Steel Fabricrator's Review V39 - Winter 2012 by Peddinghaus Corporation

A PEDDINGHAUS PUBLICATION FOR FABRICATORS MAKING TODAY’S SKYLINE POSSIBLE

BMF Polska

Corey

Warrior Mfg.

Ring of Fire Fuels High Octane Production PAGE 4

Demonstrating Strength in Steel in Mexico PAGE 6

Spearheading Superior Plate Production Practices PAGE 10

Tri-State Ironworks: Bridging The Past and The Future Trinity Steel: Training With The Best Peddiblast ™ Blast Cleaning System Peddinghaus’ Brazil Tour a Great Success German Fabricators Rate Peddinghaus HSFDB FabTech 2011 Recap Employee Spotlight Design Data Interoperability Network Conference Getting to Know Duane Bates, Pre-Installation Manager 2011 Fabtrol Customer Event

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VOLUME 39

WINTER 2012

STEEL FABRICATORS’ REVIEW

Want Some Fast Facts To Be Optimistic About Structural Steel Fabrication in 2012? 1. The Architectural Billings Index is up for the second consecutive month which means that architects are working on more new projects.

WINTER 2012

Our Motorcycle tour departs Dallas at noon and heads South to San Antonio, Fredericksburg, and Houston. Our stops include a visit to a working ranch for a REAL Texas experience: horses, roping, riding, fishing, campfires – and the food is a genuine taste of Texas.

2. The Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) is very bullish on 2012…Why?… Manufacturing is driving the economic growth of North America – and that means steel fabrication is leading the way.

Lyle Menke

Mr. Fabricator…

3. New technologies have been developed in structural steel fabrication; not just software innovations, but machine tools that now cover every phase of steel fabrication – from hole making to coping to lay out identification. Machines like the PeddiWriter have changed the face of how structural steel can be produced in the coming years. The PeddiWriter CNC Layout Machine

The fabricators’ tour gives you the opportunity to tour three top fabricators – Markle Manufacturing, Sefton Steel, and Schuff Steel. Tour these facilities to learn why Peddinghaus equipment has made the difference in improving their production and competitiveness.

Are you feeling the “winter blues” about now? Are you concerned about current market conditions for structural steel fabrication in 2012? Admittedly, it is “not the best of times… but it is certainly not the worst of times either”. It’s good to be Optimistic!

4. We talk to fabricators every day; many are advising of healthy backlogs, more work in the industrial sector, and overall renewed confidence in the steel marketplace – encouraging words, indeed.

NASCC – Mark Your Calendar The event is the NASCC Conference; hosted by the Gaylord Texan resort in Grapevine, Texas. April 18 – 20 are the “official” NASCC dates – however Peddinghaus has MUCH more planned for you – we “fire up” the NASCC week, starting on Friday April 13.

Drivers, Start Your Engines! The annual Peddinghaus Fabricators’ Motorcycle tour of Texas ignites the excitement, but with some uniquely new Texas events this year. On April 13, the group visits the Texas Motor Speedway, to attend the O’Reilly Auto 300 NASCAR race that evening. Peddinghaus will host a trackside “Hospitality Chalet” prior to the race with Texas style beverages and dinner.

Peddinghaus Technology Leads the Way on Show Floor Did you know that Peddinghaus has introduced the latest technologies at EVERY NASCC conference for the past ten years? Our engineers remain busy and attuned to today’s technological changes. Once again, we will introduce the latest technologies to the structural fabrication industry at Booth 1201 at the Gaylord complex. Peddinghaus’ newly designed equipment will improve your production, and enhance your profit position in today’s market.

Join Us as we Celebrate Steel on Wednesday Evening Peddinghaus invites our customers to again join us April 18 as we celebrate steel construction at the exclusive Glass Cactus on the grounds of the Gaylord Resort. Again, we will provide the best in food and entertainment – in true Peddinghaus style – with a real “Texas Flair”! Visit www.peddinghaus.com for full details as they become available.

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FROM THE CEO Thank You

First things first…To all of our wonderful customers, business partners, and industry colleagues, let me say “THANK YOU”! Thank you for the confidence you have placed in our products, our people, and our business principles. Thank you for an extraordinary 2011 at Peddinghaus Corporation. To each of you, I give my solemn pledge to provide the highest levels of support, cooperation, and innovation for many years into the future.

Anton Peddinghaus

Our Goal is Your Success What are your goals for 2012? As a new year starts, every CEO evaluates his company, and determines specific areas of the firm need to improve. Today's global economy touches every company, and it is important to be prepared for any unexpected challenge. Remember, today’s challenges always lead to tomorrow’s opportunities. Peddinghaus is unwavering in our primary goal – we want to be your business partner. A partner that is reliable and you can depend upon. How does Peddinghaus achieve that goal? 1. Engineer & manufacture world-class products utilizing today’s modern technologies 2. Support our products with the best customer service support in the industry a. 24 hour telephone support from trained technicians b. Same day parts shipments from our extensive inventory c. Industry leading group of on-site field service technicians 3. Maintain a solid, personal relationship with your team – so your company is SUCCESSFUL! In a nutshell, this is Peddinghaus' core business philosophy. Peddinghaus success is measured only by the success of your company.

FABTECH in Bradley – A Great Event! I wish to thank all of you who traveled in November to experience FABTECH International in Chicago, and our own FABTECH Fest here in Bradley.

We love having visitors come to our “home”, and our events here in Bradley/Kankakee definitely carried a “home town” theme.

Peddinghaus’ Ring of Fire – the Right Application – the Right Machine

We were pleased to exhibit the dynamic HSFDB plate processor to huge crowds at FABTECH in McCormick Place, Chicago.

I urge you to read a cover story in this issue about a unique European fabrication firm: BMF Polska. This firm provides sophisticated material handling systems to the automotive industry.

We were delighted to also exhibit over 20 machines under power here at our manufacturing facility in Bradley. From our new Peddiblast System to our Advantage II drill – there was something for every fabricator to enjoy!

What makes them unique? 1. BMF engages in lean manufacturing principles 2. BMF had a huge contract for Volkswagen with strict delivery deadlines 3. BMF successfully completed the project one month ahead of schedule 4. BMF used the right tool for the application – the Peddinghaus Ring of Fire Continued on page 9

Advantage 2 CNC Drill Line

As you know, the Bradley/Kankakee area is our home, so my wife and I (and our 4 kids) took the opportunity to literally open the doors of our home to our visiting out of town business guests. For three consecutive nights, we enjoyed first class cuisine, outstanding entertainment, and wonderful business networking with overflow crowds every night.

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WINTER 2012

BMF POLSKA

Ring of Fire Fuels High Octane Production The thrill of a sports car can be intoxicating. As the engine roars your hair stands on end, and the pure power and precision of the vehicle is in lockstep with the rush of adrenaline flowing through your veins. This is the thing dreams are made of. When people daydream about this experience, the vehicles may be American classics; Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros. For others, European engineering gets their blood pumping; be it Porsche, Lambourghini or Audi. These modern engineering masterpieces continue to impress car enthusiasts around the world. Paired with advanced research and development, innovative production processes are critical to continue their legacy of superior quality and efficiency. Located in the historic town of Lezajsk, Poland, BMF Polska provides the tools necessary to make these vehicular masterpieces a reality. Famous for sophisticated production lines, these industry titans rely upon BMF’s expertise, and quality engineering to drive their manufacturing with state of the art conveyor systems. These conveyors are made using nothing but the very latest in structural technology, Peddinghaus’ very own Ring of Fire Thermal Processor.

