FA B R I C AT O R S M A K I N G T O D AY ’ S S K Y L I N E P O S S I B L E
NOVEL IRON
COLLINS INDUSTRIES: Doing Business in a Family Way
50 Years of Steel Fabrication
When discussing interesting places to visit, Edmonton, Alberta normally doesn’t land at the top of the tourist “Best Spots in the World” list. For the most part, American citizens are hard pressed to locate Edmonton—or Alberta—on a map.
Located in the seacoast region of New Hampshire, just off of Interstate 95, is the world class facility of Novel Iron Works, Inc. This industry leader has recently celebrated their 50th anniversary in the steel fabrication business and enjoys the respect of their customers throughout the New England/Boston marketplace. See full story on page 4
Here's a tip: contact your travel agent and book a flight to one of the most vibrant, energetic cities in North America. It’s not just the land of the aurora borealis (commonly called The Northern Lights)— but it is a dynamic center of commerce—especially for the “oil patch” which makes Edmonton a thriving metropolis. Continued on page 2
Paul Collins, Founder/Owner of Collins Industries
ARIZONA STRUCTURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In December, a report was made on the fastest
Collins Industries Doing Business in a Family Way
growing areas of the United States. For years,
2
Novel Iron
Las Vegas held that honor. Who wouldn’t want to
50 Years of Steel
4
Remote Diagnostics
relocate and be a part of the city that claims,
A Standard Feature With Systems Controlled With the Siemens 840 Series of CNC
“what happens here, stays here”?
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Allied Machine
Well, move over Vegas! The current metropolitan
Maximizing Drilling System Performance
area with the fastest growth is now Phoenix…
Design Build Your Shop of the Future
that vibrant jewel in the Southwest that is a mecca
Akhurst Machinery
Don’t Simply Retool…Rethink A Strong Customer Base Leads to Success
for winter weary Midwesterners, and East Coast
12 14 18
Arizona Structure Technologies, Inc.
inhabitants alike.
Move Over Vegas!
20
ACC Machinery Co Continued on page 20
Jeff Hannah, Project Manager for Arizona Structure Technologies
A Look Back on the Early Days of Metalworking
21
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
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COLLINS: Family Business Continued from page 1 The oil industry from the tar sands projects is well known, but there are other business contributors who insure the “oil patch” is pumping. One of the most active and thriving entities is a structural fabricator founded in 1984— Collins Industries. Paul Collins has been in the steel construction business since 1958. He crafted his fabrication skill with the help of his older brothers before “heading out west” to start his own business. In 1984, Collins Industries was founded with two employees, Paul and Bill Hartshore.
Their very first customer was Intex Construction, who later became Ledcor Construction. Ledcor remains a Collins Industries customer to this day. Ledcor is currently working on a joint project with Collins that is called the “Alberta Mall”. This project is over 1 million square feet, with a contract value in excess of $13,000,000.
The manufacturing plant is located in South East Edmonton close to rail links and highways, allowing them to easily ship products as distant as western Saskatchewan and northern B.C. They have even exported miscellaneous metals to Russia.
Collins Industries builds structural steel and miscellaneous metals for commercial and industrial use. In Paul’s words, “In business you either move uphill fast, or downhill fast. You find a niche in the marketplace that works for you."
If you asked Paul Collins the main mission statement or theme for directing his company, he doesn’t miss a beat, “Automation and Education are the keys to Collins’ success”, advises Paul, “Automation started in the drawing
South Edmonton Common Fashion Center
Shaw Conference Center, Edmonton
Automation and Education
Collins—bay one
“ We do about 10 times the production in a month that we did in the first year.”
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
3-D Modeling
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Loading 823 Anglemaster
office so that future CNC data could be fed to the Peddinghaus automated equipment.” “That has been the key to our success”, advises Paul, “By using the latest technologies for fabricating structural steel, we have seen unprecedented growth in our business.”
How Do You Grow A Business? With Solid, Reliable Industry Partners Like many fabricators, Paul Collins purchased a Peddinghaus 210 Super 20 Ironworker to assist in his early structural fabrication process. The Super 20 was rugged, durable with a large punching and shearing capacity—perfectly built as a “do-it-all” machine.
Loading BDL 760 As business grew, Paul continued his string of Peddinghaus success: 1998: A new Peddimax 110/140 Ironworker to assist the old 210 Super 20
823 Anglemaster As Collins Industries continued to grow, he worked closely with business partners with machine tool experience: Akhurst Machinery and Peddinghaus. Akhurst was instrumental in advising Collins to purchase equipment in the proper sequence. This insured proper payback when accruing capital tax investment. “Having a dependable advisor is a comforting strength of the dealer/customer relationship.”
