks.

HK Metalcraft Earns Delphi Award

HK Metalcraft Corp., Lodi, NJ, a supplier of metal stampings, spring washers, formed products and related assemblies, earned the Pinnacle Award for Supplier Excellence from Delphi Corp. Among the criteria for winning a Pinnacle award: zero major disruptions or repeat problems, single-digit PPM, and zero parts on controlled shipping. The firm also earned an OSHA SHARP Award for 2009, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Stewardship Award, for “voluntary and proactive measures to go beyond compliance, in an effort to improve the environment and ensure a sustainable future.” More at www.hkmetalcraft.com.

Stamper Earns TS Certification, and Receives OSHA Honor

P&G Steel Products Co., Buffalo, NY, a supplier of progressive, transfer and deep-draw metal stampings, has received certification to ISO/TS16949, recognizing its quality-management system that provides for continual improvement and emphasizes defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. TS16949 applies to the design, development, production and installation and servicing of automotive-related products.
The firm also recently received a national Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award from OSHA for its “exemplary safety and health management system.” SHARP award recipients are exempt from programmed OSHA inspections for a specified period of time, and then are invited to renew their exempt status through a full-service, comprehensive visit by OSHA representatives.
Learn more at www.pgsteel.com.

Truex Expands Stainless-Steel Capabilities
with New Integrated Manufacturing Cell

Three transfer presses, a state-of-the-art cleaning line and a bright annealing furnace occupy the new integrated manufacturing cell at Truex Inc., Pawtucket, RI, designed to allow the firm to expand its capabilities to fabricate stainless-steel components. The firm manufactures deep-drawn and stamped parts--from brass, carbon and stainless steels, and aluminum alloys--for the appliance, plumbing, electrical, automotive and other industries. Its 40,000-sq-.ft. plant also houses value-added operations including material finishing, heattreating and assembly; www.truex.com.

Kansas City Service Center Installs
New Multi-Blanking Line

Ken-Mac metals, a division of ThyssenKrupp Materials NA, has installed a new Red Bud Industries’ precision multi-blanking line at its service center in Kansas City, MO. The line, which includes a precision grip-feed system and CNC programmable slitter, will process stainless steel, aluminum alloys and prepainted materials. The combination of machines allows Ken-Mac to produce blanks with width and length tolerances of plus or minus 0.005 in. The line can process coils to 50,000 lb. and 72 in. wide, of material to 0.135 in. thick. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com. Ken-Mac Metals is online at www.kenmacmetals.com.

E.J. Ajax & Sons Earns Blue Ribbon Award

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Small Business Award, sponsored by Sam’s Club, has been bestowed upon metalforming company E.J. Ajax & Sons, Fridley, MN. The award honors businesses that demonstrate excellence in financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service and business planning. E.J. Ajax (www.ejajax.com), along with other recognized small businesses, will receive its award certificate at the America’s Small Business Summit 2009, May 11-13 in Washington, D.C.

Waukesha Tool & Stamping
Acquires Parkview Metal Products

To add fabrication and robotic welding to its list of capabilities as well as expand its metal stamping and assembly capabilities, Waukesha Tool & Stamping, Sussex, WI, acquired Parkview Metal Products, Lake Zurich, IL. The two companies will soon combine fully and be renamed Waukesha Metal Products. Management expects to hire additional employees at both of its facilities—20 new employees in the fabrication department and 15 in stamping. Learn more at www.waukeshastamping.com.

Ohio Gasket & Shim Earns TS Certification

Metal stamping, gasket and shim manufacturer Ohio Gasket & Shim Co., Inc., Akron, OH, has been certified to ISO/TS 16949:2002 Without Design. The firm offers short-run prototyping to full production stamping runs, and also offers fabrication capabilities including laser-beam cutting; www.ogsindustries.com.

Coil-Processing Equipment Provider
Forms Wind-Energy Business Unit

Automatic Feed Co., Napoleon, OH, a supplier of high-speed coil-processing equipment, has formed a new business unit--AFCo Precision Manufacturing—to align its engineering, manufacturing and quality operating systems to serve the needs of the wind-energy industry. The company expects to become a reliable supplier of fabricated and machine components, and special machined details. The new business unit recently joined the Great Lakes Wind Network; www.glwn.org.

Kentucky to Welcome New Facility
to Clean and Rustproof Metal Stampings

Transportation Management Systems, LLC, Elizabethtown, KY, and its automotive-services company TMS Automotive, have leased a 32,000-sq.-ft. facility in Bowling Green, KY, to offer an array of services to the metalforming industry--parts washing, rust-inhibitor applications, parts sorting, packaging, warehousing and distribution, and more. It expects to open the location—now being renovated—and to hire 35 employees by the end of June. Learn more at www.transportationsystems.org/tmsautomotive.asp.

New Jersey Stamper Wins OSHA Sharp Award

HK Metalcraft, Lodi, NJ, will receive the OSHA SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) award on May 7, 2009. The award recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Upon receiving SHARP recognition, a worksite is exempt from programmed inspections during the period that the SHARP certification is valid. HK Metalcraft manufactures precision metal stampings, spring washers, formed products and related assemblies; www.hkmetalcraft.com. It’s participated in the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program to help institute training programs in the concepts of lean manufacturing and the 5-S program.
Learn more about the SHARP program at www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/sharp.html.

Former Ford Stamping Plant Begins New Life

The former Ford Motor Co. Maumee (OH) stamping plant, resurrected as employee-owned Maumee Authority Stamping Inc., has begun work in its first contract. The plant recently installed two spin-forming production lines in a 10,000-sq.-ft. section of the 800,000-sq.-ft. facility to begin manufacturing catalytic-converter parts that will be assembled in Tennessee and sold as aftermarket parts through Ford’s parts and service network.

Stamper Earns Ammunitions-Supply Contract

AK Stamping Co., Mountainside, NJ, has received a contract to produce ammunition links for the MK281 40-mm training and practice grenades manufactured by American Rheinmetall Munitions, Stafford, VA. AKS, among other capabilities, manufactures small- and medium-caliber ammunition links for a variety of weapons systems, offering stamping, welding, assembly and inspection services; www.akstamping.com. Learn more about American Rheinmetall (a U.S. subsidiary of German-based Rheinmetall) and its products at www.americanrheinmetall.com.

Tax Credit to Help MI Stamper Expand, Create Jobs

Thanks to a Michigan Economic Growth Authority tax credit, Lenawee Stamping Corp., Tecumseh, MI, plans to expand its automotive-stamping and assembly plant. The $6.6 million expansion will immediately create 81 new jobs, the company says, with the potential to create a total of 277 jobs. The company, which currently employs 172 workers, will receive a state tax credit of $873,000 over 7 years. Meanwhile, the city of Tecumseh is also considering a 12-yr. personal property tax abatement, valued at $397,000.

Job Shop Banks on New Press Brake

Fedtech Inc., Mounds View, MN, a metal-fabricating job shop specializing in custom manufacturing services including waterjet and laser cutting, has acquired a Bystronic Beyeler Xpert 320 press brake, rated to 352 tons of force. The machine boasts 29 in. of open height--ideal for fabrication of deep boxes or lengthy flanges; an 18-in. stroke; and hydraulic tool clamping for quick setup and process flexibility. The Xpert 320 is coupled with Bystronic’s Bybend graphical CAM software that permits direct importing of DXF, DWG and IGES files. Fedtech paired the Xpert with precision-ground standard-style tooling from Wila Intl. Learn more at www.fedtech.com; read up on Xpert press brakes at www.bystronic.com.

Stretcher Levelers Added to Steel-Processing Lines
to Flatten Material, Tackle Springback

Ratner Steel, Roseville, MN, installed a pair of stretcher levelers, from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL, onto existing steel-processing lines. The new equipment improves stock flattening and relieves trapped stresses to eliminate the possibility of springback. One stretcher leveler can process material to ¼ in. thick and 100,000-PSI yield strength; the second unit can handle material to ½ in. thick and 75,000-PSI yield strength (3/8 in. thick and 100,000-PSI yield). Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com. Ratner Steel processes flat-rolled carbon and high-strength low-alloy steel, offering cut-to-length, coil slitting, custom blanking and shearing; www.ratnersteel.com.

Performance-Based Tax Credits, Training Grants
Fuel Metal Spinner’s Expansion Plans

KIHM Metal Technologies, Inc., Brazil, IN, announced plans to invest more than $530,000 to expand its manufacturing operations, upgrade equipment and add new production shifts through the expansion efforts. One reason for the expansion: to help prepare the firm to take on a new project to manufacture “fire bottles,” part of a fire-suppressant system for aircraft crews. Company co-owner Bill Kaupp expects the project to result in the hiring of another 40 to 50 employees over the next few years. To support KIHM’s expansion efforts, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered the firm up to $350,000 in performance-based tax credits and $39,500 in training grants, based on its job-creation plans. Learn more about KIHM’s capabilities—metal spinning, laser cutting and welding, and more—at www.kihmmetaltech.com.

Website Features Examples of 3D Die-Design Projects

Summit Tool Design, Rockford, IL, has launched its redesigned website, www.summitsedge.com, where visitors can view examples of the firm’s 3D die-design projects and virtual die-tryout process. Summit offers tool and die design services for the sheetmetal-stamping industry, and value-added services for Solid Edge software. Also on the site: video of a sheetmetal forming simulation, design case studies and a “Contact Us” form.

Manufacturing for the Renewable-Energy Markets
Triggers $3.3 Million Expansion

Kalt Manfuacturing Co., North Ridgeville (Cleveland), OH, plans to invest $3.3 million over the next 2-3 years to keep up with demand as the company continues to successfully earn work serving clients in sectors such as wind and renewable energy. The company offers precision machining, rebuilding services and engineering support, and plans to add 16,000 sq. ft. onto its 38,000-sq.-ft. building. It also expects to purchase nearly $2 million worth of new equipment. The State of Ohio recently awarded Kalt a $1 million low-interest loan toward the project. Learn more at www.kaltmfg.com.

Waukesha Tool & Stamping Launches Plex Online

Full-service metalforming company Waukesha Tool & Stamping, LLC, Sussex, WI, has gone live with its new Plex Online software, designed to encompass more than 350 modules for managing manufacturing enterprises. Waukesha Tool & Stamping (www.waukeshastamping.com) is using modules for quoting, EDI, project-resource planning, purchasing, human resources, financials and costing. It’s using Plex Online, from Plex Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI, to manage operations in Sussex and at its plant in McAllen, TX. “Plex already is giving us more reliable data on our costs, saving us time in the customer-service area, streamlining purchasing and planning, and helping us better manage our manufacturing and quality,” says company controller Nancy Nyhan. Learn more about Plex at www.plex.com.

Orchid Doubles the Size of its Mexican Facility

Orchid International, Brentwood, TN, has moved its Monterrey, Mexico-based aluminum die-casting operation into a new 62,000-sq.-ft. facility in nearby Apodaca. The new facility more than doubles the company’s manufacturing floor space from its original facility, which Orchid acquired from Hawk Motors in November 2006. The Orchid die-casting plant ships more than 80,000 aluminum die-cast electric-motor rotors per week, and the company is considering adding general stamping and assembly to its new and larger facility. Learn more at www.orchidinternational.com.

Roll Forming Corp. to Supply Structural Titanium
Components for the Boeing Dreamliner

RTI International Metals, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, a manufacturer and distributor of titanium-alloy products, extruded shapes, formed parts and engineered systems, has contracted with Roll Forming Corp. (RFC), Shelbyville, KY, to supply laser-beam welding, forming and inspection of RTI’s structural titanium components destined for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 10-yr. contract with RFC is estimated to generate more than $120 million in revenue and requires RFC to perform production laser-beam welding for the 787 seat-track program. RTI, along with its supply-chain partners, will machine and assemble the finished titanium components used for the seat tracks, which mount to the floor structure of the 787. Learn more about RTI at www.rtiintl.com. Roll Forming Corp., a subsidiary of voestalpine AG, is online at www.voestalpine.com/rfc/en.html.

S & S Hinge Grows Through Acquisition

The continuous-hinge manufacturing assets of Beehler Corp., Mountain Grove, MO, have been acquired by S & S Hinge Co., Bloomingdale, IL. As a result of the consolidation, all assets acquired will move to the S & S Hinge facility. Learn more at www.sandshinge.com.

Michigan Stamper Receives Congressional Recognition

Henze Stamping and Manufacturing, Troy, MI, a small, certified women-owned business, has been recognized by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency as New Contractor of the Year. The firm also received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the office of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. Henze provides stamping, welding, assembly, machining, tube bending and other services for automotive, retail, marine and commercial applications; www.henzeindustries.com.

Bachman Acquires Machining Center
to Bolster Production-Machining Capabilities

The CNC machining facility of Bachman Machine Co., St. Louis, MO, will soon welcome the addition of a new CNC double-column vertical machining center. Bachman will use the machine to provide added capacity to its tool and die operation, as well as support and grow its production-machining operations. The machining center, a DCV series 4025 model from Taiwanese builder YCM, features a 161 by 94-in. table and a maximum allowable load of 44,000 lb. Bachman Machine is a manufacturer of metal stampings, progressive dies, plastic injection-molded parts and production CNC machined parts; www.bachmanmachine.com.

German Firm to Construct Texas Aluminum-Fabricating
Plant to Build Wind-Tower Equipment

Zarges Aluminum Systems GmbH will begin construction of a manufacturing facility in Amarillo, TX, later this year. The 80,000-sq-.ft. plant, to be completed by the end of the year, will manufacture aluminum internal equipment for wind towers—ladders, work platforms, scaffolding and the like. The plant will be located on more than 8.5 acres in the Amarillo Economic Development Corp.’s CenterPort Business Park. Zarges is working with Amarillo College to develop welding, technical training and robotics and automation programs to help train its future workforce. Learn more at www.zarges-alusys.com.

High-Speed Stamper, Precision Machining Company
Lauds New Website

Carter Precision Components, Gastonia, NC, has launched a new website loaded with descriptions of its multifaceted capabilities and a full equipment list. Carter Precision offers Swiss machining, high-speed stamping, CNC turning and milling, heattreating and plating and other services. Learn more at www.carterprecisioncomponents.com.

Tubular-Parts Fabricator Investing in New Equipment

Tubular-parts maker Fraser Steel, Albertville, MN, has acquired a large-capacity rotary draw bender to enable the firm to bend large pieces of round and square tubing as well as solid-steel bars. Finished, bent parts will primarily be used in cab enclosures for heavy equipment used in the agricultural and road-construction markets. Fraser Steel also offers laser tube cutting, machining, rapid prototyping and robotic welding. Learn more and view a video of the firm’s new tube bender in action at www.frasersteel.com.

Alabama Stamper Named
Outstanding Automotive Supplier

The Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA, www.aama.to) has recognized Atlantic Tool & Die-Alabama (ATD-AL), Anniston, AL, as the Outstanding 2008 Automotive Supplier in Alabama. ATD, which opened its 65,000-sq.-ft. Alabama plant in 2004 and employs 50 associates, manufactures stampings and assemblies for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama. The company outscored four other suppliers considered for the award, and earned a perfect score in six of the 15 judged categories: disaster recovery, supply-chain management, information flow, process flexibility, 5S, and shipping management.
ATD, headquartered in Northeast Ohio, owns and operates eight manufacturing facilities and recently opened a ninth company, JATDCO, a joint venture Minority Business Enterprise in Ohio.

Ford’s Electric-Vehicle Program
Could Bring Business to KY Stamper

Bowling Green (KY) Metalforming and its parent company Magna Intl. announced last month a partnership with Ford that puts the supplier of automotive stampings in line to produce parts—powertrain and battery-module components--for Ford’s new battery-powered electric vehicle, slated to hit the market in 2011. An article from the Bowling Green Daily News said that the stamping plant announced plans last September to retool its plant to the tune of $126 million to shift from production of truck frames to automotive parts.

West Virginia to Welcome New Galvanizing Plant

North American Galvanizing & Coatings, Inc., Tulsa, OK, will construct its 11th hot-dip galvanizing plant in Benwood, WV. The plant is scheduled to begin production in late April, to serve customers in the greater Pittsburgh and western PA areas. The firm is renovating an existing building to house the plant, which will employ approximately 20 people. Learn more at www.nagalv.com.

Stamper/Die Builder Adds 6-kW Laser-Cutting Machine

Rockford Toolcraft Inc., Rockford, IL, a tool and die builder and heavy-metal stamper, has acquired an Amada LC-F1NT laser-cutting machine. The flying-optics-style machine is equipped with a 6-kW laser to handle heavy-gauge fabrication and position the company to take on relatively shorter runs. Learn more at www.rockfordtoolcraft.com.

