http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), is a professional organization with more than 1,400 individual and company members working together to improve the metal forming and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and FABTECH International/AWS Welding Show. FMA also has a technology affiliate, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA). en-us Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT 720 28 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator http://t-cdn.dashdigital.com/thefabricator/include/icons/navbar_logo.gif?lm=1335485073000 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201205 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201205        Contents
    Cover Story
        Big bending jobs lead to high–tonnage press brake
    features
        Automated deburring basics
        Cutting the cord on hand tools
        How soft skills make a shop successful
        The new shop on the block
        Steady flow, steady profits
        Made to order, for emergency
        Forming & Fabricating® 2012 GTAW Power Source Buyers' Guide©
        Biz Talk: The importance of coming home
        Around Washington: New OSHA rule calls for shops to revisit hazardous-material handling
        Improvement Insights: The what's-in–it–for–me conundrum
        Chief Concerns: How CRM can help and not hinder the sales rep
        FMA: In The Know
    departments
        From the Editor–in–Chief: Fabricators need to see the light about savings
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Precision Matters: 3–D CAD: Bill of materials construction in project documentation—Part II
        Technology Spotlight: Automated process turns the circular saw blade inside out
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: Like a rock

]]> Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201204 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201204        Contents
    Cover Story
        Axes to mine
    Features
        Justifying a robotic press brake
        How metal-cored wires reduce hidden welding costs
        From green to good
        A character sketch of the code welder
        A (re)moving story: Eliminating condensation
        Balancing the variables for optimal dust collection
    Management Strategy
        Biz Talk
            Delivering on time, every time
        Around Washington
            The remanufacturing industry wants recognition - and help
        Job Shop Lean
            Thinking beyond lean
        Chief Concerns
            The problem with estimating using paper and pencil
        FMA: In The Know
    Departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Precision Matters
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page

]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201203 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201203        Contents
    Cover Story
        Virtual bending, real improvement
    features
        Packing a wallop with the punch
        When it's hot, welding becomes not so hot
        Smart fixturing, serious growth
        Better bonding: A thermal spray primer
        Out with the old batch, in with something new
        Metcam cleans house
        Taking cost out of the welding fixture
        Forming & Fabricating® 2012 Folding Machine Buyers' Guide©
    management strategy
        Biz Talk: The subtle landscape of U.S. manufacturing
        Around Washington: Obama says he wants to help manufacturing
        Chief Concerns: 5 tips for a less stressful ERP migration
        FMA: In The Know
    departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: Manufacturing: No longer the safety net
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Technology Spotlight: A lighter, stronger steel, made in a flash
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: Customization in project documentation
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: Record achievement for metal fabricator

]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201202 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201202        Contents
    Cover Story
        More than a metal fabricator—a problem-solver
    features
        "First in, first to win"
        Fabricating tight ships on a tight deadline
        Tube bending, the lean way
        No holes in modern laser cutting story
        Balancing effectiveness with efficiency
        Forming & Fabricating® 2012 Sheet Metal & Plate Deburring Machine Buyers' Guide©
    management strategy
        Biz Talk: Quick response ushers in triple-digit growth
        Around Washington: Major manufacturing support program survives budget cuts
        Job Shop Lean: Why a timeline analysis of order history matters
        Chief Concerns: Integrating nesting software into MRP systems
        FMA: In The Know
    departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: Signs that the world will notice
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Technology Spotlight: The heavy challenge of rolling heavy cones
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: Project documentation
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: "A creation of me"

]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201201 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201201        Contents
    COVER STORY
        Heavy piercing with plasma
    features
        Why beam delivery matters
        Press brake tooling strategies: Go with the flow
        Industry flocks to FABTECH
        Lessons learned lead to big bounce-back
        Forming & Fabricating® 2012 Punching Machine Buyers' Guide©
    management strategy
        Biz Talk: Capital spending carries the rebound into 2012
        Around Washington: Budget delays threaten OSHA's plans
        FMA: In The Know
    departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: Agendas aside, action still needed to support manufacturing
        Calendar of Events
        Readers' Forum
        Industry News
        Product Highlights
        Technology Spotlight: Surfacing with nanomaterials
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: Project definition
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: More armor for armored cars

]]> Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201112 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201112        Contents
    COVER STORY
        5 commonly overlooked laser maintenance areas
    features
        Reducing tube bending cycle times
        Got milling? You're hired.
        Retrofit and ready for better bending
        Juggling the variables of GTAW
        2012 forecast: The good and bad of economic gumbo
        Forming & Fabricating® 2011 Press Brake Buyers' Guide ©
    management strategy
        Biz Talk
            The value of handshakes
        Around Washington
            Further tightening of hexavalent chromium rules a possibility
        Chief Concerns
            8 hidden costs of material utilization
        FMA: In The Know
    departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief
            Metal fabricating's moment in the
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Job Shop Lean
            PQ$ Analysis: Why revenue matters in product mix segmentation
        Precision Matters
            3-D CAD: Library features
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page
            Finding MAGIC in the trades

]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/2011Robovent http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/2011Robovent        Contents
    PAINT & FINISHING SYSTEMS
    FILTERS
    WELD FUME & METAL WORKING VENTILATION
    OIL MIST & DUST COLLECTION
    PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS

