Tag: metal manufacturing

What Does Obama’s State of the Union Mean for U.S. Manufacturing?

Posted by

Last week President Obama gave the annual State of the Union address. Many topics were talked about including everything from war to income inequality. A main theme of the speech centered on the revitalized success of the industrial sector and the overall economic recovery. The President pointed out that new manufacturing jobs are being added for the first time in decades. This is a good sign for not only the manufacturing industry, but also the country as a whole.

While the number of factory jobs began declining in the 1990s due to production moving overseas, that trend is beginning to reverse. In fact manufacturing is one of the main industries that have seen growth since the Great Recession, with more than half a million jobs added in the last four years. Some analysts have projected further growth this year due to more companies bringing back jobs to this country. Moving manufacturing overseas doesn’t make quite as much sense as it did a decade ago. Labor costs in China are rising while the US is seeing declining energy costs. These forces combined means companies can afford to ramp up production without outsourcing most of the work.

At Marshall Fabrication Machinery Inc., we are proud to offer manufacturing jobs right here in the US. The recent rise in manufacturing jobs is good for the entire industry, and we look forward to seeing more jobs come back to this country each year. For more information about the industrial sector and how it helps America’s economy, keep checking back with us!

Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-obama-sotu-manufacturing-20140128,0,5303871.story#axzz2rv5rS7yT

Where does the 3D Printer stand in the future of Metal Fabrication?

Posted by

Lately, there has been a lot of chatter surrounding the 3D printer and its capabilities as a manufacturing machine.  For people in the metalworking industry, innovative technology continues to push the industry and allow for faster production.  Just look at our 4 plate rolling machine. We’ve tried to transform the way companies bend metal, including the elimination of gear transmission, gibs & ways, bushings, clutches and synchronization devices. 3D printing machines are trying to do the same thing.  They want to transform and create new innovative ways to increase production and profits.

 

For some people, they worry about the future and how the 3D printer might change the manufacturing community.  For now, 3D printers strictly work in plastics and haven’t moved onto metal or mixed use materials. There are different opinions on the subject. Could the 3D printer put metal fabricators on the backburner, or will it provide new supply options? Metal Miner, a sourcing and trading intelligence for global metal markets had this to say in an article written by Stuart Burns earlier this month. “Any technology that creates new supply options for metal buyers has got to be a good thing in our books.”

 

For now, the future of 3D printing still seems unclear.  There are distinct advantages and disadvantages to every new technology.  The companies that evolve and push the envelope of creativity and efficiency generally win in the battle for longevity.

C Marshall Fabrication Machinery, Inc. has over 30 years’ experience in the metal fabrication industry. Over that time, we’ve seen many different innovations come and go. The 3D printer certainly is another exciting possibility, but appears to be years away from coming to fruition for the metal fabrication industry. As always, finding you the right machine to remain competitive and profitable is our goal, no matter what type of technology exists.

No snowplows in Ghana

Posted by

Metal goods at Obuasi market, Ghana

“Metal fabrication” and for that matter, the metal manufacturing industry, seem to have very different meanings and specializations, depending what part of the world you are in. A few days ago I was in London, admiring a fleet of brand-new snowplows, which stood brightly at attention, gleaming and winking in the autumn sun at the Heathrow airport. I remember thinking to myself, whoever got that contract is doing all right.

Now I am in Ghana, Africa, and I haven’t seen a single snowplow anywhere. It appears that the large metal machinery here is found mainly in the forests and other mining areas, and that bulldozers are much preferred over snowplows around these parts. But even here, those large machines don’t come cheap, and renting them alone costs around $2500 a day. Again, whoever has THAT contract is doing all right too.

To most Ghanaians, however, for whom a car is out of reach, heavy industrial equipment doesn’t seem to figure much into their daily lives. Instead, their idea of “fabricated metal” consists of rudimentary yet versatile tools that can be (and are) made by local blacksmiths using age-old –and time-honored– technology.

I went to the local market today to shop for a few items, and I found a section of the market that is in fact dedicated solely to manufactured metal goods. Among the things for sale were machetes (that’s Ghanaian for “lawnmower”, “coconut opener”, “nail trimmer” and goodness knows what else), shovels (aka “bulldozers”), knives, blades of all sizes and shiny black chunks of bitumen. I asked what this was used for and it was explained to me that it is melted and used to repair holes in buckets and things of that nature. Bitumen has been in use by humans for a very long time. It was also used by ancient Egyptians in the mummification process.

