The past year was a wild ride for Cincinnati Inc. Before we bid a final farewell to 2021, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights of the past 365 days.

When Etobicoke, Ont.-based high-voltage switchgear and protection manufacturer S&C Electric Canada wanted to upgrade its press brake department, it was considering replacing two machines. After review, the team determined that it could actually refurbish one of them, saving money while improving the efficiency, productivity, and safety of its equipment.

Cincinnati Inc. has always had an excellent reputation for being a great place to work. Some of the people in our facility are multi-generation CI employees. What creates that kind of loyalty and, at the same time, brings new applicants to our door? We asked Donna Szarwark, Vice President of Human Resources, what it takes to build a culture of engagement that makes CI an employer of choice.

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.