News – Page 4 – Robinson Metal

February 1, 2017

Robinson Metal Is a Leader in CNC Machining in Wisconsin

Investments in Technology Ensure High-Quality Production

Robinson Metal,Inc. continuing investment in technology generates CNC machining capabilities that make it a trusted source for metal parts fabrication in Wisconsin.

Computer Numerical Control machining, commonly known as CNC machining, involves the use of computers to precisely control machining operations. Robinson Metal’s skilled technicians put this technology to use for a wide range of metal fabrication projects, achieving tolerances within .0001 of an inch.

“CNC machining gives us repeatable production capabilities that our customers depend on for high-quality OEM products,” said Jamie Tilkens, Fabrication and Machining Division Manager at Robinson Metal. “Whether the order is for small parts or relatively large ones, we have the machinery in place to deliver orders on time and at competitive prices.”

Robinson Metal Inc. is a single-source metal fabrication supplier for customers throughout Wisconsin and North America. The company recently enhanced its status as a leader in laser cutting in Wisconsin with the addition of a new fiber laser machine. The fiber laser is able to run thinner material at a rate five times faster than previous laser technologies.

“We use the latest technology at work stations throughout our plant to maintain our reputation as a high-quality supplier,” Tilkens said. “Our workforce excels in all facets of metal fabrication, and CNC machining is a key tool in our ability to provide customers with a dependable supply of metal parts.”

About Robinson Metal, Inc.

Robinson Metal,Inc. operates out of a custom-designed, 175,000-square-foot modern facility that also features a segregated stainless steel fabrication area. The company is a single-source metal fabrication supplier, employing approximately 300 people at its facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin. Its four divisions include: Fabrication Machine; Pipe and Vessel; Robinson Custom Enclosures; and Robinson Heating and Cooling.

For more information about Robinson Metal, Inc. CNC machining capabilities, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit http://robinsonmetal.com/.

January 3, 2017

Robinson Metal Enhances Its Laser Cutting Capabilities

New Fiber Laser Machine Increases Efficiency and Reduces Lead Times

Robinson Metal, Inc. is using a new fiber laser machine to enhance laser cutting efficiency and reduce project lead times. The laser is an example of the company’s commitment to investing in technology for the future.

“As a single-source metal fabrication supplier, we have a responsibility to our customers to maintain our position as a leader in laser cutting in Wisconsin,” said Jamie Tilkens, Fabrication and Machining Division Manager at Robinson Metal. “Our new fiber laser allows us to process material at a much faster rate than was possible with our older equipment.”

From a production standpoint, the upgraded laser features enhanced reliability and reduced operational maintenance. The result is minimal downtime and quicker production timelines.

The laser cutting process also is enhanced, with a more consistent beam emitted from a single optic. The fiber laser machine is able to run thinner material at a rate five times faster than traditional laser technology.

“We have incorporated the new fiber laser machine into our load and unload automation system for even faster production capability,” Tilkens said. “The combination of advanced technology and our highly skilled workforce will enhance our reputation as a leader in all facets of metal fabrication.”

Robinson Metal leverages advanced technology throughout its plant to fulfill orders for customers in a wide range of industries. For example, a boring bar featuring computer numerical control (CNC) technology accurately produces round metal parts within exceptionally tight tolerances.

About Robinson Metal, Inc.

Robinson Metal operates out of a custom-designed, 175,000-square-foot modern facility that also features a segregated stainless steel fabrication area. The company is a single-source metal fabrication supplier, employing approximately 300 people at its facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin. Its four divisions include: Fabrication Machine; Pipe and Vessel; Robinson Custom Enclosures; and Robinson Heating and Cooling.

For more information about Robinson Metal’s laser cutting capabilities, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit http://robinsonmetal.com/.

December 1, 2016

Robinson Metal Uses Boring Bar to Produce High-Quality Parts

Computer-Controlled Technology Consistently Delivers Exceptional Results

DE PERE, Wisconsin – Robinson Metal, Inc. leverages the capabilities of its boring bar to produce precision round metal parts such as gears, sprockets and piston rings for a wide range of industrial customers.

