Crafted Together: Knowlton Manufacturing in Norwood, Ohio

For a small-to-medium-sized manufacturer, every square foot and every minute of production matters. For Knowlton Manufacturing, finding a reliable laser cutting solution that could improve efficiency without taking up valuable floor space was critical.

After initially using an overseas laser, Knowlton found the machine was slow, underpowered and required significant operator time for loading and unloading. The company estimates it was losing roughly 50% of its production time simply moving material and parts around the machine.

Knowlton ultimately turned to Cincinnati Incorporated and its CLi 1515 laser. The compact machine immediately addressed several of the shop's challenges.

With its pull-out table, the laser created a dedicated work cell where the operator can load material, stack finished parts and manage production without constantly walking back and forth across the shop. The machine also takes up a fraction of the space required by the previous laser.

"Every square foot counts here," said David, Knowlton’s Operations Manager. "We're a small business, and just with the fact that the small footprint makes a world of difference for us."

Doubling Production

The biggest impact has been productivity. Before the Cincinnati laser, Knowlton ran its laser operation across two shifts. Since installing the new machine, production has approximately doubled, allowing the company to move its second-shift employee into another area of the shop.

Changeover time has also been cut roughly in half. Instead of continually tweaking programs between jobs, operators can load a file, run the part and move on to the next job.

That flexibility is particularly valuable for Knowlton, which produces hundreds of different ductwork styles and many lower-volume parts. The laser allows the company to efficiently produce smaller runs while providing a backup when its stamping presses are occupied.

Better Quality and Less Downtime

The Cincinnati laser has also improved cut quality. Knowlton processes a variety of materials, including stainless steel, and David says the improved cut quality has significantly reduced the amount of secondary work required to prepare parts for customers.

Reliability has been another major improvement. After approximately a year and a half, Knowlton had replaced only a small number of consumables, with David noting that one replacement was caused by an operator crash.

For a manufacturer relying on a single laser, that consistency is critical.

"That's all we want is something that you can consistently turn on and run," David said.

Local Support Makes the Difference

The machine itself wasn't the only reason Knowlton chose Cincinnati Incorporated. Local service and support played a major role.

Knowlton had previously dealt with long delays when its overseas laser required service. With CI, the company has direct access to a nearby support team, including remote assistance and on-site service when needed.

"The CI service and support has been wonderful," David said, noting that responses to calls and emails are typically received within 15 to 20 minutes.

For Knowlton, that responsiveness helps keep production moving and minimizes costly downtime.

A Partnership Built to Keep Moving

Today, the CLi 1515 has become an important part of Knowlton's manufacturing operation. It has helped the company increase production, reduce operator fatigue, save valuable floor space, improve cut quality and respond more quickly to customer needs.

For a manufacturer where time is money, having a machine that can simply run—and a local partner ready to help when needed—makes all the difference.

"If another manufacturer, a customer, came and asked us what we thought about the Cincinnati Incorporated laser, I would have nothing but great things to say," David said. "It's helped us do so much more than what we were previously able to do."