For many manufacturers, cell manufacturing— also referred to as micro-cells— is one of the best ways to increase the velocity and flexibility of their production lines. “It’s literally a micro assembly line within a company’s particular product that increases their efficiency,” explained Troy Wilson, Product Manager of Table Products at Cincinnati Incorporated.

I had the opportunity to speak with Tim Pribula, Director of Operations at Sunrise Machine & Tool and he shared with me his thoughts on their recent purchase of the CL-955c Fiber Laser Cutting System and its integration into their operations.

You have to admit, as far as the manufacturing industry goes, there are plenty of challenges. Demand for finished parts is high, but raw materials are hard to find as supply chain issues continue. Lead times for sheet metal parts are officially next-to-impossible to deal with. Manufacturing companies feel like their businesses are being held hostage by things beyond their control. In short, that’s a huge issue. It’s no wonder that machine shops all across the country are looking for any way possible to get some of that control back.

When we met with RC Industries in July 2019, the company had 160 employees working three shifts. They’ve overcome plenty of adversity in that time—much like all of us have—and managed to keep headcount the same while increasing revenue 24%. What are the reasons for that success? We caught up with Chris Curtis, Owner of RC Industries, to talk about it.

In this article, we revisit the Holland, Michigan-based metal fab job shop to focus in on the Bend Sim and Unfolder apps, and the effect they have had in streamlining operations.

Harrison, Ohio – Cincinnati Incorporated (CI), an American-owned and American-built machine tool manufacturer since the 19th century, unveiled its paint scheme for Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE driven by Kyle Larson. The design pays homage to the company’s history while also incorporating elements from the American flag.

Henny Penny, based in Eaton, Ohio, designs, develops and manufactures premium food service equipment such as fryers, rotisseries and holding cabinets that keep hot foods fresh. They have proudly served the world’s most demanding kitchens for over 60 years, and to safeguard their reputation for quality products, the manufacturer depends on CI press brakes. “We are big fans of their durability, repeatability and ease of use,” said Jeremy Horn, Manufacturing Technician and a 21-year company veteran who oversees forming operations at Henny Penny.

In 1999, United Alloy (UA) was founded in Janesville, Wisconsin. That same year, the company welcomed its first Cincinnati Incorporated machine, a 135-ton press brake.

This season, machine tool maker Cincinnati Inc. and heavy-duty truck manufacturer Freightliner will expand their NASCAR programs to become primary sponsors of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for two races each and be featured as full-time associate sponsors of the team.

HEC Manufacturing enjoyed a massive productivity leap after installing a Hyform press brake from Cincinnati Incorporated.