Larson Tool Blog

Using Lean Principles to Create Efficiencies that Benefit Metal Stamping Customers

Our customers come to us for high-quality metal stamped parts—and our reputation for deep draw stamping precedes us. Well-built tooling lays the foundation for this high quality, and is essential for a reliable manufacturing process that will deliver consistent parts throughout the life of the stamping program. Larson Tool benefits from generations-deep tool-making expertise, which is passed down through a carefully planned apprenticeship program to ensure a continuum of knowledge and experience. 

Outlook for the Future from a Precision Metal Stamper’s View 

When I last wrote, we were experiencing much uncertainty in the industry: steel price increases, supply chain delays, workforce and transportation challenges, among the many factors we’ve been juggling these last few years. (Click here to read that article.) And much like last time, we still can’t predict with any certainty what, how, why, and when the markets, supply chain, and industry in general will settle into a pattern that we can “rely” on—whatever that means these days. Afterall, we are now facing a possible recession, with the national manufacturing rate’s slowest pace in over two years and the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates to control buying; a war in Europe that has worldwide implications (on many levels); along with many of the same factors that have us at this inflection point already. 

Factors for Deciding to Reshore, and Ways to Make It Easier

There has been increased talk about the risks of doing business with China, and the recent pandemic has shown a spotlight on the need for less dependence on supply lines from the Far East. Even larger corporations that had pioneered the move to China are starting to rethink things and increase manufacturing in the U.S., bringing some of the outsourced production home.

Why I Love Selling for Larson Tool & Stamping Company

Metal Stamping Company Culture Series: Part 3 of 3

I wanted to write this blog series. (I don’t get any extra perks or money for it!) I am an independent manufacturer's representative and have been doing this for 21 years, though I’ve been in sales much longer. I work for five different custom manufacturers and sell custom components to OEM specifications. Most of the customers I work with are looking for “form, fit, and function—making the part to the drawing.”

Insightful Supporting Stats

Metal Stamping Company Culture Series: Part 2 of 3

In Part 1 of this series, we spoke of the importance of collaborative communication being at the heart of a metal stamping supplier’s company culture. The top three elements of that are:

How to Optimize the Design of Your Parts

Precision Metal Stamping can provide components that feature strength, durability, wear resistance, stability, and good conductive properties. It is also an economical way to produce high volumes of parts with consistent quality. The stamping process yields some elements that can be used to your advantage if incorporated into your design. Understanding how the process works and what to expect is key to optimizing these features.

Larson Tool Helps Design and Manufacture a New Tool—the Kuma™ Spork  

For almost 100 years, Larson Tool & Stamping Company has been a valued supplier of precision metal stampings and assemblies to hundreds of U.S. companies—big and small.

Larson was built on innovation and we have established ourselves as an engineering company, standing on the shoulders of this fourth-generation, family owned and run company. Chuck Cederberg, President, and Bill Larson, Vice President and CFO, are active leaders today—their great grandfathers having laid the foundation of the company. Larson Tool holds a large handful of patents, having pioneered many great inventions.

Metal Stamping Process: The Elements of Designing a Part

Precision metal stamping is an economical process capable of producing large quantities of precision parts out of sheet or strip metals at high production rates, usually from dedicated tooling. The precision stamping industry produces components and assemblies that are involved in our everyday lives, from electronics to transportation. Your cell phone has tiny stamped metal contact pins to send power and signals throughout your phone. The structural element of the car you drove to work this morning was built from precision metal stamped parts and assemblies.

Suitable Strength, Chemical, and Physical Properties

The materials that make up a metal stamped part are as diverse as the stampings themselves. From hot-rolled, low-carbon steel to advanced, high-strength alloys, there are many sheet and strip materials to choose from that respond well to metal stamping and forming. However, price and availability can vary greatly and affect the cost and delivery of production metal stampings. There are factors beyond the pure engineering requirements that should be considered when selecting an alloy and specifying physical characteristics of materials.