“Finn-Power is the only machine builder that took a position on the ...

PRESIDENT’S CORNER
World Cup, Fabrication
Equipment & Teamwork
While recently watching <strong>the</strong> World
Cup from Germany on telev<strong>is</strong>ion, I
was struck by <strong>the</strong> many similarities
between World Cup soccer (football) and <strong>the</strong> sheet
metal fabrication equipment industry. I should
clarify <strong>that</strong> I am not referring to <strong>the</strong> unfortunate
physical confrontation at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong>
championship match between Italy and France –
although I guess in all of our careers we may have
felt like we’ve been “headbutted” at one time or
ano<strong>the</strong>r. Ra<strong>the</strong>r, I am talking about <strong>the</strong> game plan,
teamwork, and selfless play <strong>that</strong> often spells <strong>the</strong>
difference between victory or defeat in <strong>the</strong> game of
soccer…and <strong>machine</strong> tool sales.
While not extremely popular in <strong>the</strong> U.S., <strong>the</strong>
World Cup <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> most <strong>the</strong> widely watched
sporting event in <strong>the</strong> world and has been held
every four years since 1930, with <strong>the</strong> exception of
<strong>the</strong> years during World War II. Talk about
globalization, 198 nations attempted to qualify for
<strong>the</strong> 2006 World Cup. Th<strong>is</strong> number was pared
down to <strong>the</strong> 32 nations <strong>that</strong> actually competed in
<strong>the</strong> World Cup.
In <strong>the</strong> sheet metal fabrication industry, Finn-
<strong>Power</strong> technological advances in punching,
forming, laser cutting, bending, and automated
material management have created a global market
for our <strong>machine</strong>s, cells, and systems. Many
companies are reaching outside traditional
geographic borders to attract international
Host team Germany, in <strong>the</strong> red jerseys, played one of <strong>the</strong> many
competitive matches of <strong>the</strong> 2006 World Cup against Argentina.
LUBRICATE (X1…X6)
X1 X-coordinate of lower left corner
X2 Y-coordinate of lower left corner
X3 X-coordinate of upper right corner
X4 Y-coordinate of upper right corner
X5 Ax<strong>is</strong> speed F (mm/min or in/min)
X6 Selection of sheet lubricator (1 or 2; extra option)
The subroutine sprays <strong>the</strong> rectangular area determined by parameters
X1…X4. The coordinates are given from <strong>the</strong> actual zero point (from
sheet corner if no zero point offsets have been made). Even after
re<strong>position</strong>ing (REPOSIT) <strong>the</strong> coordinates are given from <strong>the</strong> sheet
corner. Ax<strong>is</strong> speed <strong>is</strong> determined with parameter X5, and with th<strong>is</strong>
value you can regulate <strong>the</strong> amount of lubricant coming onto <strong>the</strong> sheet.
At <strong>the</strong> end of subroutine LUBRICATE, ax<strong>is</strong> speed <strong>is</strong> set to maximum.
business. And while some developing
countries have huge labor costs advantages,
Finn-<strong>Power</strong>’s technological advances have
helped level <strong>the</strong> playing field through
unmanned operations and increased
production.
Soccer Teams
The objective of <strong>the</strong> game of soccer <strong>is</strong> to
simply score more goals than your opponent
by putting <strong>the</strong> ball past <strong>the</strong> goalkeeper into a
net. Each team has 11 players on <strong>the</strong> field.
Even though <strong>the</strong> players on a team may have
different talent levels and styles, <strong>the</strong>
optimum <strong>is</strong> to have all 11 play as a team
with a game plan to defeat <strong>the</strong> opponent.
The player <strong>position</strong>s include:
Forwards (striker & wings) – players
<strong>that</strong> are usually <strong>the</strong> scorers.
Midfielders (halfbacks) – players <strong>that</strong>
are links for both offense and defense.