Alabama Welcomes New Steel-Coil Processing Plant

Friedman Industries, Inc., Houston, TX, has opened a new coil-processing plant in Decatur, AL, to convert hot-rolled coils received from the adjacent Nucor Steel Co. mill into hot-rolled sheet and plate. The new 48,000-sq.-ft-. plant houses temper-passing and leveling equipment to provide consistently flat material and tight tolerances. Friedman also operates a coil-processing plant in Hickman, AR, and a tubular-products facility in Lone Star, TX; www.friedmanindustries.com.

Stamping-Shop Acquisition Keys Expansion
into the Renewable Energy Market

TG Manufacturing, Grand Rapids, MI, a division of Tora Group, Lansing, MI, acquired Dorr Industries Inc., Dorr, MI, a small metal-stamping, machining and fabricating company. Tora Group’s three divisions—TG Mfg., TG Technologies Tool Alliance, and TG Renewable Energy Technologies--formed in 2008. It plans to use the 20,000-sq.-ft. Dorr facility to serve its tooling and renewable-energy divisions in addition to serving customers in the aerospace, HVAC, furniture, appliance and construction sectors. Learn more at www.thetoragroup.com.

Ramcel on Target for ISO 14001 Certification

Precision metalforming company and custom tooling manufacturer Ramcel Engineering Co., Northbrook, IL, has been recertified to TS 16949:2002 and ISO 9001:2000, and has begun the certification process to ISO14001, which it expects to complete later this year. Learn more about the company and its application of state-of-the-art technology in the areas of in-line vision systems and in-die sensing at www.ramcel.com.

Wisconsin Firm Turns Tax Credit
Toward Workforce Development

D&S Manfuacturing, Black River Falls, WI, recently received word from Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle that it had been deemed eligible for a $250,000 state income-tax credit through the Western Wisconsin Technology Zone. Eligible companies earn tax credits through capital investments, job creation and any increase in property taxes—D&S is in the midst of a $6.4 million facility expansion plan, and pledges to use its tax credit on workforce development. The company is a custom manufacturer of large-scale parts and assemblies for customers including Caterpillar, Oshkosh Corp. and The Trane Co.; www.dsmfg.com.

Thin-Strip Supplier Earns AS9100 Certification

Arnold Magnetic Technologies Rolled Products, Marengo, IL, a manufacturer of ultra-thin metal-alloy strip products, has been approved for certification to AS9100:2004. The registration addresses the purchase, supply, manufacture and distribution of precision strip, foil, piece parts, wire, bar and rod. The company supplies material—titanium, red metals, aluminum, high-nickel alloys, magnetic alloys and several proprietary alloys--as thin as 0.000069 in., in strips as narrow as 0.03125 in. Learn more at www.arnoldmagnetics.com.

Silicon Valley Fabricator Reaches Out
to Help Educate Future Engineers

Airtronics Metal Products, Inc., San Jose, CA, a custom sheetmetal engineering, design and manufacturing company, has established an educational outreach program with San Jose State University, to help educate mechanical engineering students in sheetmetal-fabrication technologies. The program includes classroom instruction and on-site tours of the Airtronics plant, as well as internships for eligible students. Learn more about Airtronics at www.airtronics.com.

United Performance Metals
Adds Laser Cutting to its Resume

United Performance Metals, Hamilton, OH, a supplier of specialty stainless-steel and high-temperature alloys, has forged a joint venture that allows it to include laser-beam cutting on its list of value-added processing capabilities. Its partner company operates three laser-cutting machines—two Trumpf models and a machine from Cincinnati Inc. Other services from UPM include cut-to-length, leveling, shearing, slitting, edging, sawing and waterjet cutting; www.upmet.com.

Ohio Gasket & Shim Earns ISO 14001 Certification

Metal stamper and shim and gasket manufacturer Ohio Gasket & Shim Co., Inc., Akron, OH, has had its operations certified to the ISO 14001:2004 standard. The firm, celebrating its 50th year in operation, offers just-in-time shipping using a Kanban inventory-management system; www.ogsindustries.com.

Stainless/Aluminum Supplier Orders Blanking Line

Guy Metals, Blaine, MN, a warehousing and processing service center that specializes in stainless steels and aluminum alloys, has purchased a new precision blanking line from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The line, scheduled to begin operating during the summer of 2009, will process coils to 40,000 lb. at widths to 72 in. and material thickness to 0.375 in., and will produce blanks with length tolerance to plus or minus 0.005 in. Included is a heavy-gauge peeler breaker, dual Herr-Voss levelers, flatness-inspection table, PVC and paper applicator and automatic part diverter. Guy Metals supplies sheet, plate, angle, tubing, pipe, fittings and specialty items; www.guymetals.com. Learn more about Red Bud’s products at www.redbudindustries.com.

Michigan Spring Maker to Open in South Texas

Spring Dynamics, Almont, MI, will soon open a 31,400-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant in Harlingen, TX, to serve its customers operating in Reynosa, Matamoros and Monterrey. It began remodeling an existing facility in January and expects to begin operations within 3 months. The company expects the new plant to employ 35 people by the end of 2013. Learn more at www.springdynamics.com.

Daimler Trucks Rewards
Rockford Toolcraft for Quality Performance

Rockford Toolcraft Inc., Rockford, IL, a tool and die builder and metal stamper, received a Masters of Quality Supplier Award from Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). The award recognizes North American suppliers for providing superior-quality parts DTNA’s Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star truck brands. Rockford Toolcraft employs 240 people at its two plants in Rockford, and has been a Freightliner Trucks supplier for more than 20 years; www.rockfordtoolcraft.com.

Stamper Earns SHARP Status from OSHA

HK Metalcraft Manufacturing Corp., Lodi, NJ, has been accepted by OSHA as a participant in its Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), for the term September 18, 2008, to September 18, 2009. HK Metalcraft worked with the New Jersey on-site consultation program to meet the requirements of the SHARP program, and in doing so it is removed from the programmed inspection schedule until September 18, 2009. HK Metalcraft manufactures precision metal stampings, spring washers, formed products and related assemblies; www.hkmetalcraft.com.

Northern Mfg. Takes Delivery
of 3D Laser Cutting and Welding System

Prima North America, Inc., Chicopee, MA, has delivered an Optimo 3D laser-cutting machine to Northern Manufacturing Co., Oak Harbor, OH. Optimo is Prima’s largest five-axis 3D machine, for cutting as well as welding. Northern Mfg. is a precision fabricator of custom sheetmetal parts and assemblies, specializing in stainless-steel fabrications for the automotive, farming, appliance and energy industries; www.northernmfg.com. Optimo machines feature direct-drive heads requiring no gears or complex kinematics, removing backlash and wear worries. Learn more at www.prima-na.com.

Photo-Chemical Etching Company Adds Capacity

To increase its capacity to supply thin-gauge flat metal parts, from prototype to production, Advanced Metal Etching, Inc., Ligonier, IN, has completed a facility expansion with new equipment and an optimized workflow to increase capacity by 70 percent. The firm performs photo-chemical etching to supply parts to the electronics, medical, computer, aerospace and other industries. Learn more at www.metaletching.com.

Electrical-Components Maker Installs New Waterjet Machine

Reuel Inc., Goldsboro, NC, has installed the latest ultra-high-pressure waterjet-cutting machine from Jet Edge, Inc., St. Michael, MN. Reuel manufactures insulating components for the electrical power-equipment industry, specializing in molded switchgear components, bushings and other products for medium-voltage electrical-distribution equipment. It also manufactures traction-power substations for mass-transit authorities and large-scale contractors. Its new waterjet-cutting machine joins a large stable of fabricating equipment including press brakes, CNC punching machines and a powder-coat paint line. Prior to investing in the Jet Edge machine, the firm had been outsourcing waterjet cutting. It plans to use the machine to cut fiberglass insulation as well as mild and stainless steel, polycarbonate and copper-alloy sheet. Jet Edge is online at www.jetedge.com.

ABMyr Expands, Opens New Fab Shop

A family-owned manufacturer of industrial paint-finishing systems since 1920, ABMyr Industries, Belleville, MI, has invested more than $2 million to build and equip a 50,000-sq.-ft. metal-fabrication, prototyping and production center within its plant. The company expects its new fabrication center—which offers laser cutting, press-brake bending, forming and welding capabilities—to create 38 new jobs by 2011. Dubbed ABMyr Laser Design & Fabrication, the facility can process sheet and plate to 1 in. thick to provide parts and assemblies and provide rapid-prototyping services. Learn more at www.abmyrlaser.com; read up on the company’s paint-finishing systems at www.abmyr.com.

Portland Welcomes New Steel-Service Center

Macsteel Service Centers USA, Newport Beach, CA, has opened a new 100,000-sq.-ft. service center in Portland, OR, to serve the Pacific Northwest region including Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The service center will process and stock carbon, stainless and aluminum flat-rolled product and wide-flange beams. Future plans call for the product line to include channels, angles, tubes and plates. The service center offers inhouse saw cutting and cambering with an Amada HK1000 structural band saw with capacity to cut 40-in. beams, and a cambering machine that will camber 30-in.-wide beams.
Macsteel operates a network of 32 locations to serve customers throughout North America. It also supplies a full range of steel building products, and coated and prepainted materials. For more information, visit www.macsteelusa.com.

Kentucky Fab Shop Expanding by More than 30 Percent

Greenheck Fan Co., Schofield, WI, has broken ground on a 22,000-sq.-ft. addition to its manufacturing plant in Frankfurt, KY. The addition will allow Greenheck, a manufacturer of air-movement and control equipment, to increase manufacturing capacity of dampers and louvers for commercial, industrial and institutional applications. Learn more at www.greenheck.com.

Building-System Supplier Receives Venture-Capital
Funding to Fuel Middle-East Expansion

FrameMax, San Diego, CA, a supplier of light-gauge steel-framing products for the construction of commercial and residential buildings, has received an $8 million investment from Arcapita Ventures, along with H.I.G. Ventures, Cross Creek Capital and NVestech, LLC. FrameMax, with fabrication facilities in Mexico, Spain, and China, plans to begin offering its lightweight steel, composite concrete structures in the Gulf region within 6 months. Learn more at www.framemax.com.

Pricing, Scheduling Expertise
Earn Supplier of the Year Status for D&S

D&S Manufacturing, Black River Falls, WI, earned Supplier of the Year recognition from Parkson Corp., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, a supplier of components and systems for water and waste-water treatment. Among its accomplishments, D&S developed an innovative pricing tool to combat rising steel prices, say Parkson officials, and developed a scheduling system to provide the necessary flexibility in the manufacture and shipment of orders for Parkson. D&S performs laser, oxyfuel and high-definition plasma-arc cutting, machining, and manual and automatic welding, as well as value-added processes such as painting, shot blasting, assembly and testing; www.dsmfg.com.

Red Bud Installs Lines at Nucor, ArcelorMittal

A new 3/8-in. capacity cut-to-length line has hit the production floor at the Nucor Corp. building-system’s facility in Brigham City, UT, and a new precision blanking line has begun production at the ArcelorMittal processing plant in Sterling Heights, MI, both courtesy of Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. Nucor’s 75-in.-wide cut-to-length line produces steel sheet to 30 ft. long, from coils to 50,000 lb., for metal-building components. It includes a traversing scissor-lift table, multi-positional stack storage system and pop-top-style straightener.
ArcelorMittal’s new blanking line processes coils to 60-in. dia. and 40,000 lb., and includes a dual-motor grip-feed system, flatness inspection table and a Machine Concepts corrective leveler with AutoFlat shape correction—a patented control system that reads the shape of the strip and adjusts the leveler to maintain optimum flatness without operator intervention. Read up on Red Bud’s equipment offerings at www.redbudindustries.com.

Electrocoater Wins Environmental Excellence Award

The San Antonio Manufacturers Association and the San Antonio Water Systems awarded the MetoKote plant in San Antonio, TX, its Environmental Excellence Award in Industrial Pretreatment. Criteria for the award include having no reporting violations from Jan. 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008; and not having been listed as Significantly Non-Compliant in the past three years. Award recipients also must display environmental stewardship by recognizing best-management practices, water-conservation practices, pollution prevention and initiatives that are deemed educational, innovative, cooperative, responsive, voluntary and effective. The MetoKote facility, one of only three companies receiving the award this year, also recently earned ISO 14001 registration.
MetoKote, headquartered in Lima, OH, is one of 21 suppliers in the San Antonio Toyota Supplier Campus, electrocoating metal components for the Toyota Tundra. Learn more at www.metokote.com.

Perforated-Metal Products Supplier Adds 125-Ton Press

Quality Perforating, Inc., Carbondale, PA, has invested in a new hydraulic 125-ton perforating press with unlimited stroke control. The press, from M. Brück GmbH & Co., can perforate material from 0.030 to 5/8-in. thick, and sheet sizes as large as 78 by 156 in. Maximum speed: 300 strokes/min. The machine can perforate nonsymmetrical patterns and geometric shapes. Quality Perforating manufactures perforated metal sheets, coils and parts, and also performs secondary fabrication services such as welding, powder coating and bending: www.qualityperf.com. Read up on press technology from M. Brück GmbH at www.brueck.net/en/home/index.php.

Small Tube Products Acquires
Cleveland-Based Tube Company

Small Tube Products, Altoona, PA, a manufacturer of precision-drawn copper-tubing products, acquired the customer base and other assets of Linderme Tube Co., Cleveland, OH. The transaction is expected to increase Small Tube Products’ manufacturing volume at its Altoona facility by more than 30 percent and lead to the creation of another 20 on-site manufacturing jobs.

Stamper/Fabricator Invests in 6-kW High-Speed Laser

Matrix Metalcraft, Inc., Clinton Township, MI, has made its second laser-cutting machine investment this year by adding the newest technology from Mitsubishi Laser to its equipment stable—the Mitsubishi Laser NX. The NX carries a 6-kW resonator and offers a maximum cutting speed of 2360 in./min. Matrix Metalcraft, which earlier this year purchased a Mitsubishi VZ1 cutting machine with pallet changer, will use the NX to cut, among other components, armor-plate products of 1.25-in. armor plate, as well as 1-in. stainless steel and 0.5-in. aluminum.
Matrix Metalcraft specializes in low-volume production of metal fabrications and stampings for the military, heavy-truck, aerospace and aircraft industries; www.matrixmetalcraft.com. Learn more about Mitsubishi Laser at www.mitsubishi-world.com.

Emerson Recognizes 38 Marquee Suppliers—
Metalformer Among Them

Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, MO, has recognized 38 of its global suppliers by presenting them with Marquee Supplier awards. Among the winners: Brittany Stamping LLC, Cleveland, OH, a precision manufacturer of metal-stamped and wire-formed products. Brittany operates three subsidiary companies—Bettcher Manufacturing LLC (www.bettcherllc.com), Duffy Tool & Stamping Ltd. (www.duffytool.com), and Meyer Stamping & Manufacturing. Emerson’s Marquee Supplier award recognizes superior quality and service, alignment with its strategic initiatives. Ability to meet the needs of its multiple businesses from multiple locations around the world, willingness to integrate with its new-product development process, activity in support of lean supply-chain initiatives and senior-management involvement.

KC Aluminum and Stainless Service Center
Orders New Multiblanking Line

Ken-Mac Metals, a division of ThyssenKrupp Materials NA, Inc., has ordered a precision multiblanking line from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The new line will process stainless steel, aluminum and prepainted materials at the Ken-Mac service center in Kansas City, MO. It will include the Red Bud precision grip-feed system and a CNC programmable slitter, and will produce blanks with width and length tolerances of plus or minus 0.005 in. An automatic strip-divider positioning system will automatically set up the dividers in the strip stacker as the operator sets up the slitting head.
Ken-Mac will employ the line to process coils weighing as much as 50,000 lb. at widths to 72 in and in sheet thickness to 0.135 in. Learn more about Red Bud multiblanking lines at www.redbudindustries.com. To read up on Ken-Mac’s capabilities, surf to www.kenmacmetals.com.

Blank Stacker Headed to Aluminum Toll Processor

By the end of the year, Aluminum Blanking Co., Pontiac, MI, will be the proud, new owner of an aluminum blank-stacking system designed to protect the surface-sensitive materials that it processes—aluminum and stainless-steel alloys blanked on seven lines with cut-to-length capabilities. The new stacker, from Atlas Technologies, Inc., Fenton, MI, will process coil into stacks of blanks in sizes to 500 by 110 in. with stack weight to 30,000 lb. It will be able to process blanks into two stacking stations with lift tables that can operate independently. A weight-verification system allows for material accountability—once weighed, a blank stack proceeds to a dual wrapping station. The station boasts a lift and transfer unit for palletizing each wrapped stack, which then proceed to a second wrapping station where pallet and stack are wrapped together, ensuring safe transit.
Visit Atlas online for more information: www.atlastechnologies.com. Check out Aluminum Blanking Co. at www.albl.com.