]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201111 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201111        Contents
    cover story
        Concentrating on little things leads to big success
    features
        Less lubricant results in better sawing?
        Robotic welding: Don't forget the consumables
        New process, new welding dynamics
        Electric press brakes bend fast—and safely
        Getting to the bottom of lost welding productivity
        Metal fabrication, the Swiss way
        Forming & Fabricating® 2011 Waterjet Cutting Machine Buyers' Guide©
    management strategy
        Biz Talk: Growing health care revenue by selling direct
        Around Washington: Rare-earth minerals become scarcer for U.S. manufacturers
        Chief Concerns: High mix, fast delivery—on time
        Chief Concerns: Supporting training with e-learning tools
        FMA: In The Know
    departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: Just say "No!"
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: Document management and revision control
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: Big ideas, small sculptures

]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201110 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201110        Contents
    features
        How metal makes music
        Stampers' unique perspectives result in innovative designs
        The ironworker stands ready for production
        A holistic view of holemaking
        The robotic eye watches over heavy fabrication welding
        Engineering firm enters the 3-D world of laser cutting
        Five teams, one company, one goal
        Wet dust collection snuffs hazards of industrial dusts
        Need a light—now?
    management strategy
        Biz Talk: Time is money—so, so much money
        Around Washington: DOE could be targeting fabricators
        Chief Concerns: Who's calling? Your machine tools
    departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: Don't expect a retirement party
        Calendar of Events
        Readers' Forum
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: Producing a 2-D layout from 3-D data
        Technology Spotlight: What's going on now? How about now?
        Technology Spotlight: A helping hand for hand tools
        Technology Spotlight: Adaptive gripper shows promise for jigless welding
        Technology Spotlight: Evolution of flexible laser processing
        Job Shop Lean: Minding your P's, Q's, R's—and revenue too
        Product News
        FMA In The Know
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: Finding patience in the process
    Fabtech 2011
        Show Quick Facts
        Fabtech preview
        Fabtech conference
        Q&A with Chris Kuehl
        Q&A with Harry Moser
        Exhibitor listing
        Exhibitor product preview

]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201109 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201109        Contents
    cover story
        No weak link allowed
    features
        Folding out the waste
        Waiting for welders won't work
        Consumables make a difference in the welding of wind towers
        Nesting software keeps the "lights-out" on
        Uncertainty is the new certainty for metal fabricators
        Forming & Fabricating® 2011 3-D Cutting Machine Buyers' Guide©
    management strategy
        Biz Talk: Manufacturing's multiplier effect
        Around Washington: EPA proposes new rules for waste recycling
        Chief Concerns: The job shop schedule: Always imperfect, ever adapting
        Chief Concerns: Finding fabricating opportunities in the defense sector
        FMA: In The Know
    departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: Stick around for the next "new norm"
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: Well-behaved bend reliefs
        Technology Spotlight: Portable cutting and welding with alcohol and water
        Technology Spotlight: Abrasive microwaterjet technology enters the North American market
        Product News
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: The native son returns home

]]> Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201108 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201108        Contents
    Cover Story
        Design for manufacturability opens doors
    Features
        What's on the horizon for roll forming?
        Seeing the (green) light
        Hands-off tube finishing
        Growing with the right people
        Tool coatings explained
        Forming & Fabricating® 2011 GMAW Power Source Buyers' Guide©
    Management Strategy
        Biz Talk: Putting talent to work
        Around Washington: OSHA wants to expand injury reporting requirement
        Chief Concerns: Finding customers at tradeshows
        Chief Concerns: Streamlining the purchasing job
        FMA: In The Know
    Departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: Retraining America and finding skilled labor: Not a perfect match
        Readers' Forum
        Calendar of Events
        Industry News
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Job Shop Lean: Analyzing product mix and volumes: Useful but insufficient
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: The cure for the bad isometric view
        Technology Spotlight: Automating layout marking for structural steel
        Product News: Technology innovations in the fabricating industry
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: Immortalizing a gridiron tradition

]]> Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201107 http://www.thefabricator-digital.com/thefabricator/201107        Contents
    Cover Story
        Divine rolling
    Features
        Plate milling 101
        One laser head, one plasma torch, one cutting table
        5 wire-feeding advancements welders need to know about
        Gas equipment for CO2 laser cutting: A primer
        Lessons about lean manufacturing
        The material world of self-clinching fasteners
        Forming & Fabricating® 2011 CAD/CAM Software Buyers' Guide©
    Management Strategy
        Biz Talk: Jacob's (career) ladder
        Around Washington: EPA, OSHA backpedal on two initiatives
        Chief Concerns: No games about certification
        FMA: In The Know
    Departments
        From the Editor-in-Chief: America's most wanted: Metal fabricators
        Calendar of Events
        Readers' Forum
        Industry News
        Technology Spotlight: Laser blanking gains North American presence
        Applications
        Product Highlights
        Precision Matters: 3-D CAD: Unfolding problems
        Product News
        The FABRICATOR Metal Market
        Classified Ads
        Advertisers' Index
        The Back Page: Artist finds nearly everything he needs

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