How are Supply Chain Issues Affecting Stillion Industries?

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If you have purchased machine shop services, Electro Arc metal disintegrators, or Ames Portable Hardness Testers from us this year, chances are you have noticed an increase in our prices.  Stillion Industries, being a machine shop relies on a number of supplies which have increased exponentially in cost over the last two years.  Supply chain issues have forced us to explore new avenues for sourcing raw materials and new suppliers for components we use to build our Electro Arc line of machines. As a customer of ours, you have likely experienced these cost changes yourself.  Of course, most companies across the board have raised prices regardless of the industry.  Not only has the cost of materials increased, but the wait time for those materials has become extended.  In some cases, we have had to explore new solutions for components, execute upgrades or discontinue product offerings in our Electro Arc product line. Since purchasing Electro Arc in 2019 we have upgraded the disintegrating head connector because one component was no longer available.  Our auto feed boards have also been upgraded due to the same issue with the boards used in the auto feed option.  As a result, we ended up redesigning the boards completely.  We have discontinued several of Electro Arc’s metal disintegrating models and components such as the X-2 DC portable disintegrating metal disintegrator and the pancake head which is in the process of being redesigned due to similar issues. One of the biggest challenges we have faced due to supply chain issues is the lack of availability of small but critical components for items like our transformers which are an absolute necessity to the overall machine design.  We have pursued new designs and alternative sources to continue producing these machines but it has also required continual price increases as we continue exploring development options and product revisions. We know we are not the only company experiencing these challenges and appreciate the patience of our customers as we do our best to navigate these ever-changing issues.  As the Michigan Manufacturing Association mentions in their recent article about adapting to Global Supply Chain Issues it doesn’t look like we can expect the market to correct itself swiftly.  Multiple factors contributed to the collapse of the system we were used to and continue to play a part in.

Celebrating National Manufacturing Day

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Our company has a special honor related to National Manufacturing day this year,  We are so excited to have been nominated in the 2020 Coolest Thing Made in Michigan this year!  Hosted by the Michigan Manufacturing association highlights the coolest products made in Michigan! Please Vote for Electro Arc Metal Disintegrators National Manufacturing day is celebrated on the first Friday of October, and will fall on October 7 this year.  Manufacturing is essential to every industry aiding in every step of our daily routines.  In the United States alone, manufacturing contributed $2.33 trillion to the economy in only quarter one in 2019 according to the National Association of Manufacturers. MFG day aims to inspire education and company awareness of the essential nature of manufacturing careers.  While COVID-19 has affected the US economy and workforce, over the last four years the US has experienced the best manufacturing growth in the last 30 years. The National Association of Manufactures states that there are currently 12.75 million manufacturing workers in the United States, accounting for 8.6% of the US workforce. This demand will continue to increase over the next 10 years. As stated on the Whitehouse’s website Proclamation: “Since the founding of our Nation, Americans have been renowned for their craftsmanship and productivity. On National Manufacturing Day, we celebrate our dedicated American workers who carry on this legacy, recognizing that manufacturing is a cornerstone of our economic prosperity and national security. The workmanship and ingenuity of American manufacturers make “Made in the U.S.A.” an enduring stamp of patriotism and excellence, and we will always support the men and women whose work ensures that American manufacturing is second to none.” Stillion Industries is a small manufacturing facility. Our Machine Shop provides a variety of custom made parts for a variety of industries including those deemed essential during the pandemic. Supporting local businesses and farmers, we provide essential components at fair prices. Stillion Industries manufacturers Electro Arc Metal Disintegrators We are carrying on the Electro Arc legacy by manufacturing the Electro Arc Metal disintegrator machine line including our popular portable 2-S and the heavy-duty DC-powered Bolt Eater.  Electro Arc has been building the world’s best metal disintegrators for tap and drill removal since 1947. The original AC patented process was developed by Electro Arc. The entire line of metal disintegrators aids manufacturing industries such as automotive, power, aerospace, mining and more. We also continue to manufacture the Ames Portable Hardness tester lines of products produced by Electro Arc for over 50 years.  These portable hardness testers are also a key component to a vast array of industries relying on quick and accurate results.  All of our products are handmade here in Dexter Michigan by our staff to meet the highest quality standards.  Our products have a reputation for their longevity and dependability. Now, more than ever, it’s vital to champion manufacturing in the US and the career opportunities that it can provide—especially for STEM educators and students.