I’ve noticed that in general, the local technology here is geared primarily towards avoiding a dependency on electricity or fuel, which can be hard to come by in many areas. That’s why the women at the market use a bed of coals to heat their palm oil for the fried plantains they serve up fresh daily. That’s why the local “contract maker” uses a mechanical typewriter and carbon paper to draw up legally binding agreements. And that’s why everyone owns a machete but no one, not even the most affluent, seems to own a lawnmower.

That said, imagine how amazing it would be if they could get their hands on a C. Marshall Fabrication Plasma Burning Machine! I just might be able to talk one of the local blacksmiths into buying one…as long as it comes with a really, really long cord.

– Anja Wulf

Back in the day…

Posted by

Snowflake-shaped Christmas decoration: fun for the whole family!

When I hear someone say “metal manufacturing”, my ears perk right up. When you’re not actually in that industry, it isn’t very often that you hear the term used in casual conversation. And when one of your jobs is to write an article related to the subject once a week, your response to hearing that magical phrase becomes almost Pavlovian.

These words were indeed uttered in casual conversation this last Friday night, at a friend’s house in the hills on the French side of St. Martin, with lovely views of the Caribbean from the veranda we were having dinner on. Our company consisted of a “typical” St. Martin mix, including but not limited to dinner guests from the Bahamas, the US, England, Holland, Canada and France. The newest addition to our dinner party hailed from Manchester, England. With his accent, just about anything he said sounded funny regardless of its actual content, but to top it off he was a genuinely amusing character: so typically “Manchester” that he could have been a mascot for his city.

In any case, he started telling us about his metal manufacturing class that he had taken back in high school. Apparently, in England, metal manufacturing shop is a pretty typical high school elective. It was particularly popular in his school, mainly because someone in his class had the bright idea of using the metal workshop and tools to make Japanese throwing stars. This idea then spread like wildfire through the class.

From what I am given to understand, Manchester locals are a pretty tough crowd to begin with. They are world-famous for their soccer (“football”) and rugby skills, owing not so much to their refined technique but more to their raw aggression, their love of a good fight (and good beer), and the fact that they consider cauliflower ears a fashion statement. So really it should come as no big surprise that a bunch of high school students from Manchester started dedicating themselves very enthusiastically to mass-producing deadly samurai weapons in their metal manufacturing class.

Our friend described with genuine glee and amusement how, within a few weeks, his high school was littered with evidence of their turf wars. He talked about Japanese throwing stars stuck in walls, ceilings, furniture and even heads. What he never even thought to mention was “where were the teachers?” Apparently, this is considered perfectly acceptable behavior where he’s from. And the kid with the Japanese throwing star stuck in his temple probably wore it with pride.

The upside of this anecdote is that, 40 or so years later, this guy is still talking enthusiastically about metal manufacturing. It made an impression on him (maybe literally, although I didn’t see any visible scars) that led to a life-long love of the subject. Let’s be perfectly clear: I’m not “recommending” or “suggesting” that children of tender school-age years in the US should be encouraged to use their own metal shop class as an armory: I am merely relaying a story here.

With that said, the holiday season is coming up. Wouldn’t it be lovely to teach kids metal manufacturing skills by having them make pretty metal snowflakes as Christmas decorations? And if they happen to also lend themselves to a frisbee-type motion, well then that would just be a coincidence, right? What’s important here is that it would probably genuinely increase the popularity and renown of metal manufacturing in the long run. Sort of an “end justifies the means” kind of thing. Right? Right?

And just for the record, the guy from Manchester didn’t grow up to be some sort of deviant. He had enjoyed a successful career as a captain in the Merchant Marines, and he is also CEO of his own company.

I’m not really clear on what happened to the kid with the Japanese throwing star stuck in his temple.

-Anja Wulf

Buried Treasure (really)!

Posted by

I live on a beautiful beach on an island in the Caribbean. It’s not always easy, but someone’s gotta do it. And yes, this is an actual recent photo that I personally took.

