Maine Company Expanding In Slow Economy
April 13, 2010
In 2009 we shared news about expanding our service area across the eastern and central United States with work in New Jersey, Rhode Island and Ohio. Continuing with the service area expansion in 2010, we will be working at a local Mystic Beach, Long Island, New York high school. The job includes both stairs and handrails systems.
Acting Locally
April 12, 2010
Accidental Anomalies recently donated handrails to the Town of Turner for the Boofy Quimby Memorial Center (BQMC) in North Turner. The BQMC hall was inspected by the State Fire Marshall’s office and as a result, new handrails were needed to bring the building into compliance with the codes. The town requested a quote for the handrails from Accidental Anomalies. “After submitting a quote for the handrails, we decided that donating them would be a good way for our company to contribute to our local community,” stated Jon Randall.
Simple Ways to Protect Your Robotic MIG Gun ... and Your Overall Investment in Automation
Given that the single-most enticing reason for companies to invest in welding automation is to improve productivity, it may seem counterintuitive to stop or slow production—for any reason. But what if minor downtime could save your company vast amounts of time, trouble and money in the long term? Or give you a greater competitive edge by improving your overall efficiency? Simply put, that is the basis of a preventative maintenance or PM program.
Full Article
Robot Orders Post Strong Gains in First Quarter of 2010
Robotic Industries Association Posted 05/04/2010
Ann Arbor, MI – North American based robotics manufacturers saw new orders jump 16% in units and 30% in dollars in the first quarter of 2010 when compared with the same quarter in 2009, said the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group.
A total of 3,069 robots valued at $208.1 million were ordered by North American manufacturing companies in the first quarter of 2010. In addition to exceeding the first quarter 2009 totals, the quarter was also 35% better in units and 45% ahead in dollars over the last quarter of 2009.
“While we’re encouraged by the strong gains, we’re keenly aware that business in 2009 was extremely weak,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of RIA. “The good news is that business is picking up, but we still have a long way to go to emerge from the impact of the financial crisis on investments in new factory automation equipment,” he explained. Full Article
Blended laser-assist gases: Recipe for successful materials processing
By David Bell February 23, 2010
Now processing a greater variety of materials with their lasers, fabricators are exploring new assist gas blends of up to four gases. What's the best way to blend and deliver these gases? For some, on-site blending systems can help optimize cost savings and improve quality.
The industrial laser has been used to process materials since the early 1970s, predominantly to cut and weld. Originally used to process steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, lasers now can cut and weld other materials, such as nickel alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, and copper and copper-based alloys. Full Article
Associated BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS RECEIVES $90,000 GRANT FROM TURNER FOUNDATION
FOR GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVES
January 6, 2010 Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced it has received a $90,000 grant from the Turner Foundation, Inc., Atlanta, in support of its national green building initiatives, with a focus on green certification and training.
“ABC is pleased to receive this important national recognition of and support for our strong green building initiatives,” said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. “The Turner Foundation, founded by media mogul Ted Turner, clearly sees the critical role merit shop construction plays in green building and sustainability practices nationwide, and we welcome this great opportunity to expand and strengthen our efforts.” Full Article
New Partnership Brings Joys of Manufacturing to More Kids Across the Country
A landmark partnership between two organizations is pioneering the effort to inspire tomorrow’s inventors, engineers, manufacturers and entrepreneurs, and addresses a dire need to fill skilled labor positions in this country.
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (NBT), The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), have joined forces to develop a national program that builds on NBT’s successful summer manufacturing camp blueprint. In 2010, 18 NACCE member community colleges throughout the United States will offer NBT summer manufacturing camps targeting youth at the critical level of secondary education, exposing them to math, science, engineering and entrepreneurship principles, while having the opportunity to see the technology being used in the industry. Full Article
Robotic advancements in welding tube, pipe Closing the gap
June 4, 2010
Robotics gained a foothold in industry because they can work in environments that are hot, toxic, or otherwise dangerous. The drawback was the programming, which initially was tedious and time-consuming, especially for precision tasks such as welding. Advancements in tactile sensing systems, automated arc welding controls, and software for tube and pipe welding have helped to spread robotic welding technology. Full Article
Reclaiming the disappearing press brake knowledge in your shop
Bells and whistles won't make good parts
By Steve Benson
January 14, 2010
Expensive options on a press brake won't guarantee knowledge transfer from a veteran press brake operator to a shop floor rookie.For knowledge transfer to occur, a shop needs experienced workers that can communicate and a younger work force eager to learn because they see a future in metal fabricating. - Full Article
Engaging the Next Generation
Contractors Enjoy the Give and Take of Student Outreach
By Joanna Masterson
“We are lacking skilled workers, and we need to be doing our part to improve that.”
This call to action from Nick Dill, recruiting coordinator and director of sustainability for Robins & Morton, Birmingham, Ala., is in step with a company that has walked the walk when it comes to reaching out to construction students. From teaching courses on estimating and building information modeling (BIM) to arranging site visits, career days, co-ops and internships, Robins & Morton makes it a priority to ensure students at Auburn University and other nearby schools are up to speed on what it takes to be successful in the construction industry. - Full Article
Top Teacher
Cianbro Instructor Ed LePage Puts Students First
By Lauren Pinch
Most teachers don’t teach for the glory or the prestige. Especially not Ed LePage, a millwright and instrumentation instructor for the Cianbro Institute, Cianbro Corporation’s in-house education program in Pittsfield, Maine. “It’s all about the students,” says LePage, Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) 2009 Craft Instructor of the Year. - Full Article
Manufacturing activity expanded for fifth consecutive month in December, but fabricated metal product
January 4, 2010
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December for the fifth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the eighth consecutive month, said supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.
The report was issued today by Norbert J. Ore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. "The manufacturing sector grew for the fifth consecutive month in December as the PMI rose to 55.9 percent, its highest reading since April 2006 when it registered 56 percent. - Full Article
Metal forming companies expect business conditions to remain steady during the next three months
April 22, 2010
According to the April 2010 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metal forming companies expect business conditions to remain steady during the next three months. Conducted monthly, the report is an economic indicator for manufacturing, sampling 142 metal forming companies in the United States and Canada.
The April report shows that 45 percent of participants expect an improvement in economic activity during the next three months (up from 43 percent in March), 45 percent predict that activity will remain unchanged (down from 52 percent last month) and 10 percent report that activity will decline (up from 5 percent in March). - Full Article
The importance of focal positions in laser cutting
Understanding the rules of laser beam focusing is crucial to delivering high-quality laser-cut parts
By Frank J. Arteaga
January 8, 2010
If the proper laser beam focal position and projection shapes are maintained within the material to be processed, the balance of the requirements necessary to producing a consistent, high-quality laser-cut are kept to a minimum. That's why it's important for laser cutting equipment operators to know the rules of laser beam focusing. - Full Article