As metal alloys become scarce, raw materials expert helps fabricators evaluate alternatives
The Yonkers, New York, company produces standard and custom precision miniature to small stampings for markets that include automotive OEMs and aftermarket applications, EMI/RFI shielding, telecommunications, power protection, lighting and oil and gas exploration. CEP is using its rapid prototyping and engineering skill sets along with its experience in a broad range of alloys to help customers consider other options.
“We are very diverse in the types of metals we stamp,” says Kaufmann. “We understand raw materials and how they react to different processes. We took the initiative to deliver the bad news to customers about the status of different metals and are working with them to evaluate whether or not an alternative would work.”
Supply chain issues are going to impact us well into 2022. 
CEP Technologies Corp.
Manufacturing facilities in San Antonio, Texas, and Chengdu, China, also help the stamper cultivate new material sources. “I have a customer with a product that calls for grade 194 copper, a high-strength modified alloy,” says Kaufmann. “Due to extended lead times, we were able substitute the alloy with grade 110 copper out of Asia. The electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper had short lead times, which meant the material could act as an inventory buffer until the 194 copper came in. Transportation costs are higher because you have to have everything air shipped. We opened our Asia facility in 2005. We have an established network of vendors who are vetted, approved and certified.”
With no immediate end in sight to supply chain and transportation disruptions, Kaufmann points out other potential ripple effects. “It doesn’t matter how much material I order right now, if I can’t get it,” Kaufmann says. “The resulting backlog can’t continue to grow because companies facing lead times of 52 weeks or more could decide to redesign a product or phase it out. That could have significant impact on customers. Optionality is lacking in the industry. We’re trying to open new avenues for customers to help them circumvent the shortages.”
M&A
HKS rebranded as ESAB
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, Annapolis, Maryland, announced that all HKS brand equipment—which includes the flagship WeldQAS quality assurance system for real-time monitoring and recording of arc characteristics—have been rebranded as ESAB products. HKS Prozesstechnik GmbH was founded in 1994 in Halle, Germany. ESAB acquired HKS in 2017 to reinforce its strategic focus on automated welding and grow its suite of ESAB Digital Solutions.
Trumpf names new president
Hypertherm, Hanover, New Hampshire, is accepting applications for its Spark Something Great educational grant program. Now in its eighth year, the program will choose 12 North American schools to receive a Powermax45 XP air plasma system and in-person training from a Hypertherm product expert. The Spark Something Great grant program is designed to support the next generation of welders and fabricators by making the newest generation of plasma cutting equipment and standardized instruction available to schools. To date, the company has awarded systems to 76 schools. Applications are due April 1 and grant recipients will be notified May 2.
GM invests $7 billion in EV factories
Fabricator opens fourth shop
Miller Fabrication Solutions added a fourth manufacturing plant to its three existing facilities in Brookville and Homer City, Pennsylvania. The 186,000-sq.-ft. Pine Creek facility brings Miller’s total space to 675,000 sq. ft. Miller Fabrication employs about 400 people throughout western Pennsylvania. The company plans to hire more people for multiple positions in welding, machining, general labor, maintenance and other manufacturing functions.
Comau, Turin, Italy, has developed and installed an automated e-drive assembly line for Geely Automobile Holdings at its Geely Veremt plant in Ningbo, China, for the end-to-end assembly of the electric motor, gearbox and inverter. Designed in close collaboration with the Geely team, Comau’s line uses a flexible automatic production system to assemble the permanent magnet motor rotors, gearboxes and electronics drives, in addition to automated quality control and testing. The solution increases the plant’s automation rate from 40 percent to 80 percent.
Sales team earns award
Hi Pro Equipment Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, won the 2021 Merwin Award, established by Eriez USA, Erie, Pennsylvania. The honor is given to manufacturers’ representatives for outstanding contributions to the advancement of the ideals and mission of Eriez and is exemplified by superior sales performance, high quality service and support, and conducting business affairs in an efficient, capable and friendly manner. Hi Pro Equipment has represented Eriez for 21 years and is now a three-time recipient of the Merwin Award, with previous wins in 2012 and 2017.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Turkish aerospace manufacturer orders giant printer
John Murray, Phillips Corp. product manager
Unison Ltd. has signed an exclusive distributor agreement with Phillips Corp.’s Federal Division in Hanover, Maryland. All U.S. federal government supply contract requirements for tube bending, pipe bending, end forming machines that are received by Phillips Federal will be built by Unison Ltd. in Scarborough, UK, and supplied by Unison’s Danville, Virginia-based North American division. “Unison’s capability and track record with our European allies and international markets make them an integral part of our comprehensive machine tool offering to the U.S. Department of Defense and [other] U.S. government agencies,” stated John Murray, Phillips Corp. product manager.
Sustainability goals laid out
Hypertherm, Hanover, New Hampshire, created a set of four objectives to meet its 2030 environmental sustainability goals. The four goals are to achieve carbon neutrality; reduce the usage impact of Hypertherm products by 50 percent; Reduce waste from all waste streams by 50 percent; and achieve a circular economy score of B.
on ffjournal.net