Defense (fullbacks) – players <strong>that</strong> are
defenders. Fullbacks prevent shots
from being taken, without blocking
<strong>the</strong>ir goalie’s view.
Goalkeeper – <strong>only</strong> player <strong>that</strong> can
touch, hold or bounce <strong>the</strong> ball in <strong>the</strong>
penalty area. The goalie’s main job <strong>is</strong>
to prevent <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r team from
scoring.
Finn-<strong>Power</strong> Team
The Finn-<strong>Power</strong> team cons<strong>is</strong>ts of
R &D and design engineers, sales &
marketing personnel, service and
application technicians, and various
support groups. While our employees
have different levels of experience and
various styles, teamwork <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> key
ingredient to our past, present, and
future success.
A short-term goal of <strong>machine</strong> tool
<strong>builder</strong>s <strong>is</strong>, of course, to sell more
<strong>machine</strong>s than its competitors.
However, Finn-<strong>Power</strong>’s game plan <strong>is</strong> not
so myopic. We believe <strong>that</strong> success in
today’s sheet metal fabrication industry
depends not <strong>only</strong> upon an equipment
manufacturer’s ability to meet its customers’
current needs, but also upon its v<strong>is</strong>ion and
strength to anticipate and respond to future
changes in <strong>the</strong> marketplace.
The new marketplace realities match
Finn-<strong>Power</strong>’s product line perfectly. For
many years, Finn-<strong>Power</strong> has added versatility
to individual work stages by integrating <strong>the</strong>m
with automated material management and
making automation as flexible as possible.
Our game plan has always been to improve
3
by Mikko Lindstrom, President
our customers’ productivity and profitability by
giving <strong>the</strong>m a competitive edge.
Today, we have proven globally
acknowledged solutions for any sheet metal
fabrication need with a variety of work stages
and methods. In addition, we not <strong>only</strong> have <strong>the</strong>
modules for optimal automating process
material flow, but also <strong>the</strong> application
engineering knowledge to specify <strong>the</strong> optimum
in each case. Our
product range <strong>is</strong>
wide enough so
<strong>that</strong> our customers
do not have to
comprom<strong>is</strong>e to
achieve Lean
Manufacturing in
<strong>the</strong>ir fabrication
facilities.
Integrating
<strong>machine</strong>ry to work
toge<strong>the</strong>r seamlessly
from part to part
and operation to
operation has been
resolved by Finn-
<strong>Power</strong>’s Night
Train Flexible
Manufacturing
System. In addition to punching, shearing,
and/or laser cutting, <strong>the</strong> Night Train allows <strong>the</strong>
addition of robotic press brakes or an in-line
panel bender to automate <strong>the</strong> bending process.
Th<strong>is</strong> system allows customers to bend <strong>only</strong> <strong>the</strong>
parts <strong>that</strong> are needed for today’s production
while allowing <strong>the</strong> parts to be bent in different
sequences than <strong>the</strong>y were punched to match
assembly needs. Th<strong>is</strong> eliminates extra work in
process while increasing throughput.
A Winning Message
There are several articles in th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong>sue of <strong>the</strong>
FINN-ISH Line <strong>that</strong> present excellent examples
of how Finn-<strong>Power</strong>’s flexibility and
technological advantage have helped our
customers increase production and profitability.
One such article, starting on page 6, <strong>is</strong> a reprint
from <strong>the</strong> July, 2006 <strong>is</strong>sue of The FABRICATOR
<strong>that</strong> details last April’s Editor Technology Trip
to Finland and Italy. Executive Editor Dan
Dav<strong>is</strong> has written a very thoughtful and
intelligent report on what he saw as well as an
analys<strong>is</strong> of common challenges and solutions for
both European and North American fabricators.
Great team players, a proven game plan of
technological advances, and selfless teamwork
allow Finn-<strong>Power</strong> to successfully compete in <strong>the</strong>
daily World Cups of sheet metal fabrication.