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How did your own experiences influence your views on the manufacturing industry? Terry M. Iverson, CHAMPION Now! founder: The family business my grandfather founded has served four generations well. We [...]

The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2024 in Chicago in September has once again proven to be an important event for the moldmaking industry, showcasing products, equipment and services set [...]

Here is the classic frustration for the engineer inventor: A big, breakthrough idea that ought to be attainable advances through 90% of the development needed to make it real, only [...]

Pyramid Molding Group (PMG), a domestic mold builder and plastic injection molder based in Rockford, Illinois, partnered with Lettuce Grow to develop tooling for the second generation of its innovative [...]

Things are much quieter these days at Stainless Foundry & Engineering (SF&E). A year ago, the northern Milwaukee-based AFS Corporate Member invested almost half a million dollars to install a [...]

Acknowledgements This survey was part of an AMC project that was sponsored by the Defense Logistics Agency-Troop Support, Philadelphia, PA and the Defense Logistics Agency Information Operations, J68, Research & [...]

DIDION: MEDIA DRUM REDUCES SCRAP RATES AFS Corporate Member Progressive Foundry located in Perry, Iowa, a producer of gray and ductile iron castings, completed a multi-million-dollar, multi-phase foundry expansion. It [...]

Nebraska-based agricultural machinery manufacturer, Orthman, was on a casting-conversion roll starting about six years ago. Along the way, though, a serious problem cropped up in one section of a farming [...]

Before we can have a conversation about processes and process controls for improving quality, we first must answer the essential question: What is quality? How do you define it? If [...]

The future of machining isn't just about better equipment--it's about better cultures. Here are some ideas that can help foster the healthy company culture you desire. * Picture this: You're [...]

* To maximize the stability of its machines, the Famar Group manufactures the bedframes for its machine tools in-house at its factory in Avigliana, Italy. It matches this level of [...]

Legacy industrial effluent treatment systems typically have been designed to meet lower standards of discharge. As these mandated standards have become more stringent, these systems have fallen behind and are [...]

When Mark Simpson was hired by Techmetals in January 2023, he was tasked with setting up the metal finisher's thermal spray facility, utilizing his more than 25 years of experience [...]

From aerospace and automotive to sporting goods and beyond, high-performance plastics and composite materials are finding their way into a rapidly growing number of applications. However, achieving the perfect finish [...]

Aluminum has long been the substrate of choice for connectors in the aerospace industry based on its strength-to-weight ratio, high machinability and relatively low cost. These connectors are used in [...]

A combination of lasers, probes and software helps moldmakers automate in-process cutting tool and workpiece measurement. Automation is an essential part of machining and profitable manufacturing. Mold builders striving to [...]

Engraving encompasses lettering, lines, ornaments, logos and other types of identification or other markings of a plastic part. Engravings in the mold represent a one-time cost. So, in the long [...]

Intralox's integration of the Alpha Laser ALFlak has significantly improved its tool room efficiency when it comes to difficult welds and urgent repairs. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Intralox stands [...]

Intelligent moldmaking has advanced significantly due to the increased adoption of intelligent manufacturing practices driven by the challenges posed during the pandemic, including the loss of skilled labor and the [...]

Describe the origins of Quality Tool and Die? Chad Kearns, Vice President, Quality Tool and Die: Quality Tool and Die (QTD) has quite a history. We started back in 1976, [...]

Exploration of today's technologies defined by Industry 4.0 (I4.0) led to the AFS Industry 4.0 Committee conducting a comprehensive survey among AFS members employed in foundries, inquiring about the current [...]

Spy film fans will remember James Bond famously saying the code words, 'Can I borrow a match?' to ascertain if his foreign contact is one of the good guys. While [...]

In today's rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, a new way of approaching workforce management is critical for organizational success. This article examines how AFS Corporate Member Humtown transformed their workplace into [...]

Two days before Thanksgiving Day 2021, Mequon, Wisconsin-based Charter Manufacturing announced it had bought AFS Corporate Member Aarrowcast Inc., a gray and ductile iron foundry in Shawano, Wisconsin, and quickly [...]

In the mid-1990s, Major Tool & Machine (MTM) began a transformative journey that saw paper-based shopfloor processes scrapped in favor of a fully integrated electronic approach. The journey began with [...]

