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…)
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.
There’s been a lot of talk about the Pack/ Process event split and how the food industry in general needs its own killer event.
You may not be aware, but starting in 2010, Process Expo will no longer be teamed up with behemoth Pack Expo as it has for the past years. In what looks to be a more symbiotic venture, the Food Processing Supplier’s Association will co-locate their flagship event with the Institute of Food Technologies’ (IFT) Food Expo in what IFT describes as an opportunity to “gain a better understanding of the interrelated stages involved in the delivery of a food product.”
This new partnership could serve to benefit both parties substantially. Food Expo has suffered dwindling participation over the past few years, and Process Expo has played what many view as consistent second fiddle in the shadow of PMMI’s towering crown jewel.
One of the best commentaries I’ve found comes from foodprocessing.com’s own Editor in Chief, Dave Fusaro. It does a great job highlighting the potential benefits of the new partnership. It also points out some of the PMMI-FPSA backstory that I hadn’t been aware of before. If you have a moment, I encourage you to take a look for yourself.
Overall, the new event looks like a good opportunity for IFT and FPSA alike. It will be interesting to see how it changes turnout and results for both the Food/Process and Pack itself for 2010.
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 there is a huge market potential for nano-materials in packaging.”
York Saw and Knife is now active in Google Maps’ Local Business Center.
By searching for or visiting us there, you’ll find our enhanced company listing featuring our contact info, directions, website link, general info and some photos and videos.
The YSK Google Maps business listing is a pretty cool feature, particularly for folks not familiar or previously not aware of York Saw and Knife and our high-quality products and services.
And it never hurts to drop some additional knowledge on the folks at Google.
Pack Expo 2008 is in the books and York Saw & Knife is back from the Windy City. We really enjoyed the show – and it seemed Pack Expo enjoyed the YSK booth! More attendees visited our booth than any other Pack show we’ve been involved with!* So congrats to the Pack Expo organizers and our own YSK team who coordinated our show participation and staffed the event.
York Saw & Knife blades not only deliver proven results, but they also get a lot of attention. People regularly stopped at the YSK booth to take a look at the wide variety of leading edge York Saw & Knife blades displayed. Among the favorites of the Pack crowd were the packaging knives, straight knives and circularknives.
* Maybe it was the peppermint patties!
For attendees that swiped their card at the YSK booth, we will be sending out information soon!
In a little over two weeks, York Saw and Knife is hitting Chicago to take part in the 2008 Pack Expo. We’ll be there November 9 – 13. We’re currently finishing our final preparations for the show – crossing t’s and dotting i’s.
We’re looking forward to Pack, and the opportunity to visit with past and current customers and vendors, and meet some new people. If you’re attending Pack, Process or CPP, stop by the York Saw and Knife booth (#E-7827) to say “hi” and see our full displays of leading-edge cutting tools.
We see a lot of confusion out of the foam production, plastics, film, packaging and food processing industries regarding usage of V-Tooth and C-Tooth knife blades.
While the C-Tooth blade is very similar to the V-Tooth, it delivers some clear-cut advantages. The C-Tooth is designed to point the blade teeth into the material, cutting more aggressively into the product. The C-Tooth allows for cutting denser and more difficult to cut materials. In addition, the C-Tooth leaves a smooth and sharp finish for an aggressive blade.
The C-Tooth can supplement the V-Tooth in certain applications. The C-Tooth blade is ideal for:
high density foam
fiberglass
medium-to-high density materials
packaging
plastics
cardboard cores
The V-Tooth blades provide a smooth and sharp cut, but are less aggressive and designed for less dense materials. Predominantly utilized in the foam production industry, the V-Tooth can also be used in food processing, slicing softer food products.
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York Saw and Knife is now active in Google Maps’ Local Business Center.
York Saw & Knife is thankful for our wonderful customers and excellent employees.
