Richard Hughes’ Post

When I talk with prospective hires, as Tate and I did this week at the Alfred State College - SUNY College of Technology about our business at HFW Industries, Inc., I try not to sugarcoat it. In our line of work, extreme precision is essential. Nearly every job is bespoke and rarely repeated. Attention to detail is just the start— small mistakes can render equipment components scrap. Not just anyone is built for this kind of work. What we’ve found, though, is that the best are drawn to the challenge. Guys like Tate don’t just meet these high standards, they thrive under them. Niche manufacturing is difficult. But that’s actually what draws me to it: constant problem solving and simply finding a way to get it done. This is a crucial piece of America’s manufacturing prowess. In the words of the great Marv Levy: when it’s too tough for them, it’s just right for us. These are words I live by. If this sounds like an environment where you could thrive, send me a message and let’s build something great together🏭🇺🇸 #manufacturing #trades #americanmade #training #manufacturinghiring #jobshop #nichemanufacturing #surfaceengineering #reliability #reliabilityengineering #wear #wearresistance #maintenance #turnaround #turnaroundandrecovery #maintenanceengineering #machining

Ever wondered how manufacturers manage major facility relocations without disrupting operations? Midstate Spring faced the challenge of consolidating their operations from two separate buildings into a much larger facility across the city. The end result? Midstate Spring's entire manufacturing operation was successfully re-established under one roof, optimizing their efficiency and capacity to meet growing customer demands. Check out the full case study here: https://hubs.la/Q02K14xY0

“Wow, we expected you to be bigger.” It’s not just a great line in the iconic (original!) Roadhouse but it is often what we hear when customers visit and experience what we do, how we do it, and the professional processes we have in place…. Over the last 30 years, we have continued to improve…not just our capacities, or services, or our teams, but our internal processes and additional offerings too. These have usually been driven by our team and our customers, either an idea, or a suggestion, or in response to a problem we’ve faced to which we’ve implemented a solution to prevent recurrence. It’s easy to question why we give all this information out so freely as you could say we’re giving away our IP? We don’t see it that way. We see it as our USP! If what we do inspires others to improve too, then we all win. A successful Engineering and Manufacturing Industry benefits us all. We aim to be the best, not the biggest – here we explain why we think we are delivering on that! So, take a read and if something inspires you, feel free to ask me more about it. If you feel there’s something important that we’ve missed, let us know and if we don’t have it, and it will be useful, we’ll work towards it. https://lnkd.in/eiDHAn_z #shoutaboutukmfg #supportukmfg #ukmanufacturing

Ever wondered how Australia's leading Tooling Manufacturer operates? ➡ They manufacture over 20,000 different line items (drill bits, end mills, tools, etc.) ➡ Produce around 1.5 million drills per month ➡ Distributed all over Australia, New Zealand, and worldwide. This month, I had the privilege of visiting that company's headquarters in Melbourne. It's one of Swinburne University of Technology’s industry partners. And they are leaders in this manufacturing space; not only in Australia but worldwide.  What I saw on our tour was a testament to that. ❗Here’s why: 1️⃣ I’ve witnessed the precision and dedication that they put into crafting their cutting-edge tools.  From the design phase to production, every step showcased a commitment to excellence and quality that resonates deeply with my passion for engineering. It was truly remarkable. 2️⃣ We also had the chance to explore their Surface Technology Coating Department, where advanced coatings and surface treatments like PVD Coatings Stripping Service and Vacuum Heat Treatment are at the forefront of industry innovation. It's impressive to see how they are not only keeping pace with Industry 4.0 but also leading the charge with services like PVD coating and plasma nitriding. 3️⃣ But what truly blew me away was learning about their SMART(Supporting Manufacturing Advances, Research & Technology) initiative. With an initial investment of $500,000 in 2022, SMART provides a space for collaboration with universities like Swinburne University of Technology, driving forward the future of manufacturing. 🙌 A big shoutout to Sutton Tools Pty Ltd for opening their doors to us and providing such valuable insights into the world of advanced manufacturing! It's clear that the company has really benefited from Peter Sutton's (and the leadership team's) vision and guidance in growing to new heights. 🙌 Also, special thanks to Rizwan Abdul Rahman Rashid for the opportunity to join the tour. 💯 Let's continue pushing the boundaries of innovation together and shaping the future of engineering. #SuttonTools #EngineeringExcellence #Inspiration #AdvancedManufacturing #SwinburneUniversity #FutureofEngineering #SurfaceEngineering

