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Machining and Outdoors Recreation Industry


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Recreation as a whole is one of those industries that flourish in a recession. I found myself picking up a fishing rod and reel and hitting one of the small inland lakes in Michigan, which was a state heavily hit by the recession. For citizens here, there is the choice of the largest fresh water lakes in the United States, and the fishing is world renown. It had been at least 2 years since my last fishing trip, but it was very rewarding. I think the renewed interest in recreational products extends beyond me to those who manufacture the components for fishing gear. And for Michigan manufacturers, at least those in precision machining, this could be a way to diversify.

Because of their high price tags, automobiles were one of the first things consumers stopped purchasing when the recession hit, and it really hit Michigan hard. Not only for General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and other automotive companies, but the many CNC machining service providers and part suppliers to those companies. For screw machine shops and precision CNC machining companies, the recreation industry can be a good way to diversify. At least in Michigan, the automotive industry encompasses most of the gross sales for many of these manufacturers, so the pressure to have a diversified sales pipeline is ever increasing. According to the RBFF or Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, fishermen spend $176 a year on just fishing tackle alone. Moreover, they contribute an additional $40 annually to conservation through license purchases. That is why when the sale of fishing licenses goes up, so too does the sale of associated tackle and goods, not to mention live bait.

Although fishing rods themselves are generally made of spun carbon, and the really nice leads are generally porcelain, some leads are still made out of Titanium, steel, or aluminum. However, the reel is what yields the most potential for precision machining companies. As far as the reel is concerned, the end user wants a smooth action with easy casting and reeling of the life. This requires that the reel have several smooth ball bearings with a low level of friction and resistance. This requires very tight tolerances in the machining process. Additionally, there are complex fishing reel gears and the real seat that would be the parts to go after. I am sure that some of these components may be OEM, but with the drive in innovation and distinction in the marketplace, many reel and spool manufacturers are turning to custom designs with various gear ratios and tooth counts. Moreover, many components for fly fishing reels are cold forged, but CNC machining offers a greater level of precision and control over design. This is also an opportunity for manufacturers whose primary process is cold forging or stamping. Moreover, there are great secondary service opportunities such as anodizing and metal treating. And because the industry in Michigan is always growing, this is not only an area for reel manufacturers to gain input about the quality of their products, it is a great marketplace to find suppliers. In fact, there has been a strong social movement in the area to support Michigan commerce from everyone, including local consumers. Therefore, a patron may prefer a rod and reel that includes Michigan made components, which is something for fishing equipment manufacturers to consider.
 
In the end it really boils down to local sourcing. China is no longer the cheapest place to do business, and there are more than enough case studies to show that products coming out of the country are sub quality. After searching many online supplier databases and international websites for the machining and manufacturing industry of recreational products, the list of companies is saturated by companies from China. It is time to bring the industry back here to the U.S shores.

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Precision Machining Safety


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I worked in print manufacturing for 6 years. As a chairman of a safety audit team and ergonomics auditor, I’ve seen my share of safety issues in a manufacturing environment. One such example is actually my own story, a point in time where I decided that if I wanted to make my company even safer that I would need to be a part of it. Most machinery, even CNC machines, printing presses, and folder glue machines have work plates that the operators often lean against to inspect parts and samples, and to fill out appropriate paper work for maintenance and paperwork for the current job run. If the user repeatedly presses against the plate over a long period of time, the injuries could be as extreme as permanent nerve damage.

Injuries from repetitive motion are the most prevalent, and generally have a lower level of awareness. This is due to the fact that major accidents are severe enough that they create a heightened level of awareness and response from administration, not to mention investigation from OSHA. However, because the repetitive injuries are incremental as far as timeline is concerned, they go unnoticed until they are problematic. I was in fact a machine operator that experienced this type of repetitive exposure that prompted managers to install a rubber gasket on all work station plates in order to prevent these types of accidents from ever happening again. If you’re the administrator or shift supervisor for a shop floor, then you’ll want to consider some easy precautions to avoid not only repetitive injuries, but major accidents. It is often found, if not always found, that major accidents are preventable.

Although it is required to offer proper eye wear such as side protective glasses when handling corrosives or machines with moving parts, don’t be frugal with this expense. In this case of high speed part turning or working with high RPM machinery, the protective eye wear may need to endure high speed impact from a piece of rogue steel or bronze, even wood. This means to look at the toughness ratings of the eye wear. Moreover, be sure to select eye wear that covers both sides of the face, trailing back to the ears. A piece of debris could easily make it past the side of the glasses and into the eyes of this is not covered. This is just in case the user is not directly facing the machinery, and may be looking off to the side. Make sure that the eye wear is rated to handle corrosive materials such as solvents and certain types of acids and chemicals such as inks. Not all eye wear is intended for general use; there are special glasses for different applications. Eye wear that is in the style of eye glasses can be risky, so as mentioned below, make sure to purchase eye wear that has the protective lip that stays tight to the skin of the face. Be sure to post signs at all work stations to wear protective eye wear where applicable.

Proper lifting technique can prevent irreversible back injuries that could result in not only high medical costs for the patient but for the company as well. This includes lost time due to the accident, and there are high rest periods for back injuries, not to mention the need for multiple surgeries in some cases. Keeping onsite training videos and manuals for proper lifting techniques is imperative. In fact, during safety audits at the company, we would pick an employee at random and conduct an evaluation of their lifting techniques. All new employees should be trained and then documented on their ability to lift properly. There should be lifting restrictions that outline when to ask for a second person for help. Just because you lift an item properly, the overwhelming weight of an item could stress the disks in the lower back. Employers should be more proactive when there are seasonal employees on staff. Make sure that these employees are also trained on proper lifting techniques, even if their period of employment is only 30 or even 90 days. These two things alone could prevent accidents from occurring. It is critical that manufacturing facilities are proactive about these safety measures.

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