2000: A new BDL 760 drill line complete with material handling system 2003: An FPB 1500 CNC plate processing system from a partnering firm 2004: A new AFPS 823 Anglemaster for 8x8x3/4” and 12x1” plate capacity 2006: A new DGP 1020 patented miter band saw 2007: Awaiting delivery of a new FDB 2500 with High Speed drilling, Hy-Performance Plasma Cutting, Oxy-Fuel, and Scribe Part Marking capacity.
Processed beams Continued on page 6
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NOVEL IRON: 50 Years of Steel Continued from page 1 The founder, Ralph Noveletsky, started the original shop in Malden, Massachusetts. Novel Iron has always been an innovator in the industry. Even before the invention of CNC automated machine tools for structural steel fabrication, they recognized that material handling was key to the success of the company. It has always been Novel’s belief that anyone can fabricate steel, but it’s the flow of the steel through the process that makes the difference. This philosophy is evident from their beginnings. Fifty years ago, they developed and built their own material handling systems.
STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
In 1978 they completed the new shop and their own material handling conveyor and transfer system. At first they relied on a Numerical Controlled Beamline, but then after Peddinghaus introduced CNC beam drilling in 1980, they recognized the advantages of true, three spindle beam drilling. Still not satisfied with out-of-the-box automation, they developed an idea that was soon adopted by many machine tool builders and fabricators. The operator control station was moved to a vantage
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point literally above the infeed conveyor of the CNC multiple spindle drill line. This has proven to be a great success on both their original model TDK 1000/3 drill line and now the state-of-the-art BDL 1250/9. The new control tower gives the operator a clear vision of the drilling operations and the entire shop fitting area. This “NOVEL” idea brings many advantages not possible while working from a floor mounted control location. The design of the multiple spindle drill line makes it nearly
Their ingenuity is further demonstrated by the unique adaptation of a back hoe arm to transfer steel beams from a transfer to a conveyor table. In the early 60s, Novel was one of the first companies in the United States to purchase a beam punch-line. This three punch steel tape beam-line was the beginning of their love affair with automated machine tools. This allowed employees to concentrate on the main task of fabricating steel rather than being tied up with moving material from one station to another and enhanced productivity. Novel did not stop with the beam punch line and continued with a semi automatic dumping system to send beams to fit-up and painting without the use of an overhead crane. In 1977 it was recognized that the growth of the city of Boston made it impossible to expand in Malden, Massachusetts. Land was purchased near Greenland, New Hampshire. With close proximity to Interstate 95 interchange, they now have easy access to the entire New England market as well as the metropolitan Boston area.
An early design of a transfer table to feed a milling type cold saw.
Novel’s ingenuity is demonstrated by the unique adaptation of a back hoe arm to transfer steel beams from a transfer to a conveyor table.
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impossible to see all drilling operations at one time and from one side view. Watching from the conveyors while good for viewing is impossible from a safety concern. Other shops have tried to solve this vision dilemma with closed circuit television. Cameras have improved over the years but coolant spray and other factors still prevent as accurate a picture on a monitor as the human eye looking through a clear window. The camera also only sees a
STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
small focused area while the operator’s window lets him see everything. Now, running out of drill coolant is caught before damage is done to a drill bit. Chip conditions can be monitored and the operator can react before a tool is damaged. The Novel control tower is even more valuable on the Coping machines where torch adjustments are more as torch tips become dirty and beam scale changes. This operator/control position is now standard on all Peddinghaus ABCM-1250-3 Structural Burning Centers.
Novel’s love affair with automated machine tools began with this three punch steel tape beamline.
Novel innovated this semi automatic dumping system to send beams to fit-up and painting without using an overhead crane.
Machine tool monitoring is not the only benefit of having beams running under the operator. In the Novel Iron Works fabrication system, the operator serves several functions. His control station essentially is a command post. Aided by the fact the beam drill line runs automatically, the operator is free to perform other tasks such as controlling the mix of work brought into the shop and distributes the beams to various workstations needing work. After sawing, both saw operators have the ability to send material to numerous holding areas between the outside saw house and the main shop building. The saw operators need only push a button to send the completed member to a specific holding station.
