Sourcing a Metal Stamping Company? Consider These Five Factors First.

During the past two decades, local sourcing has been eschewed in favor of outsourcing to find the lowest possible prices for manufacturing, processing and production. In that time, however, that practice has experienced changes brought about by the implementation of tariffs on China, one of the United States's largest trading partners.

The tariffs prompted a lot of companies to look to buying those services locally to alleviate headaches with overseas production. For companies that require stamped metal forms, that means focusing on the benefits of locally purchased parts and updating how supply chains are selected.

Keeping Business Close

At first glance, local buying may sound like a more expensive proposition than outsourced production. But, that's not always the case.

For instance, when a company needs to inspect the manufacturing process in person, there is no longer need to fly across an ocean to visit the facilities.

Photo Cred: Kenmode Tool Engineering

For even a small team of executives, travel and lodging costs can be in the tens of thousands of dollars per visit. Compare that with to a visit to a manufacturer just a couple states away, or in some cases across town.

The savings in time and money can be substantial.

Language Barriers

The differences in language can also be an obstacle. In most cases, an agent or translator is employed to facilitate communication between the parties. Even so, there's still room for misinterpretations that may lead to costly design or production errors.

A local supplier will be able to communicate with a buyer with far greater understanding and no middle-men. There's also the benefit of being able to place a simple phone call and receive an answer when a question arises.

Supply Chain Streamlining

Local purchasing also removes critical chokepoints from the supply chain. Without the need to import products, there is no risk of delays because of international trade disputes.

Logistic costs are also reduced by smaller distances having to be traversed and fewer modes of transport required. That results in increased efficiency and reduced lead time from concept to finished product.

Patriotic Image

Finally, there is strong support for companies that buy domestically. In contributing to local economies, those companies are seen as helping to reduce upstream offshoring of production processes.

That image boost generates significant goodwill and credibility in the market and with residents of the company's home town.

Locally Bought Metal Stamping

With regards to metal stamping specifically, a buyer should be aware of certain things when partnering with a locally based company. Even though it may be domestic, the alloys used for stamping may be imported.

Buyers should be sure to select a company that meshes well with their required volume. Selecting one that has production runs measured in hundreds of thousands may not be the right fit for a buyer who only needs several parts or is still in a prototype stage.

The right-size company will also align with the types of fabrication required by the buyer's operation.

Here are a few examples of reliable suppliers that are great fits for a buyer who needs metal stampings.

Metalstamp, Inc.

Since 1968, Metalstamp Inc., in South Bend, IN, has offered stampings for a variety of industries. Some include transportation, service industries, mining, furniture, agricultural and consumer products.

It's capable of stamping parts 72" by 36" with pressures ranging from 100 to 1,500 tons. It also offers precision blanking services for shapes up to 36" in diameter.

As a local source, Metalstamp works with dozens of companies across the Midwest as a supplier of metal parts for original-equipment manufacturing and assembly.

The Line Group, Inc.

The Line Group, Inc. has customers around the world, but purchases locally to reduce supply chain delays and reduce waste. Based in Arlington Heights, IL, The Line Group specializes in production runs ranging from 500 to 200,000 units, but also works with smaller runs and one-off requests.

Its capabilities include deep-draw stamping, progressive tooling and gear and sprocket assemblies. For customers who require high-temperature alloys, The Line Group is experienced in working with exotic metals such as Inconel and Monel.

Kenmode Tool Engineering

For more than 50 years, Kenmode Tool Engineering has handled stampings from the micro to the macro scale. Capable of producing tiny medical and electronic stampings that meet exacting tolerances, it also produces large automotive-grade stampings that meet the same tolerances.

Known for its attention given to companies in the beginning stages of a production run, Kenmode will work with buyers on rapidly prototyping, plan producing and assisting with the engineering or rework of designs.

Animated Manufacturing Company

Animated Manufacturing Company focuses on permanent tooling production runs that are sustained for long periods. By stockpiling up to 500 tons of raw material at a time, it avoids delays and interruptions by essentially being its own supply chain.

Animated's heavy-duty presses are well-suited to making high-strength parts for agricultural machines and tools, construction hardware and even specialty items for the floral industry.

HTT, Inc.

HTT, Inc. of Sheboygan, WI has a 161,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. With more than 44 different presses, the company can form any shape a customer requires and finish the piece with methods such as plating, powder coating and heat treating.

HTT's customers include local and global buyers in fields as diverse as dental and military.

Finding Metal Stamping Providers

If you're looking for a local source for metal stamping services, browse IndustryNet's free industrial marketplace. With 400,000 manufacturers in every industry at your fingertips, you'll be able to make the right choice for your business.

Click here to see a full listing of the nation's metal stamping companies, including deep-drawn metal stamping; precision metal stamping; and metal stamping machinery. 

IndustryNet also provides a marketing platform for U.S. industrial companies to reach a relevant market for their parts, products, supplies and services. Learn more about our marketing solutions.