When a beach is your front yard, you get pretty familiar with the comings and goings of the boats in your neighborhood. In recent weeks, a new boat has been showing up about 100 meters out from the beach and about a 7 minute walk from my house. The boat says “Research Vessel” on it. Yesterday I found out why:

This boat has discovered a 200 year-old shipwreck which it is preparing to explore. This island is notorious for stupid political tangles, and when it comes to things like approving someone’s petition to explore an old wreck, things can get tied up for a bit since everyone wants a piece of the potential loot. Especially when it’s a known fact that this was a merchant ship which came here by way of Brazil. Back then, one of Brazil’s biggest industries and exports was its melting and casting of iron and metals, including silver and gold. Another treasure this shipwreck is rumored to possibly have is antique porcelain, which in addition to being very valuable is also extraordinarily beautiful.

So while the research vessel continues to vie for government approval to start the exploration of the shipwreck, a few of us beach dwellers are already plotting how we might take advantage of this unique situation. The fact that we know exactly where the wreck is admittedly presents a few temptations. One of the neighbors, who lives on the cliff above the location of the shipwreck, has already posted a sentry with binoculars so that he can track exactly when excavations begin, at which point he fully intends to go on an exploratory dive of his own under cover of night, to see what he can find.

As for the rest of us, there will most likely be a significant increase in foot traffic on the beach. I predict that most of us will increase our daily exercise regimen with the addition of several daily casual strolls along the beach, in hopes that we might stub our toe on a gold or silver bar just happened to have washed up from the excavation. I also plan on increasing my snorkeling activities dramatically. After all, one can hope and dream, and people who live on beaches in the Caribbean are already, for the most part, hopeless romantics (the rest are just good old-fashioned pirates).

I did a quick online search on buried treasure and found a link on “12 Real Life Buried Treasures”. Some of these treasures go back to the 1500’s and are worth many billions of dollars! So it can happen, folks. If it happens to me, I probably won’t tell you though.

-Anja Wulf

Back to Basics: The Sledgehammer

Posted by

When it comes to the bare-knuckle basics of metal-working machinery, nothing says “old school” quite like the sledgehammer. This is “grassroots” machinery at its finest. Although they were and still are commonly used by blacksmiths to shape heavy sections of iron, the uses for a sledgehammer are practically unlimited. With this in mind, it only makes sense that in addition to her nail file and wallet, every woman should keep a sledgehammer in her purse at all times.

First of all, the name alone conjures up near-mythical images of wanton, gratuitous destruction. This is a good thing. Sometimes, all you have to do is casually mention the word, and people around you might feel more inclined to “do the right thing” when it comes to whatever that may be. So in that sense, the mere mention of the word “sledgehammer” might be enough to inspire your associates to work a little more quickly and efficiently. I’m probably preaching to the choir here since this is Management 101, but it does bear mentioning since this fundamental technique is so essential to good, effective leadership.

Secondly, it is a truly practical tool, and certainly its uses are not limited solely to ridiculously crude forms of metalworking. If you have a sudden need to bash something, a sledgehammer can be your best friend. Although acoustically there are few sounds more satisfying than sledgehammer-on-metal, it can also be used to bash a variety of objects or solids, from glass to concrete. I have personally witnessed an excellent instance of Man vs. Television, which took place in a neighbor’s front yard years ago, in which the sledgehammer being wielded by the Man was the deciding factor in winning that round. And yes, it was one of those neighborhoods that Bravo will never select for a season of Real Housewives.

Finally, the therapeutic benefits of using a sledgehammer cannot be ignored. If you aren’t willing or able to spend a day at a full-service spa (for either financial reasons or because you males are worried about getting your Man-cards revoked if you do), then consider the sledgehammer as an excellent alternative for your stress-relief needs. Not only is work with a sledgehammer excellent exercise, you will also find yourself extremely relaxed (if not completely passed out on the floor) by the time you have finished your sledgehammer workout. According to Wikipedia, “sledgehammers usually require two hands and a swinging motion involving the entire torso”, which makes it a comparable physical activity to Pilates. A note of caution, however: it pays to be slightly choosy about what object or surface you plan on sledgehammering. As effective as it is, it is difficult to rebuild something after it has been subjected to a sledgehammer workout session.

If you run out of ideas for your sledgehammer, you do what I did and Google “uses for sledgehammer”. You’ll be amazed. From driving fenceposts into the ground, to using them for both burglaries and for police-force raids to gain entry by force, the list of possibilities for a sledgehammer is nearly endless. With that said, my all-time personal favorite use for a sledgehammer can be found at WikiAnswers.com. The question being asked was, ““How do you take apart an upright piano?” One reader answered with the following gem (the typos aren’t mine):

“There are many ways if u dont want to be able to reassemble it afterwards take a hammer or better yet a sledgehammer or if u want it to be able to reassemble try using a screwdriver on the screws.