Novel Iron Works storage yard
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Novel today The drill line operator never loses sight of the drilling operation as he selects the next material to come into the shop. This is done with closed circuit television mounted high on the end of the shop that gives him a full view of the sawed material holding area. Just like the saw operator who sent the material to a holding point with a one button operation the drill line operator only has to push the button of the station holding the beam he wants next. It will be loaded onto the roller conveyor and sent just short of the shop entry door. When a beam is finished drilling/marking and layout, the next beam is always waiting. In a matter of seconds the next program is downloaded from the network into the CNC control and the new beam is into production. Now the operator takes advantage of his clear view of the fitup department and quickly establishes which station is available for new work. As the
Following Novel’s lead, the operator control station of the TDK 1000/3 and now the BDL 1250/9 is situated above the infeed conveyor to provide a clear vision of the entire drilling operation. commercial says, “Press it and forget it”! A single lettered button is used to send the completed beam to the next operation. It not only conveys to the waiting station but also unloads. Of course there are safety lockouts if the station is occupied by plant personnel. With the knowledge and experience of being in the steel fabrication business for 50 years coupled with the state of the art technology, Novel is poised to move into the future and remain one of the industry's leaders. It will be interesting to be around in 2050 and look back at the advances in technology that the next 50 years will bring.
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
our young enthusiastic employees who work hand-in-hand with Akhurst and Peddinghaus service technicians.”
COLLINS: Family Business Continued from page 3
“Akhurst has a service staff here in Edmonton. Clayton is a dedicated guy who always goes that extra mile for us. Service with a smile really happens with him.”
Keeping Up with New Technology in the Steel Construction Industry Paul is quick to point out the significance of the Peddinghaus drill line purchase: “The new drill line was very important to our corporate growth as it enabled Collins to reach a new level of accuracy and safety for our employees.” “We purchased the complete Peddinghaus system…here’s why:” • The Peddinghaus machines gave Collins greater accuracy with less human error • It meshed perfectly with our existing X-Steel drafting software • The combination of X-Steel and Peddinghaus greatly increased our production capacity • The Peddinghaus drill eliminated over 10,000 man-hours the first year
Calgary Parkade
What Separates a Good Investment from a GREAT Investment? A successful businessman must be very prudent in his decision making process—especially when it comes to large capital investments like machine tools. The equipment that you purchase becomes the backbone of your operation. Your company also develops an identity within the industry based on the productivity and accuracy of the equipment. “I am delighted with our Peddinghaus machines. Our average return on investment for our Peddinghaus equipment has been extremely fast. Each of the machines has paid for itself in less than 2.5 years.”
Edmonton, Moose Jaw, or Anchorage: Customer Service is Vital to Success When discussing customer service, Paul states it simply, “Peddinghaus and Akhurst have always been there for us if we have any service issues. The most important factor for our success is
Calgary Airport
How Has Employing Technology Helped Collins Industries? “The impact is dynamic”, advises Paul. “The fabricated sections are more accurate, plus we have reduced our labor costs—while increasing production—which is pretty remarkable. This increased capacity has enabled Collins to fabricate larger projects, which grows the company.” Ready for paint!
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“The combination of our people working in coordination with Akhurst and Peddinghaus makes a real difference in our continued success. These guys are very helpful and enthusiastic in their approach to their work. To put it simply, together, we make an excellent team.”
A Family Business Led by the Golden Rule Paul is the youngest of 14 children. The Collins family has been involved in the structural steel industry in Edmonton since 1959. When Paul moved from Newfoundland to Alberta in 1966, he immediately became involved in the steel industry. Married for 31 years, Paul and his wife have five children. Their sons Jason and Ryan play an important role in the family firm while their daughters are pursuing various interests. Paul’s life is driven by his Christian beliefs and strong faith in God and that is reflected both at home and in the office. His personal mission statement has become the mission statement of Collins Industries…
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” Luke 6:31
“I feel extremely proud and excited for the next generation of the Collins family, as our company is as solid as can be. Thanks again to our partners Akhurst and Peddinghaus!” (L to R) Jason Collins, Ryan Collins, Rob Schill and Paul Collins (back row)
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
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WINTER 2007
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
Remote Diagnostics With the Siemens 840D/Di CNC This feature is made possible in part, by including an installation of PC-Anywhere software used in conjunction with a Peddinghaus supplied phone modem or optionally from a network or internet connection to the Siemens CNC.
To continue to provide industry leading customer service and support, Peddinghaus includes
Using this system, Peddinghaus technicians can remotely connect to a customer’s machine to: • Perform routine maintenance. • Diagnose technical problems. • Monitor machine functionality including PLC logic flow. • Add new features. • Perform software updates.
remote diagnostics as a standard feature on all systems controlled with the
This system in combination with expert remote support provided by Peddinghaus will result in: • Less frequent service calls required for the machines. • Much lower total cost of ownership for the customer. • Reduced down time, waiting for a technician to arrive. • Much greater efficiency in performing routine maintenance.
Siemens 840 series of CNC.
