Above: To efficiently process a variety of saw work, Newport Industrial Fabrication recognized the need for a computer-driven layout device.

TigerStop’s tool helps a fabricator perfect a project with precise layouts and accurate sawing

January 2017 - Newport Industrial Fabrication Inc., which fabricates steel, manufactures components and applies coatings to metal from a 35,000-sq. ft.- facility in Newport, Maine, won a job that involved assembling 3,700 fabricated steel panels. 

“Each panel required a high mix of 10 to 25 square or mitered cuts, which is around 50,000 total cuts. To efficiently process this variety of saw work, we recognized the need for a computer-driven layout device,” Newport Vice President Ryan Gerry says. He concluded that advanced software would be needed to make such a large number of accurate parts. 

The software running a saw allows the Maine fabricator to save money on materials and labor because it helps avoid rework.

Gerry and his colleagues researched various operating systems, but eventually decided to work with Vancouver, Washington-based TigerStop, LLC. Founded in a garage in 1994 by Spencer Dick, TigerStop now has a manufacturing facility in Holland and is a global provider of stop gauge and material positioning systems. These automated systems attach to a user’s cutting device to help precisely and rapidly position and cut ferrous, nonferrous, plastic, wood, composites and other materials without the use of a tape measure or a manual fence. TigerStop also produces turnkey fully automated saw stations.

“Ultimately, we chose TigerStop for its adaptability, CAM integration (barcode scanning) and small footprint,” Gerry says.

Newport Industrial Fabrication purchased a 10-ft.-long TigerStop “to aid in their metal fabrication process needs,” says Elizabeth Dick, TigerStop’s social media marketing manager. The unit, attached to Newport’s bandsaw, “greatly helps increase cutting station accuracy and repeatability. We specialize in add-on automation. This means our customers can attach our equipment onto their new or existing machinery. This gives them ample flexibility. Add-on automation is great for entry level users and huge operations alike.”

Dick says the tool allows companies to save money on materials, labor and rework. 

Newport Industrial Fabrication is in the midst of helping construct a 950-ft.-tall residential skyscraper at 220 Central Park South in midtown Manhattan.

“Most metal fabricators find that using a TigerStop on their saws, drills, presses or ironworkers greatly reduces part accuracy errors, which means no more wasted raw materials ending up in the scrap pile and no more time spent reworking inaccurate parts,” she says. 

“Tight tolerances are vital to fabricators and TigerStop equipment results in accurate parts cut quickly over and over again. With our optimization software, Dynamic Optimization, customers are able to maximize their material yield on the fly,” she continues.

Gerry confirms the software has helped the company to eradicate unnecessary downtime and strengthened Newport’s manufacturing production, performance and yields. 

“By using a barcode scanner, we are able to efficiently communicate cut length between our custom work-packaging software and the saw operation,” he says. “This eliminates human error, tape measure work, and rounding dimension error. As a result of the construction method, rounding error can severely affect our fabrication process. The TigerStop consistently cuts parts to their theoretical lengths, instead of their rounded lengths.”

Since the initial installation, followed by the need for technical support, Newport’s staff has roundly praised TigerStop and its vast array of features and capabilities. 

Tigerstop’s CAM integration has helped eradicate unnecessary downtime and strengthen  production, performance and material yields.

“We are a specialty job shop that focuses on architecturally exotic steel structures and we pride ourselves in ‘hot-rodding’ equipment to perform special or custom tasks,” says Gerry. “TigerStop is a versatile tool that has been easily integrated into our process. We are very happy with our investment.”

Newport is in the midst of helping construct a 950-ft.-tall residential skyscraper at 220 Central Park South in Midtown Manhattan. The 66-story superstructure will contain 116 apartments and each penthouse is expected to cost approximately $250 million. Stars like Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, and hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin, reportedly purchased units.

“It is going to be one of the tallest residential buildings in the U.S. and it will have the most expensive residential condos in New York City,” says Dick. “The building is also going to be a celebrity magnet.“

TigerStop is contributing to the creation of New York City’s newest skyscraper, according to Gerry. 

“I was personally involved in our TigerStop purchase and now I’m watching as the tool plays a role in the development of our 220 Central Park South project.”

TigerStop LLC and Newport Industrial Fabrication are located roughly 3,315 miles apart from one another. Despite the continental distance, Ryan Gerry and Elizabeth Dick are both well aware of TigerStop’s usefulness. Now, that use is helping to define the beauty and durability of a landmark building project. FFJ