In the intricate world of manufacturing, press tools play a crucial role – a fact well understood and mastered by Hilltop Engineering And Tool Ltd. Their journey in optimising manufacturing with advanced press tools is not just about meeting industry standards; it’s about setting them. But why are press tools so critical, and how does choosing the right partner like Hilltop make a difference? https://ow.ly/IbT450R213B

2025 is set to be a big year for technical engineering. Discover how Mackinnon & Partners is supporting the future of technical engineering in our latest blog – link below! https://lnkd.in/enW-Wikm #TechnicalEngineering #2025Predictions #EngineeringFuture #EngineeringRecruitment 

Happy Manufacturing Day! Celebrated annually, #MFGDAY showcases the diversity of modern manufacturing and it's impact on the US economy, all while fostering interest in the future of manufacturing careers. As a business who not only supports the design and construction of large advanced manufacturing facilities, Clayco's commitment to this industry goes beyond the walls of the facilities in which we build. We are focused on the cultivation of talent needed to bring substantial impact to the entire project lifecycle. With initiatives like CCDI - Construction Career Development Initiative, they are helping to build a strong talent pipeline within the trades. Skilled trade labor will not only be required as you construct a facility, but those talents will be required to keep rapidly evolving facilities maintained as production increases. To impact communities for the long-term, it takes a high-level of commitment to workforce development and education. This will bring validity to the path of working in high-tech production environments, and it will help foster the integration and strategic partnerships needed to build the pool of skilled labor manufacturers across the country require.

🎉 A New Era for Sustainable Manufacturing 🎉 We’re thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Continuum Powders’ new global headquarters in Houston, Texas! On December 5th, we officially unveiled our state-of-the-art facility, marking a major milestone in sustainable #metalpowder production. This new site represents more than just expanded capacity—it’s a commitment to #innovation, #efficiency, and #sustainability. With our proprietary Greyhound M2P technology, we’re transforming reclaimed materials into high-quality powders, supporting industries like aerospace, energy, defense and advanced manufacturing as they move toward greener practices. 📽️ Watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony and join us as we usher in a new chapter for sustainable manufacturing! #SustainableManufacturing #AdvancedManufacturing #CircularEconomy #ContinuumPowders #Houston #GrandOpening

We embrace the principles of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) to streamline our production processes and enhance efficiency. By integrating DfMA into our design philosophy, we minimise waste, reduce production time and lower costs while maintaining the highest quality and performance standards. #Shawton #ShawtonEngineering #Steelwork #SustainableConstruction #Metalwork

Sprung’s tensioned membrane structures are the ideal building solution for when you’re ready to ramp up your manufacturing operations. Around the globe, businesses large and small use our structures to upgrade and expand their assembly lines, warehouses, shipping and receiving facilities, equipment storage buildings and much more. Sprung’s manufacturing facilities offer: 🔹 Unmatched durability 🔹 Rapid construction in weeks, not months 🔹 Cost-effectiveness that fits your budget 🔹 Customization to your equipment, processes and location 🔹 Modular design for expansion, reconfiguration or relocation Sprung’s manufacturing buildings are designed to get your operation up and running faster. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/enkfqFRb ⬅ #Sprung #SprungStructures #BuildFaster #Manufacturing #ManufacturingBuildings #ManufacturingSpace #IndustrialSpace #warehousing #assemblylines