A boring bar uses computer numerical control (CNC) technology to accurately produce parts within exceptionally tight tolerances. The automated process is especially effective in the production of large batches of high-quality metal components.

“When we designed our plant in 2000, we did so under the assumption that technology such as a boring bar would play a major role in our ability to serve customer needs,” said Jamie Tilkens, Fabrication and Machining Division Manager at Robinson Metal. “We continue to make investments in technology to keep pace with the evolving requirements of our customers.”

Robinson Metal uses a boring bar and other metal parts production capabilities to supplement manufacturing strengths including structural fabrication, pipe and vessel fabrication, and custom enclosure fabrication. The expertise available within its 300-strong team of technicians provides a single-source option for customers.

“Our employees take pride in their ability to produce high-quality parts used in industrial applications as well as consumer products,” Tilkens said. “A boring bar is just one of the tools we use to maintain consistent quality throughout the production process. We’re also looking forward to the installation of a high-capacity laser by the first of the year.”

All of Robinson Metal’s AWS certified weld inspectors adhere to in-house and customer-required hold points, ensuring every project meets or exceeds codes. The company also works with third-party inspectors as required by stringent ASME Section VII Division 1 code.

About Robinson Metal, Inc.

For more information about the capabilities of Robinson Metal’s boring bar, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit http://robinsonmetal.com/.

November 15, 2016

Robinson Metal Leads in Structural Fabrication in Wisconsin

Modern Facility Provides Complete In-House Quality Control

DE PERE, Wisconsin – Robinson Metal, Inc.’s structural fabrication capabilities provide single source options for customers ranging from architectural and marine to pharmaceutical and food and dairy.

Operating in a custom-designed plant built in 2000, Robinson Metal teams have access to 175,000 square feet of workspace and multiple cranes to stand as a leader in structural fabrication in Wisconsin.

“Our customers know they can count on us to provide high-quality structural fabrication projects in a variety of sizes,” said Jamie Tilkens, Fabrication and Machining Division Manager at Robinson Metal. “We complete all aspects of structural fabrication in-house, which means we have complete control over quality from cuts to welds.”

A boring bar is one of the largest pieces of equipment in the Robinson Metal shop, enabling the company’s machinists to drill precise holes within tight tolerances.

“The boring bar is a tremendous asset as it allows us to cut in different positions than just vertical and horizontal,” Tilkens said. “The 120-inch table provides the capacity to handle larger-size pieces.”

The Robinson Metal plant is also in the process of installing a new Amada fiber laser that is more efficient than conventional lasers. The gains in efficiency and expediting lead times will benefit our customers and their schedules. This gives Robinson Metal the capability of cutting thicker pieces and keeping projects in-house, including specialized custom pressure vessels.

About Robinson Metal, Inc.

For more information about Robinson Metal’s structural fabrication capabilities, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit http://robinsonmetal.com/.

October 3, 2016

Robinson Metal, Inc. Specializes in Custom Pressure Vessels Turnkey Packages

Industrial Customers Value Robinson Metal’s Single Source Supplier Capabilities

DE PERE, Wisconsin – Industrial customers throughout the United States are leveraging the turnkey manufacturing capabilities of Robinson Pipe and Vessel for custom pressure vessels and piping systems. Robinson Pipe and Vessel goes beyond the typical delivery expectation for custom pressure vessels by providing services ranging from equipment design all the way to installation and testing of the controls and instrumentation.

“Our team has the expertise to take a napkin drawing and turn it into a custom pressure vessel ready for installation,” said Chad Hendzel, Pipe and Vessel Division Manager at Robinson Metal. “We ensure quality through a variety of methods, including x-ray, ultra-sonic, mag particle, liquid penetrant and hydrostatic inspection.”

Robinson Pipe and Vessel manufactures custom pressure vessels ranging in size from 6 inches in diameter and 1 foot long to 10 feet in diameter by 40 feet long. The company’s customers include those in the oil and gas, water treatment, and other industries that require dependable custom pressure vessels for safety and performance.

