Page 86 - MetalForming October 2012

Tooling Technology
Precision Tooling,
Superb Sensor
Applications
“In the not too distant future, I see Kenmode Tool and Engi- neering becoming a worldclass industry leader in the development of sensors in our tools,” emphasizes com- pany president Kurt Moders during a recent visit to the firm’s stamping plant in Algonquin, IL, to discuss its recent investments in in-die sensing. “Sensor technology is a fundamental part of our long-term strategic plan, which will enable Kenmode to provide outstand- ing value to our customers by improv- ing the overall quality and consistency
of our processes,” Moders adds. There is something quite special happening at Kenmode, a 52-yr.-old production stamper/die shop rooted, like so many stampers, in tool and die manufacturing. From its humble begin- nings as a two-person operation, the company now has 150 employees, scores of presses and a diversity of dies that
George Keremedjiev is president of Tec- know Education Services, Inc., Boze- man, MT; 406/587-4751, www.mfgad- vice.com. George also writes the monthly Metalforming Electronics column for MetalForming magazine.
supply more than 400 different parts to more than 100 customers. End-use markets include precision electronics, appliance, medical and automotive. Parts range from tiny precision stamp- ings run at high speeds, to galvanized- steel automotive components such as windshield-wiper parts, clamps, brack- ets, and engine and brake components.
A Quickly Maturing Sensor Program
Early in 2011, the company launched an electronic sensor program, to pro- tect its dies and help ensure quality production, Step one: It named one of its toolmakers, Harold Didricksen, as its sensor-applications specialist. A grad- uate of Kenmode’s tool and die appren- ticeship program, Didricksen is a jour- neyman tool and die maker with an
Kenmode sen- sor-applications specialist Harold Didricksen is seen in the firm’s sensor laboratory assembling mili- tary connectors. They’re used to connect sensors within the dies and to the press control system.
Associates of Applied Science Degree in Manufacturing Technology. His positive attitude and strict sense of discipline and organization with the sensor pro- gram is infectious.
In his own words: “I have an attitude that we can do anything with our sen- sor program. I was taught at a young age that the word ‘can’t’ was not to be in my vocabulary, which means if there’s a will there’s a way.”
As Kenmode began to develop a for- mal sensor program from scratch, Didricksen set out to purchase all of the equipment needed to construct a sen- sor laboratory. He set up the laborato- ry for experimentation and develop- ment of sensor applications in the firm’s stamping tooling, and then doc- umented the status of dies and presses with respect to their unique needs for
BY GEORGE KEREMEDJIEV
84 MetalForming/October 2012
www.metalformingmagazine.com