Page 6 - MetalForming April 2014

MetalForming
April 2014 | Volume 48 — Number 4 Cover Story
24 InvestinginTechnology and the Workforce
PMA Chairman for 2014 Jody Fledderman, president and CEO of Batesville Tool & Die, puts his money on servo-press technology, 3D printing and other leading-edge technology to stay ahead of demand for automotive stampings. And, he’s investing in resources to attract the next-generation workforce to his company, and to the industry.
Special Section
38 TheAutomotiveUptick—
Working Through
the Challenges
At the Precision Metalforming Association’s upcoming 21st annual Automotive Parts Suppliers Conference (APSC), April 30-May 1, 2014, industry executives will gain a huge dose of what it will take for the metalforming-industry supply base to grow much-needed capacity.
Commentaries
Guest Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Follow the Lead
Vince M. Bertram, Project Lead the Way
Human Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Three Key Factors for Leaders to Remember
Debbie McGrath
The Science of Forming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Develop Die-Damage Curves to Avoid Breakage
Stuart Keeler
Tooling by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Cutting and Punching
Advanced High-Strength Steels Peter Ulintz
You and The Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Clothes, Personal Protective Equipment or Special Gear?
Douglas B. M. Ehlke
Departments
News Fronts . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tech Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software for Manufacturing Tooling Update . . . . . . . . . . . Spotlight on PMA . . . . . . . . . Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Features
18 Zig-ZagServoFeedsSupport Servo-Press Operations
Stamping airbag housings by the thousands has deep-draw specialist Metal Flow Corp. changing servo-press ram speed seven times per stroke, while “bulletproof ” rack-and-pinion-driven servo feeds perform tireless work.
20 BetterSoftwareBegets Engineering Capacity
Design engineers can be the lifeblood of any full-service contract manufacturer, supporting customers that lack engineering capacity. Make the most of engineers’ precious time by giving them the software they need to be at their best. Here’s a shop that does just that.
34 LaserCutteris
Three Machines in One
...thanks in part to a rotary index station located on one of three shuttle pallets, allowing Jay Manufacturing to bring inhouse previously outsourced tube and structural work. Laser cutting replaces sawing, drilling and machining, allowing Jay to improve quality and
reduce costs.
48 HydraulicPresses:
Custom New vs. Used
–Which is Best for Your Business?
Is it better to fit a new hydraulic press into your operation, or fit your operation into an existing press? Metalformers should explore all options before making this critical decision, as the chosen solution can have a lasting effect on the bottom line.
Ad Index
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4 MetalForming/April 2014
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