Page 19 - MetalForming June 2019

space, which is at a premium in the plant, even with the recent addition.”
Other key press characteristics: 0.167-mm/m deflection ratio; an ener- gy rating of 29,400 kg-m (971 in.-tons) at 21 strokes/min.; a 600-mm stroke length; and a continuous run rate to 35 strokes/min. PanelView features include display of the part library and fault messages, and press-status infor- mation such as lube rate, tonnage, shut height, counterbalance pressure, press angles, stroke rate and I/O status.
In addition, while for now the plan is to load the press with progressive- die work (coil material feeds via a 72- in. by 30,000-lb. Dallas feed line), a transfer system could be coming soon. Jier, based in China and with U.S. offices in Plymouth, MI, outfitted the press to prepare for the transfer add-on.
Servanthood
Since adding its 550-, 600- and 1000- ton presses, PTM now has been able to stamp nearly every part of a vehicle, says Russell-Kuhr, noting that some 14 percent of the company’s business is for GM, and the business plan requires that no one customer account for any more than 20 percent of its business. In addition to automotive work, we spied in the company’s customer show- room stamped prototypes of stove tops, washing-machine parts, heavy-truck oil pans and seat-actuator parts, to name a few.
“Yes our business model continues to evolve,” Russell-Kuhr admits, noting the shift to larger parts, more value added work and more production stamping. “But what won’t change is our commitment to being a solutions provider for our customers. Collabo- ration is the rallying cry, with a man- agement style and commitment throughout every part of the company to servanthood.
“Serve the customers first,” she preaches, “and stay humble with a will- ingness to form alliances and learn from each other. We don’t know it all... but we want to continue to learn and grow.” MF
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