Robinson Steel forges ahead in laser business

摘要

In 1987, East Chicago, Ind.-based Robinson Steel changed the shape of the steel industry with the Robinson Processing System. The system was the first combination cold reduction/cut-to-length processing line that enabled OEMs to obtain high-quality steel sheet and plate that stays flat throughout the entire manufacturing cycle. That same year, Trumpf Inc. introduced the first flatbed laser-cutting center. While neither company knew it in 1987, these two industry leaders would soon forge a highly productive - and long-term - relationship. Fast forward to 1995. Robinson Steel takes the initial steps to introduce a new product, precision laser-cut parts. "We were looking at various solutions for processing parts for our customers and saw that the demand was moving toward lasers," recalls James Gough, Robinson's vice president of operations. "