Welding Innovation Gone "Nuts"

Over 9 Billion Served

When you can bring innovation to your clients and speed up their manufacturing processes by 75% from what other competitors have to offer, you have no problem sticking out in a crowd. Canadian based CenterLine (Windsor) Limited is doing just that, they are that diamond in the ruff.

In 1957, Fred Wigle and Donald Beneteau had an idea to start a small company. This company has since grown and expanded to operate in 7 countries with 13 facilities and employs nearly 1000 skilled tradespeople and professionals. CenterLine is a supplier to several major automotive OEMs, and Tier 1 & 2 suppliers such as Dodge and Chrysler.

So what kind of company might this be, and what do they do? CenterLine is an innovation powerhouse specializing "in advanced automation processes and joining technologies that satisfy resistance welding, metal forming, and cold spray applications." And yes, you read the above heading correctly; since 2017, CenterLine has been tracking how many fasteners have been welded with their custom equipment and welding gun packages, and the number is OVER nine billion! (Check that number here)

Their innovation and expertise have been incorporated into welding projects far outside the scope of the automotive sector. CenterLine was part of the Chunnel project, which was undertaken to create a connection beneath the English Channel to link The United Kingdom and France. This goes to show you what the support of leadership and teamwork can accomplish.

Pen To Paper

CenterLine launched their PinPoint? welding solution after a simple concept revelation by Vice President of Process & Technology Larry Koscielski, which involved moving a piece of paper on a desk with a pen. Following that, the innovative concept morphed into one of the most straight forward technological solutions the automation welding industry has ever seen. With this simple concept, CenterLine transformed the industry by increasing the speed at which an automation line and welding gun can weld a fastener. Before PinPoint?, the time it took to weld a fastener into a stamping was "one every ten seconds"; After the integration of CenterLine's PinPoint?, and inverted welding gun solutions, "now we're [welding] one nut every two and a half seconds." Some PinPoint? solution applications include: robotic pack-out cells, plastic parts post-processing and CNC machine tending.

Going Supersonic

CenterLine's Supersonic Spray Technologies? (SST) "is a solid state spraying process used to apply metallic coatings onto various metallic or non-metallic substrates."

So how does this proprietary patented technology work? "The cold spray process enables users to apply robust metal coatings to a wide range of surfaces without melting. Coating characteristics include extremely low oxide entrapment, high densities and high bond/cohesive strengths. Cold spray coatings are extremely machinable (with conventional tooling), have thin or thick build characteristics, and are accepting of dissimilar materials with no galvanic reactions." Combining multiple integrated technologies means that temperatures must be captured accurately to supply such an innovative solution. A Windsor, Ontario, based engineering firm Acrolab supports CenterLine regarding this technology solution with custom temperature sensors, which are vital to the machine's spray process. How can you apply this technology to your industry sector? Some applications for SST technology are as follows:

• Aircraft frame and wing skin repair
• Aircraft auxiliary component dimensional & corrosion restoration
• Magnesium casting dimensional restoration
• Cast Iron engine block restoration 
• Aluminum engine components restoration
• Aluminum wheel cosmetic restoration
• Automatic transmission housing restoration 
• Vintage automobile component restoration
• Vintage aircraft component restoration
• Chipmunk aircraft engine restoration
• Landing strut restoration
• Aluminum tooling and mold repair
• And more!

Check out the SST technology in action here: Video

Power To The People

The powerhouse that CenterLine has become is not based solely on sales and key performance indicators (KPI). They understand that if you're going to build a successful company, the best way to accomplish this is through your employees. On top of creating apprenticeship opportunities for young individuals to gain hands on experience by partnering with St.Clair College and the University of Windsor, CenterLine has implemented a wide variety of events, perks, and benefits for employees who choose to participate. Judy Abbott, the company's Human Resources Administrator, stated that one of the most significant event in which employees participate is the FIRST Robotics competition. Employees don't just do this because they get paid. Judy finds that employees really look forward to the opportunity to mentor and assist young students and make a difference in their community. This is not the only event on the list. There are also local walk/run-a-thons, yoga Thursdays, CenterLine golf leagues, healthy lunch programs, gym memberships, lunch n' learn seminars, wellness newsletters, sporting event ticket draws, continuing education assistance, and two Christmas parties, one for the employees and their families and one just for the employees. Recently the company celebrated their 60th anniversary and hosted an open house that included: plant tours, interactive robotic displays, a kid zone, a dunk the Plant Manger tank, and much more. With these types of events and perks in place, it's no wonder CenterLine is leading the charge in welding technology. If you empower your people, those people will power the company.

By taking care of automation challenges, welding problems, employees, and customer needs, CenterLine focuses on all the right things in all the right places. Do you have an automation or welding problem that needs an innovative solution?

Check out what CenterLine has to offer you and your team!

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Special thanks too:

• Featured Company: CenterLine
• Featured Charity:Autism Services Inc. Of Windsor & Essex County <--- Support Them
• Donations Raised : $400
• Acrolab: Tool Heating & Cooling Solutions