What makes a good business strategy, let alone one good enough to set a shop apart from other Top Shops? Mitotec Precision CEO Clinton Pouillie's answer was simple enough: 'Having [...]

'Without the right people in front of your machines, it doesn't matter what you spend on technology,' says Matt Wardle, president and CEO of JD Machine, a machine shop based [...]

Machining technology affects many aspects of a manufacturing business--the type of work it does, its throughput, the quality of its work and more. But one underappreciated impact of machining technology [...]

Gema USA Inc.'s (Indianapolis, Ind.) OptiGun GA04 automatic gun series features PowerBoost technology, with maximum charging power of 110 kV, in all standard and robotic gun designs. The powder gun [...]

The future of transportation heavily relies on the development of reliable and durable batteries. As the shift toward electromobility accelerates, the demand for high-performance batteries has spurred intensive research and [...]

Many methods can be used to enhance the surfaces of materials with metal finishes. Given the versatility of electroplating, a wide variety of properties can be created by adding a [...]

In the infrastructure industry, where durability, quality and corrosion resistance are paramount, there are only about a dozen U.S. companies that lead the industry in the coating and fabrication of [...]

Q: Why is it necessary for me to have a disconnect switch installed in my application? A: The main function of a safety disconnect switch is to protect personnel from [...]

Traditional Safety Circuits Basic safety systems are typically hardwired as normally closed safety switches and sensors using two redundant circuits, which are monitored by a safety relay. Although this method [...]

IN A RAPIDLY EVOLVING WORLD, guiding an organization to be responsive is a formidable challenge. Building a business for long-term success requires focusing on big-picture, sustainable decisions and being prepared [...]

In 1923, Claude Knuepfer founded General Engineering Works and was a founding member of the National Screw Machine Products Association, which would later evolve to become the Precision Machined Products [...]

A testament to an educational institution is the success of its alumni. Returning to your alma mater as a faculty or staff member is especially noteworthy. Such is the case [...]

If you were at NPE last May in Orlando, Florida, you probably experienced the energy of the plastics industry firsthand. The event drew a record-breaking number of international attendees, first-time [...]

Let's start with a few obvious advantages of implementing automation in the moldmaking process. More specifically, the benefits that immediately came to mind when discussing automation with Decatur Mold Tool [...]

Who is Mid-America Machining? Peter Lobbestael, senior vice president, Mid-America Machining: Mid-America Machining was established in 1988 by Mark Berry. Initially, the company focused on manufacturing extrusion blow molds and [...]

Since its debut in 1927, IMTS--The International Manufacturing Technology Show has been a cornerstone event in the manufacturing sector. As the largest manufacturing trade show in North America, it is [...]

Additive Manufacturing (AM)--also known as 3D Sand Printing (3DSP), Rapid Prototyping, and Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM)--has revolutionized traditional sand-casting techniques. It continues to evolve quickly due to industry demands and [...]

When AFS Corporate Member Mercury Marine, headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, began laying out plans for its first-to-market V12, 600 hp, 7.6-liter Verado premium outboard engine, Buyer Nick Adelman [...]

What will it take to meet global climate change targets? Reducing carbon emissions during manufacture and product use, certainly, but another key technology area that many are working on is [...]

Are you looking to explore the latest surface finishing technologies, share knowledge, network with industry peers and gain insights into manufacturing trends that will help you prepare for what's on [...]

When a business witnesses growth in certain industry segments that it services, it behooves the company to respond quickly and to the best of its ability to satisfy customer needs. [...]

We are living in a time where an abundance of energy resource exploration is underway. Engineers are engaged in developing the cleanest and most efficient power which is also affordable, [...]

When you install guide pins and guide bushings within the ejector housing, it is called a guided ejection system. Guided ejection systems greatly increase the longevity of a mold--but they [...]

I met Joe Cherluck, president of Best Tool & Engineering (BTE), in 2020 when I profiled the mold shop and discovered its unique business strategy. Cherluck attended a comprehensive four-month [...]

Who is Hammonton Mold Co.? Steve Domazet, co-owner, Hammonton Mold Co.: Hammonton Mold Co. (HMC) was founded by Luka Domazet in 1986, years after he arrived in the U.S. He [...]