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  1. What every new metal purchaser should know

    What every new metal purchaser should know

    With an influx of long-time purchasers retiring, a new generation is filling their well-worn shoes. The hand-over is bringing fresh ideas and processes into many manufacturing purchasing departments—but it’s also bringing a few growing pains as well.

  2. 6 things to look for when sourcing Aluminum 6061 plate

    6 things to look for when sourcing Aluminum 6061 plate

    Regardless of what industry you’re in, there are countless reasons why you might come across a need for Aluminum 6061 plate. Maybe you need to engineer fixtures, tooling or molds—or a protection plate for an electric car battery. Or maybe you simply need a locally-sourced material for the defense or semi-conductor sectors.

  3. Get talking: How strong communication can strengthen your supply chain

    Get talking: How strong communication can strengthen your supply chain

    If you experienced metal supply chain disruptions in 2020, you’re not alone. As a result of COVID-19, many businesses across a wide range of industries found it difficult to find the metal they needed, when they needed it.

  4. Why should you go with an experienced metal consultant? We’ll tell you.

    Why should you go with an experienced metal consultant? We’ll tell you.

    Navigating the world of metal procurement is no easy feat. Figuring out which material is best-suited to a specific application, or knowing when it’s okay to go with a lower-quality product at a lower price, takes years of training.

  5. Putting customers first for five generations

    Putting customers first for five generations

    When Mark and Lewis Samuel opened their first hardware shop back in 1855, they had no way of knowing their little business would one day become a 160-year-old operation spanning five generations and multiple countries. All they knew was that the residents of Toronto were in desperate need of hardware products—and they were going to do what they could to deliver them.

  6. Want to lower your metal costs? Clarify your quality requirements

    Want to lower your metal costs? Clarify your quality requirements

    For most manufacturers, metal costs comprise a huge percentage of their overall expenditures, so it makes sense to set pricing parameters as early as possible. What many buyers fail to realize, however, is that setting quality parameters is equally important—if not more critical.

  7. The full picture: How to identify—and overcome—manufacturing inefficiencies

    The full picture: How to identify—and overcome—manufacturing inefficiencies

    For organizations that rely on multiple manufacturing processes to construct a finished product or product line, purchasing and processing metal is no easy feat. Not only do you have to navigate the volatile and complex metal supply chain, but you have to make sure the metal you purchase is processed in a way that effectively meets your manufacturing needs.

  8. The key to consistent JIT metal supply? A good Service Center.

    The key to consistent JIT metal supply? A good Service Center.

    Just in time (JIT) manufacturing is an extremely effective way to save costs and efficiently manage your cash flow. After all, if your metal inventory arrives on an as-needed basis, you’re not paying for it to sit idle on your manufacturing floor—or dealing with the financial costs of under- or over-ordering. 

  9. More than a supplier: How Service Centers add value

    More than a supplier: How Service Centers add value

    While every manufacturer would like to optimize their metal inventory, getting the ball rolling can be a challenge.With the right metals Service Center, you should not only gain access to the products you need. You should also have a collaborative partner able to bridge your knowledge gaps and identify the hidden costs and hurdles of your metal purchasing patterns.

  10. The secret to cost-efficient metal purchasing (Hint: It’s not the price)

    The secret to cost-efficient metal purchasing (Hint: It’s not the price)

    Purchasing and maintaining the right metals inventory can ensure consistent product availability and cash flow—letting you smooth operations, maximize efficiency and bolster productivity. But to effectively optimize your inventory, you have to see it as more than the materials in your warehouse. Cost, quality, supply chain risks and logistics are all factors that can significantly impact your business operations and bottom line.