Heinrich Steinbrecher (right), Inhaber/Geschäftsführer (Owner/Managing Director) of the BMF Group with Anton Peddinghaus (left), CEO of Peddinghaus Corporation.

For 360º processing of all structural sections, BMF relies upon the strength of the Peddinghaus Ring of Fire Plasma Coping / Thermal Processing System.

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BMF Polska maintains an impressive, large, ultra-modern facility in Lezajsk.

To accommodate tight shop space, the Peddinghaus Roller Feed advantage comes into play, allowing for superior material handling versatility.

A typical conveyor line from BMF serving the automotive industry.

Conveyor Production Comes Full Circle

The game changed for the team at BMF upon being awarded the winning bid for a large installation of conveyor. This specific project for the Volkswagen group included thousands of tons of structural work, a short lead time, and countless complex components that could only be processed on a unique thermal processing machine.

BMF is no stranger to automation. Outside of automotive conveyor manufacturing, BMF is also responsible for the manufacture of chip conveyors, coolant filtration systems, automobile lifts, and even ATM machines. With such a diverse product line, lasers, press brakes, chip making machines, even plastic injection molding equipment has long been a part of production in Lezajsk. Lean manufacturing is highly valued, and a critical eye is applied when any major machine purchase is made. Much of BMF’s previous equipment catered to these other product lines, and little automation was previously designated for the structural sections that are important for the automotive conveyor lines that BMF produces.

Knowing that many more projects of this kind lay ahead, the team at BMF took a step into the future of fabrication and decided it was time to investigate modern structural automation. Every provider of structural machinery was thoroughly investigated, the machines were closely examined, and when the final decision was made the Ring of Fire was decided to be the ideal combination of precision, strength and speed.

Igniting Efficiency, the Ring of Fire Delivers Results Before the addition of the Ring of Fire, structural processing was done 100% manually at BMF. Everything from block copes to bolt holes were done by hand. Not only did this present the opportunity for error, it was time consuming and costly. The addition of the Ring of Fire completely automated hole making, coping, and part marking for square / rectangular tubes, angle, beams, and channel. With the installation of the equipment, savings were immediately realized. “The Ring of Fire came at the perfect time. It was just before a big project and we had plenty of time to rearrange things and train our operators on the machine for when production started. We now have one person running the Ring of Fire whereas before we had many people doing layout, drilling, and hand cutting,” Dariusz Kuras, Production Manager stated. “With this one operator on the Ring of Fire, everyone else is busy with welding and fit up because we are processing structural sections twice as fast as before.” Continued on page 8

BMF’s conveyors service many popular European Auto-makers, including the Volkswagen group.

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STEEL FABRICATORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; REVIEW

WINTER 2012

COREY

Mexican Fabricator Demonstrates Strength in Steel 22,000 metric tons (24,250 inch tons) of fabricated steel is just another project to Corey, fabricator and erector. Corey is a fabrication powerhouse in Mexico, and an industry leader globally. Generally known for high tonnage structures, Corey has also dabbled in the art and precision that goes into bridge fabrication and erection.

The Birth of an Industry Titan Based in Guadalajara, Mexico, Corey was established in 1981 specializing in the design, manufacturing and erection of steel structures. Corey is a subsidiary of Aceros Corey, a distributor of structural steel and wide plate founded in 1979; together (Corey & Aceros Corey) they make Grupo Corcal Acero VGS. Corey thrived and became a big industry player after the construction of the Torre Mayor, a skyscraper in Mexico City. Towering at 225 meters (740 ft) high, the Torre Mayor became a turning point for structural steel in Mexico. Corey began construction of the Torre Mayor in 2000 and completed the structure in late 2002. What makes this skyscraper such an important structure for Corey is the January 2003 earthquake in Mexico City. The 7.6 tremor shook the entire city relentlessly. Not only did the building survive undamaged, but occupants inside at the time did not even know a quake occurred. The nearly finished steel structure was able to withstand the devastating effects of the earthquake, while the concrete buildings surrounding it crumbled to the ground.

Marco Calderon of Corey and Jose Cavazos, Peddinghaus Director of Latin American Operations have worked together to design the expansive Corey fabrication facility in Guadelejara, Mexico.

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The Peddinghaus ABCM-1250 coping system is a reliable, and cost effective system for cutting intricate copes of all specifications.

Large assemblies are no issue with the advanced automation employed at Corey.

The BDL-1250/9B 9 spindle drill line handles the largest and heaviest profiles available on the market today.

The material handling of profiles is expedited with the application of Roller Measurement on all equipment at Corey.

Succeeding in Today’s Market

Since 2003, Corey has flourished to become the leading steel provider, fabricator and erector in Mexico. In 2010, Corey opened a new facility in Guadalajara, which merged three of their smaller locations (Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City). The new 'college campus' size facility includes 50,000 square meters (538,195 sq ft) of shop space; considerably surpassing the previous 15,000 square meters (161,458 sq ft) combined shop space of all three merged facilities.

Corey purchased their first Peddinghaus machines in 1994. The steel giant was referred to Peddinghaus by partners, Schuff Steel in the U.S. The purchase of a Peddinghaus TDK drill and an ABCM coper was the start of an advantageous relationship between Peddinghaus and Corey. Since then, Corey has procured several drills, plate machines, saws and iron workers.

“The new shop doubled our production capacity and tripled our storage capacity,” Javier Villa Torres, Director of Operations said. “No other company in Mexico can even come close to our production capability!” With about 800 shop employees working on three shifts, Corey processes 72,000 metric tons (79,366 U.S. tons) of steel annually with Peddinghaus machines.

“We needed efficient machines to help us keep up with demand,” Marco Calderón, Plant manager said. “Peddinghaus machines are strong, low maintenance, and effective machines for operation.”

High Efficiency Leads to Big Payoff Corey is the perfect example of a high efficiency shop. Currently Corey has two band saws to feed the BDL-1250 beam line, which then can feed into the coper if needed.

A second ABCM-1250 automatic coping system uses modern Siemens electronics for streamlined production.

