Look for these articles and more in your next issue of Fabricating & Metalworking.

MANUFACTURING CAN STILL COMPETE IN THE U.S.
Mike Riley reviews two recent events he attended that explain how small manufacturers can still gain a competitive edge in this tough economy.

YOU REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL IN A MILLING PACKAGE
Randy Pearson of Siemens Industry shows how you can get optimum surface finish on prismatic parts or complex 3D mold contours without taking a second mortgage!

WELDING WEAR PLATES
Kevin Beardsley of Lincoln Electric examines how to weld Hardox® 400 pads to mild steel plate with hardfacing wire without cracking the weld.

DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN
With so much attention focused on going green and so little definition of exactly what that means, Phil La Duke of OE Learning shows why many firms find themselves trying to do too much without really having a concrete goal in mind or the ability to commit the necessary resources to achieve their goals.

LEAN METRICS: PART DEUX
Last month, Rick Bohan of Chagrin River Consulting talked about the importance of lean metrics and described a process for developing them. Now he explains how to use those metrics so that they serve three large purposes.

WELDING ALUMINUM WITH PULSED MIG
Nick Peterson of Miller Electric examines why aluminum fabricators can look toward future growth by adopting pulsed MIG technology.

THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN PULSE WELDING TECHNOLOGY
Peter Anderson of Thermadyne tells why welders and job shops alike are embracing this technology to remain competitive in a changing industry.

NEXT-GENERATION TUBE BENDING MACHINES MAKE DEBUT
With real-time Ethernet architecture and advanced software to extend the versatility of all-electric bending, new technology from Unison makes complex tube bending a Breeze.

3D LASER CUTTING AUTOMOTIVE PARTS
A new 5-axis laser system from PRIMA North America increases productivity up to 30 percent by producing high quality cut edges free from oxide that are weld and paint ready.

SMART PRODUCTION OF MOLDS
Marc Freebrey of Vero reveals how advanced CADCAM technology helped BK Tooling carve out a niche position as a supplier of prototype/low volume molds before their competitors inevitably move to lower cost economies for higher volume molds.

AS THE WORLD TURNS
This showcase of new turning centers and lathes displays the latest advancements that could make your turning operations more competitive.

WHAT YOUR SHOP MUST KNOW ABOUT PORTABLE CMMs
Ron Branch of V&M Precision Machining and Grinding explains why rapid shop floor inspection with portable CMMs is sophisticated enough to satisfy the demands of the aerospace industry, but also perfect for the small or medium machine shop.

FLYING SCANNING WITH NO INTERRUPTIONS
By using the new fifth-generation CMM technology from Carl Zeiss, it is now possible to scan over interrupted contours, thus enabling the operator to obtain measuring results clearly faster and more easily.

"SCRAPPING" THE SCRAP REMOVAL PROBLEM
The story of how conveyor builder Magnetic Products helped one Midwest manufacturer overcome an unusually high drop from the pass line onto the scrap removal conveyor of its recently installed press.

START YOUR ENGINES FROM THE START
Colin Roberts of SKF Group reports how on-line monitoring is critical for the high productivity and quality achieved with multifunction machine tools used to produce engines in a Dongfeng Honda plant in China.

BUILDING BRAKES WITHOUT A BREAK
By strategically maintaining an inventory of way covers to replace broken ones, two Bosch plants manufacture brake components and braking systems with minimal downtime on assorted machine tools and machining centers.

STEEL MILL REDUCES WATER TREATMENT COSTS
Strict environmental regulations require companies in Northern Europe to clean spent process water before release into rivers and sewers. Stephen Hinton shows how the Outokumpu mill in Avesta, Sweden, turned to Nordic Water for a solution that used screw dewaterers, lamella separators and Dynasand filters.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE CAN PUT YOUR COMPANY AT RISK
Workplace violence is a very real issue in this country, but not something every employer can prevent. Teresa Long of the Institute of WorkComp Professionals shows how putting a plan in place can help employers create a safer environment for employees and minimize potential workers’ compensation risks.

For more, visit the current issue of Fabricating & Metalworking.