Johnson Controls Recognizes Top Suppliers

Earlier this month, Johnson Controls, Plymouth, MI, handed out 35 awards to 33 supplier companies, to acknowledge their performance and dedication to quality. Among the recipients of Gold 2008 Supplier Performance Award winners were Automated Spring Products Inc., Grand Haven, MI, a manufacturer of custom designed compression, extension, and torsion springs, wire forms, flat springs, stampings, spring and shim washers, and assemblies (www.automaticspring.com); Guelph Tool, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, a custom tool-and-die machine shop that also manufactures metal stampings, assemblies, headrest and armrest inserts, wireforms and other metal components (www.guelphtool.com); Superior Roll Forming, Valley City, OH, a supplier of rollformed components and welded assemblies (www.gosrf.com); and E & E Manufacturing, Plymouth, MI, a metal-stamping company that also manufactures drawn structural extrusions and fasteners and welded assemblies (www.eemfg.com). E & E Manufacturing also received a Leadership Award for Community Partnership for its collaborative work with Johnson Controls to serve and support the local community.

Manchester Tool & Die Makes the Move into Fabrication

Press brakes, a plate roll, plasma-arc-cutting equipment and arc-welding equipment fill the new fabricating plant recently opened by Manchester Tool & Die, Inc., North Manchester, IN. Two press brakes offer capacity of 3/8 in. by 6 ft. long, and ¼ in. by 10 ft. long. The firm’s new plasma-cutting system can carve steel to 2 in. thick. Learn more at www.manchestertoolanddie.com.

Olson Intl. Earns Delphi Recognition

Olson International Ltd., Lombard, IL, a supplier of precision metal stampings and assemblies and a designer and builder of metal-stamping dies, received Delphi Corp.’s Above & Beyond Award for Supplier Excellence. The award, established in 2007, recognizes suppliers for excellent service beyond their contractual obligation. Olson, recently acquired by IMS Companies LLC, Des Plaines, IL, was one of 12 companies in five countries to receive the Delphi award.

Tool Builder/Metalformer Contracts for
On-Demand Business-Management Software

Plexus Systems, Auburn Hills, MI, has won a contract to provide its Plexus Online on-demand manufacturing-enterprise software to Waukesha Tool & Stamping, LLC, Sussex, WI. Plexus Online will manage all aspects of the firm’s operations, integrate its business data from its Sussex location as well as from its new operation in McAllen, TX, and facilitate complex financial reporting. Waukesha Tool & Stamping managers expect the new software to provide more reliable cost data, save time in its customer-service area, streamline purchasing and planning, and manage manufacturing and quality. Learn more about the software at www.plex.com.

Amsco Steel Acquires Andes Metal Processors

Amsco Steel Co., Fort Worth, TX, has purchased the assets of Andes Metal Processors, Inc., Lewisville, TX. Amsco, with other locations in San Antonio and Marble Falls, TX, provides flat-rolled steel and structural items, offering slitting, shearing and forming, sawing, edge conditioning, leveling, cut-to-length and other services. Andes Metal Processors provides slitting, cut-to-length, handling and logistical services for service centers as well as domestic and international steel mills.
For more, visit www.amscosteel.com.

Milwaukee Wire Products
Gets New Name, New China Plant

Charter Automotive is the new name taken by Milwaukee Wire Products, Milwaukee, WI, to reflect its commitment to global automotive customers. The firm, a division of Charter Manufacturing Co., Mequon, WI, manufactures engine dipsticks, transaxle retaining rings, valve keys and valve-spring retainers.
To further its global reach, in February 2007 Charter Manufacturing acquired Valve Train Components Limited, Lichfield, England; and recently opened a manufacturing, warehouse and distribution facility in Wuhu, China. Learn more at www.charterautomotive.com.

Precision Leveler Providing
Shape Correction for Boron-Clad Material

Ceradyne Canada, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada, a manufacturing division of Ceradyne Inc., Costa Mesa, CA, has installed a precision leveler to accompany a new rolling mill used to process boron-clad material. The leveler, a 3.5 Series machine from B&K, of Formtek-Maine, Clinton, ME, features 17 work rolls--3.5-in. dia.--and a 100-hp drive to provide shape correction to material in thicknesses to 0.330 in. and lengths to 192 in. It also has a special, low passline height of 32 in. to allow the material to move directly from the rolling mill through the leveler and onto conveyors. Other leveler features: manually adjustable upper backups, a power tilt head and power-adjustable backup roll to allow for the correction of edge wave, center buckle, cross bow and coil set. Learn more at www.bklevelers.com.

Trio of Manufacturers Form Springmaking JV

The spring-manufacturing business of GR Spring & Stamping Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, has entered into a joint venture with Stumpp, Schuele, & Somappa (SSS) USA Inc., and MultiTech Industries, Inc., Carol Stream, IL. SSS USA Inc., a subsidiary of Stumpp, Schuele & Somappa Pvt. Ltd, the largest spring-manufacturing company in India, will hold a majority position in the new venture, named Stumpp, Schuele, & Somappa Spring & Wire LLC (SSS Spring & Wire LLC), and headquartered in Walker, MI. GR Spring & Stamping operates facilities in Michigan, Kentucky and Chihuahua, Mexico; www.grs-s.com. Stumpp, Schuele & Somappa Pvt. Ltd operates 11 plants in India and one in Germany; www.sss-india.com. Learn about MultiTech Industries and its strategic alliances at www.multitechind.com.

Stamper Slashes Die-Change Times

BTD Manufacturing, Detroit Lakes, MN, has slashed die-change time at a two-press manufacturing cell from 15 min. to a mere 3 min., thanks to the installation of magnetic die-clamping apparatus supplied by TCR Integrated Stamping Systems, Wisconsin Rapids, WI. The two-press cell makes a family of parts requiring rapid die changeover and short production runs. BTD (www.btdmfg.com) offers metal stamping, fabrication, machining and other services. Learn more about TCR and the services it provides to the metalforming industry at www.stampingsystems.com.

KY School Lands Rollforming Mill, Software Seats

On August 7, 2008, the Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) Shelbyville Campus, Shelbyville, KY, welcomed an Engel (www.engelind.com) rollforming machine, provided by Shelbyville’s oldest manufacturing company, Roll Forming Corp. (www.voestalpine.com/rfc/en.html). It will use the 10-pass 7/8-in.-dia. machine, equipped with cutoff and decoiler units, to help train students as setup personnel, maintenance technicians, general machinists, tool and die makers, CNC operators and programmers, and design engineers. Students also will learn the dynamics of the rollforming process. In addition, German software manufacturer dataM Corp. donated 16 seats of software that will enable JCTC students to develop bend progressions and to design rolls.

Atlas Steel Associates Form ESOP

Associates working at Atlas Steel Products, Twinsburg, OH, have formed an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and acquired the distributor of steel products from the family of the late Lawrence J. “Bo” Burr. Atlas employs more than 80 people, most of which joined the ESOP. John Adams, former Atlas chief financial officer, is president and chief executive officer. Learn more at www.atlassteel.com.

Producer of Perforated and Expanded Metal Products
Opens 18th Service Center

McNichols Co., Tampa, FL, opened its newest service center near Kansas City, KS. The newly constructed 24,000-sq.-ft. facility in suburban Lenexa is the firm’s 18th service center in North America, and includes 12,000 sq. ft. dedicated to fabrication services—plasma-arc cutting, welding and more. McNichols manufactures perforated and expanded metals, wire cloth and various types of grating and flooring; www.mcnichols.com.

Mexican Plant Awarded ISO Certification

Chromalox, based in the United States in Pittsburgh, PA, a manufacturer of electric heating and control products, has been awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification for its Mexican manufacturing facility in Nuevo Laredo in the state of Tamaulipas. The 75,000-sq.-ft. facility manufactures air heaters, tubular heaters, cartridge heaters and other styles of heating products. Chromalox manufacturing plants perform, among other metal-fabrication processes, arc welding, robotic plasma-arc cutting, semiautomatic pipe coping and CNC machining; www.chromalox.com.

Minn. Service Center Upgrades Lines
to Handle Thicker, Stronger Steels

Ratner Steel, Roseville, MN, has ordered a pair of stretcher levelers from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The units will upgrade two existing processing lines—one will handle steel to 65 KSI and 0.375 in. thick, the other will process steel to 75 KSI and 0.5 in. thick. Stretcher leveling exceeds the yield point in all of the material—top to bottom and side to side—to produce flat material with no trapped internal stresses, says Red Bud, eliminating springback. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com.

Supplier of Heat- and Corrosion-Resistant Materials
Acquires Italian Service Center

Rolled Alloys, Temperance, MI, acquired Clama Trade, Melegnano (Milan), Italy. Clama Trade supplies corrosion-resistant and high-temperature-service nickel-based alloys and duplex stainless steels as plate, sheet, bar, flanges, fittings and welding materials. Rolled Alloys, a supplier of heat- and corrosion-resistant alloys and titanium-alloy products, operates several U.S. facilities, as well as facilities in Canada, China, Japan and throughout Europe.

Coil and Strip Producer Banks on New ERP System

Stripco Inc., Mishawaka, IN, a manufacturer of production-ready steel coils and strips, recently went in search of software to help it gain real-time scheduling information and complete cost-of-sales information, in order to continue to efficiently serve its customers in the automotive, furniture and other steel-consuming industries. Its primary goals: improve in the areas of costing, production scheduling and tracking, and steel-industry-specific quality and certification. To accomplish those goals, it recently implemented Axiom ERP enterprise-resource-planning software from Axis, Boston, MA. As a result, Stripco general manager Eric Hiler says that the firm now responds significantly faster to customer inquiries regarding order status, and with access to real-time information on quality, holds, shipping and billing, it can “identify and act on statistically relevant information, rather than just acting on a whim.”
Stripco (www.stripco.com) supplies hot- and cold-rolled and galvanized steel products 0.018 to 0.312 in. thick, in widths from 0.375 to 26 in., including slit coil, edge-conditioned coil, cut-to-length strip and oscillate-wound coil.
Learn more about Axiom ERP software from Axis at www.axiscomp.com.

Fabricator Adopts Wellness Programs
to Improve Employee Health and Welfare

Metal-fabrication job shop D&S Manufacturing, Black River Falls, WI, has partnered with its insurance provider, Gundersen Lutheran Occupational Health, to offer its employees a series of wellness programs. The programs are designed to improve employee morale, reduce absenteeism and encourage lifestyle changes to positively impact employee health. The goal is to identify emerging heath problems that might be avoided or minimized through minor changes in diet and exercise, according to D&S president Michael Dougherty. D&S manufactures large-scale components and weldments for customers such as Caterpillar, Trane Co. and Parkson; www.dsmfg.com.

Rollformer Equipped to Handle
Thick, High-Strength Steel

Custom Rollforming Corp. (CRC), Moundridge, KS, a manufacturer of custom rollformed products, has installed a rollforming line designed to form heavy-gauge profiles using high-strength steels. The new line, from Bradbury, features a 20,000-lb.-capacity stock reel, tooling mounted on 3-in. arbors, and a heavy-duty seven-roll straightener. A 16-pass line, it can accept coils to 24 in. wide and boasts a 150-hp output. At the exit end is an oversized part straightener and a 100-ton flying-cutoff press. Learn more about CRC at www.customrollformingcorp.com.

Manufacturer of Prog-Die Components Offers E-Catalog

T. R. Jones Machine Co., Crystal Lake, IL, a short- and medium-run production machining company and a manufacturer of progressive-die components, screw-machine parts and other precision-machined parts, offers an HTML version of its CAD library, complete with navigation. Also included are printable versions of its latest order sheets. To request a copy of the e-catalog, surf to www.diecomponents.com. Among the products featured are three styles of pilot lifters—A, C and GM—designed to support the material while the pilot punch enters, and to work in conjunction with stock-lifter guides to move material to the next station without damaging the material or form tools in the die. Learn more about T.R. Jones at www.trjonesmachine.com.

American Trim Launches Customer-Centric Website

American Trim, Lima, OH, a family-owned metalforming, decorating and coating company, has introduced a redesigned website developed to display the firm’s capabilities to current and future customers. Included are brochures, white papers and a company history. The company operates stamping presses from 3 to 2400 tons with bed sizes to 228 in. to produce parts for the appliance, heavy truck and automotive industries. Check it out: www.amtrim.com.

Southwest Metal-Supply Company Adds
Six-Axis Laser Cutting to Value-Added Offerings

Industrial Metal Supply Co. (IMS), which operates five large metal-processing centers and warehouses in California and Arizona, has created a new business unit to provide six-axis laser-beam cutting and fabrication services. Acquired by the IMS Laser Services Group: a FabriGear 300 cutting machine from Mazak Optonics Corp., for cutting beams, channel, tube, pipe and other shapes. Learn about IMS at www.industrialmetalsupply.com. For more on Mazak’s 3D laser-cutting machines, surf to www.mazaklaser.com/3d.aspx.

Ohio-Based Service Center Opens SoCal Warehouse

United Performance Metals, Hamilton, OH, has opened a 14,000-sq.-ft. warehouse just outside of Los Angeles in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Its initial inventory includes specialty-stainless steels, high-temperature alloys and a limited amount of cobalt alloys in popular sheet sizes. Learn more at www.upmet.com.

Stainless/Nickel/Titanium Supplier Installs CTL Line

Rolled Alloys, Temperance, MI, a supplier of specialty stainless-steel, nickel-, and titanium-alloy products, has installed a 3/8- by 72-in. cut-to-length line from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The line includes an in-line coil-stage and load system, dual stub uncoiler and peeler breaker designed to break the leading edge of heavy-gauge material. A shear-mounted drop stacker with an automatically lowering stack table helps ensure mark-free processing. Learn more about Red Bud’s equipment capabilities at www.redbudindustries.com.

Dedication to Training and Education
Earn Metal Stamper Recognition

E.J. Ajax & Sons, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, has been named a winner of the fourth annual Progressive Manufacturing 50 Awards, a program developed by Managing Automation magazine. E.J. Ajax received its award in the discipline of Training and Education Mastery, one of eight categories included in the awards program. Ajax’s award recognizes “companies that have devised/deployed programs to advance employee knowledge and use of advanced automation and IT technologies on an on-going basis and with demonstrable results,” as well as “companies that have instituted scholarship or other promotional programs to encourage secondary or college-level students to pursue a career in manufacturing, with demonstrable results in those programs.” Learn more about the awards program at www.managingautomation.com; E.J. Ajax is online at www.ejajax.com.

Global 17-Facility Tier One Supplier to Implement
On-Demand Enterprise-Management Software

Plexus Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI, will provide its Plexus Online on-demand enterprise-management software to Inteva Products, LLC, Troy, MI. Inteva, formerly Delphi Interiors and Closures, operates 17 facilities on three continents, providing automotive components and assemblies including cockpits, door-module and window-lift systems, and closure systems including latches, strikers and actuators. Plexus Online, comprising more than 350 functional modules for functions such as enterprise-resource planning (ERP), customer-relationship management (CRM), manufacturing execution systems (MES) and supply-chain management (SCM), will allow Inteva to monitor and manage its supply base from any internet-based browser. Inteva expects to complete implementation by June 2009. Read up on Plexus at www.plex.com.

Stamper Processes and Sells Solid Waste, for Profit

Truex Inc., Pawtucket, RI, a manufacturer of deep-drawn and stamped parts from brass, steel, stainless steel and aluminum alloys, has, for 15 years, been processing its solid waste to eliminate hazardous substances. The result was thousands of pounds of an environmentally safe solid-waste product that it then paid to be deposited in a local landfill. Now, the firm has found a buyer for the solid-waste product that reclaims the copper from the waste for reuse. Truex makes money from the sale and also saves the cost of landfill disposal. Visit Truex online, www.truexinc.com.

AK Steel Announces August Surcharges

AK Steel, West Chester, OH, has advised customers that it will add a $905/ton surcharge to invoices for electrical-steel products shipped in August 2008. The firm also will add surcharges to its stainless-steel products shipped in August—to find out the per-ton surcharge on stainless-steel products, check the website, www.aksteel.com.

Stamper to Expand Alabama Facility

Ridgeview Industries Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, announced plans to expand its metalforming plant in Huntsville, AL, to accommodate growth in its metal-stamping and assembly business. The 110,000-sq.-ft. expansion is scheduled for completion by mid-2009. The 25-acre location, purchased from Lindy Industries in 2004, has more than 75 employees; www.ridgeviewindustries.com.

