
Dubbed the “Scorpion,” the cell uses extremely high levels of automation to meet the stringent demands required for producing 6.7-liter oil plans for a popular diesel truck model over a five-year program. This particular oil pan project recently transpired into more oil pan work with a totally different auto manufacturer, requiring Metal Technologies to invest in its largest, most advanced manufacturing cell to date. That’s when we knew we needed to purchase a robot and build our own end-of-arm tooling,” said Lovelace. “We started out manufacturing 50,000 of the oil pans annually, and when you make parts like this that weigh between 50 and 60 pounds, you don’t want your employees repeatedly lifting such heavy weight. At which point, the company realized it needed to further incorporate automation into its operations as a way to lower part costs, increase production rates, improve safety and successfully move its business into the future.

Due to this work, other automotive companies started looking our way.”įollowing the crossmember program, Metal Technologies won the bid for producing oil pans for a diesel truck engine. “Any time you work on parts for a high-profile vehicle, it’s going to give your company some name recognition. “The crossmember program was the stepping stone that got us visibility,” said Randy Lovelace, product development/field sales engineer for Metal Technologies. In 1998, however, Metal Technologies kicked its production work into high gear after securing its front and rear crossmember program, which involves producing approximately 70,000 parts annually. Metal Technologies, founded by former GM employees, started out in 1996 as a metal fabrication company that supported its tool shop, Bedford Machine and Tool. Furthermore, the company makes much of its own equipment, machining fixtures and leak test systems. The company, consisting of 105 employees, takes a lot of pride in its work, which includes diesel engine oil pans, front and rear crossmembers for a popular sports car, hybrid bus housings, automatic transmission bell housings and six-speed transmission housings.
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Located in the small, discreet community of Bloomfield, Indiana, Metal Technologies works on several high-profile projects inside its 134,000-square-foot, ISO 9001:2008-certified facility. The company attributes much of its successes to fully automated manufacturing cells that utilize advanced machine tools from top suppliers such as Mazak. Specializing in high and low volume work, close tolerance machining and leak testing of aluminum castings for the automotive industry, Metal Technologies has spent the past 14 years developing its niche as a second-tier supplier to leading car and truck manufacturers.

Advanced Automation Drives Company’s Success Posted on
