Today's lean economy has many stampers looking for ways to optimize part production with their current inventory of capital equipment. Stampers can minimize equipment costs and still meet most job requirements by better understanding the types of work that can be run on two common workhorses: the gap-frame press and straightside press. Taking a look at the strengths and limitations of each type of press can help stampers organize work more effectively and enhance overall efficiency. Stampers may even discover that their gap presses can shoulder jobs they may not have thought possible. It's no secret that the gap-machine's biggest advantage over the straightside is its modest price tag. In addition, for hand-fed operations, gap presses offer operators easier access. Gap-frame presses do, however, have some limitations in sizes and in the types of work they can run. By understanding these limitations and the reasons for them, stampers can utilize the less-expensive gap presses when appropriate and achieve an excellent return on investment.
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