Following recent funding, component manufacturer Franklin Bronze says that it has been making investments in people, process, products and equipment to increase productivity and efficiency, improve customer responsiveness and drive innovation.
Additional facility improvements include the purchase of new CNC milling and turning equipment to provide additional capacity in the machine shop for both large and small castings that require machining.
To develop new products, FBPC has added equipment and advanced methods to pour a new range of Inconel superalloys and has introduced rapid prototyping through 3D printed waxes to its investment casting process. Franklin Bronze is working on a broad range of workforce development initiatives including a cross-training program.
Process flow
‘We are proud to have received funding from WEDNet, which serves Pennsylvania’s manufacturers,’ said John Nichols, general manager. ‘The funding has been used to train operators and staff in supervisory skills, lean and other modern manufacturing techniques.’
After lean evaluation of processes and workflow, the facility has gone through a layout re-design with process flow improved for rapid product movement from department to department. The re-designed layout has created higher velocity through the plant and promotes communication and collaboration, the company says.
This story uses material from Franklin Bronze,with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
