| Charting Your Course on the Technology Road Map |
The
2023 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Metalforming Insights
Benchmarking Study finds that the average capital spend as a percent of
revenue for metal formers has hovered around 4% for the past several
years. However, most manufacturers, writes Harbour, do not have a
technology strategy, putting them in a reactionary position to customer
requests and/or the competitive landscape.
Over the course of the next two newsletters, she shares best practices for establishing a technology road map. |
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| Looking to Diversify into New Areas of Stamping, Such as EV Parts, High-Speed Stamping, or Forging? |
Stamtec builds presses specifically for these market segments, as well as traditional markets for stamping presses:
- Mechanical and servo presses from 35 tons to 3,300 tons.
- Built by our own employees in our own factories
- 72,000 sq. ft. facility in Manchester, TN (near Nashville)
- Complete press-line integration and project management
- Competitive pricing, quick delivery with over 60 machines in stock.
Contact us today at 931-393-5050, stamtecpresses@stamtec.com, or visit www.stamtec.com. |
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| Article Text Only |
Check out this month’s MetalForming Minute for an editorial-content update from editorial director Brad Kuvin. On the agenda:
- An overview of our automotive-industry special issue,
posted online late last week, which includes an exhaustive review of
new steel and aluminum grades for automotive applications; an exclusive
interview with Tesla engineering guru Thomas Ausman; and a tour of
auto-industry supplier Middleville Engineering Services.
- A sneak-peek at our March issue content: how (any why) robots and cobots are fitting into metal forming operations; selecting the optimal control solution for your stamping press; and a tour of nearly 120-yr.-old Hubbard Spring, which has embraced a “digital stamping” approach.
- And, we announce two new regular columnists joining MetalForming, coming over from Stamping Journal: Art Hedrick, who takes over the Science of Forming column formerly contributed by the iconic Stu Keeler; and Tom Vacca, who’ll pen a Q&A column.
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| Put Your Company at a Competitive Advantage |
| Position your company as an industry leader when you utilize PMA resources—ITR Econ Trends reports, trade publications, One Voice and FABTECH trade shows. A PMA membership will provide your company and all of its employees with a range of valuable industry resources that are designed to help you become more connected, more informed, more efficient, more competitive and ultimately more profitable. |
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Senior editor Kate Bachman speaks with Telsa’s global advanced manufacturing technical advisor, Thomas Ausmann, after he presented at MetalForming’s
Hot Stamping Experience late last year. That was the same day that
Tesla officially launched its much-anticipated Cybertruck in Austin, TX.
Here Ausmann provides his hot stamping expertise in the development of the Cybertruck. |
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| Don’t Let Waste Creep In |
| Noted by Brad Kuvin, MetalForming’s editorial director, in this editorial commentary: “Varying and potentially dynamic market forces should have metal formers, as we navigate through the first half of the year, ‘hunkering down,’ industry analyst Laurie Harbour told a full house at the recently held PMA Metal Stamping Technology Conference, in Nashville, TN. Hunkering down starts with cash, driving inventory turns and driving price increases.” |
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| AJ
Rupp, president of Bruderer Americas, provides an overview of the
high-speed precision stamping market in North America. Up for
discussion: applications in the automotive connector industry, the
medical market and the electric power-distribution industry. |
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| S&P Global Mobility: January U.S. Auto Sales Feel the Chill |
| January
U.S. sales of automobiles reflect a potential preview to the upcoming
calendar year whereby month-to- month volatility is expected to remain
in the market. So note the experts at S&P Global Mobility, whose
U.S. auto outlook for 2024 projects sustained, but more moderate growth
levels for light-vehicle sales. |
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| One in Three Metal Formers Expect an Increase in Orders During Q1 |
| Metal
forming company executives, while continuing to anticipate stable
business conditions for the first few months of 2024, express more
optimism about business activity month over month. That according to the
January 2024 PMA Business Conditions Report, which reveals that 60% of
executives expect no change in general economic activity in the next
three months (compared to 57% in December), while 20% anticipate an
increase in activity (up from 13% last month). |
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| Aerospace and Electrical-Equipment Manufacturers Finish the Year Strong |
| The
soft landing generally experienced by the U.S. economy through 2023 did
not affect all sectors of the economy evenly. November 2023 sales of
manufacturing equipment to aerospace manufacturers peaked at 60% above
the monthly average compared to the rest of 2023, and
electrical-equipment manufacturers also increased orders. |
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| OSHA: Submissions of 2023 Injury/Illness Data Due March 2 |
| Effective January 1, 2024, OSHA amended its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation to require employers meeting certain size and industry criteria to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA that they’re already required to keep at their workplace premises. Establishments must submit the form by March 2 of the calendar year following the year covered by the forms. For example, by March 2, 2024, an establishment must submit information contained in the forms covering calendar year 2023. |
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| Watch AND Listen: Keep up with PMA’s Destiny of Manufacturing Podcasts |
Recent episodes include conversations with:
- Marion Wells, a Predictive Index-certified talent specialist and
founder of Human Asset Management, discussing honing workplace culture
to strengthen the talent pipeline
- Lisa Ryan, author and speaker, discussing how implementing
artificial intelligence and advanced robotics in metal forming
operations will help attract young people to the industry
- Laurie Harbour, automotive industry analyst, discussing the
manufacturing value stream and how metal formers can identify gaps in
their capabilities, and react to minimize any imminent risks.
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| Free Webinar: New Attacks on Noncompetes |
From Federated Insurance comes this online educational session, scheduled for February 15, 2-2:30 p.m. EST, explaining:
- Where noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements are banned or restricted
- Which specific contract terms are banned or restricted
- Where choice-of-law provisions still work
- What to start thinking about now for your business as this trend continues to grow.
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