Olympic Steel to Open Satellite Facility in Ohio

Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, steel-service center Olympic Steel, Inc. will open a 62,000-sq.-ft. satellite processing facility in Dover, OH, during the fourth quarter of 2008. It’s purchasing the facility to better serve its customers in central Ohio and the adjoining states. Olympic operates 15 facilities; learn more at www.olysteel.com.

MW Industries Acquires Manufacturer
of Electronic Hardware Components

MW Industries, Inc. (MWI), Logansport, IN, acquired RAF Electronic Hardware, Seymour, CT, a division of R&R Manufacturing Co., Inc. MWI, which manufactures springs, stampings and fasteners, operates 13 facilities and employs more than 900 people; www.mw-ind.com. Learn more about RAF at www.rafdwe.com/aboutus.htm.

Olson Intl. Acquired, to be Combined with IMS Buhrke

Holding company IMS Companies LLC, Des Plaines, IL, has acquired Olson International Ltd., Lombard, IL, along with Olson’s affiliated operations in Matamoros and Monterrey, Mexico. Olson manufactures precision metal stampings and assemblies, and designs and builds metal-stamping dies. Over the next several months, IMS expects to combine the resources and assets of Olson International with those of another of its metal-stamper holdings, IMS Buhrke Industries, which has operations in Arlington Heights and Downers Grove, IL, and in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.

Texas Purchasing Fair Places
Metal-Parts Suppliers Face-to-Face with Buyers

If your contract stamping, fabricating or machining company seeks new opportunities to meet with buyers and engineers from large manufacturing companies looking to purchase metal components, then the NTMA/PMA Contract Manufacturing Purchasing Fair is the place to be. Plan now to attend the fair on October 10, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, in Austin, TX. Dozens of purchasers will be there awaiting your sales calls—bring sales brochures, facility lists, sample parts and a stack of business cards so that you’ll be able to successfully market your company and its capabilities, and accurately match them to the needs of the purchasers in attendance. As a special bonus, if you register to attend by September 16, 2008, your company’s capabilities will be included in a booklet that will be distributed, prior to the purchasing fair, to all of the registered buyers and engineers. Also, register by August 31 and receive a $100 discount on your registration fee.
To learn more about the NTMA/PMA Contract Manufacturing Purchasing Fair, surf to www.makeitmetal.com/PurchasingFair/08PurchFairFlyer.PDF. Register to attend at www.pma.org/interview/register.tass?SID=_2EB0G41RN&PID=CheckID&MID=FAIROCT08.

Webcasts Provide a Metal-Processing-Plant Walk-Through

United Performance Metals, Hamilton, OH, a provider of flat-rolled specialty metal products including stainless steels and nickel and cobalt alloys, has launched a series of short webcasts hosted on its website, www.upmet.com. The 5-8-min. videos highlight the firm’s employees, products and services.

Jemison Demsey Installs Multi-Cut Blanking Line

The Sumter, SC, service-center location of Jemison Demsey Metals has installed a 0.135- by 72-in. multi-cut blanking line from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The line features a CNC programmable slitter and a dual-motor grip-feed system that delivers plus or minus 0.005-in. length tolerances. Coil capacity is 60,000 lb. Jemison Demsey Metals also has facilities in Cleveland, OH, and Gadsden, AL; www.jemisondemsey.com. Read up on Red Bud’s equipment at www.redbudindustries.com.

New Hotline has Stamping-Design Engineers
Just a Phone Call Away

Die-Tech, Inc., York Haven, PA, has introduced a stamping-design hotline as a resource for engineers and others working in manufacturing plants that use precision metal stampings. Die-Tech engineers will be available to answer questions exploring design flaws, raw-material selection, assembly issues and other common inquiries. One of the goals of the hotline is get design engineers involved in projects earlier in the process so that designs are refined based on sound stamping practices, eliminating the potential for rework down the road. It also should minimize design changes and the design-change approval process. Technical support from the hotline (1-888-89-STAMP) is free and available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Learn more at www.die-tech.com.

Hundred-Yr.-Old Stamper Earns Delphi Supply Award

Kickhaefer Manufacturing Co. (KMC), Port Washington, WI, received Delphi Corp.’s 2007 Pinnacle Award for Supplier Excellence, one of only 26 suppliers recognized by Delphi. The awards recognize excellence in quality, cost and delivery, including these specific criteria: zero major disruptions, zero repeat problems, and a single-digit PPM; zero customer impacts for quality; and zero parts on controlled shipping. KMC, founded in 1908, operates a fully loaded pressroom with press capacity to 300 tons, as well as fourslide/multislide machinery. It also provides metal-fabrication capacity with a lineup of press brakes, shears, welding equipment and laser-cutting machines for prototype and short-run parts; www.kmcstampings.com.

Talan Products Awarded for Growth in Inner City

With a 5-yr. growth rate of 156 percent, metalforming company Talan Products, Cleveland, OH, became one of only two U.S. metalforming companies to make the 2008 Inner City 100 list, a national ranking of the fastest-growing inner-city companies. The list, created by the not-for-profit organization Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and Inc. Magazine, includes only 10 manufacturing companies; the other metalformer to make it was Spex Precision Machine Technologies, Rochester, NY. Talan employs 60 and has annual sales of $25 million. To qualify for the list, a company must have more than half of its operations located in an economically distressed urban area; at least 10 full-time employees; a 5-yr. operating sales history that includes at least $200,000 in revenues in the first year of consideration; an increase in year-five sales over year-four sales; and fifth-year sales of at least $1 million. For more information about the 2008 Inner City list, surf to www.icic.org.

Tools Inc. Earns ISO Registration

Deep-draw tooling specialist Tools Inc., Sussex, WI, received ISO 9001:2000 registration. The firm, which also offers contract stamping with presses to 1000 tons, as well as five-axis laser cutting, serves customers in the appliance, lawn and garden, motorcycle and off-road-vehicle industries; www.toolsinc.com.

Benteler Automotive Names Walway Supplier of the Year

Walway Enterprises, Holland, MI, a supplier of metal stampings and welded assemblies, recently received a Supplier of the Year award from Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH. Walway, with press lines from 32 to 1000 tons occupying a 95,000-sq.-ft. plant, and the ability to stamp material to 0.375 in. thick, produces structural and chassis parts and assemblies for Benteler. Learn more at www.walway.com.

Stamper Launches Redesigned Website,
with RFQ Form Included

Service Stampings Inc., Willoughby, OH, a supplier of short- and medium-run metal-stamping services, has redesigned its website in order to provide quicker and easier access for potential customers seeking to research and evaluate its capabilities. The site, www.servicestampings.com, describes the firm’s capabilities and industries served, and includes a frequently-asked-questions page. It also features a new interactive Request a Quote form where visitors can submit project details including part description, usage and lead-time requirements, as well as drawings and photographs.

McNeil Industries Website Features New-Product Info,
Latest Industry Cross-Reference Tools

Surf to www.mcneilindustries.com to see expanded product-information sections, useful industry and product reference tools, plus a registration feature that enables users to sign up for access to the latest product news, literature and information on McNeil Industries, Painesville, OH. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of bearings, guide systems, deburring systems, industrial seals and precision manufactured products, with all of these covered in-depth on the new website.

Tandem Transfer Press—4400 Tons of it—
Debuts in Rockford

Rockford Toolcraft, Inc., Rockford, IL, has fired up its new 4400-ton Verson tandem transfer press, featuring a bed area of 6 by 27 ft. The press line can handle coil stock to ½-in. thick and 60-in. wide. Learn more about the 230-person, 275,000-sq.-ft. shop at www.rockfordtoolcraft.com.

Rollformer Earns Customer-Satisfaction Award

Sharon Custom Metal Forming, Farrell, PA, earned a 2008 Best of Farrell Award in the Steel, Bar, Strip, Tube Etc. category from the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA). The program recognizes local businesses throughout the country for providing exceptional marketing and achieving overall customer satisfaction in their local market and business category. Sharon Custom Metal Forming produces custom rollformed shapes and continuous in-line-welded shapes; www.scmf.biz. Learn more about the USLBA and its award program at www.uslba.net.

South Texas Welcomes New
Rapid Response Manufacturing Center

The North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative (NAAMREI) has completed phase of its plan to help south-Texas manufacturers rapidly turn ideas into finished products, with the April 11 opening of the Rapid Response Manufacturing Center at The University of Texas-Pan American, in Edinburg, TX. NAAMREI is an alliance of 60 business, education, economic development, industry, finance and government partners in south Texas. Its new manufacturing center will recruit and train the skilled workforce needed for the advanced manufacturing infrastructure they hope to create. Ultimately, NAAMREI hopes to tie together more than 41 industrial parks across the region. Learn more at www.naamrei.org.

Coil-Processing Seminar Includes Plant Tour

Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL, will host a coil-processing seminar in West Chester (Cincinnati), OH, on June 24 at the Wingate by Windham & Meridian Conference Center. Attendees will learn about blanking and multiblanking, leveling, and slitting, as well as the SCS and EPS processes for hot-rolled black material. Featured speakers include Dean Linders, vice president of marketing and sales for Red Bud; Eric Theis, formerly of Herr-Voss and now a consultant; Al Zelt, an expert in slitting technology; and Kevin Voges, president of The Material Works. The seminar will conclude with a tour of United Performance Metals in Hamilton, OH. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com.

New Editorial Video Shows
Robotic Press Cell in Action

Surf over to our Multimedia Center to check out the latest editorial video from the staff of MetalForming magazine. We recently visited the Trane plant in Tyler, TX, where a brand-new robotic stamping cell turns out louvered HVAC panels from galvanized sheetmetal. The cell features a coil-fed Minster mechanical press for blanking and louvering, and a series of three Macrodyne hydraulic presses for secondary operations. Four Motoman robots move blanks around the cell and stack completed panels 75-high for removal via fork truck. Check out the video now, at www.metalformingmagazine.com/video/ and look for the article in the June issue of MetalForming.

Worthington Steel Recognized by Deere & Company

Deere & Company named Worthington Steel, Columbus, OH, a Partner-level supplier for 2007, the company’s highest supplier rating. Worthington Steel also was named a 2007 Enterprise Supplier of the Year in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. Worthington Steel supplies the John Deere Harvester Works plant in East Moline, IL, and the John Deere Ottumwa Works plant in Ottumwa, IA, with hot- and cold-rolled cut-to-length steel sheets. Learn more at www.worthingtonsteel.com.

Arizona Fabricator Earns
Military-Vehicle Armor-Kit Contract

LAI International, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, has signed a manufacturing contract to produce armor kits for mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) military vehicles. LAI will produce the armor kits at its manufacturing facility in Westminster, MD, for its customer, Navistar Defense LLC, which received a contract from the Pentagon for 4475 of its 21-ft.-long MaxxPro MRAP vehicles. LAI will shop the kits to the Navistar assembly plant in West Point, MS.
LAI operates five U.S. manufacturing plants, all ISO 9001:2000 and AS9100 certified, and offers precision laser processing, waterjet cutting, five-axis machining and other services. Learn more at www.laico.com.

New Management Software for Automotive Springmaker

NHK Spring Precision of America, Inc. (NSPA ), Louisville, KY, has deployed the Plexus Online on-demand integrated manufacturing software package from Plexus Systems, Auburn Hills, MI. The Plexus software features these functions: enterprise-resource management, accounting and finance; customer-relationship-management features such as order entry and tracking; manufacturing-execution-system functions such as production scheduling; and supply-chain management functions such as supplier quality and traceability. NSPA, which produces springs for engine valves and automatic transmissions, worked with consultants from Plante & Moran to identify Plexus as the ideal hosted solution for its needs. Plante & Moran also led the implementation of the software. Learn more at www.plex.com.

United Performance Metals Launches New Website

Last-year’s merger of specialty-metals suppliers Ferguson Metals and AIM International spawned United Performance Metals, Hamilton, OH, a provider of specialty stainless-steel and high-temperature alloys, and cobalt alloys. Now United has launched a new website, www.upmet.com, which the company says offers enhanced online services, as well as describes its processing capabilities. United Performance serves the aerospace, aircraft, automotive, medical and other industries, and offers slitting, shearing, edging and leveling.

Prototype/Short-Run Metalformer
Welcomes Automated Five-Axis Laser-Cutting Cell

Matrix Metalcraft, Clinton Township, MI, has purchased a model VZ1 five-axis laser-cutting cell from Mitsubishi Laser, equipped with an automated pallet changer to optimize process time and increase capacity. The machine offers a 122-in. x axis, 87-in. y axis and 33-in. z axis. Pallet changes take 60 sec. Matrix specializes in prototype and short-run production using these processes: stamping, three- and five-axis laser cutting, machining, turning and assembly; www.matrixmetalcraft.com. Mitsubishi Laser is online at www.mitsubishi-laser.com.

IMS Engineered Products Expands ISO Certification Scope

Metal fabricator IMS Engineered Products LLC, Des Plaines, IL, has made the transition from an ISO 9001 certification based on basic fabrication processes to a full-scope certification including all manufacturing and design processes. A manufacturer of modular enclosures as well as custom sheetmetal products, IMS recently relocated to, and refurbished, a 300,000-sq.-ft. plant. Expansion included a new wet and dry paint line that now falls under the quality certification. Learn more at www.imsep.com.

Website Showcases Coil Coating

Metal Coaters, Houston, TX, has unveiled a new website at www.metalcoaters.com that includes frequently-asked questions (and the answers to those questions) about coil coating. The company operates Metal Coaters manufacturing plants in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Marietta, GA, and Jackson, MS, and Metal Prep plants in Houston and in Memphis, TN. Metal Coaters of California, Metal Coaters of Georgia, Doublecote and Metal Prep became integrated under the Metal Coaters name on Oct. 29, 2007.

Utah Steel Processor Orders New Leveler Line

Braner USA, Schiller Park, IL, has received an order from Reliance Steel to design and manufacture a hydraulic cassette leveler, servo roll feed and high-speed CTL shear for its Reliance MetalCenter in Salt Lake City, UT. The 300-hp leveler will be equipped with two interchangeable cassettes for leveling material from 72-in.-wide by 24-gauge sheet to 5/16-in.-thick plate of 90,000-psi hot-rolled carbon-steel. Braner is online at www.braner.com.

Bazz Houston Acquires Mexican Operation

Bazz Houston Co., Garden Grove, CA, has purchased Connor Manufacturing Services de Mexico, integrated the company with Bazz Houston Mexico and relocated its facility to La Mesa Industrial Park in Tijuana, Mexico. Bazz Houston makes springs, stampings, wire forms and four-slide parts and offers assembly and tooling services; www.bazz-houston.com.

Stamper’s Name Change Reflects Expanding Markets

The Genesee Group/NY Inc., West Henrietta, NY, a contract manufacturer of precision metalformed parts and assemblies, has changed its name to Genesee Global Group Inc. “The name change highlights the global capabilities of the Genesee brand,” says company president Gerard M. Caschette. Along with the new name comes a new tagline: Integration With Imagination. Learn more at www.geneseeglobal.com.

Fabricator Can Now Laser-Cut Tube and Pipe

Ace Metal Crafts, Franklin Park, IL, has added a Mazak Fabrigear 150 3-D laser-cutting machine to its stable of equipment, to cut tube and pipe as well as I and H beams, C channel, angle iron and other shapes. Included with the machine is automatic tapping capability and automatic load, feed, cut and unload. Machine capacity: 6-in. round or square pipe, and shape lengths to 26 ft. Ace Metal Crafts, which operates a 40,000-sq.-ft. plant, serves customers in the chemical, environmental, food-processing, nuclear, packaging, pharmaceutical and plastics industries; www.acemetal.com.

Economic Stimulus Package
Delivers Huge Benefits to Manufacturers

The Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008, recently signed into law, does more than just benefit individuals and families--it delivers huge tax relief to manufacturing companies, according to a press release issued by AMT—The Association For Manufacturing technology. First, businesses will receive a 50-percent bonus depreciation for new capital expenditures ordered and placed into service during 2008. Bonus depreciation allows businesses an extra one-year boost in how much they can deduct on capital expenditures that depreciate over time. For example, under the old law, according to AMT, a new $100,000 machine could provide a 2008 depreciation deduction of 14 percent, or $14,000. Now, first-year depreciation climbs to $57,000--half of the purchase price plus the 14-percent regular depreciation on the remaining property basis.
The new law also more than doubles the amount that small businesses can write off for new or used equipment purchased during 2008, from $128,000 to $250,000. And, it significantly increases the amount that can be purchased during the year and still allow manufacturers to receive the full benefits of the Section 179 expensing option--from the previous cap of $510,000 to $800,000.
Download a PDF explaining the benefits further at
www.amtonline.org/document_display.cfm/document_id/69613/brand-newpowerfultaxincentivesfornewequipmentpurchasesin2008.

