Case Studies

Every plant manager and CFO has faced the same difficult calculation: the long-term savings from a modernized scrap and fluid management system are compelling on paper, but the capital exposure, installation complexity, and operational disruption feel anything but straightforward. The result? Facilities remain locked in a cycle of mounting haul-away costs, escalating coolant spend, and compliance risks that compound quietly […]

Variance Is the Hidden Enemy of Capital Planning: Solved with FREE Test Before You Buy Programs For most CFOs, the greatest capital risk is not technical failure. It is variance—the gap between what the business model predicts and what the asset actually delivers once installed. In an era of higher interest rates, longer approval cycles, and tighter board oversight, that […]

Introduction: Coolant — the Hidden Cost Driver in Metalworking Coolant and cutting fluids are essential for precision machining, but they come with recurring costs. As these fluids degrade, manufacturers face increased tool wear, quality issues, disposal fees, and the expense of frequent fluid top-offs. Implementing coolant recycling can significantly mitigate these costs. Fortunately, modern integrated separation and filtration systems can […]

PRAB’s end-to-end systems—combining chip reduction, fluid separation, and coolant recycling—let manufacturers reclaim up to 75% of their cutting fluids and reduce waste disposal by up to 90%. Closed-loop chip and coolant recovery is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s now a profit-center and risk-reduction strategy. PRAB® has spent more than 70 years engineering and supporting USA-built systems that help manufacturers optimize their […]

In manufacturing, most equipment is expected to last a few years—maybe a decade if it’s tough. But every once in a while, a machine goes above and beyond, becoming part of a company’s story. At Zircoa, a U.S.-based producer of high-performance ceramics and metal oxides, that story belonged to a PRAB Roller Bucket Conveyor. Installed back in the late 1970s, […]

In heavy manufacturing, the life expectancy of most equipment is often measured in years, not decades. Yet, some industrial conveyors prove that with the right design, materials, and maintenance, systems can reliably operate for nearly half a century. One such example is a PRAB Conveyor, installed in the late 1970s at a U.S.-based manufacturer of refractory materials. After 48 years […]

Expanding operations is an exciting milestone for any metal stamping company. However, with growth comes increased challenges in scrap management. Effective handling of scrap metal becomes crucial to maintaining productivity, reducing downtime, and controlling costs. This case study details how a leading metal stamping firm partnered with PRAB to implement advanced metal scrap conveyor systems, significantly enhancing their scrap handling […]

Rising costs and market uncertainty have pressured the U.S. metalworking industry. Tariffs on imported materials have driven up input prices and dampened manufacturing activity, contributing to a recent contraction in the sector​ (reuters.com). Combined with softer demand and tighter financing, these challenges create an economic downturn for metal fabricators, machine shops, and other metalworking businesses. In such times, innovation becomes […]

Metal Chip Processing and Fluid Recycling Turn Metal Scrap and Fluid into Revenue Streams Metalworking manufacturers are increasingly challenged by metal scrap management. Metal Chip Processing is the core solution. Metal chips, a byproduct of machining and manufacturing processes, often cause costly storage, transportation, and environmental compliance issues. Briquetting provides an efficient, sustainable solution by transforming loose metal chips into […]

Strategic Capital Investments for Metalworking Manufacturers: Navigating Tariffs, Inflation, and Economic Uncertainty in 2025 Posted 3/21/2025 U.S. metalworking manufacturers face unprecedented economic challenges in 2025, including escalating tariffs, persistent inflation, and uncertain supply chains. Recent tariffs on imported steel and aluminum significantly affect operational costs, reinforcing the need for metalworking manufacturers to reconsider their capital investment strategies. In this uncertain […]