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StampSource Adds Press Capacity

StampSource, Charlotte, NC, recently purchased three mechanical presses, an investment that is expected to increase revenue by at least 30 percent at the 66-year-old manufacturer.
The Danly, Niagara and Seyi presses include a large-bed 275-ton model, a 400-ton press with heavy-duty feed line and a 500-ton press, and allow the company to produce heavier-gauge-steel stampings that require higher tonnage forces.
“Having these presses gives us capacity that most stamping businesses don’t have,” says Stephen Taggart, StampSource general manager and vice president of sales. “We can manufacture thicker, wider materials with larger dies, so we are more versatile now.”
The presses currently produce bottoms and covers for transformers and beam protectors. These parts are manufactured for Power Partners, StampSource’s parent company.
“While our presses are in use, we still have plenty of room to manufacture additional difficult stamped parts for other companies,” says Taggart.
For more on StampSource, visit www.ppiway.com.

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Grant Targets Technical Training to Assist MN Manufacturers

A Minneapolis-St. Paul-area manufacturing consortium seeking technically skilled employees to help spur company growth will benefit from a $446,090 Minnesota Job Skills Partnership grant awarded to Hennepin Technical College. The grant will train 84 new and current manufacturing employees, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced.
This three-year project will train employees of Dayton Rodgers, Minneapolis; Morrissey, Inc., Bloomington; Minnesota Grinding, Inc., Minneapolis; Boker's, Inc., Minneapolis; EJ Ajax & Sons, Fridley; Marshall Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis; Pellco Machine, Inc., St. Michael; Top Tool, Minneapolis; PERBIX, Brooklyn Park; and Harvey Vogel Manufacturing Co., Woodbury.
HIRED, a nonprofit organization, will recruit, assess and enroll 42 entry-level, low-income trainees for the training project and match each one with a case manager for coaching and support services. Both entry-level trainees and current employees of the manufacturers will attend classroom instruction for Precision Metal Stamping (148 hr.) or CNC Machine Operator (352 hr.).
After successfully completing classroom training, the entry-level trainees will competitively interview for structured 480-hr. paid on-the-job training with the manufacturers. All participants will earn college credits and have the opportunity to earn National Institute for Metalworking Skills credentials.

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Bystronic Earns Supplier Recognition from John Deere

Bystronic Inc., Elgin, IL, has earned recognition as a Partner-level supplier for 2015 in the John Deere Achieving Excellence program. Partner-level status is Deere & Co.’s highest supplier rating. Bystronic was selected in recognition of its dedication to providing products and service of outstanding quality as well as its commitment to continuous improvement, according to Deere & Co. officials. Company employees accepted the recognition during formal ceremonies held this past December in Moline, IL.
Bystronic supplies sheetmetal cutting, bending and automation technology to various John Deere operations. For more on Bystronic, visit www.bystronicusa.com.

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