Buffalo Stamper Welcomes 1000-Ton Mechanical Press

P&G Steel Products, Buffalo, NY, has added a 1000-ton mechanical transfer stamping press to its pressroom. The press has a bed size of 120 by 48 in. and will operate in line with a heavy-duty Sesco feed line with sheet-thickness capacity of ½ in. Also on the way to the facility is a 46-in. double-spindle vertical grinder. The equipment additions will help P & G, a metal stamper with more than 25 presses, robotic-welding cells and CNC production-machining capabilities; satisfy requirements for a 4-yr. agreement with a new customer. Learn more at www.pgsteel.com.

Roofing-Panel Maker Orders
Third Red Bud Blanking Line

Petersen Aluminum Corp., Elk Grove Village, IL, manufacturer of Pac-Clad metal roofing panels and other building products and fabricated-metal and rollformed products, has ordered its third precision-blanking line from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The line will include a high-speed hydraulic shear, three-side blank-support drop stacker with automatic part diverter, and a precision grip-feed system for production of blanks with length tolerances of plus or minus 0.005 in. Coil capacity: 50,000 lb, 72 in. wide, 0.135-in. material thickness. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com; take an online plant tour of Petersen Aluminum at www.pac-clad.com/factorytour.htm.

SoCal Stamper Earns ISO Registration

All-New Stamping Co., El Monte, CA, has earned ISO 9001/AS 9100 registration. The firm operates a 40,000-sq.-ft. stamping and fabricating shop with more than 150 employees and high-tonnage stamping presses, automated turret presses, CNC press brakes and other state-of-the-art equipment. Its ERP-system providers, The Attivo Group, Irvine, CA, provided certification consulting services to review, streamline and further automate planning and execution processes in the Macola ERP system (from Exact Software, Andover, MA) at All-New Stamping. From start to finish, registration took 6 months. All-New Stamping is online at www.allnewstamping.com; learn more about The Attivo Group and Macola software at www.attivoconsulting.com.

Illinois Stamper Relocates Mexican Plant

Parkview Metal Products, Lake Zurich, IL, has relocated its Mexican stamping, fabrication and assembly plant to a new 80,000-sq.-ft. facility in Juarez. The plant features servo-fed presses from a 100-ton high-speed model to a 440-ton 10-ft.-bed press. For short-run fabrication, the facility offers CNC laser cutting, turret-press punching and press-brake bending. Value-added fastening and assembly rounds out its offerings; a powder-coating line will be installed later this year. Learn more at www.parkviewmetal/juarez.html.

Fabricator Makes a Pair of Acquisitions

The Thomas Redmer Group, LLC (TRG), Charlotte, MI, has acquired Next Door LLC, also of Charlotte, and Thomas Fabrication, Mason, MI. Randall Redmer, CEO of Redmer Industries, purchased the two companies from his former business partner Dennis Thomas. Charles Kier, Jr. was named corporate president of TRG and will handle its day-to-day operations; David Ross was appointed vice president of sales, marketing and business development for TRG’s Michigan operations—the company also operates in Vietnam. Thomas Fabrication is a sheetmetal fabricator and metal stamper that manufactures hardware, brackets and other products; Next Door LLC, a joint venture between Thomas Fabrication and Redmer Industries, provides, among other products, nuts, bolts and other metal parts, and builds cooling systems for radiators.

Flextronics Flexes Medical-Market Muscle

Electronics manufacturer Flextronics Intl. Ltd. has acquired Avail Medical Products Inc., a privately held manufacturer of disposable medical devices. Avail (www.availmed.com) will become a division of the Flextronics medical segment. Avail supplies medical tubes, drug-delivery devices and other sterile single-use medical devices. Flextronics, headquartered in Singapore, is online at www.flextronics.com.

Stewart EFI Acquires Plating/Metal Finishing Company

Stewart EFI, LLC, Yonkers, NY, a supplier of small precision metal stampings, has acquired the equipment and assets of the plating and metal-finishing division of P&J Industries, Inc., in El Paso, TX (P&J is based in Toledo, OH). The new Stewart EFI subsidiary will remain in its 48,000-sq.-ft. facility and operate as Stewart EFI Finishing, LLC, providing services to the Stewart EFI metalforming operation in El Paso, as well as to other manufacturers. Its capabilities include parts cleaning, deburring, passivation and rack or bulk plating. Learn more at www.stewartefi.com.

EBway Website Updated to be more User Friendly

Metal-stamping company EBway Corp., Fort Lauderdale, FL, has redesigned and updated its website to make it more user friendly for purchasing agents and engineers. The firm developed and runs the Gripflow stamping process that it considers an alternative to fineblanking and traditional progressive or shave dies. Learn all about the process and its ability to create smooth, straight edges at www.ebway.com.

MN Equity Firm Acquires W. Mich. Tool & Die Firm

BlueWater Partners, Grand Rapids, MI, acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Enterprise Tool & Die, Inc., Grandville, MI, in the sale of the company’s assets to a subsidiary of North Central Equity LLC, Minneapolis, MN. Enterprise employs approximately 50 people in the design and build of medium-sized progressive and transfer dies for the automotive industry, as well as for the furniture, appliance and outdoor-equipment industries. The acquisition is the 12th for North Central Equity. BlueWater Partners, a private investment-banking firm, works with companies on sales and acquisitions; www.bluewaterpartners.com.

Rollforming Companies Unite

Roll Forming Corp. (RFC), Shelbyville, KY, has acquired Sharon Custom Metal Forming (SCMF), Farrell, PA, a supplier of custom rollformed and welded shapes. RFC is a member of the Profilform Division of voestalpine AG, Krems, Austria, and operates rollforming facilities in Shelbyville and in Jefferson, IN. SCMF, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, employs more than 50 and has annual sales of $20 million. RFC, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, employs 250 and has annual sales in excess of $70 million. More at www.voestalpine.com/rfc/en

Nucor Sets Strip-Casting Record

Nucor Corp., Charlotte, NC, announced that its Crawfordsville, IN steel plant, which employs the Castrip process, has set a new record for sequence casting. Castrip LLC (www.castrip.com) is a joint venture of Nucor, BlueScope Steel Ltd. of Australia and IHI Corporation of Japan. The company was formed to market and license intellectual property related to the twin-roll casting of carbon and stainless steels developed jointly by its three owners.
The Crawfordsville plant cast 24 ladles of steel, continuously, over a 38-hr. period in late December, 2007. Total throughput for the record-setting period was 2467 tons cast, while producing 2387 tons of prime coils. Nucor chairman and CEO Dan DiMicco said, "This record highlights not only a step change in productivity but also the remarkable strides made in product quality over the past 12 months. We are very proud of the dedication and focus of the Crawfordsville team that continues to push the envelope of strip casting.”
Nucor has a second Castrip facility under construction in Blytheville, AK, scheduled for start up later this year.

Lapham-Hickey Acquires Alabama Facility

Steel service center Lapham-Hickey Corp., Chicago, IL, acquired the Hubbell Steel Div. of Gibraltar Industries, located in Birmingham, AL. The firm also named Jon Manilla, former director of sales for Hubbell Steel, general manager of the plant. Hubbell Steel (www.hubbellsteel.com) specializes in coated and painted products. Lapham-Hickey also operates facilities in Chicago and Madison, IL, Columbus, OH, Pawcatuck, CT, Little Canada, MN, and Oshkosh, WI; www.lapham-hickey.com.

PBS Airs Segment Featuring Midwest Manufacturing

Ultra Tool & Manufacturing., Menomonee Falls, WI, recently was cited on a segment of the PBS program, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. The segment was the second of a series of reports on America’s response to globalization and how U.S. manufacturers are fighting to close the cost gap with global competition.
A metalforming supplier for Harley-Davidson, Ultra Tool and Manufacturing demonstrated how it competes globally by designing products that reduce material costs and eliminate waste. View the complete segment on the PBS website: www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec07/globalization_11-29.html.
Ultra Tool is online at www.ultratoolmfg.com.

CWP Installs Feed Line at Peerless

Peerless Industries, Melrose Park, IL, a manufacturer of audio/visual mounting products, has purchased a 36-in.-wide conventional press-feed line to process brackets for plasma and projection televisions. The line, from Cooper-Weymouth, Peterson (CWP), Clinton, ME, can handle stock 0.030 to 0.164 in. thick in coils to 8000 lb. It includes a ServoMax servo-roll feed, backed-up powered straightener and an exclusive lever-action roll-lift mechanism. The straightener includes a high-speed drive to provide optimum acceleration and deceleration to meet desired production rates without the use of a looping pit. Learn more at www.cwpcoil.com; Peerless is online at www.peerlessindustries.com.

Texas Stamper Earns TS 16949 Registration

ITD Precision, with plants in Houston and Harlingen, TX, attained ISO/TS 16949 certification. The quality management system provides for continuous improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. TS16949 applies to the design/development, production and, when relevant, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. It is based on ISO9000. ITD provides metal stampings, e-coating and other value-added services; www.itdprecision.com.

Sheetmetal Fabricator Launches Website

DeWys Manufacturing, Inc., a precision sheetmetal fabricator in Marne, MI, has launched a redesigned website at www.dewysmfg.com. The firm offers cutting, punching, bending, forming, manual and robotic welding, assembly and painting services.

Iowa Heattreater Expanding

Advanced Heat Treat Corp., Waterloo, IA, has completed a 25,000-sq.-ft. addition to its facility, and plans to install three new 3000-lb. atmosphere furnaces in the plant, with the ability to add two more furnaces. The addition also allows the company to add secondary heattreat operations, such as straightening, cleaning and polishing. The firm performs carburizing, carbonitriding, induction hardening, quench and temper, oxidation treatment, cold treatment, annealing, normalizing, stress relieving, tempering/drawing, and age/precipitation hardening. It also operates a complete metallurgical lab and performs failure analysis. Learn more at www.ahtweb.com.

GR Spring & Stamping Expands in Michigan, Mexico

GR Spring & Stamping, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, a producer of metal stampings, springs, slide-formed stampings and value-added assemblies, has added two manufacturing sites to its organization. In Grand Rapids, the firm has procured a 125,000-sq.-ft. building to house full-service assembly, slide forming and spring manufacturing operations, as well as its logistics department. And in Chihuahua, Mexico, the firm has moved metal stamping and assembly operations into a 50,000-sq.-ft. plant.

Ohio Manufacturers Join Forces

Jacobson Mfg.-Tiffin, LLC, an affiliate of Continental/Midland, Jacobson Mfg., MSD Stamping and Minuteman Distribution, acquired the assets of HTG Tiffin, LLC, Tiffin, OH. The move is described as a natural progression of the strategic alliance between the two firms that dates back to November 2005. HTG Tiffin is a full-service cold-forming operation with complementary secondary manufacturing machines; www.horizoninternational.com.

Large-Scale Fabricator Banks on New ERP Software

D&S Manufacturing, Black River Falls, WI, has invested in new enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) software in order to realize “substantial time and cost-savings benefits for our customers through the corporate-wide elimination of needless waste,” says company president Michael Dougherty. The software selected: Vantage, from Epicor Software Corp., Irvine, CA. Vantage houses modules that allow D&S to manager the entire order cycle, from quoting, production and planning to logistics, billing and payroll. D&S supplies large-scale components, assemblies and complete weldments to customers such as Caterpillar, Oshkosh Truck, The Trane Co. and Parkson; www.dsmfg.com. Learn more about Vantage software from Epicor at www.epicor.com.

Canadian Slideformer Acquired and on the Move

Hamond Industries, Concord, Ontario, Canada, has been acquired by Bohne Spring Industries Limited, Toronto, Ontario. Hamond equipment, tooling and personnel will move to the Bohne facility on or before Nov. 30, 2007. Learn more at www.bohnespring.ca.

Stamper, via Acquisition, Becomes a Triple Threat

Keats Manfuacturing Co., a manufacturer of small metal stampings, wire forms and assemblies, acquired the assets of C.C. Tool & Engineering, Oakland Park, FL, and renamed the firm Keats Coastal Stamping, LLC. Keats also operates plants in Wheeling, IL, and El Paso, TX. The Florida facility is home to 16 presses from 15 to 125 tons. Learn more at www.keatsmfg.com.

Laser-Cutting Job Shop Moves, Remodels

RonTro Enterprises, a laser-cutting contract fabricator that processes steel to ¾ in. thick and aluminum to 3/8 in., has moved from Bensenville, IL, to a 12,000-sq.-ft. plant in Wood Dale, IL. The firm is remodeling the facility and will host a grand reopening and open house later this year. Learn more at www.rontro.com.

Maquiladora Stamper Earns ISO/TS Registration

Border Metal Stamping LLC, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, received ISO/TS 16949:2002 registration. The supplier of mid- to long-run stampings supplies the automotive, home and garden, and consumer-products industries, and offers secondary services including subassembly, welding and metal finishing. Learn more at www.elmmachining.com.

Sheetmetal Fabricator Banks on AS9100 Certification

DaveCo Industries, Garland, TX, has achieved AS9100 certification, the quality standard adopted by the aerospace industry. The firm, previously registered to ISO 9001:2000, expects the AS9100 certification to benefit its defense and non-defense customers, since the standard focuses on critical areas important to all industries, such as supply-chain management and process control. DaveCo offers machining, assembly, finishing and sheetmetal-fabrication services—its shop houses state-of-the-art press brakes with programmable backgauges, punch presses, laser-cutting machines and welding equipment. Learn more at www.daveco-ind.com.

Metal-Finishing Job Shop Acquires
Compound-Blending Business

Mechanical Finishing, Inc., a cleaning and deburring job shop in Cincinnati, OH, has acquired the chemical-compound blending and spare-parts business of Rosemont Industries, also of Cincinnati. Mechanical Finishing will make and distribute burnishing soaps, cleaners, abrasives and rust inhibitors previously developed and sold under the Rosemont name. The firm also will manufacture all of the spare parts for Rosemont vibratory finishing machines and cob dryers, including drive systems, bearings, screens and drains. Learn more at www.mechfin.com.

Great Britain Welcomes First SCS Coil Line

Servosteel, a toll processor in Dudley, West Midlands, UK, recently went online with the first SCS coil line to be installed in that country. The SCS line, an environmentally and budget-friendly alternative to pickling and oiling, was designed and manufactured by Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL. The process employs a controlled brushing off of all surface scale except for a micro-thin layer. Servosteel’s new line can process coils to 72 in. wide of stock to 0.315 in. thick. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com.

Die-Matic Corp., Brooklyn Heights, OH, promoted Edward A. Pietrasz to materials manager, and Marisa Graor-Ports to purchasing and scheduling coordinator. The metal stamper offers automated welding, coating, in-die tapping, stud insertion and assembly services; www.die-matic.com.

Heavy-Duty Multi-Blanking Line Headed for Illinois

Midwest Steel Blanking Inc., Lombard, IL, has ordered a 72- by 0.135-in. by 40,000-lb.-capacity multi-blanking line from B&K, a division of Formtek Maine, Clinton, ME. Midwest Steel Blanking operates a 25,000-sq.-ft. facility and processes 21 million lb. of steel annually. The new B&K line features an uncoiler with an ultrasonic variable-tension brake system, hands-free thread-up, a corrective leveler, dual-sided threading table, four-roll servo feed and a scrap winder to take care of edge-trim material. Its stacker includes a 10,000-lb. by 72-in. by 168-in.-capacity lift table. Learn more about B&K at www.bklevelers.com.

Stamper Named One of America’s Safest Companies

Occupational Hazards magazine has named E.J. Ajax and Sons, Fridley, MN, to its list of America’s Safest Companies for 2007. Eleven companies made the list. The magazine described the 50-employee metal-stamping company as having “no lost-time incidents in 17 years and no OSHA recordables in 4 years, which means its incident rate is zero in an industry where the average is 8.2.”
Congratulations go out to the entire team at E.J. Ajax and Sons; www.ejajax.xom.

PE Fund Invests in Dallas-Based Metals Service Center

Harbert Private Equity Fund II, LLC, Birmingham, AL, has acquired a majority interest in Arbor Metals, LP, Dallas, TX. Arbor, founded in 1984, is a $60-million processor of precision strip and coil stainless steel and other nonferrous alloys, and offers coil slitting and edging, blanking, toll processing and other services; www.arbormetals.com. Learn more about Harbert at www.harbert.net.

