Eagle Manufacturing Corp. (Booth E12936) has a new agreement with machinery maker Merritt Davis Corp. to develop extrusion lines complete with Eagle's auxiliary trimming systems.
Meantime, Eagle has enough business coming in to prepare for an expansion.
The Sterling Heights, Mich.-based company plans to break ground on a new plant in adjoining Shelby Township within six months, with expectations to nearly double from its existing 18 employees.
Charlie Rencsak, national sales and marketing manager, credits owner Brent Short for much of the growth. A longtime employee of Eagle, Short purchased the business about five years ago, and has upgraded the equipment to create machines that can do complex automated cutting and sawing operations in one step.
Eagle's machines can be retrofit onto existing lines or designed as part of the entire system through the agreement with Merritt Davis (Booth N4509).
The one-hit system punches holes and cuts out specific shapes and attachments for extruded profiles, allowing processors to cut labor costs.
``There's only so far that you can take out the cost in the material,'' Rencsak said.
``You've got to eliminate secondary handling.''
The two businesses first hooked up more than a year ago to create a complete system for one customer. The system worked so well that they decided to design units jointly for a longer term, signing an official agreement in April. The coordinated design allows the companies to guarantee operations from start to finish.
All of Eagle's automated punching and sawing units operate at the same pull rate of the extruders - up to 200 feet per minute - allowing processors to adjust line speed easily without affecting efficiency or quality, the company said.
An on-board computer chip also permits changes on the fly, with a tool change capable within 10 minutes.
The company's products are used in a variety of end markets, made for items such as automotive wire housing cases, vinyl siding and home appliances.
