Kate Bachman,
STAMPING Journal Editor
Are you still doing
things the way
you’ve always
done them because
they’re the way
you’ve always
done them?
Status quo is not an option
Amid the sober stories about the economy in the news have been
a few happy-ending stories of spectacular rescues. The U.S.
Coast Guard makes hundreds of such rescues every year. One
of the most intriguing phenomena of many of those rescues is that often
the rescuees continue clinging to the raft or floating debris and the res-cuers actually have to coax them to let go.
With today’s economy and markets in a paradigm shift, are you still
clinging to the raft? Are you still doing things the way you’ve always
done them because they’re the way you’ve always done them?
New Challenges; Old Answers?
I was a panel speaker at a conference at The Ohio State University,
chaired by our own columnist Dr. Taylan Altan, that explored
solutions to problems and challenges with forming high-strength
materials. Are you still using the same approaches and equipment
to try to form new materials, or are you applying new strategies
and taking advantage of updated equipment to do so?
The WindPower 2009 conference I attended in Chicago last
month had 1,200 exhibitors and about 25,000 attendees seeking
opportunity in this new and growing market. Are you still putting
all of your eggs in the automotive segment basket, or are you
diversifying and branching out to the renewable-energy, medical,
and aerospace industries as well?
Successful popcorn machine manufacturer Cretors expanded
its customer base by seeking and finding export markets. Are you
still fishing in the same small pond, or have you thrown a wider
geographic net?
An enterprising and successful stamping company showcased
in this issue, A. T. Wall Co., snatched a sizable project from the
machining side of the industry by converting a machined component to a stamped component—and gained a new, lucrative customer in the process. Are you knocking on the same doors you’ve
always knocked on, or are you finding innovative ways to attain
new customers?
Same Commitments; New Grasp
A commitment to quality, expedient delivery, and bend-over-backward
service is a key to success for many stampers. However, the way you
approach this commitment may need to change and may help rescue
your company from today’s sea of economic turbulence.
S
Got thoughts? I’d love to hear from you.
Kateb@thefabricator.com
STAMPING JOURNAL STAFF
President & CEO, FMA Gerald M. Shankel
Group Publisher Edward Youdell
Editor-in-Chief Dan Davis
STAMPING Journal Editor Kate Bachman
Senior Editor Tim Heston
TPJ Editor Eric Lundin
Senior Copy Editor Teresa Chartos
Associate Editor Amanda Carlson
Assistant Editor Michael Bishop
Contributing Editor Amy Nickel
Contributing Writers Dena Mattausch, Kimberly Pollard
Graphic Designers Margaret Clark, Janell Drolsum,
Mary Mincemoyer, Jennifer Paulson
Publishing Services Manager Karen Peterson
Publishing Coordinator Jean Thompson
Graphic Designer/Marketing Support Bryan Garrett
Director of Circulation Kim Clothier
Web Content Manager Vicki Bell
Multimedia Specialist Sherry Young
Senior Web Developer Jason Bartholme
Web Developer Johanna Albee
STAMPING JOURNAL EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Tom Bell, Bohler Uddeholm Corp. Art Hedrick, Dieology
Bruce Braker, Tooling & Mfg. Brad Rine, Honda of America
Association ( TMA) Mary E. Schacht, E.C. Styberg
Jerry Busse, Rockford Toolcraft Inc. Engineering Co., Inc.
Michael Chester, Buhrke Industries Inc. Jim Sch wartz
Mark Fansler, Thomas Built Buses, Inc. Eagle Wings Industries, Inc.
(Ret.) Zeev Zimerman, Bethlehem Steel
Steven E. Gruver, Orchid International
ADVERTISING SALES
Associate Publisher Jim Gorzek • 815-227-8269
jimg@thefabricator.com
Senior Account Representatives
Michigan/Northeast
Ohio/Southeast/International
Midwest/South
West
Minnesota/Iowa/Canada
Classified Advertising
Sean Smith • 815-227-8265
seans@thefabricator.com
Mike Lacny • 815-227-8264
mikel@thefabricator.com
Shirley Petty • 815-227-8268
shirleyp@thefabricator.com
Tony Arnone • 815-227-8263
tony@thefabricator.com
Amy Hudson • 815-227-8237
amyh@thefabricator.com
Patty D’Amico • 815-227-8278
patriciad@thefabricator.com
Bob Young
Mary Simons
Director of Accounting
Accounts Receivable/
Credit Coordinator
HOW TO CONTACT US
833 Featherstone Rd., Rockford, IL 61107
Phone 815-399-8700 • Fax 815-484-7700
E-mail info@thefabricator.com
Web site www.stampingjournal.com
STATEMENT OF POLICY
The STAMPING Journal’s objective is to disseminate new and complete information relating to the metal stamping industry. The main editorial text consists
of articles and news releases designed to assist owners, managers, manufacturing engineers, supervisors and foremen in the evaluation of new methods and
techniques. It is an official publication of the Fabricators & Manufacturers
Association, International. The policy of the publisher and this journal is to be
nonpartisan, favoring no one product or company. The representations of facts
and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher and this journal. By including information on
new products, new literature, news of the industry, articles, etc., this impartiality is strived for and extends to the mention of trade names. Unless product
identification makes reference unavoidable, the generic name is used. We
acknowledge that on occasion there november be oversights or errors; the editors regret such oversights and re-emphasize their policy to be impartial at all
times. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising it deems inappropriate for publication in STAMPING Journal®, including ads for classes of products and services not considered of significant interest to the readership. (ISSN
1091-2460) STAMPING Journal is a trademark of FMA Communications Inc.
All rights reserved. Publications of FMA Communications Inc., maintain a policy of keeping editorial and advertising separate to ensure editorial integrity that
most benefits our readership. Editorial content, including feature articles and
press releases, is determined solely by the publisher. Editorial content cannot be
purchased, nor can it be used as a benefit of advertising dollars spent. Editorial
is free-of-charge, subject to space availability, and open to all interested parties
that submit items meeting our editorial style and format as determined by the
publisher. Standard Rate & Data Service lists our advertising rates in Section 88.
Consult SRDS or our current rate card for full rates and data.
Note: Some photographs printed in this publication may be taken with
safety equipment removed for photographic purposes. However, in actual
operation, it is recommended that correct safety procedures and equipment
be utilized.