Belt-Conveyor Oven Facilitates High-Volume Soldering

Microwave Filter Co., East Syracuse, NY, a manufacturer of passive electronic filter modules, has purchased an electrically heated belt-conveyor oven from The Grieve Corp., Round Lake, IL. The oven—18 in. wide by 96 in. deep by 15 in. tall—heats to 650 F to facilitate the mass-production soldering of formed metal parts. It boasts a pair of 4-ft.-long insulated heat zones with independent recirculated airflow and temperature control and a 12-ft.-long cooling zone. Learn more at www.grievecorp.com.

PE Firm Acquires Stamper with Tenn. and Tex. Plants

Private-equity firm Kachi Partners, Boulder, CO, has acquired Genesee Group, Dallas, TX, a precision metal stamping and fabricating firm with operations in Tennessee and Texas. Learn more about the leveraged-buyout transaction and both parties at www.geneseegroup.com and www.kachipartners.com.

Advanced-Machining/Laser-Processing Companies Unite

LAI International, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, a manufacturer of precision components and subassemblies, has acquired Rich Technology International, a precision contract manufacturer located in Scarborough, ME. LAI supplies customers in the aerospace, armor, automotive, defense, electronics and medical-device industries. Among its services: five-axis laser machining, waterjet cutting and sheetmetal fabrication. Rich, which employs 130, specializes in high-speed CNC machining, five-axis laser processing and EDM. It’s known for producing turbine blades and nozzles for power-generation plants.
The LAI/Rich combined company employs 240 and projects 2007 revenues in excess of $46 million. Learn more at www.laico.com.

Custom Manufacturer Boasts of Capabilities
on Redesigned Website

D&S Manufacturing, Black River Falls, WI, has launched a redesigned website at www.dsmfg.com, with an animated splash page that dramatically displays the firm’s diverse machining, laser-cutting and robotic-welding capabilities. Visitors to the site can see a comprehensive list of equipment, photographs and descriptions of large-scale assembly and weldment projects, and a complete list of contacts at the company.

Florida Stamper Moving to New, Larger Facility

Kramski North America, Largo, FL, is moving to a new 35,000-sq.-ft. facility, more than double its original 15,000-sq.-ft. plant opened less than 5 years ago. The move comes on the heels of new contracts for producing critical insert-molded components for the automotive electronics industry. In development for the firm are two automated workcells that will encompass stamping, overmolding, optical inspection and packaging. The first line is scheduled to begin production by mid-September. Learn more at www.kramski.com.

Metal Spinner Adds Laser Cutting to its Stable

Iowa Metal Spinners, Inc., Cedar Falls, IA, has purchased a laser-cutting machine to further diversify its metalforming and fabricating capabilities. It purchased a large-bed 6- by 12-ft. model CL-707 cutting machine from Cincinnati Inc. Learn more about Iowa Metal Spinners at www.iowaspinners.com.

Shop Online for Small Quantities of Stainless Steel

Brown Metals Co., Rancho Cucamonga, CA, a provider of custom slit thin-gauge stainless steel, has launched an online store that allows material purchasers a convenient way to shop for small quantities of stainless steel. The online store, at www.sidecuts.com, features 300-series stainless steels in 1- to 25-lb. coils in a variety of widths and thicknesses. Mill test reports accompany all orders, and all coils meet ROHS and DFARS requirements.

Laystrom Successfully Integrates
New Facility into Quality System

Laystrom Manfuacturing Co., a 50-yr.-old family-owned metal stamper and fabricator headquartered in Chicago, IL, announced that its facility in Elk Grove Village, IL, was audited and found to be in compliance with ISO 9001:2000 requirements. Laystrom took over the facility from Nitram Metal Fabricators in June 2006, and since then has worked to integrate the plant into its quality management system. Learn more at www.laystrom.com.

Metal Spinning Companies Unite

Metal Spinners, Inc., Angola, IN, acquired Caywood Metal Spinning, Inc., Jasper, GA. Metal Spinners, Inc. has more than 250 employees throughout its operating divisions in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas and Georgia.

Perforated-Metal Maker Buys Midwest Fabricator

Hendrick Manufacturing, Memphis, TN, a manufacturer of perforated metal products and wire screens, has purchased Hagen Metal Products Co., Elgin, IL, a precision sheetmetal fabricator.
Hagen will operate using its existing name as a related company under the Hendrick Midwest, LCC banner. Existing management has been retained, with Bruce Caldwell, formerly Hendrick supply chain manager taking over as Hagen general manager. While concentrating on its existing business, Hagen will expand into manufacturing of perforated metal products to serve a growing customer base in the Midwest, according to Hendrick officials.

Stainless Sales to Add Slitter Line, Bridge Crane

A 60-in. slitter (from Chicago Slitter, Itasca, IL) along with a traveling bridge crane are on their way to stainless-steel service center Stainless Sales Corp., Chicago, IL, for installation later this year. The slitter features three slitting heads and will run a newly purchased shimless tooling system that the firm pledges will quicken setups, improve setup accuracy and produce tighter tolerances. Meanwhile, the firm’s investment in a new remote-controlled 20-ton overhead crane, from T&M Equipment Co., Merrillville, IN, will increase its inventory-storage capabilities.

Auto-Parts Stamper Installs New ERP System

Nagata Auto Parts Canada, Co., Ltd., London, Ontario, is installing new ERP software from ShopEdge Software Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The Nagata stamping and subassembly facility comprises an 8000-sq.-m plant, 90 employees, a pair of transfer presses (250 and 400 ton), a pair of progressive-die presses (200 and 400 ton) and a 300-ton transfer press. It also houses several arc-welding robots and resistance-welding machines, as well as a complete machine shop. ShopEdge software, which integrates the business processes of metal-stamping operations, was recently updated with a remote help feature, which enables ShopEdge to connect directly to its customers' computers to help sort through any problems that arise. Learn more at www.shopedgesoftware.com.

Alabama Stamper Purchases Heavy-Duty Feed Line

Choice Fabricators, Inc., Attalia, AL, a high-volume Tier One automotive stamper and precision fabricator, has purchased a 42-in. by 0.25-in. by 35,000-lb.-capacity press-feed system from Cooper-Weymouth, Peterson (CWP), a division of Formtek Maine, Clinton, ME. The feed line includes a ServoMax servo roll feed with 6-in.-dia. full-width matte chrome rolls, handwheel-adjustable edge guides, anti-backup rolls, an automatic lubrication system, adjustable-height cabinet base and touchscreen operator controls. The straightener has 6-in.-dia. pinch rolls, 4-in. backed-up straightening rolls, powered head adjustment, peeler table and blade, and consolidated pushbutton controls with HMI interface. Other features: 35,000-lb.-capacity uncoiler with full-radius drum mandrels, hydraulic expansion, inching drive, ultrasonic brake control, laser coil alignment, secondary holddown arm with powered rider roll and coil-loading car. Learn more at www.cwpcoil.com. Choice Fabricators is online at www.choicefab.com.

Fabricator/Rollformer Earns Huge Building-Framing Contract

FrameMax, San Diego, CA, a fabricator of steel framing, has been awarded one of the world’s largest light-gauge steel contracts, totaling 4 million sq. ft. and 13,000 tons of material. The project, commissioned by the Algerian Ministry of Defense, includes accommodations and administration buildings, among others, to be completed within an 18-month timeframe. In order to meet the building deadlines and avoid overseas shipping, FrameMax will oversee fabrication being completed in Algeria throughout the project. The firm operates a 150,000-sq.-ft. fabrication facility, with automated rollforming and precision cutting, punching and notching, in Tecate, Mexico; www.framemax.com.

Texas Sheetmetal Fabricator
Announces Recapitalization

Private equity firm TGF Management Corp., Austin, TX, has invested in M&M Manufacturing Co., Fort Worth, TX, and partnered with M&M’s existing ownership to support M&M’s continued growth and geographic expansion. The firm is a fabricator of custom sheetmetal products, serving primarily the air-distribution and ventilation market. It’s online at www.mmmfg.com.

New Steel-Service Center Slated for Iowa (Quad Cities)

Norfolk Iron & Metal Co., Norfolk, NE, will construct a new full-service steel-distribution center in Durant, IA, near the Quad Cities area. The facility, slated to open in mid-2008, will service fabricators in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. It will sit on a 37-acre plot in the Durant Development Park and encompass 250,000 sq. ft.
Norfolk Iron & Metal operates steel-service centers in Norfolk, Emporia, KS, and Greeley, CO. Among its processing services: sawing, shearing, breaking and laser and plasma cutting; www.norfolkiron.com.

Ohio Service Center Launches SCS Cleaning Line

Fulton County Processing has installed an SCS coil line, from Red Bud Industries, Red Bud, IL, at its service center in Delta, OH. The line gives hot-rolled black materials a smooth, clean and rust-resistant finish—a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to the pickling and oiling process. It works by brushing away all of the surface scale except for a micro-thin layer. The 72-in.-wide line handles material to ¼ in. thick and includes a heavy-duty peeler breaker, crop shear, Butech leveler and choppers, and tension-type recoiler. Learn more at www.redbudindustries.com.

A Consolidation of Metalformers in Minnesota

BTD Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit Lakes, MN, has acquired Pro Engineering, Minneapolis, MN. Pro Engineering provides metal stampings and employs 29 people. BTD offers design, engineering, prototyping and short-run stamping, robotic and manual welding, finish machining, assembly, heattreating and packaging; www.btdmfg.com.

Consolidation Gives Dayton
Steel-Service Center a Shot in the Arm

The Thompson Companies have announced the consolidation of Thompson Steel Co., Inc., and Dayton Steel Service, Inc., to form the new Thompson Dayton Steel Service. Headquartered in Canton, MA, the company maintains facilities in Boston, MA, Dayton, OH, Paulding, OH, Detroit, MI, Greenville, SC, Rome, GA, and Los Angeles, CA. To improve its efficiency in serving stamping and fabricating customers in the Midwest, the firm is moving its Franklin Park, IL, inventory, key equipment and sales specialists to its Dayton facility.
Thompson Dayton Steel Service supplies coil, sheet and blanked flat-rolled steel; learn all about its products, processes and services at www.thompsondayton.com.

Custom Expanded Metal Press Lands in Oklahoma

Taiwanese press builder Jun En Manufacturing Corp. has delivered a custom-designed and built press, used for expanding steel to 10 ft. long, to the Wewoka, OK, manufacturing facility of Expanded Solutions, LLC, based in Oklahoma City, OK. The firm will use the high-speed press to increase its capacity and move into heavy-steel markets such as catwalks and security fencing, according to company officials.

Precision Fabricator Named Supplier of the Year

Precision sheetmetal fabricator Mech-Tronics, Melrose Park, IL, has been named Machined/Sheet Metal Commodity Co-Supplier of the Year 2007 by Rockwell Collins, an OEM supplier of communication and aviation electronics equipment. Mech-Tronics specializes in chassis, enclosure and panel fabrication, and performs CNC punching, stamping, machining, brazing, MIL-spec welding and photo-chemical etching; www.mech-tronics.com.

ODM Earns TS Certification

ODM Tool & Manfuacturing Co., Inc., McCook, IL, has earned TS 16949:2002 certification. The firm, which offers stamping, welding and assembly services, and maintains a quality laboratory and toolroom, operates out of a 100,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant and a 50,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and shipping facility. It’s also registered to ISO 9002 and QS 9000. Learn more at www.odmtool.com.

Custom Sheetmetal Fabricator Earns ISO Registration

Interlake Industries, Inc., Willoughby, OH, has earned ISO 9001:2000 registration for its Interlake Stamping of Florida facility in Lakeland, FL. The Ohio plant earned registration in February 2005. Together the two plants employ 54 and occupy more than 62,000sq. ft. of manufacturing space. Learn more at www.interlakestamping.com.

Calif. Service Center Expands Fabrication Capabilities

Aluminum service center Southern Aluminum Finishing (SAF), headquartered in Atlanta, GA, has installed a new 12-ft. press brake at its new extrusion and sheet facility in Redding, CA. An Accurpress model, the brake features CNC control. The new plant now houses seven press brakes; the firm also offers CAD services, CNC cutting, welding, paining and anodizing. Learn more at www.saf.com.

Prototype Stamper Opens Casting Company

Duggan Manufacturing, Shelby Township, MI, a metal-stamping prototype manufacturer and provider of low- to medium-volume stampings, has established Unified Pattern Division, a new wholly owned subsidiary. The new division will offer prototype and low- to medium-volume casting production capabilities, leveraging its relationships with 14 different foundries and Tier Two machining companies. Duggan is online at www.dugganmfg.com.

Akron Stamper Earns ISO 9001 Registration

Progressive Stamping & Fabricating, a division of Ohio Gasket & Shim (OGS), Akron, OH, has been registered to ISO 9001:2000. The full-service stamper now has its sights set on gaining ISO 14001 registration by the end of the year. OGS stamps parts from 0.001 to 3/8 in. thick, offers laser-cutting and arc- and resistance-welding services, and operates a complete tool-and-die shop. Learn more at www.ogsindustries.com.

Jersey’s C.B. Kaupp & Sons Expands into Indiana

C.B. Kaupp & Sons, Inc., Maplewood, NJ, specialists in hydroforming, metal spinning and deep drawing, has opened a manufacturing facility in Brazil, IN. Named KIHM Metal Technologies, Inc., the new plant is equipped to perform laser cutting, metal spinning, welding and fabrication. Learn more at www.kaupp.com.

Aerospace Supplier adds 12th Laser-Drilling System

Turbo Combustor Technology Inc., Stuart, FL, has installed a six-axis model 790XL BeamDirector Nd:Yag laser-drilling system from Laserdyne Systems, Champlin, MN. Turbo Combustor manufactures combustors and complex sheetmetal fabrications from its 110,000-sq.-ft. facility staffed by more than 350 employees. The new laser-drilling system is the 12th system installed at the firm in the last 14 years. It features an 80- by 40- by 40-in. work envelope and a 16-in.-dia. rotary table. Learn more at www.prima-na.com.

Buhrke Earns Siemens Supplier Award, Again

Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Regensburg, Germany, a supplier of automotive electronics and mechatronics systems, has recognized metalforming company Buhrke Industries, Arlington Heights, IL, by bestowing upon the company its Performance Award for 2006. Buhrke is one of nine Siemens VDO vendors, out of 4100 suppliers worldwide, to receive the award, and the only North American manufacturer honored. The basis for the 2006 award was Buhrke’s overall vendor rating of 93, second highest of all award recipients, while achieving a 0.8 PPM. Buhrke also received a Performance Award for 2005 from Siemens VDO.

Orchid Acquires 6th North American Stamping Operation

Orchid Intl., Brentwood, TN, has acquired R. Reininger & Son Ltd., Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, a third-generation manufacturer providing metal stampings and assemblies. The firm (www.reininger.com), which will continue to operate under the Reininger name as “an Orchid International company,” operates a 204,000-sq.-ft. facility on 30 acres of land, housing more than 25 presses ranging from 100 to 800 tons. The acquisition grows the Orchid stable of North American operations to six—two in Ontario, three in the United States and one in Mexico. Orchid’s other Canadian plant, in Markham, produces assemblies primarily for the automotive industry. The firm expects eventually to consolidate that operation into the Reininger facility. Learn more at www.orchidinternational.com.

Small Prototype Stamper Outgrows its Original Home

Duggan Manfuacturing, Shelby Township, MI, a 7-yr.-old manufacturer that originally built a niche in rapid prototyping of small and medium-sized parts, has purchased a 75,000-sq.-ft. facility on 9 acres in Shelby Township in order to more efficiently provide low- and medium-run production stampings and welded assemblies for its customers. With its 50 presses, three robotic-welding cells, seven CNC laser-cutting machines and six coordinate-measuring machines, it needed a dedicated and consolidated facility in which to efficiently operate, says Duggan CEO Rod Westich.

GR Spring & Stamping Upgrades CAD/CAM Capabilities
for Die Design and Build

A switch from separate CAD and CAM software packages to an integrated CAD/CAM package from VX Corp., Melbourne, FL, has GR Spring & Stamping, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, poised to meet the continuing challenges of quality, volume and lead time presented by its customers in the automotive industry. GR Spring & Stamping operates six facilities in the United States and Mexico, producing custom stampings, value-added assemblies, springs and slide-formed products, as well as the dies used to make those products. Its new VX CAD/CAM package combines 3D solid/surface hybrid modeling and parametric design and drafting capabilities with an integrated CAM package that includes two- through five-axis milling. The company purchased eight seats of VX—six in design and two in manufacturing.
As received, GR Spring & Stamping customers’ part models are oriented as they will function in a vehicle. Then designers go to work on a tool, using reverse engineering. A typical die comprises 150 to 200 separate 3D solid CAD elements, drawn as a solid in VX and then assembled virtually. While 3D solid designs take longer to complete than 2D renderings, the firm finds that for every hour spent designing it gains two hours at the end of the process.
Learn more about VX software at www.vx.com; GR Spring & Stamping is online at www.grs-s.com.

