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The Fabricator November 2013
The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The Fabricator has served the industry since 1970.
Job shop estimating: Control and feedback methods
- By Gerald Davis
- Nov 26, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
Columnist Gerald Davis explains how the process of estimating is supported by buddy checks, databases, and report cards.
How one job shop retains skilled talent
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 25, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
Southern Metalcraft Inc.’s average employee tenure is 20 years. Speaking on a shop tour during The FABRICATOR’s 2013 Technology Summit, the company founder described why employees rarely leave.
The hidden costs in manufacturing
- By Dick Kallage
- Nov 25, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
Taken individually or in combination, hidden costs greatly affect a company’s financial and competitive performance.
Four ways to measure team performance
- By Joe Mayer
- Nov 25, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
Most organizations assess their teams by looking at lagging indicators. But would it not be beneficial to diagnose a team’s potential and performance in real time? These four strategies can provide immediate feedback.
A metal fabricator’s quiet transition
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 6, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
The management buyout of the Schott metal fabrication division was, for many employees, a quiet affair. But transitioning to become an independent enterprise did call for major changes behind the scenes.
New robotic standards to improve safety and productivity
- By Eric Esson
- Nov 6, 2013
- Safety
- Article
As technology has changed and improved, it became necessary to update robotic safety standards. The new R15.06 standard is designed to move to a more quantitative approach to safety and to improve production efficiency by streamlining interactions between users and robotic systems.
The potential of collaborative manufacturing
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 6, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
As globalization took hold in recent decades, Tony Chirchirillo was keenly aware of how many viewed manufacturing. He decided to change that perception in an unconventional way—by forming a network of noncompeting, complementary companies.
Control emissions with proper hood design
- By Travis Haynam and Ed Ravert
- Nov 6, 2013
- Safety
- Article
By effectively controlling harmful process emissions with capture hoods, fabricators can achieve a safe environment for workers as well as obtain process and operational benefits.
The evolution of precision robotics
- By Douglas Hixon
- Nov 6, 2013
- Automation and Robotics
- Article
Precision robotics can tackle more applications than ever before, thanks to better manufacturing techniques for the robot arms themselves. Learn more here.
How automated backgauging on a press brake changed everything
- By Jim Ofria
- Nov 5, 2013
- Bending and Forming
- Article
The automatic backgauge, which began to permeate shop floors in the 1970s, really was a revolutionary step forward. In fact, without this step forward, sheet metal fabrication wouldn’t be the business it is today.
Apple picking for the 21st century
- By Amanda Carlson
- Nov 5, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
Phil Brown Welding of Conklin, Mich., designed and fabricated the Apple Harvester, a machine that makes picking apples easier, faster, and allows for picking at night, not just during daylight hours.
How cellular manufacturing can work in contract manufacturing
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 5, 2013
- Shop Management
- Article
For the past year one contract fabricator in Georgia has operated under the cellular manufacturing concept. Even in the shop’s high-product-mix environment, the concept is working—even thriving.
Cutting away at band sawing costs
- By Dale Petts
- Nov 5, 2013
- Sawing
- Article
For years the band sawing operation was a bit of a tortoise, at least relative to other processes in sheet metal, plate, and structural fabrication. Compared to other cutting operations—be it with a laser, plasma torch, or turret punch press—it took a long time for a saw to cut...
The basics of liquid and powder coatings
- By Michael Hornbaker, Loren Keene , Randy Krawiec, and Todd Wilken
- Nov 5, 2013
- Finishing
- Article
Metal fabricators know that once a metal product leaves its doors that it has lost its ability to guarantee delivery. The fab shop is at the mercy of its subcontractors. That scenario has more fabricators considering in-house finishing capabilities. This guide is designed to help that decision-making
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/16/2024
- Running Time:
- 63:29
In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s...
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