Tuttle/Rivers pdf (116 k)

Tuttle, Inc.
Friend, NE

5' x 10' Precision Plasma Cutting Machine
Tuttle, Inc. started out as a farm repair shop which has evolved into a custom manufacturer of food processing equipment.

The hands-on metal fabrication background and knowledge
of Gary Tuttle, owner and president, provides the basis for
the company’s success.

Specializing in stainless steel conveyors and equipment for the food and pharmaceutical industries, Tuttle points out that their jobs seldom repeat. “It’s unusual to make more than one of a kind,” says Tuttle. “Even though the conveyors are sort of the same, it seems they are never exactly alike.”

Tuttle-built products are in demand. The shop fills the production schedule with jobs from repeat customers, assigning a team to work on each project from the design stage through final installation. This approach satisfies both the customers and the Tuttle employees.

“The people here love seeing the equipment work; seeing how their product is helping the customer,” says Tuttle. When the Tuttle team completes an installation, each unique product is running flawlessly.

Tuttle has done two things to keep up with demand. First, a second shift was put in place. Second, the company has streamlined production and increased capacity with the addition of the ADVANTAGE Precision Plasma Cutting Machine.

Many of the parts going into Tuttle equipment require several different size holes that are accurately positioned for assembly. “We used to produce parts with a tape measure and pencil to mark the center of the holes. The cutting was either done with a manual plasma cutter or outsourced. Today, the high definition plasma has sped us up unbelievably. It saves us many, many hours on every single job.”

Minimizing fit-up time was a key issue. When cutting the shapes by hand, any irregularities had to be handled during fit-up. Now, with parts “precision cut,” fit-up adjustments are rare. Ninety percent of the material processed on the ADVANTAGE is stainless, mostly 12 gauge. But Tuttle also uses it for processing galvanized, mild steel and aluminum.

Rivers Metal Products
Lincoln, NE

6' x 20' Precision Plasma Cutting Machine
Light structural custom work, contract manufacturing, retail metal sales and rotational molds for the plastics industry are all produced at Rivers Metal Products. Although the company thinks of itself as small — about 65 employees — its capabilities are numerous and surprisingly diverse.

Todd Rivers, owner, explains that a fabrication customer may be a building contractor needing a small run of base plates. Or he may be an architect looking for custom gate decorations. Or he may be a local artist who needs a single special shape for a sculpture.

He adds that the need for parts in small quantities, with a large amount of production flexibility, caused Rivers’ to bring their cutting in-house about eighteen months ago.

Mike Short, River’s president, explains, “We saw the need for a cutter. First, to bring the service in-house for greater reliability; second, to give us control over costs; and third, to give us flexibilities for making the one-of-a-kind and two-of-a-kind parts in a variety of thicknesses and materials.” The nature of the business also required the ability for quick set-up.

After researching several cutting methods, Rivers decided on the ADVANTAGE Precision Plasma Cutting Machine. Several features were specified. We wanted Hypertherm, they build a superior product and parts and services are easily available,” says Short. “We wanted a table provided by the manufacturer— not a kit. We looked at features such as drive mechanisms and the integrity of the frame. We wanted a heavy build.”

Size also became important largely based on parts made for the truck mounted crane industry; many in excess of six feet long. Grain restrictions often dictate that they be nested lengthwise for cutting.

“We decided that if were going to maximize the machine, we needed the capability for making long parts. When we don’t use the size for part length,” Short adds, “we work off one end of the bed with one piece of material, then run the machine down to the other end to work a second job while we pick the parts from the first.”

After operator training and a bit of adjustment on the CAD side, the machine has settled into production nicely. Materials cut on the machine include everything from 20 gauge to 5/8" plate and a good deal of high grade material. When it’s not cutting steel, it might be producing parts from stainless, aluminum, copper or even brass.

The ADVANTAGE Precision Plasma Cutting Machine has helped position Rivers to respond to the wide variety of needs from their very diverse customer base.