Ulintz to the Stage
Keeping the theme technology-oriented, industry consultant and MetalForming magazine columnist Peter Ulintz takes the stage to present Methods and Tips for Solving Progressive Die Problems.
“Progressive dies are routinely reworked, modified or adjusted in the press when production problems occur or quality issues arise,” Ulintz says. “In many instances, the die is not the root cause, so the problems resurface or worse: new problems are created.” His presentation examines key elements for solving progressive-die problems, tips for success and validating solutions.
Dovetailing perfectly to Ulintz’s talk, following him to the dais is Bob Anderson, vice president of sales at Tower Metalworking Fluids, to discuss Assessing Your Metalworking Fluids—The Top Five Reasons Why.
“Assessing your metalworking fluids on a regular basis to seek improvement is a good idea,” Anderson says. “This presentation covers the top five reasons why manufacturers ask for help in addressing their metalworking fluids and the recommended steps to help them move forward.”
His top five reasons:
- Help me make this part
- Help us with this post-processing issue
- EHS concerns
- Product consolidation
- Pricing.
Hot Topic: Laser Welding
Want to learn more about laser welding, and how metal formers use the technology? Then pay attention to the next co-presenters, Bill Adler, president/CEO of metal former Stripmatic Products, Inc., and Paul Denney, manufacturing technical senior fellow-nonconventional machining at Pratt & Whitney, who has been involved in laser materials processing for 45 yr. Adler and Denney preview their presentation:
“While lasers have been used for many materials-processing applications, there are still many new potential applications and markets out there,” Denney shares. “This two-part presentation will review how new applications may be reached, beginning with a short review of the basics of lasers, laser material processing, applications and the justification for using lasers instead of other processes. The presentation then will outline what must be considered when looking at a new laser-processing application.”
The last half of the presentation will focus on a specific application of laser processing that occurred at Stripmatic Products, a manufacturer of stamped and formed split bushings. The Stripmatic case study will focus on an opportunity for a ‘new’ family of welded split bushing products, how the company investigated joining technologies and what was needed to make the product economically.
“I also will cover what our team at Stripmatic learned in developing an automated production system,” says Adler, “what had to be done for customers to accept the new products, and how the capability to produce the welded split bushings has provided opportunities for customers that were not possible in the past.”
That’s a lot of learning for one day. So now comes the reward—a networking reception to wrap up day one!
Day Two Talks Cover AI, In-Die Monitoring, More
Kicking off day two: a keynote titled The Evolving Landscape of the American Steel Industry. Presenter Dean Kanelos, automotive market development and product applications manager for Nucor Automotive Group, will discuss the ongoing evolution of America’s steel-manufacturing infrastructure.
“Domestic steel markets are changing,” he says, “with the evolution of the American infrastructure and the electrification of vehicles. New steel grades and applications are being developed. Sustainability and circularity are increasingly being demanded by manufacturers. Alternate materials also are improving, putting pressure on the steel industry to retain their dominance in the auto industry and other manufacturing sectors. This presentation will give a glimpse of many changes that are occurring in the American steel industry and potential effects on the steel stamping market.”
Following a brief networking break, the attention turns to artificial intelligence (AI) with a talk titled A Pragmatic Approach to Industrial AI and the Robot Uprising. Presenter Paul Boris is an industrial operations leader with hands-on manufacturing experience across multiple production environments. He built his career transforming factory operations before leading digital manufacturing strategy at GE and pioneering manufacturing software solutions for SAP. Now the CEO of Murray Mentor, an AI-powered voice assistant that provides real-time guidance to operators on the manufacturing floor, Boris says:
“Amara’s Law tells us that ‘people overestimate the impact of a technology in the short run and underestimate the impact in the long run’, and this class of tools called AI has not violated that law. Loosely defined and largely overhyped, AI really is a path to transformation for industrial operations. Manufacturers can embrace it or risk missing out on opportunities to impact every aspect of their business.”
He’ll pepper his presentation with answers to this important question regarding the implementation of AI: How can we do something large enough to start the process or build momentum, yet small enough to avoid damaging our brand or worse, risking the business?
Heading Back into the Pressroom
Turning attention back to stamping technology, attendees next will learn how the capabilities of high-speed presses can be elevated with the addition of servo axes—electrical drives with electronic position, speed or torque control. Says presenter A.J. Rupp, president of Bruderer Machinery:
“The significantly reduced masses that must be moved thanks to the implementation of servo drives mean that machining and tooling can be simplified, while maintaining high levels of performance and efficiency. Depending on the design, servo axes also ensure less wear and tear, which reduces maintenance costs, while retooling is also much simpler with servo technology.”
Next up: James Barrett, president of Link Systems, addresses Automatic In-Die Part Monitoring and Tool Adjustment.
Previewing his talk, Barrett says:
“Implementation of part measurement, die adjustment and part tracking can result not only in 100% verification of critical part features, but also in significantly increased machine utilization, accurate production and scrap rates, and more reliable die protection.”
During this session, Barrett will describe the practical methods to select, apply and integrate sensors and control systems in order to fulfill accuracy and quality requirements.
Last but Not Least: Workforce Development
Dean Phillips, director of technical training at the Precision Metalforming Association, brings it all home with his talk, Challenges in Manufacturing: Key Takeaways and Actionable Solutions.
“The manufacturing industry faces many challenges and PMA has solutions,” Phillips says. “This session will cover workforce solutions for staffing and upskilling; technology solutions for improving asset management; automation solutions to improve quality and reduce scrap; augmented- and virtual-reality solutions to adjust to limited available technology experts; and more.” MF
Industry-Related Terms: Case,
Die,
Forming,
Laser Welding,
LASER,
Run,
Scrap,
Torque,
Forming,
Forming,
Stamping,
WeldingView Glossary of Metalforming Terms
See also: Precision Metalforming Association
Technologies: Lubrication, Management, Materials
“The North American marketplace has experienced uncertainty in 2025, and the manufacturing industry continues to grapple with persistent challenges. Die builders and metal formers have been pushed to adapt quickly, enhancing flexibility and resilience to maintain operational efficiency and protect margins. In this session, I will explore how the industry has navigated several years of instability and examine what lies ahead for key manufacturing sectors in 2026 and beyond.”
