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We frequently work with clients in the marine industry, and our featured project this month highlights the capabilities of our routers with a client in the marine world. We recently started working with a fishing hardware supplier in Alaska, and his projects involve some pretty unique parts.

Using several passes with the router, we cut out this giant sprocket from 1” thick T6 6062 aluminum. It’s a thing of beauty to hold in person:

Boating in any conditions can be hazardous, but the waters in this neck of the woods are much less forgiving than the small lakes I grew up on back in the Midwest. Harsh, rocky shorelines. Daily tide swings of 8 feet or more. Currents that rip at more than 6 knots between jagged seashores. Water temperatures that rarely get about 55 degrees.

We all know that time is money. Some would argue this statement is the most visible in marine manufacturing, where every second of production translates directly to the bottom line. Add to that the stress of a customer who needed a boat last week, and you suddenly find yourself and your crew putting in overtime.

In the world of manufacturing, there are all kinds of processes that allow your business to make the most out of its production needs. One such operation is CNC machining. Since it was first developed in the 1940s, this method has enabled many manufacturers to develop prototypes and implement greater efficiency measures to improve their bottom line.

Regardless of the industry in which you work, efficiency is always a top priority. If you can maximize your production output while also increasing sales, then you have a recipe for success. Although the sales end of that equation can sometimes stall, there are always ways that you can improve your operations.

Whether you’re manufacturing parts or need others to manufacture them for you, a good assembly process has speed and efficiency as a top priority. Every second and cent saved on the assembly line allows you to maximize your profit margins and thrive as a company. But, how do you know if an assembly process is running as efficiently as possible?

When it comes to making sure your products are of the highest quality, every part of the manufacturing process must be exact. If any components are not up to the standards expected from your consumers, then you run the risk of facing lower sales and a sour reputation.

When it comes to metal manufacturing, there are numerous ways metal can be shaped and cut. However, no method is quite as reliable or as affordable as laser cutting. Because this technology is so effective with sheet metals, it will only continue to improve over the next years and decades.

Whether you’re producing products for retail or you’re creating the hull of a boat, design is a primary part of the manufacturing process. From sketches to digital drawings to the final product, design can literally shape the way that a product turns out, which is why a flawless design is so critical to your success.