“We used to have the drill and saw in tandem, which was working great,” Calderón said. “However, we were not keeping the drill busy enough that way. Our set-up with two saws feeding into the drill allows us to process much more in the same or less time, and keeps the drill busy.” Setting up a shop of this size can be tricky. To ensure maximum efficiency Peddinghaus Layout engineers assisted Corey with their shop layout. Currently Corey is running two different layout systems. Previously mentioned, one system has two saws feeding into a BDL drill and the drill feeding the ABCM coper if needed. This set-up also has a third saw feeding the coper directly for special applications. Corey’s second system is a PCD-1100 feeding an additional coper. Separate from the lines, Corey has three FDB plate machines opposite of the PCD/coper line, and 4 iron workers at the end of the triple saw/BDL/coper line. Continued on page 8

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BMF POLSKA Continued from page 5 With a single person running the Ring of Fire, all holes, copes, and length cuts are processed on structural sections to easily provide 100 tons per week of processed steel (on two 8 hour shifts). This tonnage is achieved processing a large amount of light material, with many complex cuts. The Ring of Fire maintains such a high piece by piece production rate that they had finished a full 2,000+ ton conveyor line for the Volkswagen group one entire month ahead of schedule, a record time! Complemented by a 4 turbine Peddiblast shot blasting system, the Ring of Fire has proven that BMF can now pursue more aggressive projects, and maintain flexibility with a modest labor investment. The Peddiblast provides superior blast cleaning finish of parts after being processed on the Ring of Fire.

In the Fast Lane to Success, BMF Does It All Armed with their Peddinghaus Ring of Fire, BMF can accommodate all of their production needs in one place, with a very low labor investment. “We estimate that our production capacity could be maximized at around 10,000 tons annually. Our new Peddinghaus equipment is a key part of this process. We have even moved ahead and will soon receive a Peddinghaus HSFDB plate processor to complement this system” said Dariusz Kuras, “This will enhance our plate capabilities for heavy plate, and allow us to perform operations such as cutting, drilling, tapping, and milling on one station, further expanding our production capability.”

For further information on BMF and the markets they serve please visit http://www.bmf.de/ or http://www.bmf-polska.pl/.

Parts processed on the Ring of Fire, and blasted on the Peddiblast are welded to plate components for the next step of the production process.

COREY Continued from page 7 “The layout engineers were really helpful,” Calderón said. “The Peddinghaus representative put us in contact with the right people at the Peddinghaus headquarters. With a shop as large as ours, and with as many machines as we have, it was important to for us to maximize space and efficiency. We wanted the upgrade to the facility to payoff. Our shop layout definitely helps improve our efficiency.”

Large Tonnage for a Large Shop Although Torre Mayor was a great triumph, it is not the only great accomplishment from Corey.

The Peddinghaus Advantage (PCD-1100/3B) drill line is ideal for lighter sections that Corey fabricates.

The F-1170 plate punch is a robust machine which has served Corey for many years.

Large, complex assemblies are "just another day in the office" at Corey.

The BBVA Bancomer headquarters is to be completed in 2013 and will tip the scale at 22,000 metric tons (24,250 U.S. tons) of fabricated steel. Baluarte Bridge is the 3rd highest (390 meters/1,280 ft) bridge in the world and the longest span in Latin America (580 meters/1,903 ft). When completed in early 2012, Baluarte Bridge will equal 5,000 metric tons (5,511 U.S. tons) of fabricated steel. The most challenging project for Corey was the Arena Ciudad de Mexico. Erectors had to use 1,000 metric ton cranes to lift each 450 metric ton piece. Completed in 2011, the arena measures at a lofty 140 meters (459 ft) wide and

17 meters (55 ft) high, the Arena Ciudad de Mexico can hold up to 22,000 people! “We contribute part of our great success to our Peddinghaus machines,” Calderón said. “Without our Peddinghaus machines, we would not be able to operate as efficiently and put out as much work as we do now. We are very pleased with the quality of Peddinghaus machines, employees and service. We have so many [machines]; we are like a showroom for Peddinghaus!”

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FROM THE CEO Continued from page 3 Why is the Ring of Fire the right application for BMF? It is pretty simple… They thoroughly investigated all the other plasma cutting machines on the market – including all of the robotic machines. The Ring of Fire was a machine tool – strong, sophisticated, and designed for heavy production. Importantly, Peddinghaus services every aspect of the Ring of Fire. Other robotic coping machines use a robot purchased from one vendor, applied to a plasma system from another vendor, added to electronics from a third vendor, with software from a fourth vendor, etc, etc. If that robotic machine would break, where do you go for service? The Ring of Fire installation at BMF is the right tool for the right application. Holes, copes, cut offs, miters – everything needed for BMF’s production is met with the Ring of Fire. Read more about the right choice for BMF – Peddinghaus!

NASCC is Coming Soon Mark you calendar for April, 2012 – and be prepared to travel to Dallas – the NASCC conference is coming to the Gaylord Texan Hotel. As usual, you can count on Peddinghaus to have a world class program for your enjoyment! Here are a few activities to whet your appetite for Dallas: 1. Our annual Fabricators’ Motorcycle tour of Texas starts April 13 • Start ’em up at Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR O’Reilly 300 • Join in our trackside “Hospitality Chalet” and enjoy the race from special seats

• Head out Saturday as we ride the Scenic Texas Hill Country – voted best in USA – on our way to San Antonio and Houston! • Participate in some “Real Texas” at a working ranch – riding, roping, and recreation! • Enjoy authentic Texas style food and drink in every mile • Visit 3 State of the Art Fabricators and build your business 2. The Gaylord Glass Cactus Club is the venue to be on April 18 at 7:30 • Comedy by John Pinette • Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders • Live Music • Texas Style Food and Beverages • Fireworks • And “Special Guests of Honor” 3. The Biggest, Best Booth at the NASCC Show – • NEW technology from our engineers • Wait until you see what we will demonstrate this year! Watch our website for more details – network with the best – Peddinghaus!

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WINTER 2012

WARRIOR MFG

Spearheading Superior Plate Production Practices Warrior Mfg. in Hutchinson, Minnesota manufactures robust, and innovative equipment to harness the world’s natural resources. Using Warrior’s methods, the international Grain, Feed, Fertilizer, Energy, Water Treatment, Sand & Gravel, Wind Power, and Mining industries are only more efficient in fueling today’s societies. With a product mix so diverse, production at Warrior is anything but “another day at the office”. Here manufacturing requires a holistic approach to cost reduction, and quality assurance to ensure success. Certified by the AISC, CWB, and AWS, Warrior Mfg. is deeply committed to both superior production standards, and the advancement of their global marketplace. Always on the cutting edge of technology, the team at Warrior is constantly looking for ways they can improve production. The ability to respond quickly when demand dictates is priority number one. In addition to responsiveness, the ability to control cost of materials, and reduce labor are also factors for success. With this in mind Warrior Mfg. made an investment in plate processing technology that has become a primary component to their competitive advantage, the HSFDB Plate Processor.

(Left to Right) President of Warrior Mfg. Paul Soukup & Peddinghaus Regional Manager Paul Muraski

Plate Production Takes Precedence at Warrior

different kind of plate machine that stood apart from traditional X-Y plasma tables.

