s we begin the process of recovering from the pandemic, a key component for domestic manufacturing is our ability to embrace and harness the power of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and integrated systems. Although the terms are familiar, I see too much misinformation that overcomplicates these ideas and their implementation.

ammons Metal & Manufacturing Co. Inc. is no stranger to growth. The small metal parts and fabrication shop opened its doors in 1968 and has since maintained an upward trajectory. In 1998, the Indianapolis-based company changed hands. Today, Gammons, helmed by owner Dave Sutton, is one of the largest independent metal fabrication companies in the Midwest. The 70,000-sq.-ft. facility can saw, shear, punch, tap, bend, pierce and notch carbon steel, cold rolled, hot rolled pickled and oiled, galvanized, aluminum, stainless, brass and copper. Its skilled personnel can take parts from prototype to production runs, subassemblies, inspection and shipping. Seamless processing is a hallmark of Gammons. A bottleneck in its cutting operations prompted the manufacturer to look at fiber laser technology that could handle larger volumes.

he W. L. French Excavating Corp. is used to pushing obstacles out of the way. The family-owned business based in North Billerica, Massachusetts, provides a wide range of construction services from mass excavation and soil management to site development, transportation, disposal and snow services. Its motto “We move Boston,” is fitting for a company that moves millions of cubic yards of earth annually, prizes its employees and is deeply embedded in its community. W. L. French needed an equally tough tooling solution to bend parts from Hardox 450 steel up to .50-in. thick using a 325-ton press brake.

utting large-diameter pipe can be cumbersome and time consuming when done manually. After Piping Systems Inc. completed the largest project in its history—a 375,000 linear ft. project with diameters up to 72 in. and wall thicknesses up to 1.5 in.—the fabricator realized its current equipment conveyor system wouldn’t keep up in the long-term. “The equipment’s conveyor we had at the time was only rated for a maximum 500 lbs. per ft. There was no way we could run heavy-wall, large-diameter pipe,” says Tony Kent, vice president, Piping Systems.

conomic activity in the manufacturing sector is growing. In January, manufacturing PMI registered at 58.7 percent. According to the Manufacturing ISM Report on Business, “this figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the eighth month in a row after contraction in March, April and May 2020.”

Businesses like Heat and Control Inc. design specialized machinery for the food industry. “We needed a new laser to meet demand while ensuring high-quality finishing so our customers won’t hurt themselves,” says Jessie Castillo, director of manufacturing.