As the backbone of electrical power systems, transformers play a crucial role in ensuring reliable energy distribution. However, like all machinery, transformers age and face wear and tear, potentially leading to inefficiencies or failures. Retrofitting and upgrading old transformers offer a cost-effective solution to extend their lifespans, enhance performance, and meet modern standards. This approach helps maintain optimal functionality and supports sustainability efforts by maximizing existing infrastructure use. In this guide, we'll explore the benefits, processes, and considerations involved in retrofitting and upgrading aging transformers to ensure they continue to serve efficiently for years to come. What is Retrofitting a Transformer? Retrofitting a transformer involves updating and enhancing its components … [Read more...] about Retrofitting & Upgrading Old Transformers: Extending Lifespans
Industry News
Does Your State Tax Manufacturing Machinery?
This question arises several times a month: When buying used or new equipment, should sales tax be added? The answer is, "it depends." It depends on the type of machine or equipment and the state in which you are purchasing. Ideally, the purchase of manufacturing machines should be exempt from sales taxes to prevent tax pyramiding. This phenomenon occurs when taxes are applied multiple times throughout the production cycle. For example, you pay sales tax on the machine that makes a widget, which is then sold in stores or to a plant that also has a sales tax on items incorporating that widget. When states tax machinery, they create a system resembling a gross receipts tax, which is considered one of the most economically detrimental forms of taxation. The good news is that most states have wisely chosen to exempt both used and … [Read more...] about Does Your State Tax Manufacturing Machinery?
The Vanishing Machinist: A Looming Crisis in Machine Shops
When some people (of a certain generation) think of an iconic image of the American manufacturing worker, they conjure up a picture of Rosy the Riveter, that hallmark of WWII who kept US industrial production going when men of the finest generation the world has ever seen went off to defend freedom and liberty for all of mankind. But we would like to propose that just an important an icon of American production, the machinist, deserves a seat with Rosy in the Hall of Fame of manufacturing. And no, we’re not referring to Christian Bale in the namesake psycho-thriller from 2004, but everyday machinists. Once the backbone of the US industrial sector, these skilled workers, masters in the arts of metalworking, machine repair, and maintenance, are gradually fading from the workforce. Machinists are trained, not educated. A machinist … [Read more...] about The Vanishing Machinist: A Looming Crisis in Machine Shops
Should You Trust AI in Manufacturing?
In our day jobs, we analyze, build and invest in technologies that leverage AI and machine learning to do things such as optimizing procurement cost savings strategies based on an underlying price forecast for a particular grade of metal. This can tell manufacturers when to lock into long-term agreements with a supplier, when to float the underlying material price via an index, when to buy on the spot market, etc. We’ve found AI (especially neural networks for price prediction) to be a pretty exceptional tool in our technology crib for building solutions which enable manufacturers to do things they could not previously accomplish with the same degree of efficiency, speed and consistency — not to mention delivering a superior outcome. Moreover, in one of the companies we run, we estimate that we are doing the work of at least twice the … [Read more...] about Should You Trust AI in Manufacturing?
Milling Machines vs Drill Presses vs Lathes
Navigating the landscape of machining equipment can often feel like charting through a complex maze, especially when deciding between milling machines, drill presses, and lathes. Each tool boasts distinct features and specializes in different aspects of the machining process, catering to specific tasks, from shaping and cutting to drilling and finishing. Understanding the nuances, capabilities, and applications of these machines is crucial for anyone looking to make informed decisions in the fabrication, metalworking, or woodworking fields. Milling Machines Milling machines stand out in the machining world for their ability to shape and cut materials with precision and versatility. These powerful tools utilize rotary cutting tools to remove material from a workpiece, enabling them to perform a wide range of operations such as … [Read more...] about Milling Machines vs Drill Presses vs Lathes