Feralloy Coil-Processing Plant
Invests in Sheet-to-Sheet Cleaning System

A new SCS sheet-to-sheet cleaning system from Layhill Processing LLC, Loudin, TN, will soon be installed at the Feralloy Corp. coil-processing and distribution plant in Berkeley, SC. The line, slated to begin operating in April, will enhance the hot-rolled surface for painting, and substantially increase laser-cutting speeds. It also will decrease cleaning time in painted applications. It can clean hot-rolled sheets in thicknesses from 0.056 to ½ in. and in widths from 24 to 72 in. Feralloy is online at www.feralloy.com; learn more about the SCS system at www.layhillprocessing.com.

ISO 14001:2004 for Micro Stamping’s
Environmental Management System

The Micro Stamping Corp., Somerset, NJ, has earned ISO 14001:2004 certification for its Environmental Management System (EMS). The certification confirms Micro Stamping’s successful implementation and maintenance of its EMS, designed to avoid any potential impact on the surrounding community and also recognizes the company’s commitment to achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance in the future, according to company officials.
The Micro Stamping Group of Companies began with the creation of Micro Stamping Corp. (precision metal stamping) in 1945 and then evolved into the development of Micro Medical Technologies (medical-device development and assembly) in 1986, Micro Medical Technologies Singapore (metal injection molding, casting and machining) in 2004 and Micro Star Innovations (plastic injection and insert molding) in 2005.
For more, visit www.microstampinggroup.com.

Full-Service Die Builder/Stamper Earns ISO/TS Registration

Waukesha Tool & Stamping, Sussex, WI, has attained ISO/TS 16949 registration. The medium- to high-volume producer of metal stampings and assemblies also operates a full-service tool and die division. The firm services the automotive, commercial off-highway, consumer-appliance, small-engine, telecommunications, aerospace and other industries. Learn more at www.waukeshastamping.com.

Oberg Expands to Boost R&D Efforts

Oberg Industries, Freeport, PA, has added 50,000 sq. ft. to its manufacturing facility in Sarver, PA, to provide additional room for research and technology development, including testing of new modular die designs, advanced lubrication systems and in-die production technology such as in-die welding and assembly. The facility, now encompassing more than 100,000 sq. ft., houses more than 25 stamping presses and offers 100-percent visual inspection of parts, and real-time process controls. Learn more at www.oberg.com.

Metalformer Recognized for Quality Performance

Taber Bushnell, Minneapolis, MN, has been included by Quality magazine on its Quality Leadership 100 list of manufacturers, judged on criteria such as scrap and rework as a percentage of sales, warranty costs as a percentage of sales, rejected parts per million shipped, and contribution of quality to profitability. The magazine surveyed 800 companies before naming the top 100. Taber Bushnell provides progressive-tool design and build and metal-stamping production on Minster presses from 32 to 600 tons. Learn more at www.taberbushnell.com.

Chicago Metal Fabricators Consolidate

Accurate Perforating, Chicago, IL, a supplier of perforated materials and assemblies, has purchased sheetmetal fabricator Advance Display Co. (ADC), also of Chicago. ADC becomes Accurate Metal Fabricating, but will remain at its 52,000-sq.-ft. facility that serves the retail, telecommunications, electronic, environmental, medical, military and automotive markets with fabricated-metal products. Accurate Perforating operates out of a 170,000-sq.-ft. facility; www.accurateperforating.com.

Fabricator to Install High-Speed Tube-Cutting Laser

Bauer Welding & Metal Fabrication, Inc., St. Paul, MN, has purchased a model LT712 LaseerTube cutting machine from Italian supplier BLM Adige (BLM Group USA Corp., Wixom, MI), a 2500-W unit capable of cutting round tubing to 6-in, OD and 4-in. square tubing. Bauer, which provides tube-bending, fabrication and welding services, operates draw-, press-, mandrel- and roll-bending equipment, and houses robotic welding and high-definition plasma-cutting cells. Learn more at www.bauerweld.com.

Stamper Relies on New ERP Suite
to Handle Dynamic, Planned Growth

Stewart EFI, Thomaston, CT, a supplier of precision deep-drawn and progressive-die stampings as well as slideformed parts and secondary assemblies, has replaced its customized proprietary ERP software with the Oracle E-Business Suite, to “provide the flexibility to grow without diverse customer and business needs,” says Philip Rejeski, Stewart EFI’s vice president of operations and general manager. The firm turned to Core Services Corp., Morristown, NJ, a Certified Partner in the Oracle PartnerNetwork, to help implement the software package.
Among the benefits of the new software are the inclusion of Oracle Accelerators, “which will help Stewart EFI create lean-manufacturing configurations and processes leveraging demand-driven release management,” says Kirsten Hausserman, vice president of Core Services’ Consulting Group. Additional applications include Oracle Product Lifecycle Management, a quality-analysis program specifically designed for the automotive industry. Learn more at Core Services’ website: www.coreservices.com.

Laser Shop Earns ISO/TS Certification

Prototech Laser, Inc., Clinton Township and Chesterfield, MI, has earned ISO/TS 16949:2002 and ISO 2001:2000 certification. The company offers laser-cutting, metal-fabrication and assembly services. It recently installed its 11th laser-processing system and additional press-brake forming capacity. Learn more at www.ptlaser.com.

Precision Automation Takes New Name, New Identity

To emphasize its contract-manufacturing capabilities in addition to its ability to supply engineered automation systems and integration services, Precision Automation Co., Inc., Clarksville, IN, has changed its name to paco manufacturing. Its sister company in New Jersey continues as Precision Automation Co. Paco manufacturing (www.pacomfg.com) operates a complete machine shop with machining and turning centers, grinders, saws and drills, as well as a sheet- and plate-fabrication department with welding equipment, forming equipment and ironworkers.

Specialty-Metals Supplier and Processor Earns Quality Awards

Almetals, Inc., Wixom, MI, has earned Zero-Defect Quality Awards from two of its customers, Federal Mogul and Borg-Warner. The awards recognize suppliers that demonstrate the ability to meet and exceed customer expectations in delivery, quality and innovation. An ISO/TS 16949:2002-certified company, Almetals supplies stampers, rollforming companies and tube producers all around the world. Learn more at www.almetals.com.

Leadership Changes at Stanley Spring and Stamping

Stanley Spring and Stamping Corp., Chicago, IL, announced that Ronald J. Banas has acquired controlling interest in the firm, a family-owned business founded by Stanley Banas in 1944. Included in the transaction is sister company Stanron Steel Specialties, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Banas assumes the role of chairman of the board; Reb Banas becomes president of the company. Learn more at www.stanleyspring.com.

Four EMG Branches Sold to Samuel, Son & Co.

Samuel, Son & Co., Limited, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has purchased EMG, The Engineered Metals Group of Esco Corp., Portland, OR. EMG, with facilities in Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, Hayward, CA and Portland, OR, is an independent distributor of commodity, processed and engineered stainless-steel products. The acquisition increases to 58 the number of U.S. locations of the Samuel group of companies, which now operates 107 locations throughout North America.

Woman-Owned Stamper Earns Recognition

Universal Die & Stampings (UDS), Prairie du Sac, WI, has received four state and national awards from DiversityBusiness.com, a multicultural-business internet site. UDS was named 5th in the category of Top Women Owned Businesses in Wisconsin; 10th among the Top Diversity Owned Businesses in Wisconsin; and 16th among the Top Small Businesses in Wisconsin. It also placed in the Top 500 in the category Top Women Owned Businesses in America. The firm produces high-speed stampings such as transfer belts, electrodes, washers, motor laminations and clipper blades.

Paulo Products Facility Passes Upgrade Audit

The St. Louis, MO facility of Paulo Products Co. has been awarded accreditation to ISO/TS 16949:2002, recognizing its abilities to continually measure, monitor and improve in order to prevent defects and reduce waste. The firm, a supplier of heattreating, brazing and metal-finishing services, also is approved to the Ford HTX standard and has received the Ford Preferred Supplier Award. Paulo also operates facilities in Willoughby, OH, Kansas City, MO, and Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN. Look online at www.paulo.com.

New Ion-Nitriding Service Center Coming to ‘Bama

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT), Waterloo, IA, announced plans to open its fourth UltraGlow ion-nitriding service center in the spring of 2007, in Cullman, AL. The facility, on Interstate 65 between Huntsville and Birmingham, represents an investment of more than $7 million to bring added surface-treatment capabilities—for production components, tooling and stamping dies—to the region. Learn more at www.ahtweb.com.

Laser Shop Makes Room for its 11th Machine

Prototech Laser, Inc., a contract sheet and plate fabricator specializing in two- and three-axis laser-cutting, has added 6000-sq.-ft. of manufacturing space, to accommodate a new Trumpf 4-kW laser-cutting machine with material-handling capability, as well as a new Accurpress 175-ton press brake. The Trumpf machine is Prototech's 11th laser-processing system. The firm operates two Michigan plants—in Clinton Township and in Chesterfield Township. Learn more at www.ptlaser.com.

ISO/TS Certification for Stainless Sales Corp.

Stainless Sales Corp., Chicago, IL, has earned ISO/TS 16949:2002 certification. The company specializes in supplying precision-slit coil. For more, visit www.stainlesssales.com.

Transfer-System Upgrade
Pays Dividends for Bettcher Amherst

The addition of a Linear Transfer system to an existing T-1 transfer-die press at Bettcher Amherst Metal Stamping, Book Park, OH, has allowed the stamper to increase press speed by more than 30 percent and slash changeover time by a third, according to Jerry Lynch, Bettcher president. Scrap rate and tool damage is also minimized, says Lynch, and thanks to recipe-driven software that controls the transfer system, setup time has been dramatically reduced too. Learn more at www.bettcherllc.com.

Rockford Toolcraft to Automate 27 ft. of Bolster Space

HMS Products Co., Troy, MI, will outfit automation equipment onto a pair of two-slide high-tonnage presses installed in the new stamping-plant addition of Rockford Toolcraft, Rockford, IL. Coming to the stamping plant in Spring 2007: a pair of HMS Series 900HD transfer systems and a between-press parts shuttle, as well as a coil-handling system from Feed Lease Corp., Rochester Hills, MI. The tandem transfer-press line will be able to feed ½-in.-thick material from 60-in.-side coils. The transfer automation will feed in both directions, in tandem or single-press configurations, and can operate in two-axis, three-axis or crossbar-transfer modes.

Lead-Frame Stamper Moves to Larger Facility

Co-planar, Denville, NJ, has moved to a new 33,000-sq.-ft. facility and expanded its manufacturing, engineering and quality-control departments to better serve its customers’ needs. The firm provides high-quality precision stamped components and lead-frames to the semiconductor, electronic, automotive, medical and insert-molding industries. Visit www.co-planar.com.

ITD Precision Breaks Ground on New Plant

Texas metal-stamping company ITD Precision, with plants in Houston and Harlingen, TX, has broken ground on a new 98,000-sq.-ft. facility in northwest Houston, scheduled for completion next summer. The plant will house six press lines, from 45 to 400 tons, as well as a sub-floor scrap-conveyor system, tool-and-die department and administrative offices. It will replace ITD’s current Houston facility.

Thomas Engineering Earns ISO Registration

Metal stamper Thomas Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN, has been registered to ISO 9001:2000. The firm develops and manufactures stampings from the prototype stage through delivery of final assemblies. It specializes in micro-miniature to medium-sized stampings used in electronic components, appliances, copying machines, telecommunications equipment, satellites, automobiles and advanced weaponry.

Bayloff Combines Two Divisions
into One Metalforming Company

Bayloff Die & Machine Co., a metal stamping and die manufacturer based in Belleville, MI, has combined its two separate operating divisions into one new company. Bayloff along with Target Stamped Products, Kinsman, OH, will now operate as a single entity called Bayloff Stamped Products. The new, larger company provides a variety of engineering, tooling and stamping services primarily to the automotive industry.
“Individually we supplied parts to many of the same customers, but on different programs, explains Brian Bayer, general manager of the new company. “By combining our engineering and tool-making capabilities, and with our two plants, we offer everything our customers need from one supplier.”
Bayloff Die & Stamping was formed in 1948, evolving into a supplier to numerous Tier One automotive manufacturers. Target Stamped Products, also founded in 1948, was acquired by Bayloff’s owners in 1997 and specializes in deep-drawn metal stampings and engineering services for the automotive industry.
Bayloff Stamped Products, with approximately 200 employees in two plants, provides engineering, inhouse tool-making, deep-draw stamping, and parts assembly and finishing services to automotive and consumer products manufacturing companies across North America.
For more, visit www.bayloff.com.

F&G Multi-Slide Earns Delphi Recognition

Delphi Corp. recently presented its Pinnacle Award for Supplier Excellence to F&G Multi-Slide Inc., Franklin, OH, for meeting or exceeding Delphi’s quality, delivery, service and competitive-costs expectations. Among award criteria for direct suppliers is a 50-percent improvement in non-conformances, no major disruptions to Delphi manufacturing sites and being active in the Delphi Supplier Suggestion Program. F&G Multi-Slide (www.fgtool.com) offers design and engineering services, prototype development, multi-slide die making, stamping and wire forming.

Metal Finisher Launches Enhanced Website

Miller Products LLC, Grand Rapids, MI, now has RFQ submittal capability on its website, www.millerproductsllc.com. The firm, a supplier of Class A finishing on metal and plastic parts, is a Tier 2 supplier to the North American automotive industry. It offers e-coating, solvent wet coating and powder coating services.

Reich Tool & Design Achieves ISO Certification

Reich Tool & Design Inc., Menomonee Falls, WI, has become ISO 9001:2000 registered. The firm, a supplier of metal-stamping dies and tooling, offers three-dimensional high-speed CNC machining, wire EDM and precision waterjet cutting, as well as part development, prototyping and engineering, die tryout and low-volume production. It’s online at www.reichtool.com.

Ice Industries to Stamp Parts for Raybestos

Ice Industries, a metal stamping and assembly company headquartered in Sylvania, OH, recently signed an agreement to provide Raybestos Products Co. with parts for its wet friction operations. The three-year agreement calls for Ice to provide Raybestos with 4.4 million stamped components annually. The work will be conducted at the ICE facility in Grenada, MS. The 258,000-sq.-ft. Grenada plant has capabilities including metal stamping, rollforming, manual and robotic welding, buffing and assembly. Additional work under this contract will be completed at the Ice Deerfield Manufacturing plant in Mason, OH. Ice will acquire a press from Raybestos for a portion of the program.
The components will be used in a variety of applications including powershift transmissions, wet brakes and power take-offs, predominantly for the off-highway market.
For more, visit www.iceindustries.com.

Batesville Tool & Die Invests
in Web-Based Operations-Management Tool

Plexus Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI, will help Batesville Tool & Die, Inc. manage its stamping operations at its plants in Batesville, IN, and Queretaro, Mexico. The Plexus Online (www.plex.com) collection of more than 350 functional modules will integrate Batesville’s administrative, engineering and production operations. The system is accessible through a web browser and allows users to link to their business data and track operations. It supports lean activities such as Kanban scheduling, pull systems and Kaizen. Batesville Tool & Die provides stampings and welded assemblies with presses to 1200 tons, primarily for the automotive market.

Stripmatic Upgrades Quality-System Registration

Metalforming company Stripmatic Products, Inc., Cleveland, OH, has upgraded its quality-system registration from QS9000 to ISO/TS16949:2002. The company specializes in a unique stamping process that forms tubular-shaped parts, as an alternative to machined or cut-off tube.

Rome Tool & Die Expands Coil-Handling Capabilities

GSW Press Automation, El Segundo, CA, has sold a heavy-duty servo-feed line to Rome Tool & Die, Rome, GA. The cradle-straightener-feeder combination unit handles coils as large as 72-in. dia. and 17,600 lb., to support production on an 800-ton press. The unit will feed high-strength steel strip as wide as 20 in. and up to ½ in. thick.

Suburban Steel Supply Honored for Safety Record

Steel supplier and fabricator Suburban Steel Supply, Gahanna, OH, has been recognized by the Safety Council of Greater Columbus, in conjunction with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, for its recent safety record. Suburban won the 100% Award and the Group Award from the council for having the lowest incident rate in its group and for achieving one year without a lost-time injury or illness. The awards were determined by semi-annual injury and illness reports submitted by each company participating in the council.
For more on company capabilities, visit www.suburbansteelsupply.com.