The discovery of the HSFDB was an unexpected breakthrough that led Paul Soukup, and his team at Warrior on a journey to even leaner manufacturing. During a fact finding mission to another steel fabricator in neighboring Wisconsin, the team learned about a very

“When we saw the Peddinghaus plate machine design we knew we needed one,” stated Soukup, “Everything happens in one place on the Peddinghaus machine. There is no picking up parts and taking them to a separate station, which used to be common place in our production.” Previously at Warrior Mfg., plate components were achieved on a typical X-Y burning table, and dispersed among several operating stations for punching. In some scenarios these parts were even transported to their Redwood Falls location (approximately 60 miles [97km] away) for drilling, tapping, etc. If these processes were not suitable for their application, plate components were simply purchased from an outside vendor. Warrior’s decision to invest in an HSFDB plate processor immediately alleviated the headaches of the previous system, and condensed plate production into a single operating cell. “The machine eliminated 4 additional workstations within the shop. This means there are 4 people that are no longer spending their time processing plate, and can focus on other tasks such as welding, fit up, or painting.” Soukup stated, “Not only does this make our production more cost effective, but our reaction time is second to none, giving us a real competitive edge when deliveries are concerned.”

The Ultra-Modern HSFDB Installation at Warrior’s Hutchinson, MN – USA Facility.

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STEEL FABRICATORS’ REVIEW

Using Shop Data Systems software, the HSFDB at Warrior is capable of cutting square parts and yielding virtually zero scrap as no skeleton is required by the machine for operation.

Finished materials at Warrior have plate components with many hole sizes, processed in a single pass on the HSFDB plate processor.

Warrior’s product line also includes components for farm implements.

Peddinghaus plate machines move material to the operating zone, allowing for innovative cutting techniques, and superior handling efficiencies

The Roller Feed Advantage

As if scrap savings, and efficiency were not enough, pure manual intervention is lessened with the HSFDB. Operators stand safely behind protective barriers, and are not required to climb on tables to manually remove parts by hand. The Peddinghaus method of pass through production rigidly clamps, and crisply moves material through the production process. This allows for an automated dump table operation where finished parts are delivered into a bin, and easily moved to additional processes such as welding and painting. After extended production runs, only a single lift is needed to move entire nests of parts.

superior service commitment. We know if a problem ever arises, Peddinghaus is there to help us. This allows us to operate our business with the utmost confidence in our equipment.”

Continuing with Confidence

To learn more about Warrior Mfg. and the products that they offer visit: http://www.warriormfgllc.com/

The HSFDB’s unique Roller Feed design provides powerful production possibilities. It’s installation not only brought forth faster throughput, but provided serious scrap savings. This innovative design allows for unique cutting techniques including Edge Start, Common Cutline, or Chain Cutting. Using Shop Data Systems software (Peddinest), Edge Start cutting allows parts to be cut from the very edge of plate. Common nests are processed in zones, yielding no skeleton whatsoever, and provide the potential to create parts with as little as 5% scrap – if not less! “We commonly process Base Plates, Tower Stiffeners, Splice Plates, Gussets, and more on our HSFDB and have seen immense drops in scrap waste compared to other plate production methods,” said Soukup. “A 10% difference between machines on common parts is a very fair estimate when comparing the two.”

“Bigger, Faster and Stronger machines are all well and good, but innovative technology is nothing without the support and people who stand behind them,” stated Paul, “Peddinghaus was always there from day one with their

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Looking back on their plate machine investment, Paul states with no hesitation that his decision will propel the company into the future. “When I look back at the plate machine purchase experience it was a ‘no brainer’ decision. This machine made us an even bigger player in our industry. Now that we can process our material faster, with less labor, and at a higher level of quality, the sky is the limit.” stated Paul.

STEEL FABRICATORS’ REVIEW

A True Oktoberfest Story

TRI-STATE IRONWORKS

Bridging The Past and The Future 586,000lbs (265.8 metric tons) of steel was hoisted in the air with two 500 ton cranes all at once to erect the FedEx pedestrian bridge in Memphis, TN. Stretching the length of 225 ft (68.6 meters) pier to pier, the FedEx pedestrian

Tri-State’s owner, Berry Todd, brought his family out for Peddinghaus’ 2008 Oktoberfest. “It was neat to see all different kinds of equipment running all at once; it truly gave me an idea as to what Peddinghaus is capable of,” Berry Todd, CEO said. “At this point I had only one piece of equipment. I met a guy there who said he had 99 pieces; the next day he had 103. That really tells me that Peddinghaus customers believe in the product they are purchasing, and for good reason.” After Oktoberfest, Mr. Todd purchased several more machines from Peddinghaus as well, and has yet to have a complaint.

bridge spans across a busy six-lane road. This is just an everyday job for Tri-State Ironworks, Inc.

Tri-State Ironworks is a structural steel fabricator and erector in Memphis, TN since 1994. Founded on core values of honesty, hard work and determination, Tri-State has become an industry leader in fabrication and erection of structural steel in the Southeast. From large industrial and commercial buildings to small handrail jobs, Tri-State is devoted to developing lasting relationships with their customers. Producing 4,200 tons of fabricated steel annually, Tri-State never shies away from big projects.

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“The design of the bridge made it slightly difficult to produce as the bridge is extremely wide and tall,” Gary Whitten, Project Manager and AISC Field Director said. “When erecting a bridge of this size, it is important that the parts used are spot on. Peddinghaus helps us achieve the accuracy needed to erect these kinds of bridges.”

The Peddinghaus PCD-1100/3B in tandem with 1250-510 band saw drives production at Tri-State Ironworks.

“We are a smaller shop and we can still compete with the big ones,” Barry Todd, President said. “We have not found a job too big yet.”

A Big Job with Big Time Accuracy TriState received a request for proposal (RFP) for the new FedEx pedestrian bridge. They won the bid and got straight to work. The FedEx pedestrian bridge will make it possible for FedEx employees to walk across a six-lane road safely to work. The bridge required 16 ft (4.9 m) trusses, which were assembled at Tri-State's facility. The remaining assembly was done on the job site to ensure accuracy. All of the parts used to construct the bridge were fabricated on the Peddinghaus PCD drill line. “I don’t know if any other machine line is better, but Peddinghaus gets the job done for me,” Todd said. “Our Peddinghaus machines significantly increase production from ‘blacksmith’ days.”

The entire fabrication process took 2.5 – 3 months to complete. However, the initial installation only took about an hour, using two 500 ton cranes, one at each pier. Due to the weight and height of the bridge, installation was delayed several weeks, as wind speeds were too high to risk lifting the bridge. Regulators stated that the wind could be no more than 11 mph in order to lift the bridge for installation.

The FedEx pedestrian bridge in Memphis, Tennessee.

The AFPS-643 Anglemaster is ideal for angle bracing and clip angle applications.

“Peddinghaus treats us like family when we call in for something. Not everyone at Peddinghaus knows Tri-State Ironworks, however they still treat us with that same level of respect. I can call day, night, weekends and I always have someone, whether at the Peddinghaus headquarters, or my sales person, someone is always available to help us. ”

AISC Certified Tri-State is proud to be AISC certified representing the various fields of expertise that they bring to a structural steel project. Some of their certifications include: • Standard for Steel Building Structures • Standard for Steel Bridges • Certified Steel Erector • Fracture Critical Endorsement The AISC certification is routinely updated with regular inspections.

