Huron Fabrication Grows with Equipment from CINCINNATI, Inc.

Huron Fabrication, based in Cudahy, Wisconsin, prides itself on taking complex projects from concept to completion for a wide range of industries. According to CEO Erik Schimelfenyg, “It’s not about being in the middle of the manufacturing process, it’s about being at the center of creating something great.” This includes everything from elegant residential bridges to rocket engine components to military-grade armor fabrications. Whatever project is on the production line at Huron, you’ll find equipment from Cincinnati Inc. (CI) at the heart of it.

Born into the Business

Erik started forming metal at the age of 6, working on projects in his basement. He began his professional career in the trade as a journeyman sheet metal worker. Retained as a subcontractor for a large printing company, Erik got his feet wet with heavier fabrications made of 1/4” to 3/8” plate. Striking out on his own in 1997, he opened a shop in his parent’s garage. After a few months, he moved out, re-fitted an old butcher shop, and shared the space with a cabinet maker. To put things into perspective, at that time, his portion was only 2,500 square feet, which is smaller than many of the complex assemblies that Huron turns out today.

Heavy Metal Basics Spur Growth

Huron bought its first Cincinnati machine, a 90-ton ProForm press brake, in 1998. “I was originally looking at a 60-ton model,” Erik said. “But realized I could step up to the 90-ton with minimal additional investment.” With the new press brake, a plasma cutter, and other basic equipment, Erik kicked his business into a higher gear. So much so that the company outgrew its space and moved into a larger building in 2001.

Word quickly spread that Huron’s quality and turnaround rates were second to none, and they were good people to do business with. Their reputation kept orders flowing in and created a need for additional capacity. In 2005, Huron ordered a 230-ton, 12’ ProForm press brake. It was joined in 2014 by a 175-ton 14’ ProForm press brake with a heavy list of options, including a CNC 5-axis backgage. Lyle Becker, Huron’s General Manager, insisted on the 5-axis backgage. “It dramatically reduced set up times and improved productivity,” he said.

Lyle also likes the fact that CI press brakes are easy to use. “We don’t have full-time press brake operators, but our guys are fully capable of operating the machines with no problems.”

Erik has been running CI press brakes for over 20 years now and he is totally sold on the product. “They've been the most reliable equipment I’ve ever owned,” he said. “From a mechanical standpoint, I don't think there is anything out there that is more dialed in.”

The Move to Laser

In the cutting department, another round of equipment evolution was taking place as a result of the company’s success. Production was suffering because of their aging plasma and water jet technology. Erik knew he needed to move to laser cutting and bought a CI CO2 CL-707 in 2008. “We need to improve throughput, of course” Erik said. “But a lot of the things we were building required etching, which we couldn't do with enough precision using plasma.” Since Erik had over a decade of experience programming water jets, it was an easy transition to the laser. The CL-707 cut reliably for over 12 years with minimal maintenance.

Growth with Fantastic Fiber

Erik has always maintained a philosophy of keeping up with state-of-the-art equipment. He knew that variable-beam fiber lasers were at the cutting edge of technology and it piqued his curiosity. It was Nick Thielmann, CI’s Regional Sales Engineer, who provided the clincher. Knowing that CI’s new fiber lasers would offer the opportunity for huge improvement in Huron’s laser cutting, Nick offered to cut a sample part in CI’s Tech Center that previously had been made on Huron’s water jet. “If you can cut this ¾” thick steel part,” Erik stated, “we can have a serious conversation.” Erik was shocked at the results. “The fiber laser delivered beautiful edges and much finer detail in heavier plate,” he said. “And the cutting speed was over 8x faster than the water jet.”

Erik and Nick had their conversion. As a result, a brand-new Corona-powered CL-946c was installed in 2019. Erik says the decision was really a no-brainer. “We bought the CL-946c in order to keep up with orders and compete with other first-class fabricators in the market. In addition, it gave us the capability to cut red metals like copper, which you can’t do with a C02 or inferior fiber cutter due to reflectivity.”

Capabilities. Investment. People.

According to Erik, “What’s unique about Huron is our diverse capabilities and range of projects, from small microscope housings to massive 38,000 pound assembles. But what really sets us apart is the personal attention we give to each person who walks through the door. It’s about building a relationship. The people at Cincinnati Inc. think the same way we do. That’s why we like doing business with them.”

If your fabrication business is growing, or if you would like it to, contact us and let’s make it happen together.