If u really want to take it apart to small pieces use some explosives.

Having had experience with a sledgehammer and an upright piano, I hope you are strong and in good physical condition – it will take all day. My husband suggests a catapult a la “Northern Exposure” and I tend to agree.”

If I could choose my own neighbors, I’d pick the couple that mentions sledgehammers and catapults as viable solutions for taking apart a piano.( read how to select best digital piano 2017 online) I really respect the fact that the wife’s recommendations for using a sledgehammer on a piano are actually backed by her own experience in the matter. I imagine that going over to their house for a beer would be highly entertaining. I’d just make sure to stay on their good side, and to not pick a home not located anywhere near the projectile path of their catapult.

-Anja Wulf

Whatever you need, copper’s got it!

Posted by

“Find a penny, pick it up. All day long you’ll have good luck”.

The use of copper in metal manufacturing goes back further than any other metal, except for iron and gold. Not only is it an excellent conductor, but it is pretty, malleable, easy to work with and even has anti-microbial properties, making it far better suited for plumbing than, say, lead pipes. And although the use of copper for pipes continues to this day, copper pipes are kind of boring to read about unless you are in the business of selling, manufacturing, buying or stealing them (and yes, the rate of copper theft continues to rise proportionately to its steady increases in value – which is an alarming rate, as far as its theft goes).

Much more interesting are the many magical properties copper has been attributed with over the last 11,000 years or so. It seems that pretty much any disorder, ailment or unwanted condition can be improved or cured with copper. The fact that copper does in fact have anti-microbial properties, works well as a fungicide, and is even an essential trace nutrient makes its magical claims even more interesting, since some of them may very well have some sort of basis in fact and science.

If everything written on the subject is to be believed, a partial list of copper’s magical and curative properties include the following:

  • Copper is the metal of Aphrodite, or Venus, depending on which name you prefer. Either way, copper is the metal of the Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. If you wear copper on the opposite side of your dominant hand, it can be a very effective love charm – especially when combined with emeralds (you know a particularly clever woman must have thought up that last part!)
  • Fact: copper is an effective spermicide. The majority of IUD’s, the oldest and most effective birth control method on earth, are made of copper even to this day. It could be reasoned that if copper’s ability to prevent pregnancy was known about thousands of years ago, this may have strengthened if not given rise to the association of copper with love and fertility.
  • As early as 2400 BC, ancient Egyptians used copper to sterilize wounds and drinking water, as well as for the treatment of headaches, burns and itching. Based on copper’s actual properties, chances are that these treatments were in fact effective.
  • Around 400 BC, Hippocrates used copper to treat leg ulcers associated with varicose veins. If I knew how, and if I had varicose veins, I’d try it out right now, but alas, all I have to offer is this titillating factoid.
  • Ancient Aztecs fought sore throats by gargling with copper mixtures. This gives me hope that copper may also help prevent the end of the world, as predicted by the Aztec calendar to occur in 2012. I’m not exactly sure how this all connects or if there’s any logic to it, but then again the Aztecs were very mysterious in general. In any case, gargling copper on the End of Days can’t hurt, and may actually prevent Armageddon. Any takers?
  • Many arthritis sufferers wear copper bracelets to relieve pain.
  • Copper is said to have a revitalizing mental effect by stimulating energy flows, thereby overcoming lethargy. It is also said to improve one’s powers of communication, channeling, cleansing and self esteem.
  • Physically, copper is said to improve blood circulation, increase energy, detoxify, reduce inflammation, stabilize metabolism and improve oxygen use.
  • Anyone who takes themselves seriously while waving sticks around in the air and casting spells will tell you that copper is like, totally the best metal for magic wands, because it is an excellent conductor of “all different types” of energy.
  • If you do happen to be in possession of a magical copper wand, you can use it to heal any part of your body by touching it with copper, which will “re-balance” that part of your body and make it all better. This may possibly be almost as effective as when mommy kissed your boo-boo and made it better, but sadly I was unable to find a single scientific study to back this up.
  • Pure copper can be worn to prevent illness and to encourage healing in general because it balances the polarities in one’s body. Anyone worthy of the title “Wiccan” knows this to be indisputable fact. Be warned, however, that a possible side effect can be that you also turn into a turbo-charged version of Austin Powers – with or without the additional supplementation of emeralds.
  • Copper also attracts good luck and money. Proof of this is a fact that every American child knows: “If you find a penny, pick it up. All day long you’ll have good luck” (a long time ago, when our government wasn’t yet bankrupt, pennies were originally made of 100% copper. If the government had picked up pennies instead of thrown them away, it wouldn’t be broke). So if you really play your cards well, you will be lucky in love, super healthy, your polarities will be balanced and you’ll be filthy rich – in which case you’ll probably lose the copper and trade it in for lots of gold. And diamonds. And a Rolex or two. Because one Rolex is never enough to keep you balanced and happy and successful and lucky in love and rich…

