You don’t have to be an industry insider to know that green and alternative energy have been a hot topic of conversation for several years. What you might not know, though, is just how far the reach of this paradigm shift extends. Manufacturing companies play an important role in constructing the components that play a key role in harnessing power sources like solar energy and hydrogen fuel. There are also indirect ways in which manufacturers contribute to the viability and sustainability of such operations. This week’s blog explores one of each.

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So, you need a metal cylinder. Maybe it’s an enclosure, maybe it’s for piping or tubing, maybe it’ll even end up in someone’s kitchen as a fire extinguisher. First things first, though, you need to figure out how you’re going to get your hands on that cylinder. But wait: actually, you need more than one. You need thousands. So you’re probably going to want to have them made for you, rather than bought off the shelf. Now we’re getting somewhere, and this is where this blog may come in handy. Basically, there are two methods of producing cylinders like these: metal spinning, or deep-drawn stamping. As expert metal spinners, we’re here to tell you why this process is superior.

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Metal forming and fabricating are our business here at Helander, so we’re lucky to be so close to the annual Fabtech conference held just up the road in Chicago, this year at McCormick Place. This year’s show, held from November 12^th through November 14^th, proved just as educational, interesting, and, most of all, fun as in years past. Walking around, taking in all the different booths and displays, it’s quickly apparent that a good 50% or more of the exhibits focus on metalforming – certainly of interest to us, but not quite up our alley, not quite the art of metal spinning.

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