contents
February 2010 | Vol. 40 No. 2
www.thefabricator.com
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cover story
34 Waste not, want more General Metal Works (GenMet), Mequon, Wis., didn’t
waste the chance to improve during the economic slowdown of 2009. The company
worked hard to continue its lean manufacturing improvements and chase new business.
Those efforts have helped the company earn The FABRICATOR’s 2010 Industry Award.
Cover photo courtesy of Lila Aryan Photography, Whitefish Bay, Wis..
features
38 Bending perforated weathering steel:
Not a pedestrian challenge Sure Iron Works, Brooklyn, N. Y., was faced with a
fabrication challenge: 0.25-inch-thick HPS 70W steel perforated with diamond-shaped holes
in a lattice pattern and corrugated with positive and negative bends of various radii. Did we
mention that it was for a 62.75-foot pedestrian bridge that was cambered slightly?
42 Reinvigorating your ironworker A metal fabricating shop may realize it
needs new production capabilities, but it may not be in the position to make a large
investment in capital equipment. The answer to that production predicament might be
that universal ironworker in the corner of the shop.
44Two processes sometimes are better than one Senior Editor Tim Heston introduces us to Alabama Laser, Munford, Ala., a company that has developed its own twist on welding. The company calls it Alabama Laser Hot Wire, a cladding process that combines a preheated wire with a solid-state laser.
46 No need for annealing Tube benders in the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning
industry are finding out that they can make the switch from annealed 409 stainless steel to
unannealed 409 for some applications and not experience any drop-off in performance.
48 Bright lights, big opportunity Orion Energy Systems, Manitowoc, Wis., has
found great success with its lineup of energy-efficient lighting. To keep up with demand for its
products, the company decided to bring its metal fabricating activities in-house and reinvent its
production practices.
50 Tons of reasons for a new welding positioner When you manufacture
large equipment, such as an electric shovel that weighs 1,200 tons, you might need a welding
positioner tailored to your needs. Such a scenario led P&H Mining Equipment, Milwaukee, to
look for some outside help.
management strategy
22 Biz Talk Taking control of destiny Zeus Metal Works and its cabinet line represent
a new opportunity for Olympic Steel’s Siler City, N.C., plant.
28 Around Washington EPA wants to get the lead out of the air Lead
emissions have decreased substantially since lead was removed from gasoline, but industrial
emissions of lead actually have increased in that time. The Environmental Protection Agency
wants to reverse that trend.
31 Chief Concerns Getting paid—faster The timing of cash flowing through a
business is not often recognized as being an important business metric. Keep this in mind,
however: Bad timing can cause an otherwise healthy business to become temporarily illiquid.
