Over the last few issues, I've profiled stamping companies that, looking for ways to cut lead time and reduce costs, made the technology plunge. In May we took a look at the Elk Grove, IL, operation of Trend Technologies, which incorporated in-die tapping on high-volume part runs. In June I reported on Hudson Tool Die, Ormond Beach, FL, and its addition of a vacuum-annealing furnace. Trend made the plunge to address the high costs of secondary tapping on high-volume work. Hudson wanted to cut lead time on outsourced annealing - occurring seven or eight times during production of some deep-drawn parts.Besides the current benefits, Trend and Hudson are positioned to gain new business necessitating cost-saving in-die tapping or time-saving in-house annealing, respectively. The trick for these two stampers is, through plenty of research, to turn their new capabilities into new contracts. Track records suggest they'll both be successful. A few years from now, companies such as these can compare the costs to buy, run and service this equipment with the revenues gained from their application. The result is the value such technology provides.
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