Machine knives are some of the unsung heroes of the manufacturing process.

They are silent, dedicated workers that help cut and shape our products from raw material to packaged product.

Without them, all the engineering skill, all the experienced labor, and all the automation in the world would yield a whole mangled heap of unfinished everything.

I’m not sure why the tools and parts that make our processes work don’t get more attention. Maybe they’re not as fun to watch as high-tech robotic automation. Maybe they’re less easy to relate to than a line of skilled workers laboring at a factory.  Maybe both are true, but that doesn’t make knives any less important.

To illustrate my point, here are just five simple things we use every day that without machine knives would be, at the very least, much less convenient.  At the very worst, they’d be impossible to use. (more…)

“Deciding whether or not to implement a PM program for your slitter or splicer is really simple: Do you want quality or not?” …packageprinting.com

There is a great article over on Package Printing on the importance of keeping your slitters & splicers optimized and safe. Actually, slitters and splicers are the subject of example – the writeup is an excellent overview of preventative maintenance programs anyone running machines should consider.

On top of talking about the why and how of implementing an effective program (including the “where” of hiring professional help) – The article makes good mention about machine knives, and how their wear time varies between applications.  On that note, I don’t think I could have said it better myself. (more…)

At least from our viewpoint, 2010 has so far been a busy year for the machine knife manufacturing industry.  We’d like to thank our loyal clients, friends, and readers for helping us toward all our success.  I mean, without you – well – we’re nothing!

Here at York Saw & Knife, we’ve got some great news and great products in the works.  Meanwhile, we thought we’d share our most popular stories of the quarter with you.  Some are recent, and others have been around so long they’re becoming classics! (more…)

The following is a reprinted article from our March 2010 E-Newsletter.
To get your free copy, click here.

Tell us your thoughts on flexible packaging

Back in January we wrote about the main packaging trends to watch for 2010.  Included in that list was a prediction for the growth of flexible packaging across various industries.

Here at YSK we’ve seen a steady increase in demand for cutoff knives to fit Form Fill Seal machines used in flexible packaging. And, with almost a quarter of the year behind us, we’ve also noticed growing attention to this market in other media: be it in press releases, industry studies, blog posts, and other “expert opinions.”

So We Want to Know: How’s the outlook from where you stand?

Please take our easy 5-question survey about flexible packaging to weigh in your thoughts on one of the most-talked about industry trends. We’ll post the results in a follow-up next month.

We talked about this before, but thought it was important to expand on how we provide end users and OEM’s the same level of service and quality with every knife and saw me make.

After over a century in the cutting business, all we can say is: we get it.

As an OEM, you want a reliable solution that’s cost-effective, quick to turn around, and consistent.  We can work with your engineering team to design the best cutting edge for your specific application.

As an end user, you want the most economical solution to your knife needs without having to go back to your machine’s OEM. Maybe they’re overseas and hard to contact. Maybe their costs are too high or their lead times too long.  As long as we don’t already have a working relationship with your machine’s OEM, we are more than happy to assist you with your machine knife requirements.

No Matter Your Role – Count on YSK to Deliver the Best Knife Every Time:

• Financial Savings – Time and time again we have saved manufacturers and end users money over knives sourced from overseas suppliers.
• Time Savings – It is not uncommon for our lead times on knife fabrication to be 50 – 70% quicker than those of other suppliers.
• No Minimum Order. Need I say more?
• Free Test Cutting – Haven’t you met Ol’ Cutty yet? Anyway, we provide free test cutting services as part of helping you on your way to the optimal cutting edge.
• 106 Years of American Made Quality and  Knife Expertise
• ….oh. And We’re Fearless – Think your processing knife is a challenge to duplicate? Go on. Send it over. If we can handle shark teeth, we can handle anything!

Food Processing to Form Fill Seal, whatever your application, we’d love to work with you to design and produce a knife with the ultimate cutting edge.

Interested? Give us a call today.

Are you using the optimum knife for your production needs?

It’s especially challenging when your current setup seems to “stop working” out of nowhere.

Problems Like These in Your Cutting Operation… (more…)

Did you know York Saw & Knife is one of the oldest active saw and knife manufacturers in the United States?

In 1906, York, PA man Louis Klunk set out to become a premier manufacturer of steel, set-tooth saw blades.  He built a business from the ground up, employing and honing the skill of a dedicated, local workforce to see it all through.  The then-titled York Saw Works soon became renowned  for its quality, reliability, and superior service to numerous industries in need of quality saw blades. (more…)

We promised some follow up on the Shark Tooth blade a little while back…

York Saw and Knife recently assisted a major consumer products, pressure-sensitive adhesives and materials producer in creating a new cut-off knife for a Winder/Rewinder machine.

The company developed a new, very tough film that typical knife designs could not cut cleanly and completely, resulting in a shredded, undesirable edge. Aware of York Saw and Knife’s free test cutting a perforating services (of flexible films utilizing a plunge cut with a straight, serrated edge blade), the company contacted York Saw and Knife and we quickly started to tackle the challenge.

(more…)

Apple has the iPod nano. An Indian car maker (Tata Motors) launched its Nano this week.

Related, there’s buzz building re: nanotechnology in some of the industries York Saw & Knife serves. But, it’s only buzz, and it’s only building.  Packaging World notes a January report on nanotechnology in packaging by the Swiss Center for Technology Advancement TA-SWISS.

From PW, the Swiss group noted nanotechnology:

“…is already incorporated into some food packaging, for example in films, nano-silver layers or layers in PET bottles to improve barrier properties. They even cite greenhouse gas reductions associated with ‘nano-PET bottles.’ The study recognizes that th

ere is a huge market potential for nano-materials in packaging.”

(more…)

All across food processing, materials conversion and packaging, folks are trying to cut costs to meet these challenging economic times.  John Henry, Certified Packaging Professional (CPP), suggests looking for ways to increase production line changeover efficiency. Henry notes,

“How much can you save via reduced changeover times? …The lowest number I’ve seen, from a pharmaceutical packager, is $13,500 an hour. A distilled spirits bottler calculates it at more than $32,000 an hour.”

Better quality changeovers, Henry argues, will lead to increased performance and efficiency, going straight to the bottom line. (more…)