That sums up some but not all of the magical properties of copper. By now, I have pretty much talked myself into taking a trip to the plumbing section of the nearest hardware store so I can buy a copper “amulet” for my own personal use. So if you see someone running around with a copper mechanical sleeve clamp hanging off their neck, you’ll know who started that trend.

-Anja Wulf

Paul Revere: Large Scale Metal Manufacturer

Posted by

Although much can be done to separate the myth from the actual man, here is no question that Paul Revere was a true American patriot. A successful silversmith by trade, Revere also became increasingly active in a political group called the Sons of Liberty, which is best known today for having staged the Boston Tea Party. What is less known about Paul Revere is that he was also one of the very first Americans to recognize the potential for large-scale manufacturing of metal. If anything, Paul Rever seemed to have a real knack for being in the right place at the right time – and for making the most out of it.

When the British arrived on American shores on the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was in fact one of two men sent out to warn others, on his famous “Midnight Ride”. However, he never yelled out “The British are coming!”, for three reasons: one, the success of his mission that night depended on secrecy; two, the American countryside was swarming with British army patrols; and three, at that time, Americans were all still technically British subjects, so the warning, even if called out, wouldn’t have made any sense at all.

The fact of the matter is, Paul Revere performed his “Midnight Ride” in order to warn others of the British troops (then known as the “Regulars”) crossing the Charles River. More specifically, his mission was to warn his Sons of Liberty pals John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the movements of the British Army, which would likely have resulted in Hancock and Adams’ arrest as well as the seizure of their weapon stores in Concord if not forewarned. Protecting these two patriots proved to be a valuable task, since (among many other valuable contributions) Hancock famously went on to sign his name on the Constitution and Sam Adams heroically went on to lend his name to the best American-made beer to date.

According to actual eye-witness accounts, rather than yell out his famous (and totally false) phrase, Paul Revere most likely whispered, “The Regulars are coming out.” This information was then passed on to other “midnight riders” until about 40 of them were riding about, spreading the news as fast as their horses’ legs could carry them. This was not something that Paul Revere gained a lot of notoriety for at the time. However, about 40 years later, a very famous poet named Longfellow decided to immortalize the Midnight Ride with a poem titled “Paul Revere’s Ride”, which guaranteed Mr. Revere permanent celebrity status in the annals of American patriot history.

After the American Revolution, times were tough in the brand-new United States – in fact, a depression ensued. Realizing that his silver trade wasn’t cutting it anymore, Paul Revere opened a hardware and home goods store, meanwhile also extending his interest in metal work beyond silver and gold. 11 years after the revolution, he opened an iron and brass foundry in Boston and tapped into a very hot market for church bells. A religious revival called the Second Great Awakening was sweeping the country at the time, and if nothing else, Paul was one to recognize an opportunity. Working with two of his many sons, Paul Jr. and Joseph Warren, he created a firm called Paul Revere & Sons, which also did a substantial amount of business by supplying shipyards with iron bolts and fittings for the new naval fleet (“Old Ironsides”) and other ships.

Ultimately, Paul Revere’s firm produced over 900 bells, for which castings he became very well-known for in the industry of his day. In 1801 he opened North America’s first copper mill, and became a pioneer in copper plating production. Although his plans for business were slowed down by a shortage of adequate money in circulation, his copper and brass works eventually grew, through sale and corporate merger, into a large national corporation, Revere Copper and Brass, Inc., which still operates to this day.

Paul Revere died at the age of 83 in 1818, in his home in Boston. He fathered a total 13 living children during his life, and he himself was one of 12 siblings. With that many children, it seems almost surprising that only two ended up going into business with him – but it also may help to explain his drive to continue to flourish even in the middle of this country’s first real depression.

When it comes to Paul Revere, the man is even better than the myth.

-Anja Wulf