Feature Story

AMADA BANDSAW EXPEDITES MATERIALS TO METAL DISTRIBUTOR

The Earle M. Jorgensen Co. (EMJ) is one of the oldest and largest independent metal distributors in the United States. Established in 1921, Brea, CA-based EMJ distributes a full line of metal products and its customer base comprises a wide variety of industries. These include aerospace, automotive, chemical, computer, defense, electronic equipment, and medical and surgical instruments.

The company has more than 45,000 customers and 1,900 employees. Revenues increased 13 percent to $259.5 million and operating income increased 25 percent to $16.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2001.

According to Bob Stallworth, general manager of the company's Los Angeles plate processing center, EMJ had been using outside sources on a number of occasions to cut heavy aluminum plate that the company now stocks, and also PH grades of stainless steel, primarily 17-4 and 15-5.

"We wanted to be able to keep these jobs in-house without losing material in the process," Stallworth said. "So we knew we would need a bandsaw that could provide us with high quality cutting." EMJ began using Amada's TVM-1560 vertical bandsaw last December. Standard features include a remote blade guide control, chip conveyor and cutting length stopper. The bandsaw is operational 16-20 hours per day on two shifts, from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and from 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., plus overtime. Stallworth said EMJ now has the ability to cut up to 16" thick of in-house aluminum stock.

"We couldn't do this before because our equipment could only cut up to 12" thick," he said. "The cutting length of the TVM-1560 is great - it can easily handle a full 240-inch plate."

Stallworth said EMJ also has a program called 'On Time or Free.' If a salesman guarantees material to a customer on a specific date and it's not there (based on materials delivered on a local truck), the material is free.

"The TVM-1560 has helped make this program a huge success," Stallworth said. "We're able to turn around product faster and can deliver within 24 hours."

And the bottom line?

"We have more control over inventory, less waste, and less chance of inventory being misplaced now," Stallworth said.

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