Vote for Stillion Industries in the 2022 Coolest Thing Made in Michigan Contest

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UPDATED: 10/10//22As a special treat for our 75th Anniversary, we were included in the round one voting for the 2022 Coolest Thing Made in Michigan contest. We are so grateful to all of you that voted for us because we made it to round 2!  Our Metal Disintegrators are among the 10 coolest things made in Michigan. We didn’t make it into the top 3 for the contest this year, but we will try again next year. We were nominated in 2020 but didn’t make it to the second round. We were recently accepted as a member of Proud to Manufacture in Michigan, which is a wonderful campaign designed to support manufacturing in Michigan.   It is really cool to see Michigan returning to its reputation for manufacturing and to be part of that movement. Shop local and Made in the USA were a big deal in the history of this country.  After Covid, supporting local businesses seems to be more important to customers once again.  Electro Arc metal disintegrating machines have always been Made in Michigan.  As we celebrate our 75 anniversary with Stillion Industries’ 50th anniversary, we have learned more about the history of Electro Arc and the evolution of these metal disintegrating machines.  This product line has expanded from 3 to over 40 different models and the acquisition of competing companies proves these machines are high quality and high value. The community is such a big part of support, without other local businesses, our staff, and our customers, success would not be possible.  Thanks to those of you who voted for Stillion Industries in this year’s Coolest thing Made in Michigan contest. Round one of the contest ended October 7, 2022.  While we made it into the Top 10 Coolest things Made in Michigan, we’ll have to try again for the top 3 spot. Why are Electro Arc Metal disintegrators the Coolest Thing Made in Michigan? The EDM technology that makes metal disintegration machining (MDM) possible was created in part by the founder of Electro Arc.  EDM has evolved to the point that most people are familiar with the concept, but it was a very new technology in 1947 when we started to sell these machines. You may not know that Metal disintegration machines are tools that remove broken bolts, taps, screws, drills, and other fasteners fast!  You can disintegrate out this broken tooling in minutes while preserving the thread and saving your part – not to mention money! These machines are portable and require no training to use.  We make a model for every application including DC machines like our Bolt Eater which can remove 2” and larger bolts. These machines can disintegrate at any angle and come with a variety of options, allowing you to customize your machine. The US Navy has been a long-time user of our metal disintegrating machines on their submarines.

The Expansion of Stillion Industries

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Stillion Industries has been in operation since the 1970s as a favorite local machine shop in Southeast Michigan.  Keith Stillion, the current owner purchased the company from his father, Chuck Stillion in 2007.  The recession led to a decrease in machining clients so Keith moved the business to his pole barn, doing what he could to save the company. Keith has fond memories of his father running the shop when he was just a teenager and was not ready to see the company’s doors close.  Keith worked full-time for Chelsea hospital while running the company out of his pole barn part-time. I am sure you can imagine the disappointment of seeing your family business close down in the midst of hard times.  With determination and a bank loan, Keith was able to save many of the machines he watched his father add to the company business over the last 30 years.  Converting his pole barn into a machine shop, he continued to run the shop as his father had all those years, servicing many of the same customers his father had. As the economy improved, so did business and Keith made a very smart business decision to purchase Dexter manufacturing when its doors were closing.  He is happy to continue providing reliable, friendly service to their customers as he always has for his own.  You may be wondering what kind of machine shop services Keith has been providing to his customers all of these years.  Services provided by Stillion Industries include turning, milling, and other services provided on the Okuma and other machines.  With the expansion of customers, Keith had two full-time employees and was ready to move the shop to a larger location.  Moving to its present location, Keith originally rented out two of the buildings in the 5 building complex.   In mid-2019 Keith changed the machine shop forever when he purchased yet another company and long-time customer  – Electro Arc manufacturing.  Electro Arc operations expanded the use of the company to all of the available buildings.  Electro Arc came with a lot of stock, and components turning Stillion Industries into a Michigan manufacturer overnight.  No longer creating just for others, Electro Arc and its two product lines became Stillion Industries’ largest clients machining 99% of the Ames portable hardness tester parts and 60% of the Electro Arc metal disintegrator components.  Additionally, Stillion Industries began making the molybdenum electrodes Electro Arc had been known for.   This addition was a huge challenge causing delays on new orders for months, a situation that was compounded when Covid hit.  Stillion Industries faced a number of other challenges in taking over Electro Arc operations, such as obsolete parts, which required research and development, staffing issues that necessitated outsourcing local contractors, and technical issues which came with lost website sales and created new service requirements. Now, having produced the Electro Arc line of metal disintegrators such as the model 2-S portable disintegrator for 3 years and producing the Ames Rockwell Portable Harness Tester operations have improved significantly.  With upgrades to our websites, you can now purchase Electro Arc accessories online as well as build a metal disintegrator to suit your needs.  All of the websites have been updated with chat features to offer better service and you will find the websites looking and operating better than before.  We published a new website in 2022, metal-disintegrators.com which is dedicated to providing technical assistance for metal disintegrator owners. You can rest assured that all of the products and services offered by Stillion Industries are made in Michigan.