Page 22 - MetalForming June 2016
P. 22

Fishing-Component Supplier Lured by Press, Control
Capabilities
  Three new 88-ton mechanical press lines, managed via state-of-the-art controls, ensures that The Worth Company maintains its status as a worldwide leader in production of fishing-tackle components. With the lines came a focus on sensoring and die protec- tion, transitioning the company from its ‘old-school’ ways into leading-edge production.
Great catch by Wisconsin- based Worth Company, as new presses and new controls tackle die- protection concerns and ensure stable, high-volume production.
BY LOUIS A. KREN, SENIOR EDITOR
millions for split rings—Worth relies on equipment dependability, from press- es to the tooling itself. Until two years ago, the company ran aging mechani- cal presses with basic controls to pound out these parts. At that point, the com- pany considered updating the controls to bring needed modernization.
“We had the old single-revolution presses and we needed to get more advanced,” says Ostricki. What began as a visit by TCR Inc., Wisconsin Rapids, WI, to explore the controls option would soon expand. The old presses could not take advantage of the capa- bilities offered by new press controls, so Worth instead opted to purchase a used 88-ton Aida mechanical press.
“TCR found us one from another Wisconsin company,” says Ostricki. “It just had the press control that came with it.”
Press, Control Upgrades Spur Productivity, Dependability Surge
Once at Worth, that press was out- fitted with a new control, an OmniLink
Do you fish? Or drive a car? The buzz bait rippling across the pond or the key chain in your purse or pocket likely originated in Wisconsin. Here, in Stevens Point to be exact, for more than 70 years The Worth Company has supplied fishing- lure components and key rings to tack- le and automotive manufacturers. The fourth-generation, family-owned con- tract manufacturer and its 73 employ- ees make these products completely inhouse, via a fully stocked toolroom and shop floor filled with stamping presses, wireforming machines, heat-
treating equipment and a full-service plating department.
“Fishing and automotive are our two main industries,” explains Mark Ostricki, responsible for product design at Worth. “Ninety percent of our busi- ness is in fishing tackle and split rings. We also produce fasteners. But we will perform stamping or wire forming for anyone.”
Needed to Graduate from ‘Old School’
With its huge part runs—to 500,000 for tackle components and into the
20 MetalForming/June 2016
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