Creating Solutions
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By Stephanie Sims   
Monday, 15 January 2007
smc BTM Corp.
BTM Corp. continually creates solutions, it says, by improving its products to make its customers happy.
BTM Corp., a clamp, gripper and toggle press manufacturer catering to the automotive and appliance markets, is always on the lookout for more efficient ways to manufacture its products. “Our manufacturing processes are under constant scrutiny by our manufacturing engineering department,” President Steve Sawdon says. “The quest for lean manufacturing is a never-ending effort. Employees are asked to contribute suggestions and be involved in the research required to make effective changes.”

The company is constantly bettering itself, Sawdon says, to exceed its customers’ expectations. “BTM strongly believes that customers are happiest when they receive their products on-time and defect-free,” he says. “Our employees and management team are highly committed to making this happen with whatever methods they may need to get the job done right and on-time. In fact, our quality policy statement is:

• “Best products on the market, supplied on-time and defect-free,
• “Technology innovators thinking to improve products and processes,
• “Manufacturing and machine-building capabilities of world-class status.”

BTM Corp. was the first company to develop and patent a round, leak-proof clinch joint. Sawdon says that in the past, clinching was performed by lancing the material, then upsetting it to form an interlock. “This was costly and more difficult to maintain,” he explains. “BTM developed an affordable tool for making the round joint which eliminated the cutting edges, thus making it easier to maintain and made the joint leak-proof.”

The tool, called Tog-L-Loc, joins sheet metal with a strong, interlocking joint using the metal pieces themselves without any fasteners, sparks or fumes. This year, BTM Corp. introduced a new-size Tog-L-Loc tool which provides good strength and requires less energy to apply.

Sawdon recently spoke with Manufacturing Today about Tog-L-Loc and other sources of pride at BTM.
Manufacturing Today: Tell us about Tog-L-Loc.
Steve Sawdon: Tog-L-Loc sheet metal joining tools are BTM’s primary product. Tog-L-Loc joins sheet metal products using only the metal itself. Tog-L-Loc requires no heat or purchased fastener, making Tog-L-Loc a very cost-effective way to assemble sheet metal products.

Tog-L-Loc equipment is offered in eight different categories: basic punch and die tooling, unitized press brake tools, handheld units, universal presses, stationary units, special die sets, special fixtures and automated systems.

BTM also sells a line of automation components which include air-powered toggle presses, air-oil cylinders, clamps, grippers, pin clamps and robotic end-arm tooling.

The market for both Tog-L-Loc sheet metal joining tools and our automation components consists of all companies who want to reduce the cost of assembling their sheet metal products. These companies include automobile manufacturers and their component suppliers, appliance, office furniture, light fixture and hardware manufacturers.

MT: How does Tog-L-Loc set BTM Corp. apart?
SS: Tog-L-Loc is No. 1 in clinching with the ability to join a wide variety of metals and part configurations. Tog-L-Loc works differently than most clinching tools because its action allows the part material to flow into an interlock with less force applied. This causes less stress to the materials being joined and to the punch and die tooling itself.

We utilize our extensive experience to make sure the customer is successful with our products.
MT: Who are the company’s customers and what do they expect?
SS: Automotive companies are predominant and they expect a very economical solution to their problems. They define quality with very strict standards which today are relatively easy to attain given our experience. This is the method that is used today to reduce costs.

BTM has excellent customer support performance. Our standard and special products are used in highly productive and mission critical environments where response to customer issues is critical. Response time is currently considered very good to excellent.

MT: How often does the product line change?
SS: Our product line is primarily customer-driven. Sometimes, by listening to the customer, we introduce a new product which we believe will be truly beneficial to our customer base. BTM has recently entered a new market which utilizes our experience in processing orders for both standard and special products. Our product line has expanded to meet customer demands with the addition of two new Tog-L-Loc tooling sizes.

MT: What are you most proud of at BTM Corp.?
SS: Overall customer satisfaction over the years has been strong. This, along with our machining capabilities being quite proficient, and we are able to machine close tolerances at increased cycle times with minimal scrap. The flexibility and productivity of our machining operations is impressive, considering the many parts we machine for the many products we offer.
 
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