The real advantages of this system are seen in cases where the customer’s own maintenance personnel are busy elsewhere or during second or third shift operations when local maintenance is not available. The remote connection to Peddinghaus also provides a level of on-site expertise not previously available to many customers. Machine uptime is improved due to: • Rapid availability of expert assistance. • Rapid “online presence“ on-site. • Rapid data transfer to and from the machine. • Remote administration and diagnostic capability. This system has proven over the last few years to be extremely effective in providing our customers an alternative to conventional service visits, resulting in maximum machine uptime at minimum cost. This lower total cost of ownership is what makes Peddinghaus the value leader in the industry, and the smart choice for your fabrication solutions!
Siemens 840 CNC control
NASCC
THE STEEL CONFERENCE
incorporating the 2007 Annual Stability Conference EXHIBITS April 18–20, 2007 • CONFERENCE April 18–21, 2007 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center VISIT PEDDINGHAUS IN BOOTH #1013
NEW ORLEANS
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
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Peddinghaus Welcomes Paul Muraski as Central Regional Manager Paul Muraski started with Peddinghaus on November 20, and has been working hard in the Midwest... “My first impression of Peddinghaus Corporation is an exciting and energetic organization dedicated to customer satisfaction. From Anton Peddinghaus on down, the focus is always on the customers and creating quality products that serve our market. Since I have a service—as well as sales—background, I viewed the opportunity at Peddinghaus as a “perfect fit”. The focus on customer service at Peddinghaus is “Priority One”, and that makes my job as the Central Regional Manager even better. I am thrilled to be a part of the Peddinghaus Team and I can't wait to hear from you.
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
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The following case study illustrates the potential improvements in productivity and associated reductions in cost that can be achieved by utilizing these new drilling systems.
Drilling System Structural Steel Construction The customer is a steel fabrication shop drilling I-beams. The machine they used to manufacture their product is a Peddinghaus BDL-1250 with 9 spindles with through-tool coolant. The customer was drilling 13/16" diameter holes by 1/2"deep. The machines were being run at 96.85 SFM, .0085 IPR, and 3.25 IPM. They were currently paying $138 per drill and regrinding 5-6 times. The tool life was roughly 600-800 holes. A Peddinghaus representative suggested using AMEC drills instead of traditional drills to save costs. The customer wanted to save time, reduce cost and alleviate problems they were having with regrinding tooling in-house.
AMEC’s Solution Allied recommended using holder #24010H-0041S052 and insert #151A-0026-NP. It was determined that the tools should be run at 125 SFM, .009 IPR, and 5.45 IPM. The results showed for themselves. Regrinds were completely eliminated with these new products and the cycle time was also decreased. AMEC’s cost/hole was also lower than the competition’s cost/hole. For each 1,100 holes processed, the savings with the AMEC tool are $149.64 or 37.00%.
Benefit While running at conservative speeds and feeds, the customer reaped a 37% savings! Based on the results of this application the customer converted all sizes to AMEC.
Use of standard and extended length holders
Starting on an inclined surface
Worn or mis-aligned spindle (lathe, screw machine, chucker)
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Use of low rigidity machine tools (radial drills, multi-spindle drill press, etc.)
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Poor work piece support (radial drills, multi-spindle drill press, etc.)
Flood coolant, low coolant pressure or low coolant volume
Interrupted cuts. Entry or exit surfaces that are not perpendicular to the spindle (draft angles, parting lines, curved or stepped surfaces, cross holes and cast or forged surfaces) Material harder than expected or running tools beyond recommended speed
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Use of high wear resistant tool grades.
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Poor chip control
Spot drilled holes with included angle less than that matching T-A® or cored holes
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Poor material micro-structure or foreign particles: (forgings and castings that have not been normalized or annealed, poorly prepared steel, flame cut parts and sand casting)
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CHATTER
SETUP CONDITION
BUILD UP EDGE (BUE
The introduction of new drilling systems for the drilling of structural steel offers the opportunity for the structural steel fabricator to both increase their productivity and reduce cost. The introduction of inserted type tooling has the additional advantage of eliminating the inconsistencies many fabricators experience in their tool regrinding operations.
BLUE CHIPS
Maximizing Drilling System Performance
BLADE CHIPPING
Troubleshooting Guide
BELL MOUTH HOLE
Allied Machine & Engineering Corp.