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STEEL FABRICATORS’ REVIEW

TRINITY STEEL

Training With The Best Peddinghaus offers extensive training courses for customers who purchase a new machine. These courses are available for machine operators and other shop personnel who may need to know how the new machine operates. Trinity Steel, in O’Fallen, MO took advantage of this training opportunity and sent two CNC operators to Peddinghaus’ headquarters in Bradley, IL. The Trinity operators, Abdon Ramirez and Chad Brockmiller, came to receive training and certification on the Ocean Liberator.

Abdon Ramirez (far left) and Chad Brockmiller (far right) with Peddinghaus Training Manager Keith Birge.

During Liberator operation and Peddimat software programming training, Abdon and Chad were sent a new project drawing of a possible future job. Trinity wanted to see if the new machine was capable of producing the special cuts required for the project.

Trinity predicts they will save 2-1/2 hours per piece due to their new machine investment.

The trainees took on the task as a class project and were able to program the part using Peddimat and run the finished product exactly as required by the specification of the drawing. “This experience lent to their ease of understanding the new equipment, though every CNC machine and program has its specific details,” Rich Adams with Trinity Steel said. “We will save about 2 1/2 hours of pure cutting time for each of the 24 cuts needed. Our layout time will be entirely eliminated. This machine will enable us to expand our core fabrication market and explore opportunities that will allow us to take full advantage of our full AISC certification.”

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WINTER 2012

Blast Cleaning System A GUIDED TOUR OF THE MOST ADVANCED BLAST CLEANING CENTER IN THE INDUSTRY TODAY The less operation time endured by the blasting turbines, the longer lasting all components of the machine will be. In addition to this, the height of the profile is calculated with this laser device, and used for the automatic adjustment of the abrasive brush at the exit of the machine.

MANGANESE BLAST CHAMBER AND HOUSING Competitive machines simply do not offer such a feature in today’s market, and rely on the operator to control the on/off of the system, and also adjust the abrasive brush completely manual. This simply wastes consumables, and provides the opportunity for error, further damaging the machine.”

The Peddiblast blast cleaning system, powered by AGTOS, has seamlessly penetrated the structural market by maintaining all the traits of a Peddinghaus machine. Strength, power, and ease of use make this machine the ideal complement to any structural system. Peddinghaus exhibited the Peddiblast blast cleaning system for the first time in the USA during FABTECH 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. During this showing, the Peddinghaus RT-1500 shot blasting machine left a lasting impression on customers from all over the world with its clever concepts, and superior design.

“The chamber of all blast cleaning devices is subject to deterioration due to the nature of the blast cleaning process. That is why with the Peddiblast, powered by AGTOS, all internal lining and external housing consists of extremely wear resistant manganese. This material will not only resist damage from the blasting process, but also will become work hardened over time; thus reducing the need to replace components as is the case with other blast cleaning centers. This feature sets the Peddiblast apart from competitors who typically use high tensile steel for the housing of the machine, and line the inside of the machine with manganese. What this introduces is the two materials will wear at different rates. Over time, the manganese will wear, and if regular steel comes into contact with the blasting spray it simply will stand no chance against the machine. The lining will wear and can leak blasting abrasive within as little as 30 minutes of operation.”

SINGLE DISK TURBINES “The single disk design of the Peddiblast turbines is intended to be easier to maintain, and more effective in operation. AGTOS Sales Engineer, Christian Remmes, took a moment to speak with the Steel Fabricators’ Review about what truly makes this machine a Peddinghaus quality blast cleaning system. Take it from the expert on how this machine truly is Peddinghaus quality through and through.

MATERIAL DIMENSIONING “The entry of the Peddiblast is uniquely designed to not only seal all blasting abrasive within the machine, but provide feedback to the control as well. Fitted with a laser curtain, the Peddiblast senses the profile upon entering the machine. This is important as the machine tracks the location of the profile throughout the blasting process. This information is used to limit the amount of time the turbines are actively blasting.

Competitive double disk designs of turbines maintain more wear parts, including bolts that fall within the direct path of blasting. Not only do these wear prematurely due to their placement, they also decrease the blasting path of the turbine as they interrupt the flow of abrasive. When abrasive comes into contact with this obstruction, it can be ruined as a result, further escalating consumable costs. The single disk design of the Peddiblast is not only more cost effective in terms of consumables, but 30% more efficient due to its light weight, maintains a more consistent blasting pattern, and above all is easier to maintain.”

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SUPERIOR SHELL VALVE PLACEMENT “The unique nature of blast cleaning equipment is such that the machine wears rapidly with unnecessary use.

THE ENTIRE PEDDIBLAST IS DESIGNED TO BE MAINTENANCE FRIENDLY

The distinct location of the shell valve system on the Peddiblast stops the flow of abrasive within close proximity of the blasting turbines, thus maximizing the longevity of blasting turbines. As the profile passes through the machine it is tracked by the blast system. When it is no longer within the blasting zone of a specific turbine, the flow of abrasive is stopped.

Blast cleaning equipment typically requires more maintenance than other types

Due to the shell valve’s close proximity to the turbines, the reaction time of shot flowing to the turbine is almost immediate, minimizing the amount of abrasive that flows through the turbines after the valve has closed.

machine throughout its useful life.

of fabrication machinery (drill lines, angle lines, etc). This means that enhancing typical maintenance can provide huge labor savings, and reduce the overall cost of the

A Extra large maintenance doors throughout the machine allow for easier access to critical components and eliminate the need for operators to enter the machine for simple processes

When abrasive is flowing through the turbine, and the part is not within the zone of blasting, the machine is only wearing its core components with no benefit to the fabricator.”

B The rubber seals throughout the machine are easily removable without the use of tools, and simply slide out of the machine

THE WIND SEPARATOR The wind separator of the Peddiblast is critical for superior blast finish. By allowing for the adjustment of the pressure within the wind separator, the Peddiblast ensures a smooth, homogeneous blast curtain. This increases the effectiveness of the machine, and optimizes blast quality. This part of the machine also filters waste from the machine, and allows for easy access to remove this waste.

C The heavy duty buckets within the bucket elevator are accessible from both the front and the back of the elevator belt for faster maintenance and added workspace

THE ABRASIVE RECLAMATION CHAMBER

D The filters of the Peddiblast are easily removed from outside of the machine without the use of tools, and slide with ease out of the machine for easy maintenance. Additionally their conical shape increases their lifespan and overall effectiveness.

“The exit side of the Peddiblast is all about containing the abrasive used during the blasting process. Armed with a tightly sealed reclamation chamber, both an automatic abrasive brush and blower unit are used to ensure that valuable abrasive does not exit the machine. The automated abrasive brush adjusts to the height of the profile automatically based on the feedback of the laser curtain located at the entry of the machine. This minimizes operator intervention, ensures maximum cleaning capability, and increases the lifespan of the brush used in the cleaning process.

As the profile is exiting the blast cleaning center, a final set of rubber curtains and powerful abrasive blower unit ensure that all remaining abrasive and dust are properly contained within the blast cleaning center. Once the profile has exited the machine these systems are automatically disengaged.”