“Safety is a primary factor with custom pressure vessels,” Hendzel said. “Temperatures and pressure can have a dangerous effect on the materials used in construction.”

Robinson Pipe and Vessel specializes in completing non-standard pressure vessels using a variety of materials, including a number of grades of stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, and multiple grades of carbon steel. The company combines advanced software with industry-leading manufacturing practices to meet the highest standards. It is a leader in water jet cutting in Wisconsin (single source supplier).

All of Robinson Pipe and Vessel’s AWS certified weld inspectors adhere to in-house and customer-required hold points, ensuring every project meets or exceeds the required codes. The company also works with third-party inspectors as required by stringent ASME Section VII Division 1 code.

About Robinson Metal, Inc.

For more information about Robinson Metal’s custom pressure vessels manufacturing and design capabilities, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit http://robinsonmetal.com/.

By:kiarolson

September 26, 2016

High school program trains, pays students

As seen on the Green Bay Press Gazette

Patti Zarling, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin 4:08 p.m. CDT September 22, 2016

Andrew Ferron doesn’t pick up a pencil or boot up a computer for most of his school day. Rather, he grabs a torch and puts on a welding helmet.

The West De Pere High School senior is one of 11 students enrolled in an apprenticeship program launched this school year, called the Trades Career Academy, offered by the West De Pere and De Pere school districts for kids who are interested in a skilled trade after graduation. The students spend two hours in “school” and the remainder of their day working in one of six De Pere businesses, doing machining, welding, engineering or other similar duties.

“I like working with my hands,” said Ferron, who works at Robinson Metal in De Pere. “I get to do a little bit of everything.”

School administrators throughout the state see the benefit of finding a high school fit for students such as Ferron, who do not plan to attend a four-year college but will need training for their future jobs in trades. And businesses, in need of qualified workers, increasingly are willing to partner with schools to prepare students. The Green Bay Area Chamber also coordinates the youth apprenticeship programs. Students earn high school credit and a paycheck as part of the deal, and some will be hired by the companies they work for full-time after high school. Others may use the experience as stepping stone to a technical college associate or certificate program.

The idea of the new program sprouted after West De Pere High School Principal Russ Gerke met with business leaders, who expressed a desire for an apprenticeship program. Administrators on both sides of the Fox River agreed it made sense to share one program. The academy is open to juniors and seniors, and students applied and were interviewed to join the academy. This semester, there are seven students from West De Pere and four from De Pere, all boys.

De Pere High School Principal Nick Joseph supports the concept.

“For some students, the traditional classroom is just not right, but we want all students to get a good education and a high school diploma,” he said. “This way they get some idea while working if this is something they like, or something they don’t. Students also are excited to get paid.”

Morning classes are held at Belmark Inc., a printing company in De Pere, so students never enter their home high school. Students must take core classes, including English, math and science, and may earn elective credits through their work experience.

And apprenticeships can help students make the leap to a two-year college. Jeff Rafn, president of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, said that by 2018, nearly 60 percent of jobs will require an education beyond high school, but less than a four-year degree, an increase of 37 percentage points since 1960.

In the future, “14 years of education will be the standard,” he said.

Todd Kiel, apprenticeship manager for NWTC, said a youth apprenticeship is great first step. Those who continue to tech school can take a regular apprenticeship on the way to becoming journeyman workers.

“It works out really well for the high school student who has no idea what they’d like to do,” he said. “I look at it as a test-drive for a career. And in our demographics, it’s been pretty well proven that we have more people leaving the workforce than entering. That’s a real bind for businesses.”

Jamie Tilkens, division manager at Robinson Metal, said they always are on the lookout for good workers. The company employs three West De Pere students from the Trades Academy.

“In this company, our success has been homegrown, and we look to promote from within,” he said. “I tell the students, ‘I have a one-year diploma from NWTC and I am a division manager. There are lots of possibilities in what you can do.”

There’s a big need throughout the area for welders, fabricators and machinists, he said, which is a reason companies such as Robinson are willing to take the work of training high school students.

“There are some things they can’t do,” Tilkens said. “And you do have to spend more time with them, but these kids are great workers and we’ve had no problems.”