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BARBER POLE
STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
ACCELERATED CORNER WEAR
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
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STEP BURNED ON BLADE
• Align spindle and turret or tailstock. • Repair spindle. • Spot hole with stub tool of same or greater included angle as Drill Insert. T-A®
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• Provide additional support for the work piece. • Reduce penetration rate to fall within the physical limits of the machine or setup. (Caution: Do not reduce feed below threshold of good chip formation.) • Use tougher tool steel grades with high wear resistant coatings. • Run coolant through tool holder when drilling greater than one times diameter. • Increase coolant pressure and volume through tool holder. • Reduce penetration rate to fall within the physical limits of the machine or setup. (Caution: Do not reduce feed below threshold of good chip formation.) • Add a peck cycle to help clear chips. • Pre-mill (spot face) entry or exit surface to remove interruption. • Spot hole with stub tool of same or greater included angle as Drill Insert. T-A® • Decrease feed as much as 50% through entry or exit interruption. • Use short holders in low impact entry cuts. • Reduce speed. If a step is worn in the blade, calculate SFM at the worn diameter. Reduce this value by 10% and apply this new value to the original tool diameter. • Increase coolant pressure and volume. • Increase coolant condition by use of quality products and regular maintenance. • Select a tool grade (premium, super cobalt, or carbide) or coating (TiAIN or TiCN or AM200™) that is more wear and heat resistant.
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• Spot hole with stub tool of same or greater included angle as Drill Insert. T-A® • Reduce penetration rate to fall within the physical limits of the machine or setup. (Caution: Do not reduce feed below threshold of good chip formation.) • Use special holder with wear pads or chrome bearing area to work with drill bushing. • Use tougher tool steel grades with high wear resistant coatings.
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• Spot face surface to provide a flat entry surface. • Spot hole with stub tool of same or greater included angle as Drill Insert. T-A® • Decrease entry feel a minimum of 50% until establishing full diameter. • Use special holder with wear pads or chrome bearing area to work with drill bushing.
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POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS • Start with short holders and drill a minimum depth equal to the margin length. • Spot hole with stub tool of same or greater included angle as Drill Insert. T-A® • Decrease feed a minimum of 50% until establishing full diameter. • Use a special holder with wear pads or chrome bearing area to work with drill bushing.
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RETRACT SPIRAL
POWER SPIKES—LOAD METER
POOR TOOL LIFE
OVERSIZE HOLE
NOTCHING OF BLADE
POOR HOLE FINISH n
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HOLE OUT OF ROUND
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EXCESSIVE MARGIN WEAR
DAMAGED OR BROKEN TOOLS
POTENTIAL PROBLEM
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• Compare performance of other tools for similar wear problems, which may indicate poor micro-structure. Anneal or normalize parts to improve micro-structure for machining. • To improve tool life in materials with poor micro-structure try carbide grades. • For hard spots or inclusions use the tougher tool steel grade with high wear resistant coatings (TiAIN, TiCN or AM200™) • Reduce feeds. (Caution: Do not reduce feed below threshold of good chip formation.) • Increase feed to recommended levels. Contact Allied Applications Engineering Group for technical recommendations. • Increase coolant pressure and volume. • Improve coolant condition by use of quality products and regular maintenance. • Spot hole with stub tool of same or greater included angle as Drill Insert. T-A® • Reduce feed. If possible, drill from solid. (Caution: Do not reduce feed below threshold of good chip formation.) • Use tougher grade of T-A® (from carbide to cobalt to HSS). • Increase rigidity of setup.
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
WINTER 2007
Design Build Your Shop of the Future—With Peddinghaus
IT’S
DON’T SIMPLY RETOOL your shop with a new machine...RETHINK your entire PROCESSING SYSTEM The market is vibrant; business has never looked better, and by making a PRUDENT MACHINE
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DESIGN THE MODULAR WAY–One Step at a Time From column lines to crane-ways to concrete floors, Peddinghaus has engineered effective, modern facilities that serve one purpose—to make you profitable. Using today’s Design Build computer technology, Peddinghaus has developed shop material handling systems that routinely increase productivity by 5-40%, depending on product mix.
TOOL INVESTMENT, you can ENHANCE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY and SAVE MAN HOURS per ton on your next job. SOUNDS FAIRLY SIMPLE, RIGHT? WRONG. One of the biggest decisions a structural fabricator will ever make is the selection of proper equipment for his fabrication shop. We encourage you to read the articles in this publication (and past issues) about diverse fabricators serving various steel construction markets. Though diverse, each fabricator wanted Peddinghaus’ expertise in providing an efficient production system for their specific shop facility.
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Save Shop Space–Bigger Isn’t Always Better In this competitive age, what are areas to examine to improve shop efficiency? Don’t invest in a huge building when a small “garage” or “shed” will do. Why pay taxes and maintain thousands of square feet when only hundreds are needed?
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AS SIMPLE AS
STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
15
1…2…3…
Peddinghaus’ patented modular design of CNC machinery, accompanied by conveyors and cross transfers, make it easy to grow into the future. A minimal investment now lays the foundation for future expansion—at your rate of comfortable development.
