Thirty years ago, a bath rack was just a bath rack. Thanks to a booming economy, consumers have begun demanding more aesthetically-integrated designs with high-end materials. Inexpensive, “practical” metals are giving way to titanium alloys with brass finishes. Like the kitchen, the bath is evolving into new design opportunities for quality, form, and authenticity. New… Read More
It’s no secret that the kitchen is the centerpiece of the modern home. It’s the primary part of the house that a seller renovates before placing their home on the market to get the best asking price. It is the also the one area that people constantly remodel to bring up to date, to provide… Read More
There was a time when significant design changes in the automobile industry were made annually. Buyers were teased with “first look” photos months before each new model year. Today, change in auto design has become more “generational” with only slight modifications on an annual basis. The opposite may be happening in the major appliance industry… Read More
What do you look for in an ideal partner? A manufacturer with a bevy of processes at their disposal? What about a company that can work with OEMs and take parts — such as appliance and automotive handles — from concept to reality in a cost-effective manner? When sourcing the right handles manufacturing partner, versatility… Read More
There are a number of benefits to extrusions as opposed to casting or forging metal parts. These benefits are particularly apparent in pieces that are near net shape and produced in long lengths. One of the challenges extruders have is that their use for complex parts can be limited. This is why it is so… Read More
Successfully navigating a design-to-delivery process for manufacturing a complex OEM product or assembly not only requires sourcing the right metal fabrication partner, but also sourcing them as early in the process as possible. While your in-house team are experts on what the consumer wants to see in terms of product design, it’s challenging to be… Read More
Most consumer tool chests have pull-type tool chest handles. Of course, the main purpose of these handles is to facilitate carrying and opening of the tool chest, but these handles play even more important roles than may first be perceived. In many cases, tool chest handles must support the entire weight of the tools inside.… Read More
Though most typically associate steel handles with hand tools, controls, and certain types of doors, anything that can be used to pick up an object with the hand is essentially a type of handle. Yes, handles are everywhere, and one of the best materials one can use to fabricate them is steel, due to its… Read More
Appliance manufacturers are always looking for ways to reduce costs for metal dishwasher, refrigerator and oven handles without sacrificing any fit, form, or function. Often, these cost-saving measures focus on the handle shaft. But another area that is ripe for cost-reduction and should not be neglected is the mounting methods used to attach metal handles to… Read More
Stainless steel handles are a desirable choice for appliance manufacturers since stainless steel is corrosion resistant, durable, easy to work with, and provides an attractive finish. If there is a downside to producing handles out of stainless steel, it is its relatively high materials cost. This makes manufacturing techniques that produce solid stainless steel products… Read More
