April 2011 Industry Watch: Business

Recent activities and events going on in the business of fabricating and metalworking.

FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (LAKE MARY, FL) . . .
celebrates its milestone 30-year anniversary during 2011 and, earlier this year, had customer Paul Jr. Designs build a custom FARO-themed chopper. The motorcycle build was featured on Discovery Channel’s popular television series American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior in January. A FaroArm was used during fabrication of the anniversary bike to digitize the exact shape and placement of components and virtually eliminate the need to trace and create cardboard templates. The data collected with the arm was immediately imported to a CNC machine and waterjet to produce accurate pieces that fit perfectly from the start, thus reducing scrap, saving time and boosting overall efficiency. www.faro.com

THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY (CLEVELAND, OH) . . .
announced that Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. acquired substantially all of the assets earlier this year of Arc Products, a privately-held manufacturer of orbital welding systems and welding automation components based in Southern California. This acquisition complements Lincoln’s ability to serve global customers in the nuclear, power generation and process industries. “Orbital welding is one of the fastest growing segments of our industry,” noted John M. Stropki, the chairman and chief executive officer of Lincoln Electric. Arc Products has annual sales of approximately $5 million, with over 40 employees. Terms were not disclosed.

In other news, Lincoln “developed a more intuitive, informative and easier to use website for customers and stakeholders to access and leverage our resources and products,” said Phillip Wittke, the director of marketing. The most notable change to the site centers on navigation, with features clearly marked “categories of interest,” ranging from equipment to sports sponsorships, at the top of the homepage. Users simply click on these topics to see a detailed menu of selection options for each.

“For example, if you’re interested in welding equipment,” explained Tim Birky, the manager of marketing communications, “just click on equipment from the homepage and select the type of welder, wire feeder or product that interests you.” The user is then directed to a visually-enhanced page displaying the complete offering of products in that category. A “Narrow Your Results” filtering menu on the side of the page allows users to narrow the results and view only products meeting certain specifications, such as input power, process capability or maximum output. This removes guesswork from product selection and helps locate the best solution quickly and easily.

Detailed product pages provide a comprehensive look at product information ranging from a brief description of each item to more detailed specifications of what’s included and optional accessories, all delivered in an easy-to-read layout. Each welding electrode or wire page features increased product detail. Tabs link to valuable information as mechanical properties, chemical composition, test result data and typical operating procedures. A new login function allows users to register with the site to enjoy a customized experience, including a personalized product wish list they can save for future reference, print to take shopping at their local welding supply store, use to compile products for a specific job, or simply track the availability of certain items.The company plans additional features to the site over the next few months. www.lincolnelectric.com

MARLIN STEEL WIRE PRODUCTS LLC (BALTIMORE, MD) . . .
won The World Trade Center Institute 2011 International Business Leadership Award earlier this year. Winners were selected from a competitive roster of 80+ business leaders, as voted on by the External International Business Leadership Awards Committee. When asked about the key success factors for winning this prestigious award, company president Drew Greenblatt beamed, “We have transformed, growing for seven years in a row. Now we export our custom wire baskets and wire forms and sheet metal fabrications to more than 33 countries.” In the last 60 days, for example, the manufacturer has exported wire baskets, precision sheet metal fabrications and wire forms to clients on five continents: Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland in Europe; Uruguay and Brazil in South America, Canada, Australia, and Taiwan.

Greenblatt continued, “The judging committee was also impressed with our speed. The week the judges visited our plant, we received a precision sheet metal fabrication job from a prospect in Singapore after 5 pm on a Friday. Our engineers created precise prints for the client to review. They were approved on Monday. We shipped the job Tuesday to their client in Switzerland. This blistering pace of responding, designing, building, and shipping products sets us apart. This client was so happy with us that we are working with them on making 80,000 sets a month.”

Tony Witt, a mechanical engineer at Marlin Steel and graduate of the University of Maryland’s Clark School of Engineering, designed and engineered the Singapore client’s sheet metal product. He stated, “Our $2.5 million investment in new robots has a big impact on quality and speed. Our new sheet metal fabrication robot has a tolerance of ±0.1 mm (±0.004 in or 4 mils). We raised the bar on quality and clients love it.” Past winners include prestigious U.S. industrial names, such as BAE Systems, Becton Dickinson, Procter & Gamble, and Northrop.” www.marlinwire.com

TORCHMATE (RENO, NV) . . .
is partnering with retailer 4 Wheel Parts to put affordable 2×2 CNC prototyping metal-cutting machinery into the hands of hobbyists, off roaders and small metal shops across the country. Everyone knew that the time would eventually come when shops everywhere could look at CNC technology and robotics as just another tool, like a mill, lathe, router, bandsaw or drill press, rather than some daunting thing that is out of their reach and comprehension. That time is now.

To highlight the new partnership and value to off-road vehicle owners, Torchmate sent truckloads of their 2X2 CNC prototyping systems to the King of the Hammers off-road racing event to be purchased from 4 Wheel Parts or delivered to 4 Wheel Parts customers who pre-ordered. The thousands of attendees at the Southern California racing event were offered a $500 discount on three machine models — the basic 2X2 CNC machine called the Last Chance Qualifier ($2,980 with discount), the upgraded Main Event package ($3,730 with discount) and the premium 2X2 automated system called the Hammer King ($6,440 with discount). www.torchmate.com 

MAGNETIC PRODUCTS INC. (HIGHLAND, MI) . . .
celebrates its 30^th anniversary in 2011. Since starting operations on February 7, 1981, MPI has delivered a full complement of services centered on the development, engineering and building of inventive magnetic and other forms of material handling equipment used in a host of different industries worldwide. “Reaching this milestone is proof that our business model works,” said Keith Rhodes, MPI founder and president. “We continue to listen to our customers and provide the technologically superior solutions they require. We continue to seek new technologies and add ‘best-in-class’ product lines that help our customers improve processes and increase productivity.”