FACE TO FACE
“ We are showcasing our new E ( electric ) clamp here in Stuttgart ; we also displayed it at the FABTECH exhibition in Chicago . There is nothing in the market quite like it right now . Most clamping systems on press brakes today are hydraulic with parts that wear out at the worst times . The advent of electric means that if you have a failure on one part , customers can take it out and put in another one . There is no need for a service technician and the system is designed to make bending faster and more efficient ( doing away with wear parts on clamping systems ),” explained Ron Palick , Global Vice President of Sales , Wilson Tool .
“ We feel that this will be a real gamechanger . The feedback has been great so far and we are confident that it will do well . Early Q3 2024 is our delivery target and we are taking orders from OEMs right now . It ’ s all about giving customers an edge and an environmental advantage ,” he continued .
From the first computer grinder patented before the company experienced significant growth , Wilson Tool has gone on to receive patents for the first “ shimless ” punch assembly ; the first punch press tooling with interchangeable punch tips ; forming tools that rolled on , rather than penetrated the sheet , and many others . To date , the company has been granted 91 patents .
“ If you look at our history , innovation has been one of the keys to our success . An example of this is the new products we are launching such as the electric clamp and a B-station tapping tool that helps customers to free up the C- and D-stations . We have also just developed a shimless die for the TRUMPF product line . These are three great new products . We have a lot of products in the hopper that we are working on continuously , including smart tooling . We invest continuously in R & D projects . We are successful if our customers are successful ,” outlined Paul Johnson , CEO , Wilson Tool .
Examples of the company ’ s innovations also include the new Brake Partner ® that enables operators to use new or existing punch press tooling to make forms in the press brake that would otherwise need to be made on a punch press . Brake Partner offers fabricators the capability to perform punch press operations in-house , even when no punching machine is available , and / or to further expand the
Above : Wilson Tool ’ s electric clamping technology . Inset left : New press brake tooling from Wilson Tool .
We are showcasing our new E ( electric ) clamp here in Stuttgart ; we also displayed it at the FABTECH exhibition in Chicago
capabilities of their existing press brakes .
The company has also been spearheading smart tooling innovations as well as identification ( data matrix ) coding on tools . It has patented several smart tooling innovations and continues to develop this area of its business .
“ We are trying to find ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into our tooling to benefit our customers , as well as to use it internally to help provide better services to our customers . There is strong opportunity here and things are changing quickly ,” added Paul Johnson .
Innovating for growth
Through numerous acquisitions , investments and expansions , Wilson Tool has grown to include offices and plants worldwide .
“ If you look at the last two years , especially during the COVID-19 pandemic , I am very proud of how we got through this period . We did an amazing job servicing our customers and delivering what they needed . We have also invested millions of dollars in growing and expanding the organisation , more than we have ever done in the company ’ s history , over the last three years to make sure that we continue servicing our customers and adding value . That includes investing in our people ( education , training , etc ). This has made us a better and stronger company for the future ,” Paul Johnson told ISMR .
“ However , it is the employees that really make our company . Some people have been with us for 40 / 45 years and their in-house knowledge / expertise is fantastic . People don ’ t leave Wilson Tool very often . We have developed a real family environment in the organisation and dedication to continuous
EXP ® Punch technology .
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