He thinks high schools moved away from the idea of teaching trades in favor or preparing kids for four-year colleges around 1990, but that the tide is swinging back.

“They’re doing a great job of setting up programs and getting back to tech schools,” Tilkens said. “And with Baby Boomers retiring, companies are going to be short on workers. We’re looking at ways to train the next generation.”

That’s fine with West De Pere senior Derick Ratajczak, an apprentice at Robinson.

“I want to be a welder,” he said. “For kids that like to work with their hands and don’t like to sit at school all day, this program is great.”

pzarling@pressgazettemedia.com or follow her on Twitter @PGPattiZarling

Link to original article here.

September 1, 2016

Robinson Metal, Inc. Uses Water Jet Cutting for Enhanced Product Quality

De Pere Company is a One-Stop Shop for Fabrication in Wisconsin

DE PERE, Wisconsin – Robinson Metal, Inc. leverages the advantages of water jet cutting capabilities in its role as a single-source supplier of fabrication services for customers throughout Wisconsin and the United States.

Water jet cutting features a technologically advanced tool that uses a high pressure stream of water to cut a narrow line in virtually any material, including heavy metal stocks.

“Water jet cutting technology helps us provide the highest quality finished products for our customers,” said Jamie Tilkens, Fabrication and Machining Division Manager at Robinson Metal. “We are able to minimize the need for secondary finishing processes with the superior edge quality created using water jet cutting practices. It’s another way we can serve as a single-source supplier for our customers.”

The cold water temperatures used in water jet cutting eliminates the risk of materials becoming burned, melted or cracked. The process also ensures warping, surface hardening or other undesirable results common with hot, friction-based cutting methods do not occur. Robinson Metal technicians can make adjustments to the water jet stream and use of abrasives to attain the most cost-effective cutting speeds.

“Water jet cutting offers the additional benefit of being a cleaner method of cutting,” Tilkens said. “In most cases, the process does not create metal grindings or chips, and hazardous gasses are not released. We do not need to use cutting oils, and the narrow cutting width makes the most out of the valuable raw materials.”

About Robinson Metal, Inc.

For more information about Robinson Metal’s water jet cutting capabilities, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit http://robinsonmetal.com/.

August 12, 2016

Robinson Metal Increases Focus on Stainless Steel Fabrication

Segregated Area and Dedicated Equipment Ensure High-End Quality

DE PERE, Wisconsin – Robinson Metal, Inc., a trusted provider of fabrication services for customers throughout the United States, has intensified its focus on stainless steel fabrication with the creation of a segregated area within its facility near Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Robinson Metal operates out of a custom-designed, 175,000-square-foot modern facility with five-ton lifting capacity in its stainless steel area.

“Our enhanced focus on stainless steel fabrication is a customer-driven result of our overall business growth,” says Jamie Tilkens, Fabrication and Machining Division Manager at Robinson Metal. “We have many years of experience in stainless steel fabrication, and now we are in the process of building upon that expertise within a dedicated area of our plant.”

Stainless Steel Fabrication Versatility

Customers in a wide range of industries look to Robinson Metal for high-end stainless steel fabrication products, including food and dairy, pharmaceutical, cheese production and architectural design. Custom projects including holding tanks, piping, duct work, mixers, carts and ornamental items all may fall under the stainless steel fabrication heading.

Specialists in Robinson Metal’s segregated stainless steel area use dedicated equipment and tools, tables and workbenches clad in stainless steel to ensure there is no impregnation of carbon into the stainless steel parts.

“This ensures the stainless steel fabrication projects we produce are without contamination that will cause corrosion,” Tilkens notes. “The increased focus on our stainless steel capabilities builds on the well-deserved reputation we earned for providing high-quality products and customer service.”

About Robinson Metal, Inc.

Robinson Metal, Inc. employs approximately 300 people at its facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin. Its four divisions include: Fabrication Machine; Pipe and Vessel; Robinson Custom Enclosures; and Robinson Heating and Cooling.

For more information about Robinson Metal’s stainless steel fabrication capabilities, call (920) 494-7411, or visit http://robinsonmetal.com/.