The precision metal stamping industry has changed just a bit in the last 50 years.
Just ask Kurt Moders, President of Kenmode Precision Metal Stamping, who has a lot to reflect on as the company celebrates its 50th year in business.
“It’s hard to believe how far we've come,” states Moders. “From building dies to producing complex, high-precision custom metal stampings and assemblies for customers all over the world.”
What's made a lot of this change possible? Technology advancements -- that just keep on coming.
“It’s staggering to see how precision metal stamping technology has changed over the last 50 years,” states Moders. “No more simple punch presses – now it’s robotics, in-die sensors, and video-inspection systems.”
“It’s amazing what people can do when you give them the technology.” Moders continues. "We began designing on a drawing board, then in 2D AutoCAD, and now we're designing in 3D. Although the parts keep getting more complex, the 3D technology and advanced design software packages allow us to find simpler, less expensive ways to design the parts – and that’s what our customers want.
Using electricity and thin wire to cut through steel? Yep. That's possible too.
“Parts are stamped using Bruderer and Minster presses while tooling components are cut by wire ‘electrical discharge’ machines,” states Ken Wojcik, Vice President of Operations for Kenmode. “Using electricity directed through wire twice the thickness of a human hair, these EDM machines are capable of cutting intricate shapes in steel and carbide in very close tolerance.”
Customer expectations have also driven the need for advanced technology.
“Customers demand perfection today,” states Moders. “Zero-defects is an expectation – not a goal.”
“Our video inspection system is capable of magnifying parts up to 240 times their size,” remarks Wojcik. “Finding defects is not a problem. We have also ‘mistake-proofed’ our entire process. Stringent quality controls are built into every step.”
As for the next 50 years? Well, Kurt Moders jokes, he'll be retired by then. But he expects the company's growth to continue.
“When I look back at how much the business has evolved over the last 50 years, it’s hard to imagine what it will look like 50 years from now. But one thing is certain – it will be different. At Kenmode, we’re ready to embrace the change.”
Read the press release in its entirety at "Kenmode Precision Metal Stamping Sees Major Changes in 50 Years."