Page 36 - MetalForming March 2011
P. 36

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  In the Classroom
Combined Talents
    With a focus on innovation, multinational stamping company Prid- geon & Clay, Inc. (P & C), Grand Rapids, MI, has created value for its customers by combining the disciplines of advanced engineering, an A2LA accredited laboratory, design, prototyping, research and devel- opment and Six Sigma manufacturing. The company is committed to more than just producing good parts; it’s committed to providing engi- neered solutions for high-volume production.
Onsite Laboratory
For more than 10 years, P & C’s A2LA (American Association for Lab- oratory Accreditation) laboratory has evolved well beyond merely sup- porting the company’s inhouse production-manufacturing operations. Along with conducting metallurgical analyses for the automotive com- ponents P & C stamps and assembles, the lab also markets a variety of testing services to other manufacturers, and even to P & C competi- tors. Housed in a separate facility, P & C’s lab offers complete confi- dentiality and security, while specializing in product-validation testing. Its numerous materials and product tests range from grain structure and chemical analyses to durability and destructive testing. The lab delivers accurate results in a timely manner.
Advanced Engineering
Working in conjunction with the A2LA laboratory is a team of engi- neers dedicated to providing data-driven solutions to guide improve- ments in products and processes. The cornerstone of the company’s commitment to innovation, the P & C advanced engineering depart-
                             Before
After
ment employs several ana- lytical methods, including simulation and finite-ele- ment analysis (FEA). The team offers analysis to a variety of industries, and boasts an extensive knowl- edge base of material sci- ence as it pertains to metal
forming.
        P & C developed an in-die spin-form process.
Design
    Proficient in virtually all types of CAD software, the P & C design group affords the company and its customers top-level product-design support for projects ranging from single components to full systems, and also provides die-design and print-generation services. Not only is this a valuable asset to P & C’s customers, it also helps the company ensure a steady supply of innovative products and designs.
Prototyping
Most prototype shops use soft kirksite tooling and run slow hydraulic presses. While this process can yield a visually correct prototype, it offers no insight into the process by which the product will be manu-
           

















































































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