The metal-forming industry is no stranger to the importance of metalworking fluids in the production process. They help improve the forming process, extend tool life, and ensure a high-quality part. However, overusing these fluids can have a damaging impact on your bottom line, and this fact is often overlooked. By not monitoring and optimizing fluid usage, manufacturers might unwittingly face operational inefficiencies, high costs, and worker health concerns. Read the rest of this entry »
In the fast-paced manufacturing world, efficiency, cost reduction, and sustainability are critical for success. Central to achieving these goals is effective metalworking fluid management. Proper mixing and application systems are vital in optimizing fluid usage, ensuring smooth operations, and minimizing waste. Read the rest of this entry »
As we aim for manufacturing practices that are more environmentally conscious and socially responsible, it’s important to find innovative solutions that benefit both the planet and the workers. One solution is the reduction of industrial fluid usage in the metal stamping industry. Reducing fluid consumption offers financial and ethical advantages and promotes environmental conservation and a healthier workplace for employees. Read the rest of this entry »
The significance of high-quality industrial fluids in enhancing metalworking and metal stamping operations cannot be overstated. These fluids are pivotal in improving cutting performance, extending tool life, and achieving a superior surface finish. However, the prevailing misconception that “more is better” when it comes to fluid usage poses a significant challenge. The cost of investing in high-quality fluids is perceived as a barrier, leading to the continued overuse of lower-quality alternatives. Read the rest of this entry »
The use of fluids in metal stamping and machining operations is necessary, but with their use comes the corporate responsibility to collect and dispose of fluid waste properly. Used metalworking fluids become contaminated with oils, fines, metals, bacteria, etc. These fluids require treatment before disposal to meet local, state, and federal laws, and even then, there are still environmental impacts associated with transportation and proper disposal. Not to mention the cost.
The best way to reduce environmental impact is to reduce industrial fluid usage. Adopting sustainable fluid management practices can reduce costs and help companies meet regulatory requirements and certifications, like ISO 14001, enhance their reputation, and increase their competitiveness in the marketplace. Read the rest of this entry »
The furniture stamping industry is no stranger to the woes of market volatility over the past few years. While steel prices are finally returning to normal after supply chain issues during the pandemic, with the increased expense of labor and post-production processes, there is no break in the rising costs of doing business. That is why, to stay competitive, furniture stamping companies must take advantage of operational efficiencies wherever they can. One such strategy is industrial fluid reduction. Read the rest of this entry »
How Industrial Fluid Reduction in the Stamping Industry Improves Environmental Compliance with the EPA, OSHA, and ISO 1401
As environmental concerns continue to grow and environmental regulations become more stringent, industrial fluid reduction is an essential strategy metal stamping companies can implement to remain compliant with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA), and local environmental regulations and meet the requirements of environmental standards like ISO 14001.
Flood coolant systems, where a constant stream of coolant is applied during cutting applications, have long been the choice of manufacturers to lubricate, disperse heat, and remove chips to prevent tool wear and improve part quality. Flood cooling requires enough fluid to immerse the entire cutting zone completely. While flood cooling works, premier manufacturing organizations must continuously look at ways to improve their production methods to stay competitive in a global market.
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There is a time and a place for friction. Without friction, we wouldn’t be able to walk, drive a car, write on paper, hammer a nail into a wall, or warm up our hands by rubbing them together. But too much friction in a stamping or metalworking process has profound implications, from tool wear to scrapping parts. Thanks to the work of Leonardo DaVinci, who was one of the first to experiment with fluids in his study of friction and machine operations, as well as countless inventors and physicists, today, we have a solid understanding of the impacts of friction and how to control it using metalworking fluids or stamping fluids.
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Stampers would be well-served to close the loop on waste and increase awareness of and accounting for all of the soft costs associated with lubricant waste, in addition to the more obvious hard costs.
The purchase price of the fluid is just the tip of the iceberg – ‘the costs above the water’, but you need to consider those hidden costs below the water that you can’t necessarily see so easily.
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