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Skilled Labor is Disappearing—CNC Equipment Works 24/7
Ask anyone in the metal working industry—not just structural fabrication—and the answer is the same, “I can’t find competent people who want to work in my steel shop”. Everyone is affected—not just you—but fabricators on every continent face the same labor dilemma. The solution is CNC Accuracy and Repeatability provided by solid machine tools that work to YOUR schedule of delivery.
Continued on page 16
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Don't’ Retool…Rethink Continued from page 14
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AUTOMATION SAVES YOU MONEY–Things to Think About The efficiency of CNC Equipment means less operating costs which save you money in many areas: • Ever improving structural software streamline estimating, detailing, drawing releases, and shop production—this data can be downloaded directly into a Peddinghaus machine with no extra steps.
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• Because you can operate much more efficiently, your steel costs are more easily controlled, and your inventory is finally under control.
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• Automation means you control your own destiny; a late delivery from a vendor often means your fit-up and weld schedule is ruined, and now you must juggle your work timetable—costing you time and money.
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• By staging your production, you can run multiple jobs simultaneously—extending your balance sheet and line of credit—for more customers.
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• Each crane lift costs you $50 minimum—spend some time in your shop and observe how many times a beam is lifted, how many spectators “watch”, and generally how production is interrupted. Add up the minutes and calculate times your cost and burden rate. Multiply that figure hourly and weekly— it is staggering
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
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A Peddinghaus investment works within your budget—and your business plan—to make significant improvements in your work flow. The resultant efficiency positively affects your competitiveness and bottom line profitability. Again, don't take our word for it—ask Peddinghaus' customers—they're our best advertisement.
IT’S AS SIMPLE AS
1…2…3…
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STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW
AKHURST MACHINERY: A Strong Customer Base Leads Directly to Success History Akhurst Machinery was established by W.A. Akhurst in 1938. His son, H.W. “Spud” Akhurst joined the company in 1945, after serving with the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II. What started as a family-run enterprise, operating from a one-room office in Vancouver, has steadily grown over the years. Although Akhurst has become a major player in the Woodworking and Metalworking Industries, today it remains a family business. Vice-Presidents Brian and Bruce Akhurst are from the third generation, having joined the company in the late 60s. The company has now moved into its fourth generation with the addition of Graham, Ryan, and Brent Akhurst. The Akhurst “extended family” is rounded out by a dedicated
Akhurst’s Structural Steel Division headed up by George McCarthy and based out of the Edmonton office provides exclusive distributorship for Peddinghaus Corporation, the undisputed leader in fabrication equipment, for the 4 western Canadian Provinces. The relationship with Peddinghaus and Akhurst has been long term dating back to the late 60's. AML factory trained technicians in both Edmonton and Vancouver along with parts and consumables stocked in Edmonton enable Akhurst to respond to customers concerns quickly and efficiently. Service is all-important to Akhurst. Akhurst can assist with installation, training and start-up of equipment and is ready to provide maintenance and repair service if required. An Inventory of over $5 million dollars in machines and parts is maintained at the various Akhurst locations in order to support our customers with the best of service.
its customers.
Current Operations:
Customer Base
Now in its 7th decade of operations, Akhurst employs approximately 80 people. The staff have more than 650
Akhurst success is related directly to our strong customer base. The tremendous amount of large projects in a vibrant oil related market has opened the door for our local fabricators to automate. And automate they have, with the lack of man power facing Western Canada, CNC drill lines, plate machines, Anglemasters and roller tables with transfer conveyors have filled their needs. Peddinghaus and Akhurst Machinery are extremely proud to be a part of the success of the following loyal Peddinghaus customers.
years of collective experience working with Akhurst. In addition to its Head Office and Warehouse facility located in Delta (Vancouver), British Columbia, Akhurst has four branch offices in Canada: Edmonton-Alberta; Mississauga-Ontario; Longueuil (Montreal-Quebec); Dieppe (Moncton)-New Brunswick. Akhurst sells and services machinery, providing equipment and supplies for businesses engaged in an extensive list of activities. These include woodworking, panel processing, sawmill, planer mill, board plant and re-manufacturing, machine tool and metal fabricating businesses. To serve its customer base it draws on a network of quality manufacturers from around the world. Akhurst’s Machine Tool Division serves the metalworking industry in western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba). It supplies CNC controlled turning and machining centers and other equipment for setting up complete maintenance shops, tool rooms and fabricating plants.
