FACE TO FACE
Wilson Tools’ Brake Partner with formed part.
brakes for bending metal now feature systems that load and unload the tools etc. so the operator does not need to know how to set up the machine— all he needs do is bend the part. Automation is really driving the market right now and we are prepared for it because we make this kind of tooling( e. g. our automatic tool changers).
Getting tools to customers as quickly as possible, to meet their needs, is also another major challenge. Lead times are coming down all the time. If you can deliver products quickly, it takes a lot of the pressure off the price. We learned that during the pandemic. Speed is crucial and timelines are short. Of course, special tooling takes longer to make but we are now able to make certain special tooling( i. e. cluster punches) in almost a day via our new special tooling department. This used to take 15-20 days to turn around ……
Keeping control of costs is, of course, also a challenge— trying to maintain a competitive price in the face of tariffs, inflation etc. You can only eat so much of that and then you have to re-examine your prices.
I would add that we all need to do a better job of attracting young talent into global manufacturing industries and selling these opportunities to younger generations. We have a severe lack of skilled labour, which is a recognised issue around the world. can I make AI work for me? We are in that process right now and are heavily exploring where we can utilise AI in our manufacturing process in areas such as order taking, problem solving, data analysis etc.
There are a lot of redundant tasks( especially on our sales desk) that AI could take over. It would mean that we do not have to hire as many people to support these types of tasks, but roles will inevitably change.
AI technology, however, is still in its infancy and I don’ t think we really know how to use it to its full potential. This will be a learning curve for us, but we are actively looking for areas where we can apply AI. I expect to see some more tangible answers from our team on AI later next year.
ISMR: Thank you for your time. n
www. wilsontool. com
ISMR: How do you view the rise of artificial intelligence( AI) for manufacturing in general? How are you using AI in your business?
RP: AI seems to be the rage right now but the question for most manufacturers is: how
Wilson Tools’ Corner Former enables press brakes to bend, form and crop tray or door corners.
ISMR November 2025 | ismr. net | 33