Punch Press Products, Inc. has just completed it’s largest progressive die in it’s nearly 60-year existence. Punch Press Products, Inc’s President, C.J. Matiszik says, “This may even be the biggest stamping tool of it’s type ever produced and operated in the Western US by a contract stamper like us.”  Matiszik adds that Punch Press Products, Inc. is the largest format (press tonnage, bed sizes, press quantity, feeding equipment, and robotic support equipment) contract metal stamper in the Western United States.  When considering this, he says one can safely assume that if this is their largest progressive die – then surely this must be the largest die ever operated in the region.  The tool makes a major component for Finelite, Inc. located in Union City, CA and is used in their innovative HPR-LED (High Performance Recessed LED) product line.  The HPR-LED is for use on today’s commercial lighting projects interested in moving toward Net-Zero energy consumption. Available with unique styles, and center optics, HPR-LED will meet the needs of today’s building projects. HPR is available in a fluorescent light engine, as well.

Although Punch Press Products, Inc’s “hard tooled” progressive die technology requires a larger up front investment then a turret cut blank, brake formed “soft tool” – the raw material and labor savings are significant and the volumes of this application offered an accelerated payback period.  ”Not too mention the added quality and repeatability a
fully integrated process like progressive stamping provides over fabricated processes,” Matiszik remarked.  At peak season(s), the tool is projected to complete several thousand pieces a month.  Our competitive tooling prices and lead-time responses are giving our customers hard choices to consider over status quo fabricated parts and typically the higher prices they demand.  For Finelite, sustainable manufacturing practices are preferred.  Matiszik’s final comments were, ”Progressive dies can use as much as 20% less steel then their fabricated equivalents.  Price savings in just materials is clear, but it’s also a responsible business strategy to employ processes that require fewer natural resources in the future.”

Miguel Moncada (Production Manager, PPP) standing in front of a 120″ long, 60″ wide, 3′ tall progressive stamping die weighing nearly 20,000 lbs.

Punch Press Products, Inc. is the Western United States’ largest format contract metal stamper and fabricator.  Boasting the largest press and support machinery line up of it’s type in their region, Punch Press Products is a global leader of steel and alloy fabricated components and complex sub-assemblies.  For more information please visit them on the web at www.punch-press.com

Finelite is in the business of better lighting. Finelite designs and builds innovative, high performance lighting systems for offices, educational and healthcare facilities. Products include ambient LED lighting, LED task lighting, high performance fluorescent general illumination light fixtures, and patented plug-and-play lighting systems. Finelite works with architects, contractors and building owners to make lighting work better for people, reduce energy consumption, and
meet schedules and budgets. By joining forces with the California Energy Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Finelite has received national awards for its lighting research projects. Research findings, design support and education programs are available at no cost.  For more information on Finelite and their innovative products including the HPR-LED, please visit them on the web at www.finelite.com

Miguel Moncada, Production Manager for Punch Press Products, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA recently attended a meet-and-greet session at Dodge Oil (Los Angeles) where he talked with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard who represents the 34th District in California. For nearly 15-years, Dodge Oil has supplied Punch Press Products with proprietary blends of stamping and drawing lubricants critical to their severe stamping and forming operations. Miguel has worked closely with Dodge to develop new lubricants that meet or exceed new regulations put forth by CAL-EPA and SCAQMD specifications (ref Rule 1144 that regulates VOC content of metal working and rust preventatives). Miguel had the opportunity to speak to Congresswoman Roybal-Allard about these developments among other topics. Of notable interest to her was Miguel’s account of job losses over the last several years at Punch Press Products due to fierce and even unfair competition from Chinese metal fabricators and stampers. He explained that in the early 2000s Punch Press Products employed nearly 300 employees and by comparison today they barely have 50 due to Chinese subsidies and dumping of raw materials and services on US shores. When asked, C.J. Matiszik – President of Punch Press Products added that current threats of a trade war – whether it’s low labor commoditized industrial products or high technology ones like photovoltaic solar panels the Chinese currency and labor practices should be adjusted to fair levels compared to their Western trading partners or risk measures from them to neutralize subsidies that have provided them an artificial advantage. Matiszik and Moncada are watching current congressional legislation that prompts this discussion and asks China to revalue it’s currency or risk US based tariffs on dumped and subsidized products. If enacted, these measures would generate renewed interest in North American companies and bring jobs back in an effort being referred to as “re-shoring” or reversal of off-shoring American jobs. Moncada extended an invitation to Congresswoman Royal-Allard for a tour of Punch Press Product’s facilities to view first hand the impact that unfair trade can have on local Small-to-Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the job-critical US manufacturing sector.

Miguel Moncada (Production Manager, PPP) and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard meet at Dodge Oil in Los Angeles, CA (10/2011)

Located in the greater Los Angeles area, Dodge Oil is an independent family owned business, is dedicated to serving the needs of the metalworking industry as well as any other industry that uses oil or chemicals. For more information please visit them on the web at www.wsdodgeoil.com

Punch Press Products, Inc. is the Western United States’ largest format contract metal stamper and fabricators. Boasting the largest press and support machinery line up of it’s type in their region, Punch Press Products is a global leader of steel and alloy fabricated components and complex sub-assemblies. For more information please visit them on the web at www.punch-press.com

To learn more about Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, please visit her site at http://roybal-allard.house.gov/