AGTOS is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of shot blast equipment. AGTOS engineers have developed their knowledge by designing specialized shot blasting solutions for a wide array of industries. The company has many references of various machine types on all continents and focuses on high performance shot blast machines for all industries.

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PEDDINGHAUS TOUR SPOTLIGHT

Brazil Tour Was A Great Success! The 2011 Brazilian Fabricators’ Tour began November 6, 2011 in São Paulo, Brazil, and concluded November 12, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro.

“An excellent trip done in a first class manner as we’ve come to expect from the Peddinghaus organization,” Jeff Gibson of MetCon said. “Many thanks!”

“It was neat to see the creative way they utilized small spaces,” Gibson said. Shops visited included:

The tour showcased the expertise of Brazilian steel fabrication leaders. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to network with industry professionals as they toured state-of-the-art facilities, and witnessed innovative concepts that add profitability to everyday operations.

• Alphafer Construcoes metalicas Ltda • Sigper Ind. E Com. De Estruturas • FAM Construction Metalicas • CODEME Engenharia & CODME Taubaté • Brafer Construction Metalicas • ASN Industrial Ltda • InfraSteel Construction em Aco

“I enjoy the camaraderie with the other US fabricators,” Bill Sheffield of MetCon said. “Excellent organization as usual but I also thought the selection of fabricators was exceptional.”

Peddinghaus hosts a series of shop tours every other year. Don’t miss out! Join us next time for an exclusive steel fabrication tour!

Along with stops at various fabrication shops, attendees had an opportunity to tour Brazil as well. The voyage was filled with entertainment and world class fabrication technology.

Beyond fabrication, the tour included stops at many historic locations.

Anton Peddinghaus, CEO of Peddinghaus Corporation joins friends for a meal during the tour.

Destinations included São Paulo, Belo Horizante and Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is the ‘country of the future’. Excursions included guided tours of historic centers, soccer matches, museums, statues, architectural tours, city tours, and much more!

The FPB-1800 is a popular machine throughout Latin America due to its strength, and durability.

Superior shop flow is the secret to success in many of the facilities visited in Brazil.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

German Plate Processing The Peddinghaus HSFDB plate processor is truly a global innovation for plate production. It doesn’t matter if the fabricator is located in Australia or Asia, manufacturers throughout the world are realizing the true power of the Peddinghaus method for productivity. Steel stockholders, structural fabricators, and manufacturers are all sharing the benefits of this high capacity, and truly versatile machine. The Steel Fabricators’ Review took the opportunity to gather feedback from HSFDB users throughout the world. This issue Germany is in the limelight, with three progressive fabricators expressing their feedback on this latest innovation. How do you feel this machine compares to burn table machines, what prompted you to look for a machine and why did you choose the HSFDB?

BUTZKIES & CO. STAHLBAU GMBH: The HSFDB 2500 is the next great milestone from Peddinghaus after the release of the FPDB-2500. The 8 station tool changer which also maintains the carbide scribing unit has proven to be extremely fast. In addition to the fast tool change process, the drilling speeds and feeds are incredibly quick, and unique to this machine. The HPR400xd plasma system complements this additionally with very fast modern plasma cutting, and superior finish quality. Our company, Butzkies, was the first to purchase the original FDB-1500 in Germany. It will always be the goal of Mr. Butzkies Schiemann to operate state of the art equipment for steel production. The HSFDB 2500 is the current prime example. This paired with the powerful Shop Data Systems software (fully available in the German language) make our plate processing system one of the most modern in the Christian Hutzfield of Butzkies Stahlbau with their world today. HSFDB plate processor.

WURST STAHLBAU GMBH: The advantages of HSFDB lie in the numerous options that are available. Setup times are minimal. After the metal sheet is placed, all the steps: part marking, drilling and burning according to the NC data are completed in a single pass, then dropped onto an automated material handling system. The finished parts are easily moved to the next step of production by the single machine operator. Unnecessary handling is eliminated when all of these processes are completed in a single place, and parts are unloaded with the conveyor, an incredible amount of time is saved and applied to more valuable processes. Due to the HSFDB’s robust construction, it is capable of sheet thicknesses ranging from 5 - 80 mm (1/4" to 3 1/4"), and the use of drills up to 75mm (3"). This is larger than any other plate processing machinery in our production.

Mr. H. Beselbecke, Technical Director (left) Mr. Christian Wurst, Owner and General Manager of Wurst Stahlbau in front of their HSFDB plate processor.

On top of the strength and speed it’s important to mention the exact measurement of the Roller Feed handling. By not using a transport carriage, the machine is compact and the additional need for heavy scrap skeletons is eliminated. ANTON RÖDER STAHL-METALBAU: We do not have a comparison to other burn tables in our company but out of experience and knowledge of other Plate machines I can say that the strong drill design as well the rugged composition of the HSFDB is excellent. What is wonderful about the HSFDB is that the complete processing of the plate for steel structures, can be done in one operation. The ability to do all operations in a single pass is the reason we selected a machine like the HSFDB for our facility.

The HSFDB at Anton Röder Stahl-Metalbau is ideal for single pass production.

Is there a particular function of the machine that you feel is the strongest, which you rely upon the most?

BUTZKIES & CO. STAHLBAU GMBH: The drilling of the HSFDB is very fast, and very strong. This combined with the HPR400 plasma system makes the machine a powerful tool. These are the features we rely upon the most WURST STAHLBAU GMBH: In our company Wurst we wanted to increase our overall plate capacity. We now have two plate machines running two shifts with two operators, and the throughput is superb. ANTON RÖDER STAHL-METALBAU: The machine is a very strong design. We rely upon the versatility of the spindle, and use the drilling, tapping, and countersinking on a very regular basis. What do you like most about the machine?

BUTZKIES & CO. STAHLBAU GMBH: The high throughput capacity and the superior ability of tapping and slot milling. WURST STAHLBAU GMBH: The strength of the machine and the high production speed are the most powerful features of the HSFDB. ANTON RÖDER STAHL-METALBAU: The versatility of the drill spindle and the wide array of possibilities it opens up for us is what we see as its strongest aspect.

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2011 HUGE SUCCESS!

The Peddinghaus booth attracted visitors from all over the world during FABTECH.

On behalf of Peddinghaus Corporation, we thank you, for visiting us at our FABTECH show venues during the week of November 14th. Missed us at FABTECH? See what all the talk is about…

Drilling, Milling, Tapping, Countersinking, Scribing, and Plasma Cutting were all on display during FABTECH.

20 different machines were on display during the Peddinghaus FABTECH Fest in Bradley.

Peddinghaus guests received 5 star accommodations during each night of the show.

McCormick Place was buzzing throughout the week with manufacturers, fabricators, students and industry partners alike. The great city of Chicago provided the ideal venue for the exhibition and drew record attendance of over 35,000 attendees in 2011.

Anglemaster, PeddiWriter, PCD-1100/C, BDL-D, ironworkers, the new Peddiblast and many more.

