Hot Off the Press

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Metform to Supply Heavy-Gauge
Rollforming Line to Roll Form Group

Metform International, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has been awarded a contract to supply a heavy-gauge rollforming line to Roll Form Group at its Cambridge, Ontario, heavy-gauge rollforming facility. The line will roll material in thicknesses to 0.375 in. in widths to 65 in. from coil weighing to 60,000 lb. For rapid profile changeover, the line features heavy-duty raft-mounted stands. Metform designs and manufactures strip-processing equipment for rollforming, cut-to-length and slitting applications. For more, visit www.metformintl.com.

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Vari-Form Awarded DaimlerChrysler
Hydroforming Contract

Vari-Form, Warren, MI, has been awarded a contract to produce hydroformed front-end structural modules (FESMs)for a redesigned DaimlerChrysler SUV. Vari-Form will use its patented Pressure Sequence Hydroforming (PSH) process to produce the modules. The PSH process varies water and die pressure to ensure that specified wall thicknesses are maintained throughout forming, even in tight corners, according to company officials. The company also employs its patented in-the-die hole piercing during tubular PSH. Vari-Form also had produced the industry’s first hydroformed FESM, for the 2002 Dodge Ram pickup truck. FESM production takes place at the Vari-Form facility in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. FESMs differ from traditional front-end structures in that hydroforming replaces multiple stamped parts assembled via spot welding, resulting lower assembly weight and improved strength, according to company officials. For more from Vari-Form, visit www.vari-form.com.

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Delphi Recognizes Olson Intl. for Lean Leadership

After working with Olson International Ltd., Lombard, IL, during its recent efforts to extend lean manufacturing to its supply base, Delphi Corp. has recognized Olson for excellence in lean leadership. The Delphi Supplier Development team recently spent six weeks with Olson management at Olson’s plant in Matamoros, Mexico, for training and implementation of lean concepts. A high-volume Delphi part was selected for lean improvement at the Mexico plant, and Olson responded with double-digit-percentage improvements related to inventory, productivity and quality. Resulting from that initiative, Olson has lean teams in place at both its U.S. and Mexico plants, charged with eliminating waste and improving productivity, according to company officials. Olson provides precision metal stampings and assemblies to customers in automotive, appliance and electronics industries. For more, visit www.olsonintl.com.

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