Innovative Fab OTR Sheet Following System Fixes All Your Problems

Ok – maybe not all manufacturing problems, but some important ones! Learn how our one-of-a-kind sheet following system increases productivity, addresses safety issues, and reduces operator fatigue.

In the fabricating industry, many of us have seen this before.

Large parts that are very difficult to process. Inadequate equipment to get the job done. Worker fatigue that leads to burnout or injury, increased manufacturing costs and missed ship dates.

There should be a better way. Well, we were tired of it – and we did something about it.

Introducing, the Fab OTR. This is our state-of-the-art sheet following system for press brakes from 90 to 1,000 tons, which provides a solution for companies struggling to bend those large sheets and heavy parts.

The Fab OTR addresses safety issues, poor efficiency and operator fatigue associated with current methods for bending large sheets and heavy parts while increasing productivity. With several options available, each Fab OTR can be customized by adding additional arms, programmable height adjustment, wider work surfaces or friction reducing surfaces.

“There has been a need in the marketplace for a retrofittable system that can handle large sheet and/or heavy parts efficiently,” says Ron Laws, VP of Sales and Marketing. “Our systems meet these needs with a system that is specifically customized to a fabricators application. Whether it is our standard capacity rated at 500 lbs/arm, heavy duty system at 700lbs/arm or the maximum duty system at 1,200 lbs/arm, we have a solution available.”

Our new line offers features that have not been available in the past, including:

• Programmable height adjustment from bend to bend
• The ability to support a part bent to an included angle of 40 degrees
• Overload protection
• 8 foot extension arms
• Additional arms for large machines

Find out more about how the Fab OTR can fit your needs. Contact us today.

How Did the Concept of Fab Supply Catch On? Read Where it All Started

In business since 1993, Fab Supply reflects on how it all began while remaining focused on core values essential to its success.

There’s an ever popular anecdote about a bar napkin business plan, but Fab Supply’s beginnings were a bit more hook, line and sinker.

On a fishing trip in Canada with a good friend in the manufacturing industry, John Wold was airing frustrations about his current line of work when his friend, Dan Provenzano, presented him with an opportunity.

Dan had another friend who was making press brake tooling and was looking for someone to start representing the product in the United States; the two inevitably teamed up to kickstart what is now Fab Supply.

Fairly new to the industry, John knew he needed a bit more knowledge as he launched into this business.

“The next thing I did was spend a year working on a press brake,” he said, splitting his waking hours between his pre-existing work and this new business dream.

The company’s first FabTech show was exciting: more than 30 companies approached their table and committed to more than $400,000 in purchases. Unfortunately, due to concern about the dimensional differences with the tooling commonly used in the US at the time, distributors were hesitant to fulfill their end of the commitment.

“I worked independently state by state with phone calls and direct mail and started to sell the product. That is when the dealers were able to see that we had a viable product line,” John said. “That’s when we were able to engage the dealer network.”

Fab Supply went into business focused on core values that still hold today, such as superior customer service and quick response times. There’s proof of these values in the many long-term relationships that started from day one and still exist today.

“We get customers that will call in an absolute panic because they have parts due, and they realize they don’t have the tool to make the part. I personally have gone over to the UPS hub at 7:30 pm at night to drop off tools, if we can help customers, we’ll do it.”

Dan and John partnered in business for 10 years, launching out of his facility and building on these core values. The company also has many foundational employees who have been key to its growth, working for the company for 15 to 30 years.

“I think one of the most satisfying parts of this business is when we can come in and develop a solution that increases productivity and decreases production costs. Sometimes it is as simple as coming up with a clever design on an interchangeable set of tools,” John said. “At this point our product lines have expanded to where we can offer the appropriate tooling at a competitive price without overselling customers – it gives us the unique ability to sell to the application as opposed to selling a choice to a customer.”