Peddinghaus presented the HSFDB plate processing system to an eager audience of fabricators and manufacturing firms at booth 2349. The HSFDB Plate Processor from Peddinghaus is proving to be the tool for economic diversification for many in the modern plate fabrication marketplace. Its unmatched build quality, superior design concepts, and high levels of efficiency continue to pay dividends no matter the application. The HSFDB can drill, tap, countersink, mill, mark, and thermal cut plate up to 3in/75mm thick, using patented Roller Feed measurement technology. This powerhouse is available in an 1800 (6'), 2500 (8') and 3200 (10') model. No other machine on the market has this type of capability!

Peddinghaus’ open house during FABTECH was complemented with first class evening entertainment.

In addition to the demonstration at McCormick Place, we held a separate event during the week of FABTECH at our facility in Bradley, IL (just south of Chicago). Peddinghaus’ FABTECH Fest was the second most popular place to be in Illinois last week, buzzing with interest! Peddinghaus held demonstrations of over 20 machines, including the Ring of Fire, 833

Peddinghaus also held a series of dinner events to celebrate this special occasion. “Dinner Monday and Tuesday night was incredible,” said Les McCauley – Agate Steel, Scottsdale, Arizona. “Peddinghaus really put a first class event! The food was delicious and the entertainment was unbelievable. I have to say they really out-did themselves when the fireworks erupted at the end of each night! Fantastic job Peddinghaus, this was a great event!” Dinner on Wednesday night was held in Chicago at Fulton’s on the River, a classic seafood and steak house. “The plant tour, entertainment, food, and fellowship could not have been better. We are especially appreciative of Peddinghaus’ willingness to open their Corporation and home to us,” stated W.H. (Bill) Pruden or Steel Technology, Inc. of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. “Everyone was exceedingly friendly and welcoming. All were willing to answer our many questions about their products and services. From sales to production, customer support to technical service and in-between, every aspect was impressive.” We are proud to say that FABTECH 2011 was a great success and we hope to see you next year in Las Vegas!

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

BRYAN MARTIN

KAMIL ROMANOWSKI

Band Saw Product Specialist – North and South America

Sales & Service – Poland

Peddinghaus’ cutting edge technology requires

At Peddinghaus, a familiar theme states that

a keen understanding of the nuances associated with

“sales sells the first machine, but service sells

the industries we serve. Bryan Martin ensures that

the second and third.” Kamil Romanowski is the

Band Saw customers in North and South America

epitome of this mantra, as he not only provides

receive nothing but the very best in support as he

knowledgeable sales support, but field service

assumes his new role as Band Saw Product Manager.

expertise as well!

Based within Peddinghaus’ corporate headquarters in Bradley, Illinois - USA, Bryan is by no means a “new addition” to the Peddinghaus family of employees. His skills are derived from several different positions he has held within the organization. Having spent the last 7 years of his career at Peddinghaus, Bryan has advanced from the shop floor building machines, to within Peddinghaus’ head office designing world class fabrication facilities in Peddinghaus’ very own system engineering department.

Kamil joined Peddinghaus three years ago as a service technician to provide local assistance to customers within the country of Poland. Fluent in Polish, German, and English, Kamil has seen many different types of customers in an array of industries. His hands on occupation at Peddinghaus Corporation provides him an unparalleled knowledge of Peddinghaus machines, which he now utilizes in his dual role as salesman.

Kamil is seen here during the installation of a High Speed FDB in Lezajsk, Poland. Bryan’s background working with Peddinghaus machines of all shapes and sizes will help him in his new role as Band Saw Product Manager.

“My goal is simply to be the best,” Bryan states when asked about his new endeavor. “Peddinghaus is known for being a first class organization and the industry leader in steel fabricating equipment. That being said, I believe that it is my responsibility to give each of our customers the type of first class treatment that they have come to expect from Peddinghaus.” When not at Peddinghaus Bryan continues his education as he obtains a bachelors degree in engineering. “I like anything that is challenging and am always trying to learn something new,” states Bryan. “Engineering fascinates me, and the education I am obtaining while working at Peddinghaus is will help me better serve customers now and into the future.” To contact Bryan Martin: E-mail: bryan-martin@peddinghaus.com Telephone: +1.815.937.3800

Bryan demonstrates the 410 DGA band saw during FABTECH.

Before joining the Peddinghaus team, Kamil was employed by steel fabricator Rolstal Pawlowski as a key component of their maintenance department. This company which specialized in steel structures for the agricultural and related industries gave Kamil the foundation upon which he has grown as a machine tool expert.

When asked about his new role, Kamil states, “I am excited about my new opportunity. Each and every client is a unique with different needs and different goals. My goal is to show my clients just how much more competitive a Peddinghaus machine can make them, and how it will benefit them overall. I believe this is easy to do with the levels of advanced technology that we as an organization provides. “ To contact Kamil Romanowski, E-mail: k.romanowski@peddinghaus-pfp.de Telephone: +49.1511.737.0974 Kamil explains the new equipment to operators, and maintenance personnel for seamless startup.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

SANDRO PATRICK PEREIRA

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SEE WHAT YOU MISSED at the Design Data Interoperability Network Conference

Sales & Service – South Africa

Peddinghaus’ dedication to the South AFrican steel construction market has bee proven yet again with the addtion of not ony a local spare parts and support office, but also with the hiring of Patrick Pereira – Peddinghaus’ National Sales Manager stationed localy within South Africa.

Michelle McCarthy, Strategic Sales Manager for Design Data reaches out to industry partners at this years' conference in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Having experienced many facets of the steel construction industry over the last 20 years, Patrick is very familiar with the needs of his customers throughout the continent of Africa. Since completing his education, Patrick has been involved with steel construction in many different roles. Most recently Patrick worked under one of South Africa’s largest privately owned construction companies, Tubular Technical Construction. In 2009 Patrick received factory direct certified training both at the Peddinghaus corporate headquarters in Bradley, Illinois - USA, and in the field with Peddinghaus’ senior field service technicians.

Peddinghaus, among many others, was in attendance at the SDS/2 Interoperability Network Conference on Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 held at The Cornhusker in Lincoln, NE. Peddinghaus was a proud platinum sponsor at this year’s conference, and is an active member in the structural steel industry. The conference, hosted by Design Data, strives to bring together major players in the structural steel software industry. The objective was to discuss interoperability and new ideas between software Attendees received the very latest information on developers. SDS/2 Software building design technology. Solutions offers products that provide the structural steel and construction industry with smarter ways to increase efficiency.