Illinois Service Center Retrofits Cut-to-Length Line

JDM Steel Service (formerly Northern Industries), Chicago Heights, IL, has upgraded its cut-to-length line with a Red Bud (Red Bud, IL) servo-hydraulic grip-feed system, heavy-gauge edge trimmer and variable-rake shear. The upgrade resulted from an increased demand for closer length and squareness tolerances in the firm’s hot-rolled market. The line can run material as thick as 0.312 in. in a deep loop, and thicker material in a start-stop mode.

Hess Launches New Spinforming Business Unit

Hess Industries, Inc., Niles, MI, a manufacturer of metalforming and press-automation equipment, has launched a new spinforming and flowforming business unit, Formitt Metal Labs. Formitt Metal Labs offers prototyping and short- and production-run metalforming services to produce hollow symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes, fabrications and assemblies from flat stock and tubing. Learn more at www.formitt.com.

MISA Acquires Building-Products Manufacturer

Marubeni-Itochu Steel America (MISA), New York, NY, has acquired Quality Edge, Inc., Walker, MI, a rollforming company that manufactures roofing, siding and rainware finishing products—fascia, soffit, drip edge, steel siding etc. Quality Edge joins Clark Western Building Systems as part of the MISA Building Products Group. MISA, a joint venture between the steel divisions of Japan’s two largest trading groups, is the parent organization for an integrated network of affiliates in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Learn more at www.misteel.com.

Rollformer Completes ISO
Surveillance Audit with Zero Findings

American Roll Form, Painesville, OH, has recently completed its semi-annual ISO 9001-2000 surveillance audit, with zero findings. A supplier of rollformed components, the firm also operates turret punch presses, press brakes, powder-coating equipment, robotic-welding cells, stamping presses, and assembly and packaging lines. Learn more at www.arfpcorp.com.

Florida Stamper Ramps Up Motor-City Marketing Efforts

Kramski North America, Inc., , Largo, FL, a precision metal stamper and injection molder, has contracted with a manufacturers’ rep agency, The Campbell Co., Bloomfield Hills, MI, to market its manufacturing capabilities to automotive OEM and Tier One companies in the areas surrounding Detroit. Kramski supplies manufacturers of relays, switches, connectors, fuel-delivery systems and other products; www.kramski.com.

Laystrom Mfg. Acquires Metal Fabrication Company

Metal fabricator, stamper and tooling manufacturer Laystrom Manufacturing Co., Chicago, IL, acquired all of the manufacturing assets of Nitram Metal Fabricators, Inc., Elk Grove Village, IL. Laystrom will continue to operate the Nitram facility, a 24,000-sq.-ft. plant that includes a 4000-w CNC laser-cutting machine and a laser-turret punch press.

Metal-Spinning Companies Consolidate

Metal Spinners, Inc., Angola, IN, has acquired Texas Metal Spinning, Inc., Saginaw, TX. Olin Wiland, president and CEO of Metal Spinners, announced that Wayne Boeckman, head of Texas Metal Spinning, will serve as president of the firm’s Texas Metal Spinning Division. Metal Spinners, Inc. employs more than 200 throughout its operating divisions in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina and Texas. Learn more at www.metalspinners.com.

Bazz Houston Expands Capabilities

The Bazz Houston Co., Garden Grove, CA, has completed a major modernization of its facilities to upgrade its capabilities for providing tooling and prototype and short-run production of springs, metal stampings, wire forms and assemblies. Its tool room is equipped with new state-of-the-art EDM machines, surface grinders and mills. The firm also operates presses, shears and press brakes. Learn more at www.bazz-houston.com.

Coil-Slitting and Packing Lines
Slated for Lafayette Steel Sales

Lafayette Steel Sales, Indianapolis, IN, has ordered a turret-head coil-slitting line and automatic slit-coil-packaging line from Braner USA, Inc., Schiller Park, IL. The slitting line, capable of speeds to 1000 ft./min., will process 0.015- to 0.250-in.-thick coil weighing to 60,000 lb. in widths to 72 in. the packaging line will handle slit coil weighing to 10,000 lb. in widths from 1 to 24 in.
For more on Braner USA equipment, visit www.braner.com.

New Parts Washer at Bettcher Amherst

Bettcher Amherst Metal Stamping, Brook Park, OH, has added a new parts washer, from Walsh Mfg. Corp., Cleveland, OH, part of the company’s ongoing plan to rework the facility’s layout to improve material flow.
“Our new washer is 33 percent larger than its predecessor and is capable of processing more parts per hour to help meet our customers’ needs,” said Jerry Lynch, company president.
The new washer features a four-step cycle to ensure that each part is washed, rinsed, coated with a rust-prevention solution and dried. The washer was placed strategically on the plant floor to reduce material handling and improve product throughput.
For more on Bettcher Amherst, visit www.bettcherllc.com. For more on parts washers and related equipment from Walsh Mfg., visit www.walshmfg.com.

Stamper/Rollformer Earns OSHA Recognition

Elrae Industries, Inc., Alden, NY, a supplier of stamped and rollformed components, custom assemblies and retail-ready products, has been accepted into the national Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). The program recognizes small employers that operate exemplary safety-and-health management systems. Companies accepted into SHARP are exempt from programmed OSHA inspections for a given period of time, and can renew their exempt status via an on-site visit to ensure continued exemplary status.

Stamper Invests in New Online
Shop-Floor Management System

Su-Dan Corp., Rochester Hills, MI, will soon implement the Plexus Online Manufacturing System from Plexus Systems, Auburn Hills MI, to manage its entire enterprise of five manufacturing plants. Su-Dan provides precision metal stampings, plastic-insert, injection and over molding, welding, riveting, staking, spinning and assembly services to automotive-industry customers. Plexus Online will advance Su-Dan’s ability to track and manage its supply business in real time by integrating all operations—electronic data interchange, sales, purchasing, production, quality, shipping and accounting. Learn more at www.plex.com.

MI Tool Company Allies with Chinese Trio

Synergis Technologies Group, Grand Rapids, MI, has formed a strategic alliance with three of China’s leading tool and die manufacturers in order to deliver high-quality low-cost tooling to its North American automotive customers. The four companies have formed a management company called Synergis China Automotive Die Group, Ltd., each with a 25-percent stake and with Synergis serving as the entry/exit point for customers. Die design, engineering changes, quality integration and final die buyoff will occur in the United States, and Synergis will assume production/product risk and travel requirements. For more information, visit www.synergis.us.

Mammoth Spinforming Machine Installed

MJC Engineering and Technology, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA, has manufactured and delivered what it says is the most powerful CNC machine in its configuration ever built for a U.S. fabricator. Weighing nearly 50 tons, the new Model SP 78200-3 spinform lathe, designed and built for Glenn Metalcraft Inc., Princeton, MN, boasts a 200-hp spindle, 100-hp hydraulic system and three-station automatic turret. Prior to commissioning the new lathe, the company was limited to spinforming materials no thicker than ½ in. The new machine can handle mild-steel blanks
up to 80-in. dia. and 1-3/8 in. thick.

ICE Industries Receives Quality Award

ICE Industries, Sylvania, OH, a metal-stamping and machining company, has received a Master Quality Award from automotive supplier Yorozu America Corp. Yorozu recognized ICE for providing outstanding quality during 2005 for products manufactured at the ICE Industries stamping and assembly plant in Grenada, MS. In recent months, the Grenada plant has expanded its relationship with Yorozu, acquiring additional stamping work that was done previously in Mexico and Japan. In addition, the ICE Grenada plant provides parts to Nissan North America, and finalized a relationship this month with PK U.S.A., an automotive supplier that manufactures vehicle parts for Nissan and Subaru. The agreement calls for ICE to produce an additional 36 parts in Grenada. To accommodate the new business, ICE Industries recently purchased three 1000-ton presses and two 600-ton presses, and plans to hire additional employees for its second shift and open a third shift.

Oberg Acquires Mexican Stamper

Oberg Industries, Freeport, PA, a $125-mliion manufacturing company offering product and progressive-die design, stamping and other services, acquired First Latin American Corp. (FLAC) and its wholly owned subsidiary Troqueles de Presicion Del Noroeste, SA DE CV. FLAC operates a 30,000-sq.-ft. stamping and deep-drawing shop in Tecate, Mexico, near Tijuana, and employs 60 people. Certified to ISO 9001, it provides progressive and transfer stamping and hydroforming with presses from 30 to 200 tons. Oberg is online at www.oberg.com.

Rockford Toolcraft Recognizes Congressman's Efforts

Congressman Donald Manzullo (R-Ill. 16th) visited metal stamper and tool-and-die manufacturer Rockford Toolcraft, Rockford, IL, on Wednesday, April 18, to tour the facility and see its new 1000-ton Minster HeviBlanker press. During the visit, Rockford Toolcraft’s president and CEO Gerald Busse (right) and vice president Tom Busse (left) presented Mr. Manzullo with a laser-cut stainless-steel plaque recognizing his efforts in Washington, D.C. on behalf of U.S. manufacturing companies

Ramcel Earns Quality Certs.

Ramcel Engineering Co. has earned TS 16949:2002 and ISO 9001:2000 quality certifications at its Northbrook, IL, facility. The company supplies custom metal stampings, tooling and assemblies to various industries.
For more, visit www.ramcel.com.

Ownership, Technology Changes at Trueline

Trueline, Inc., La Crosse, WI, designer and manufacturer of Class A progressive dies and automated special machines as well as a contract stamper, is now under the sole ownership of Terry Trueblood, president, after he purchased the outstanding company stock shares from his brother Tim Trueblood. Tim has left Trueline.
Terry Trueblood, in announcing the ownership change, also outlined plans to expand corporate administrative offices as well as project management, quality control and inspection departments.
Beyond that, he announced the company’s increased use of in-die sensing and in-die measurement. That allows for automatic adjustment of forms in the die to maintain dimensional features and permits 100-percent inspection of critical features. Also, the company has designed a die feature that allows in-die lubrication of all moving components to extend die life.
For more, visit www.trueline-inc.com.

Niles Expanded Metals Adds Foil Line

Expanded-metal and grating-product manufacturer Niles Expanded Metals & Plastics, Niles, OH, has installed a new expanded-metal line for fabricating precision metal foils. The 16-in.-wide line, from Bender GmbH, Siegen, Germany, can expand, flatten and slit stainless steels and aluminum, titanium and nickel alloys—most any ductile foil material. With its new expanded-foil line, the firm targets customers in the battery, fuel-cell, electronic, medical and automotive industries. Learn more at www.nilesexpandedmetals.com.

Hi-Lex Controls Names Duggan Mfg.
Prototype Supplier of the Year

For meeting quality, delivery and cost objectives, as well as providing a level of customer service that “sets them apart,” Duggan Mfg., Shelby Township, MI, has been named Prototype Supplier of the Year by Hi-Lex Controls, Inc. Hi-Lex manufactures automotive window-regulator assemblies, mechanical cable and power lift-gate systems. Duggan designs, engineers and stamps prototype and low-volume parts. Says Jeff Trottier, advanced purchasing buyer for Hi-Lex Controls: “Our level of confidence in making commitments to our customers is insured because we know Duggan Manufacturing is there to back us up.”

MW Industries Partners with Connor Mfg. in China

MW Industries (MWI), Inc., Logansport, IN, a manufacturer of springs, fasteners and stampings, has signed an agreement with Connor Manufacturing Services, Redwood City, CA, to source precision stampings and tooling from Connor’s facility in Suzhou, China, to service MWI’s customers in the Asian market. In turn, MWI will supply springs and other components to Connor, to serve its Asian customers. Learn more at www.mw-ind.com and www.connorms.com.
MWI also has opened a sales office in Shanghai, China, to service its U.S.-based customers sourcing components and locating production and assembly operations in China, as well as sell to China-based manufacturing companies.

Glen Metalcraft Earns CoC Small Business Award

Glen Metalcraft Inc. (GMI), Princeton, MN, has been named a recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Small Business Award. The award, part of the chamber’s Small Business of the Year selection process, honors companies that show excellence in business history and commitment to customers, employees and the community. On March 15, seven finalists will be selected from the group of 60 Blue Ribbon Small Business winners.
GMI supplies components to John Deere, Case Global and other OEMs. For more, visit www.glenmetalcraft.com.

Atlantic Tool & Die Expanding in 2006

Atlantic Tool & Die, Strongsville, OH, will open a new $9.3 million plant in Seville, OH, by September 1, 2006. It’s investing $3.94 million in land and in a 51,000-sq.-ft. building, and another $5.36 million in machinery and equipment. In all, Atlantic plans to spend $20 million in 2006 for expansion projects, capitalizing on 17 consecutive years of growth..

Ebtec Installs New Laser-Drilling System

Laserdyne Systems, Champlin, MN, has delivered a Nd:YAG drilling system to Ebtec Corp., Agawam, MA, a supplier of parts to various North American industries. The Laserdyne 790XL BeamDirector is a six-axis laser driller with a work envelope of 40 by 40 by 40 in. and a 25-in.-dia. high-accuracy rotary table. Its software component helps deliver parts in rapid cycle times with improved flow consistency, according to Laserdyne officials.
For more from Ebtec, visit www.ebteccorp.com.

Meyer Stamping & Manufacturing Recognized
for Health and Safety Management

Meyer Stamping & Manufacturing, Fort Wayne, IN, has been recognized as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Site by OSHA. The honor indicates sustained excellence in all areas of safety and health management at the company. Meyer Stamping & Manufacturing is one of only 32 worksites in Indiana to receive this honor.
On February 1, 2006, Miguel Rivera, State of Indiana commissioner of labor, presented the company’s employees with the VPP flag.
For more on company capabilities, visit www.meyerstamping.com.

Dane Mfg. Expands and Hires

Dane Manufacturing, Dane, WI, has added 15,000 sq. ft. to its manufacturing facility to make room for a new laser-cutting machine and additional assembly operations, a finished-goods warehouse and shipping docks. And, the firm, a precision metal fabricator and stamper, added eight new high-paying manufacturing jobs with benefits—in engineering, laser cutting, stamping, forming and general assembly operations. Website: www.danemfg.com.

Adjustable Pass-Line Height Just One Feature
of New Servo Feeds Installed at ODM

ODM Tool & Manufacturing, McCook, IL, a contract stamper and welding shop, has installed two new electronic servo press-feed units from Dallas Industries, Troy, MI. The feeds—a 36-in. model rated for stock to 0.40 in. thick and a 42-in. model rated for material to 0.375 in. thick—feature a motorized cabinet base that allows for up to 10 in. of vertical adjustment of pass-line height. A hydraulic quick clamp secures the cabinet to the press. Entry rolls can be adjusted individually or simultaneously--for self-centering procedures. ODM also had the feeds equipped with out-of-stock sensors and automatic lubrication systems. Learn more about the feeds (models DRFM-636 and DRFH-642) at www.dallasindustries.com.

Buhrke Receives Recognition from Siemens VDO

Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Regensburg, Germany, has recognized metalformer Buhrke Industries, Arlington Heights, IL, for outstanding performance in 2005 by presenting the company with its Performance Award for 2005. Buhrke, one of 10 vendors honored out of 1500 total suppliers worldwide, was selected due to its overall vendor rating of 92, second highest of all of the award recipients, while achieving a performance level of 6 PPM for the year.

Medical-Device Manufacturer has New Name

Wright Laser, Inc., Waverly, MN, has changed its name to Vitaldyne, Inc., to better reflect the company’s expanded range of manufacturing capabilities. A contract manufacturer specializing in the manufacture, assembly and packaging of medical devices and components, Vitaldyne operates 10 laser-processing systems and also provides adhesive and solvent bonding, soldering and packaging services. Its lasers drill precision holes as small as 0.0005-in. dia., as well as weld and ablate. It employs 20 technicians in a 5000-sq.-ft. shop. Learn more at www.vitaldyne.com.

Macsteel to Add Heattreat Capacity

Macsteel will be adding a fourth quench and temper line with induction heating, similar to three existing lines, at its heattreat operation in Huntington, IN. The new line, to be completed early in 2007, is part of $6.2 million plant expansion that will add 16,000 tons of bar and tube capacity.
For more, visit the website of Macsteel’s parent company, Quanex Corp., at www.quanex.com.

Wisconsin Short-Run Stamper Expands in NC

Dynamic Stampings Inc., Sussex, WI, a short-run stamper specializing in production lots of 50 to 50,000, has opened a plant in Chapel Hill, NC, named Dynamic Stampings of North Carolina. It will service the firm’s customers in the Carolinas as well as in Georgia and Virginia. Learn more at www.dynamicstampings.com.

Ultratech Tool & Design Awarded ISO Cert.

ISO 9001:2000 certification has been awarded to Ultratech Tool & Design, Inc., Fond du Lac, WI. The firm produces and designs progressive, draw, compound and station dies. It also offers prototype development, fixture build, precision machining and die tryout with press capacity to 500 tons.