RAY ANDERSON Parts & Inside Sales— Edmonton
BRAD SUNDE Parts & Inside Sales— Edmonton
DAN MACDONALD Machine Tool Sales— Vancouver
Akhurst representatives are in constant communication with manufacturers through their regular visits to plants and trade shows, ensuring that Akhurst continues to offer the very latest technology and concepts to its customers.
team, committed to providing value added solutions to
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Waiward Steel Fabricators • Collins Industries Ltd. • Supreme Steel Ltd. • W. F. Welding Ltd. • Northern Weldarc Ltd. • Eskimo Steel Ltd. • XL Ironworks Ltd. • Omega Joists Ltd. • Westower Communications • Norfab Manufacturing Ltd. • Triangle Steel Ltd. • Rampart Steel Ltd. • Spartan Steel Ltd. • Clearbrook Ironworks •
GEORGE MCCARTHY Manager—Structural Steel Division Peddinghaus Product Specialist
CLAYTON HANSEN Service—Prairie Division
BRENT AKHURST Service— West Coast Division
FRED ENGLER General Manager
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ARIZONA STRUCTURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Move Over Las Vegas! Phoenix Is On the Move! Continued from page 1 The astounding growth of the Phoenix area requires a firm foundation— a foundation from a construction company that cut its teeth in Phoenix construction in 1971. A company long “entrenched” in underground, as well as steel construction. An innovative company that not only works closely with its customers—but also says:
“We have learned a great deal from our customers and it has made us a better, wiser company.” Bill Harter, CEO
partners with other steel fabricators in the industry; and thirdly, we always worked with structural steel—from the steel used in building the trench boxes.” If asked for a business model to identify the business, Arizona Structure Technologies would describe itself as a leader in the fabrication of specialty construction products including bridge structures, overhead tubular sign structures and miscellaneous metals with an architectural twist. The company is Certified by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) for major steel bridges with fracture critical endorsement and the Standard for Steel Building Structures. Arizona Structure Technologies even has a full-time certified welding inspector on staff.
Brad Booth, Chief Operating Officer adds, “Our goal is to create a solid relationship with our customers on every project. We always work closely to create an atmosphere of full cooperation and dedication to a focused goal. It is with 100% mutual satisfaction on a successful project that brings us the most fulfillment.” Arizona Structure Technologies, Inc. was founded 41 years ago as Sandvick Equipment and Supply. The main product at that time was trench boxes for underground construction. Trench boxes are vital construction tools when excavating earthwork, as it serves to maintain the integrity of the trench or excavation being created. Trench boxes are life saving devices for the necessary construction to create a “firm foundation” for any job site. The firm known as Sandvick continued to flourish, and in 1995, divisions served customers in Tucson, Las Vegas, Southern California, Dallas, and Austin. The vibrant marketplace for residential, commercial, and highway construction fueled the growth.
How did Sandvick successfully transition their successful equipment business into structural steel fabrication? “It was three areas,” advises Brad Booth, “First, we had great relationships with our customer base of general contractors; secondly, we were good
Saw/Drill tandem system Jeff Hannah, Project Manager for Arizona Structure Technologies, advises that the very first of Peddinghaus equipment purchased was a Peddimaster 1100 Ironworker. The next expansion was in its fabrication capabilities–– and a Peddinghaus Advantage structural drilling production line and 90-degree Peddinghaus band saw was added. This advanced system has dramatically increased shop productivity in the cutting and drilling of full length structural beams, channel, tube and flat bar. Recently, Arizona Structure Technologies again partnered with Peddinghaus to enhance their shop productivity with the acquisition of a flat plate processing system, model FDB 2500/3, a Cambering machine and a beam coping line, model ABCM 1250/3. With the addition of these lines, Arizona Structure Technologies has positioned itself as a leader in the Phoenix market, the fastest growing region in the nation. Arizona Structure Technologies continues on its quest to provide their customers with 100% mutual satisfaction on the many successful projects in which they are involved.
Processing Center
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ACC Machinery Co.
Unique Museum Looks Back on the Early Days of Metalworking
Brake
Imagine an overline drive shaft powered by air and steam. See antique lathes, drills, mills, and saws being driven by belts connected to this shaft. View brakes and other equipment that is either hand or pedal operated. As you watch these historic machines in operation, you gain a feeling of the challenges—and opportunities—that our forefathers experienced as they labored to build a better product for their community and their families. In downtown Phoenix, AZ today, an exquisite collection exists, consisting of antique machines, tools, and the end products derived from these manufacturing processes. This collection was achieved through the motivated efforts of the Arizona Clegg Collection, and is known universally as ACC Machinery Co.
