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Determining a Machine’s True Value
In addition to the purchase price, many other costs factor into the machine’s true cost to determine the long-term cost of ownership that decides whether investing in high-performance machining centers is a better business solution than a lower-cost option.
Blueprint for the Future
Fabricators must continually explore new technologies that will grow along with their operations to help them stay competitive, profitable, productive, and ahead of the curve so they are prepared for the demands of the future.
Panel Benders vs. Press Brakes
Bending vs. Folding: Does your shop have the right machine for the job?
The Real Cost of Missed or Defective Welds
The repercussions of missed or defective welds can reach much farther than jeopardizing part quality and disrupting welding productivity. How much risk is your shop willing to take?
Four Things You Must Know About Forming Sheet Metal
Are you still trying to manage frame deformation on a press brake that doesn’t use real-time monitoring and adjustment capabilities? If so, here are four characteristics of sheet metal that you and your press brake must know.
Why Are We Still Telling Customers What To Do?
Nobody Believes Us: Here’s why telling customers what to think and buy holds us back and blinds us to what we can learn by aligning our actions and messages with what customers really want and need from us.
Sight for Sore Eyes
Clearly, the right auto-darkening helmet boosts productivity and quality. Here’s how optical clarity defines helmet performance by providing users with vital eye protection and the ability to fully see the work . . . and that’s when work is done best.
Now is the Time to Automate Your Die/Mold Systems
Increasing demands for shorter lead times, improved quality and lower costs mean shop managers should seriously consider automation as an investment in long-term dynamic growth and flexibility.
Small Issue, Big Impact
Though proper storage of MIG guns and consumables might seem like a small issue, especially in a large shop, it can greatly affect your costs, productivity and weld quality. Here’s why.
Three Tricks to Keep Punching Performance at Its Best
There is still a place for punching in fabrication, and here are some practices and applications to get the best performance out of your punching equipment.
Documented Cost Savings for Abrasives
Rather than focusing only on energy savings or reducing costs associated with large equipment, manufacturers that are looking for potential savings in their plants should take the time to investigate just how much money they could save by switching out an abrasive. In doing so, they should evaluate fully how labor costs tie into the equation.
Dealing with Non-Competition Agreements – from Both Sides
Non-compete agreements are increasingly a part of employment contracts and employment at will, and employers and employees must learn to deal effectively with them. Here are some key aspects of non-competition agreements that must be addressed, from both the employer and employee perspective.