MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
change of individual die blocks. This is the second of the newly designed 25mm cut off machine, launched at the 2014 wire show in Düsseldorf, where National won multiple immediate orders for this massive former. Before being packed and readied for shipment every National machine is run on the company’s own wire stock and tooling to levels substantially beyond normal operating conditions. The severity of that test process means many customers choose not to commission in their own wire and tooling at Tiffin, confident that the delivered machine will perform as soon as it is installed in their own facility. Towards the end of the tour, two further changes epitomise the primary targets of National’s investment programme. National’s new Tooling Technology Center is an extraordinary technical facility, clearly demonstrating how tooling design, development and manufacture has become a major element in the comprehensive service National provides its global customers, notably through its Met-MAX Innovations technology division. Equipment in the newly expanded centre genuinely lives up to the ‘state of the art’ description. Equally important it is home to the combined experience and knowledge of more than thirty technical specialists.
years ago National established its own manufacturing plant in Suzhou, China, to produce the LeanFX model as a new branch of its FORMAX family of cold formers. Half of its output is now supplied to customers within China, with the balance exported to global customers looking for a high-speed robust machine, worthy of the FORMAX name, but with less complex operating controls and changeover capabilities. Two year’s ago National Machinery’s European operations moved to a custom-built service, rebuild and parts facility, still located in the historic city of Nürnberg, Germany. Behind the scenes National has invested substantially in
online capabilities to support its customers, including service via online links direct to installed machines to achieve rapid response to customer’s production management queries, which, if appropriate, may obviate the need for a service visit. Additionally, National Machinery’s Quikcalc ePlus tooling software is now Cloud hosted for rapid, global access. There is much more that impresses as one walks through this plant – be it technology, the skill’s base or simply the ‘feel’ of a business confident but not complacent about its capabilities. At National’s 140th
Anniversary Open House not just customers
but also suppliers, National’s own employees and retirees, and the local community will have ample opportunity to share these impressions.
“ There is much more that impresses as one walks through this plant – be it technology, the skill’s base or simply the ‘feel’ of a business confident but not complacent about its capabilities.”
Ironically, this development ‘robbed’ the 400 strong Tiffin
workforce of its previous recreational area – something none are likely to resent given the looks of the totally new employee recreational areas. This multi-room “RecCentre” includes an eating and relaxing hall decorated in part with photographs of hundreds of former Quarter Century Club members (employees who have worked for 25 years or more at National). The main room opens onto an outside sunken terrace with a garden-like setting for relaxing and/or picnicking. There are also true recreational areas where billiards, ping pong and even basketball on a half court can be played, depending upon the skills and preferences of a multinational workforce. Less obvious but equally key are developments in National’s global footprint to support its international customer base. Seven
Face-to-face with Andrew Kalnow A wide-ranging discussion with CEO and owner Andrew
Kalnow, touches on various topics including National’s investment strategy, the company’s 140th
Anniversary Open House plans and
why-it-matters that National espouses corporate family values. From the outset he emphasises the significance of the largest investment programme in the company’s distinguished history. “National is about 75% complete in a three-year, US$21.5 million capital expenditure programme at its main factory and world headquarters in Tiffin. This CapEx programme is dedicated to manufacturing capacity expansion and modernisation, facility upgrade, and office renovation. This amount does not include additional CapEx at National’s other facilities in Germany, China and Japan, which are all part of its global reach to provide customers a worldwide network of service and support.” We turn to the major investment in tooling development and
manufacture. “I should ask a bit of forgiveness for the name ‘Tooling Technology Center’,” Andrew Kalnow smiles wryly, “but the truth is this is a generation away from the tool room of old and to continue to call it that is simply unrepresentative and unfair, both on the investment in technology that goes into it and the quality and application of the people within it. There is still a major skill set required of the people but as never before they are aided by advanced technologies, which ensure repeatability.” Recognising the crucial significance of the human resource
needed to deliver the best from the new technologies continues as a theme. “There are three areas in particular where we continue to need solid, you could say, old fashioned engineering knowledge. In addition to tooling development and production there is our Quick Response Center, where we produce parts for traditional machines when a customer has a machine down or needs repair parts.” “More demanding than that are the challenges presented to our service and rebuild technicians – working on older models that may
96 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 89 September 2014
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