Home Call For Speakers Be A Sponsor Sponsors Advisory Board Contact Us Sign Up For The IW Best Plants Conference Connection Digital Magazine! 2008 Highlights 2007 Highlights 2006 Highlights 2005 Highlights About IW Best Plants

Plant Tour -- Signicast Corporation Location: Hartford, Wisconsin Number of Tours: 1 Date: Thursday, April 3, 2008 Departure time from convention center: 7:00 AM Approximate arrival time back to convention center: 11:00 AM About The Plant Signicast Corporation is the world's largest provider of commercial investment castings that are utilized on everyday items for customers such as Harley Davidson, Mercury Marine, Caterpillar, John Deere, Stanley Tools, Frito-Lay, and Snap-On Tools just to name a few. In 1993 based on the principles of continuous flow and lean manufacturing, Signicast built the first of its kind technologically advanced investment casting facility. In just 15 years Signicast built 4 additional facilities and grew from a $20 million operation to over $135 million today. Signicast's Hartford Facility operates 24/7 and its corporate offices and Tooling Center are headquartered in the facility. The size of the Hartford Facility is approximately 437,879 square feet and employs 503 employees. Signicast was recently honored with by the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards with the 2007 Manufacturing Process Innovation award. The award recognizes Signicast's dedication to investment in automation and technology to affordable components at a competitive price at the industry's shortest lead time. Continuous Improvement in Action Automatic Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) that delivers product quickly and efficiently (on demand) from one work cell to the next. Standardized systems reducing set up times from hours to minutes in all work cells. Patented and proprietary technologies improving processing speed and product movement. Intense use of custom robotics Internally developed software utilizing Microsoft Access to measure all business operations Signicast's Tooling Center that designs and builds customer tooling and finishing fixtures at record speeds Vertical integration systems bucking the trend of outsourcing at a lower cost Overhead conveyor systems that transport components through the facilities Inventory management systems with automatic order entry Always striving to increase energy and plant efficiency, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel production plant is constantly evaluating its facility to find ways to become more efficient. Please Note: Appropriate dress code: No heels or open-toed shoes. PRECLUSION STATEMENT: IW may be required to preclude attendees from taking part in certain plant tours. This step will be taken solely by IW at the request of our host plant based upon the proprietary nature of information that is to be presented. The host plants' decisions are final and will be communicated to attendees in advance. Some participants on the tour may be asked to complete a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Copyright© 1998-2008 Penton Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Penton Media's Privacy Policy

Technical questions or bug reports? E-mail webmaster@industryweek.com