Pillow Stuffer One can experience that even though technology was less advanced, products still were made and life was enjoyed. We sense that great physical effort was required in machining, building, and fabricating products. It’s easy to appreciate the fact that machine tools were—and still are— necessary to manufacture those items we depend upon today such as automobiles, trucks, airplanes, appliances, and medical equipment. Additionally, think of the effort involved in building construction, regardless of being wood or steel—the laborious and often dangerous tasks—to create the homes and factories of the day. One gains a true appreciation for the engineers, machinists, and steel workers who strove for a better way to manufacture. Improving our standard of living was the goal of these pioneering metal workers. Manufacturing still touches our lives in many ways. Without it, we would not have mass communication, rapid transportation, modern
As you stroll through these aisles of the ACC Machinery Co., you understand how manufacturing took root in the late 1800s and early 1900s. We can witness how it took two men to pedal a lathe in order to produce a simple metal part. We become aware of history’s production line and working conditions in the factories of that era. By entering a restored blacksmith Surveyors’ Tools shop, one gains the sense of what true metal fabrication involved. The anvil, hammer, and forge were the blacksmiths’ tools, as he crafted fabricated parts for his customers—usually local farmers, ranchers, and shopkeepers. (As an interesting side note: the first product ever manufactured by Peddinghaus in 1903, was a drop forged anvil.)
Pedal Lathe
Woodworking Tools
Mr. Howard Clegg, started his dream collection of antique machine tools back in 1965. For thirty years, he would seek unique items that traced the history of the metal working— and manufacturing culture. Howard died in 1995, before he could finish planning his dream museum. However, the Clegg family maintains Howard’s dream, and are working to realize his vision.
If you share this kindred thought, contact the Clegg family to learn of their ideas and suggestions. It is our heritage and legacy that we pass to our children—which is the greatest lesson of all. Nickel Stove standards of sanitation and medical care, abundant food and clothing or universal education and leisure time to enjoy. The ACC Machinery Collection celebrates the importance and value of manufacturing itself, as well as demonstrates the progress made since the 19th century. It underscores the necessary relationship between man and machine.
ACC Machinery Co., Inc. 747 Grand Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85007 Tel 602. 258. 7330 Fax 602. 258. 9888 Mr. and Mrs. Kirk McDowell kirk@accmachinery.com
Drill
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Christmas & New Year are traditionally a time for reflecting on the past as well as looking ahead to the future. As I watch my young children play with their newly opened Christmas gifts, I appreciate the challenges and opportunities 2006 brought to all of us at the Peddinghaus family. The New Year is Anton Peddinghaus
promising to do just the same if not more!
The business opportunities in 2006 were fantastic as our industry continued to strengthen and expand, bringing to all of our companies and employees a feeling of confidence about where we are headed. I’m sure that if you own your own company, you are experiencing this confidence and look ahead with enthusiasm to the New Year. How quickly it seems we went from a state of too few orders to a great abundance. It is wonderful to see this growth, but those of us in business know that such growth brings additional challenges that must be dealt with.
Growth To meet and exceed your expectations upon such demands, we have added 100 new employees—that’s a 30% growth in 2006. Training these employees to bring them to the level of our most trusted team members is already in progress, to serve you and your growth demands better. I am sure many of you have had the opportunity to interact with these new employees whether in person or behind the scenes. We at Peddinghaus, hope that your experiences with our new employees are positive. If not, we ask for your patience while bringing these new employees to our standard level of excellence.
VOLUME 21 STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEW Washington and Grove Street Bradley, IL 60915
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World Class Customer Service We have stated and discussed in earlier issues that Peddinghaus management and employees are dedicated to offering the best customer service in the industry. Service support is surely the department where we have made the most significant changes to our organizational structure. This past year we were able to bring our new state of the art “call center” facility to life. This allowed us to greatly expand our capabilities with both additional personnel and support infrastructure. In our continued efforts to strengthen this department, we have recently promoted Mr. Rob Ganzer to Assistant Service Manager. In this capacity he will provide support to our field technicians as well as assisting Jim Bolduc in the day-to-day managing of the service department. In addition to Rob we have added Kristene Wagner as Service Receptionist. Along with Kristene, we hired two new tier-1 telephone support personnel to assist with follow-up phone calls. We always strive to respond to your phone service inquires in a timely manner. Moreover, we have hired two new service technicians to improve our response time for service in the field. The addition of these new employees has allowed us to institute a 24-hour call back policy and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. support for all phone service inquiries. When you have taken advantage of our technical phone support, you will automatically receive a call back inquiring as to the status of your machines. In this, I am certain you will experience an unprecedented level of efficiency and care to all of your technical support needs.
The Future is Bright To our current business partners, we extend a hearty “Thanks”. For those of you who have not worked with us recently or at all, we ask one thing— Give us a call. We are eager to serve you!
I wish you all the very best in your business and personal lives for the coming year.
NEWS FOR THE STRUCTURAL STEEL & PLATE FABRICATOR
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