In manufacturing, pursuing excellence is not merely a goal but a continuous journey marked by innovation and adaptation. As Bassett Mechanical navigates through an era of dynamic market demands and technological advancements, investing in our manufacturing facility cannot be overstated. By integrating cutting-edge equipment and technology such as CNC pipe and structural profilers, and more, we enhance our operational capabilities, deliver tangible benefits to our esteemed team and customers, and cultivate a culture of Creating Customers for Life®.
The Value of Investing in Equipment and Technology
Bassett Mechanical’s Fabrication Team works on developing a 5-year, look-ahead plan for our 284,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, focusing on new or replacement equipment, optimizing floor space, and improving flow. We’ve recently added several pieces of equipment with integrated material handling capabilities, improving project execution.
CNC Structural Profiler Cutter
Structural shapes make up a significant volume of materials we use daily, and processing these materials is very manual and labor-intensive. Our new CNC structural profiler can profile structural beams, angle iron, channels, square tubes, and T-bars.
Using a laser beam measurement system, the machine automatically scans profiles for common imperfections, including flanges that are not perfectly straight and off-center or twisted bodies. The plasma cutter can cut and apply copes, holes, bevels, and scribes to parts in carbon and stainless steel materials ranging in size from 3″ – 48″ and up to 1 ½” thick in various common structural shapes, including square and rectangle tube, I-beam, channel, and angle iron.
“Before having this machine, the material would have traveled to multiple workstations in our facility. This equipment not only eliminates many manual steps and improves accuracy, but it also dramatically improves safety and air quality in the shop by containing the fumes and sparks inside the cutting cell,” said Tyler Petersen, Vice President of Manufacturing.
CNC Pipe Profiler
Over a decade ago, we purchased our first pipe profiler, a game-changer for our operations. As time evolves, so does technology, and that’s when we decided to invest in a new pipe profiler with additional features. The new pipe profiler has optimized logistics that streamline our workflow, saving us valuable time and effort. With its precision and versatility, we can now cut various pipes with ease and consistency, ensuring every piece meets our high standards. Automating this critical aspect of our operations reduces human error and minimizes material waste, leading to significant cost savings and improved resource utilization.
In addition, the pipe cutter enhances our ability to tailor products to meet the unique specifications of each customer. This means we can deliver personalized solutions faster and more accurately than ever before, ultimately strengthening our relationships and ensuring we are Creating Customers for Life®.
Overhead Cranes
Overhead cranes have been a significant part of our operations for years, but as our projects grew in size and complexity, we noticed our team facing challenges with manual handling. It made their jobs more physically demanding and raised concerns about workplace safety. That’s when we knew we had to make a change. Investing in overhead cranes wasn’t just about upgrading our equipment; it was about safeguarding the well-being of our workforce while enhancing efficiency.
Since integrating additional overhead cranes into our operations, we’ve seen a significant impact. They’ve completely transformed our material handling processes, making them smoother and safer. Now, our team can quickly move larger and heavier materials without putting themselves at risk. These cranes have impressive lifting capabilities and flexibility, allowing us to navigate through different stages of production effortlessly.
In addition, we’ve unlocked vertical storage solutions that optimize our floor space and improve our material handling. By increasing our staging area outside, cutting holes through the external side walls, and investing in conveyors, we can optimize our floor space inside the building to work that is in process and handle the material more efficiently. This means we can utilize our facility more optimally, creating a better working environment for everyone involved.
Empowering Our Associates with Efficiency and Flexibility
One of the primary advantages of investing in advanced equipment is the empowerment it provides for our team. With tools like pipe and structural profilers, our skilled workforce can execute precise cuts with unparalleled results. This reduces production time and minimizes material wastage, saving costs and enhancing resource utilization.
Additionally, adding enhanced material handling systems within our manufacturing facility revolutionizes how heavy materials and components flow through our various cutting and fabrication processes. Automating material movement and streamlining workflow, cranes, infeed, and outfeed conveyors empowers our team to work smarter, not harder. This translates into improved productivity, reduced physical strain, and higher workplace safety.
Elevating Quality Standards and Customer Satisfaction
Investing in state-of-the-art machinery is synonymous with a commitment to operational excellence. Through these upgrades, we have seen an increase in our facility capacity by opening 10,000 more square feet of fabrication space. This enhances the overall quality of our offerings and instills confidence in our customers, reinforcing their trust in the Bassett Mechanical brand.
“The efficiency gains achieved through advancements directly translate into better delivery times and increased flexibility. With streamlined production processes, we can fulfill customer orders more promptly, respond swiftly to market fluctuations, and adapt to changing customer preferences with agility. This agility is a cornerstone of customer satisfaction, as it demonstrates our commitment to meeting their evolving needs promptly and efficiently,” said Petersen.
Driving Competitive Advantage and Sustainable Growth
In today’s competitive marketplace, differentiation is vital to standing out. Investing in cutting-edge equipment and technology positions us as industry leaders committed to innovation and excellence. The ripple effects of our investment extend beyond the confines of our manufacturing facility, shaping the broader ecosystem in which we operate. As we elevate our operational efficiency and product quality, we contribute to the overall advancement of the industry, setting new benchmarks for excellence and inspiring others to follow suit.
The decision to invest in our manufacturing facility is not merely a strategic move—it’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation. By empowering our team with the tools they need to excel and elevating our quality standards to new heights, we enhance the value we deliver to our customers and drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage in the marketplace. Together, we embark on a journey toward manufacturing excellence fueled by the relentless pursuit of innovation and the steadfast commitment to exceeding customer expectations and Creating Customers for Life®.