When asked about his new role within the organization Patrick promptly responded “The part that excites me the most about my new position is that I truly feel a part of the Peddinghaus family of employees. It’s a family that spans the world, from customers to colleges. It’s an awesome opportunity being able to meet clients and build relationships. The task of expanding the Peddinghaus brand in South Africa and our neighboring countries is a duty that I am thrilled to perform.” Patrick’s philosophy for customer satisfaction extends beyond the modern technology Peddinghaus offers, and builds upon Peddinghaus’ reputation for customer service. “I believe one thing that sets Peddinghaus apart from other manufacturers is the fact that we go the extra mile to provide unsurpassed service,” stated Patrick. “I am happy to say that my past experience working in all aspects of the industry provides me with the knowledge to continue this tradition.” To contact Patrick Pereira, E-mail: patrick-pereira@peddinghaus.com Telephone: +27.82.821.697

“In the 5 years that I had been attending Design Data shows such as the ‘Are you IN?’ meeting this year, the 2011 meeting seemed to have facilitated most collaboration among customers and partners alike,” Istok Budic, Advanced Software Engineering Manager said. “If Design Data’s goal for the show was to improve communication and awareness of partners’, and also improve customers’ priorities and interests, they have succeeded on every level. I appreciate the opportunity to have represented Peddinghaus during this crucial meeting.” During the conference, Peddinghaus gave a brief presentation on our seamless compatibility with other modern software. Attendees got the chance meet the highly skilled Peddinghaus Advanced Software Engineering team, and picked the brains behind Peddinghaus’ leading software! This offered a great opportunity to view partner presentations and take part in roundtable discussions. Registration was free and all detailers, fabricators, engineers, erectors and general contractors, were welcome to attend.

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Photo Caption Here

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GETTING TO KNOW…

Duane Bates Pre-Installation Manager At Peddinghaus, the installation of equipment is priority number 1. We believe customer satisfaction begins at the install, and this is the moment where our new customers get to see what

Duane’s experience installing equipment helps him today in his role as Pre-Installation manager.

Peddinghaus is truly made of as an organization. In some scenarios a big project may be on the line, or production may be waiting for that new machine to be placed into action. This is why startup must be fast, efficient, and flawless. Duane Bates, Pre-Installation Manager at Peddinghaus Corporation oversees all CNC equipment installations throughout the world. His valuable expertise, and understanding of the clients’ needs are the tools used by Peddinghaus to ensure our customers receive nothing short of top level service from start to finish.

Duane, how long have you worked in the realm of automation? What prior work experience did you bring to Peddinghaus when you joined the team? I have been working in the machine tool industry since 1987. The majority of that time has been spent as either a service technician or sales engineer. I started my career working for a major manufacturer of metal cutting band saws as a service technician. As a service technician I was required to travel internationally to places including Japan, Italy, and more. I learned about how steel fabrication is done throughout the world, and advanced my knowledge of CNC mechanics along the way. After several years of working with tools in a service capacity, my talents were transferred into the sales realm as an engineer providing knowledge on cutting tooling. Before long I began working for a close friend of mine, and Peddinghaus distributor Atlantic Machinery. From Atlantic, I worked for Ocean, and finally Peddinghaus. I have been involved with Peddinghaus machines since 1994 so there isn't a lot that I haven’t seen before! I was a service technician, then service manager, and now pre-installation manager! I’ve seen and done it all.

How would you best describe your role at Peddinghaus as “Pre-Installation Manager”? It all boils down to getting the machine installed as fast and flawless as possible. As Pre-Installation Manager, I communicate directly with customers to answer any technical questions they might have from the time a machine order is placed, until the machine is physically installed within their shop. During these conversations, we discuss all the necessary installation requirements to make sure they are ready for their investment to arrive. If a question comes up that I can’t answer, I simply work directly with Engineering, Sales, Service, Assembly, or Check-Out to get the answer and relay it back to the customer. We make sure that we save our customers the headache, cost, and grief associated with typical machine downtime. I use my experiences with customers to record and capture feedback so Peddinghaus as an organization can continually improve our installation processes into the future.

What is the most important thing customers need to do when experiencing their first machine installation? I would say that the most important thing is to follow installation directions as best they can, and most importantly ask lots of questions! We don’t expect anyone to be an expert, and there is no question too small. The more prepared they are, and more educated they are, the better the installation will go. This means they will have additional time to get their machine up and running, and reap the rewards of their investment!

How different is the installation of the newer machines than machines of days past? Even though today’s machines are far more elaborate and technically advanced than those of the past, they are actually designed to be far easier to install. In the past each individual component had to be wired in separately wasting valuable install time. Now, these items are all pre-wired and can be connected within a matter of minutes. More importantly than what has changed, I feel is what hasn’t changed. Peddinghaus machines are just as strong and long lasting as ever before. This is evidenced every time I enter a customer, and the machines I first installed when I started with Peddinghaus are still running daily production! Continued on page 26

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DUANE BATES Continued from page 24

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DID YOU ‘GET CONNECTED’ at the 2011 Fabtrol Customer Event?

Are there any specific machine projects since your tenure at Peddinghaus that you are proud of in particular? Although no particular installation comes to mind, there are many people that I have built strong bonds with, and I believe that is by far the most important, and unique thing about the industry that we work within. I truly believe that business is about building relationships and over the years I have been able to build long-term relationships with people all over the world.

FabTrol event attendees listen as industry leaders discuss the latest in FabTrol software.

Peddinghaus attended the 2011 FabTrol Customer Event on October 19-21, 2011 in Eugene, OR. The event was truly a unique training experience built around both the existing FabTrol MRP software and the new re-engineered software, McKenzie, released in October.

Rick Pollock, Peddinghaus Checkout Technician (left), and Duane discuss the shipment of a new High Speed FDB plate processor on the shop floor at Peddinghaus.

How do you work with production, customer service, and the systems engineering team to better serve the customer? I personally go through each individual order to see if there is anything out of the ordinary that requires special attention. This encompasses everything from the layout to the tooling and more.

When does your interaction with the customer begin? My interaction with the customer begins after the sale has been completed and the order is entered into our system. At that time, I become the point of contact for any question the customer might have until the installation is ready to begin. I then follow along as the installation is being completed to see that everything continues to go smoothly. After the installation has been completed, I contact the customer to get their input about how they feel the installation went. That is the end of the formal interaction but I generally check in with customers after a few more months to see how they are doing.

When do you think the Cubs will have their best chance at winning the world series? On the 12th… the 12th of never! Although I am a lifelong Cubs fan, I am also a realist. Thankfully I live close enough to go to a couple of games a year and enjoy Wrigley Field to the fullest extent, unfortunately I don’t think I will be watching them in a World Series anytime soon!!!

“We were really excited about opportunity to participate in the unveiling of FabTrol’s McKenzie software and the promise it holds for the future of the industry,” Istok Budic, Advance Software Engineering Manager said. “This proverbial ‘from scratch’ software shows dedication to latest technology and innovation from Dowco. We are thrilled by Dowco’s dedication to the latest software development technologies for effortless interoperability by using .NET 4.0. Since both PeddiTrack (Peddinghaus’ part tracking software) and McKenzie are developed using the latest .NET technologies I foresee our partnership becoming stronger in the future.” Attendees were able to network with industry partners and leaders, see real-world application examples, and learn about the advanced features of the McKenzie software. Guests enjoyed a mix of training, social events, industry speakers, feedback sessions and much more! FabTrol Systems, Inc. is the leading supplier of steel fabrication management software. FabTrol is dedicated to product development and ensures their software is serving customers well. Peddinghaus engineering representatives attended the meeting to provide attendees with new information on how Peddinghaus supports the FabTrol software via modern file standards.

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VOLUME 39

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STEEL FABRICATORS’ REVIEW Washington and Grove Street Bradley, IL 60915 815. 937. 3800 www.steelfabreview.com

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