How are Supply Chain Issues Affecting Stillion Industries?

Stillion Industries, , , ,

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.

The Expansion of Stillion Industries

1 CommentStillion Industries, , , ,

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.

Stillion Industries and Electro Arc 3 year update

1 CommentElectro Arc, Stillion Industries, , , , ,

Stillion Industries was closed down for nearly a month in 2020 due to Covid-19.  This was a huge blow to our business less than a year after purchasing Electro Arc Manufacturing, the original Metal Disintegrator manufacturer.  Based in Ann Arbor Michigan since its inception in 1947, Electro Arc has been a top US producer for metal disintegrators worldwide.  By joining forces and continuing the legacy established by Electro Arc, Stillion Industries is providing top-quality machining services and its lines of products. We are still recovering from the loss of customers, changes in supply chain, and product availability. As a local manufacturer for the Washtenaw county local community, Stillion Industries has been dedicated to supporting fellow local businesses in our 50 years of business.  We source as many items locally as possible, if not in the southeast Michigan area, then from the United States. Chuck Stillion, the founder of Stillion Industries, and Keith Stillion, the current owner are both dedicated to supporting the local community. Stillion Industries often provides discounted services to local farmers. We are grateful to our hardworking employees who have continued to work with us through this difficult transition.  We understand that many people’s lives have been changed forever and that includes the lives of our employees and owner. Long-time Electro Arc employees Tim Kinser and Doug Peterson retired in 2022. In addition to providing their line of Metal disintegrators, Stillion Industries is proud to manufacture the Ames line of portable hardness testers.  You may choose to purchase any of the Ames products online or give us a call to determine which product is best for you. Stillion Industries has been working hard to improve these products and the customer experience. This year, Stillion Industries celebrates 75 years in business and Electro Arc turns 75! In late 2021, Shadow our shop cat went missing which was very sad for all of the staff. After months, and assuming the worst, Keith agreed to get new shop cats for pest control. We welcomed two kittens into the shop in March 2022 and named them for our product lines: Ames and Electro. Much to everyone’s dismay, Shadow showed back up to work this spring and was not happy to find her little replacements. They have managed to coexist, but they are not friends (Shadow won’t allow it). You may have noticed that we have made a number of updates to our online presence in the last 3 years. The Stillion Industries website just underwent its second major redesign, both Electro Arc and Ames websites experienced some serious problems as we returned from the covid shutdown, and we hired a full-time marketing person to redesign and maintain the websites as well as manage our social media and online presence. You will notice more products available for purchase online, including Electro Arc accessories. Every website has a chat feature so you can reach out to us during our business hours. We have also added more contact forms for ease of contact online. We also added a new website as a resource for Electro Arc machine owners. Metal-Disintegrators.com

How Covid Changed Stillion Industries

3 CommentsStillion Industries, , , ,

https://youtu.be/PsykXjx33PM 2020 was a difficult year for most businesses, especially in manufacturing.  Covid-19 has changed everything from how we communicate to how we work and live. Now two years later, we are still experiencing difficulty with supply chain issues and the economy has created the necessity to raise our prices. We are so appreciative of, all of our staff, community support and the ability to continue offering products and services.  We also appreciate all of you and your patience during our downtime and with delays in fulfilling orders. While we did fall behind in production during the Covid-19 shut down we have found a new normal in meeting the needs of our customers.  The challenges we endured inspired improvements to our processes to minimize problems in the future. Another setback we experienced was problems with our websites for both Electro Arc and Ames Testers. Since then we have improved our websites and social media presence to provide you with updates and inside looks at the company and our products. We have also expanded our online shopping options to allow you to purchase accessory items for Electro Arc accessories in addition to the Ames products that have been available to purchase online for some time. Improvements to the websites include a live chat, more resources for machine owners, and a 75-year retrospect of Electro Arc’s history. You may have also noticed our new machine builder which helps you determine which metal disintegrator can best meet your needs, allowing you to compare the 40+ custom metal disintegrator options that we offer and the advantages of those machines on Electro Arc sites. Try the New Machine Builder to Choose the Right Metal Disintegrator for your Application! Check out our Social media profiles and please follow us! Facebook Youtube Pinterest Linkedin Instagram Tiktok As you may know, the Electro Arc and Ames product lines joined our company in mid-2019.  We have since made improvements to the product lines due to the lack of availability of necessary components, obsolescence and to assist in efficiency.  We look forward to continuing to offer the reliable products associated with these brand names and producing these products in Michigan is our pride.  Stillion Industries has been offering Michigan based machine services for 50 years now, and Electro Arc products have been made in Michigan for 75 years.

Stillion Industries Welcomes New Machines to the Family

Stillion Industries, , , , ,

Stillion Industries made a major change on March 25th, 2022 when we sold our Mac turn and replaced it with a Space turn.  This smaller machine is more versatile for our needs and freed up a large amount of much-needed area on the floor for new machines to come to our shop.  Now in May, we are excited to announce 3 new machines that have joined the Stillion Industries arsenal!  The Devlieg Spiralmatic Jigmil 4B-72 Boring Mill now stands tall in our shop ready to take on any job we can hoist onto it!  The Monarch Model 612 lathe which has the capacity for pieces 128 inches long and a 31 inch swing.  One of our Employees who came to us from Pinnacle Engineering when they closed, shared his history with these machines including running a 2 ½ ton roller on this machine!  We’ve also added to our Bridgeport collection the Series 1. It took us about 3 weeks, but we have 2 of these machines up and running now.  The Boring Mill was used just today to do final work on one of our Electro Arc table tops.  In the future, we will be able to do all of the work our table tops need! These new machines provide a larger capacity for big jobs. We are also now able to do jobs in-house that we would have outsourced in the past including work on cast iron table tops for our Electro Arc metal disintegrators.

Stillion Industries one-time conversion for your disintegrating head

3 CommentsElectro Arc, Stillion Industries, , ,

Did you know that Stillion Industries purchased Electro Arc in 2019?  As you can imagine, with any new company purchasing another company there are a lot of new things to do and know.  The name Electro Arc is known worldwide as the world’s best metal disintegrator manufacturer.  This is because of the sturdy design long-lasting nature of this machine.  As with any good thing, we have made necessary improvements to the Electro Arc product line since we have taken over as the manufacturer.  We have created new boards for our Auto-Feed feature and we have been researching to design our own pump to replace the pump we use in the machine since this machine has been hard to find since we took over. Due to supply chain issues, we replaced a connector used in the vibration of your Arc-er disintegrating head.  This new part can be easily replaced and we provide detailed instructions to walk you through the process of upgrading your machine.  The new part number is A6113, for connector assembly, panel mount, Arc-er or Servo head vibration.  We will detail these instructions for you below, please read and understand them before you attempt any changes.  Do not make an attempt to make this modification if you are unclear or do not understand the instructions.  Consult with a licensed electrician if needed. 15 Steps to Install the New Pigtail Adapter For Your Disintegrating Head: Step 1 Turn off your machine. Step 2 Disconnect power from the machine (refer to your company’s procedure for lock out tag out if needed.) Step 3 Locate the ROUND 2 PIN connector on the back of your machine.  Note: your machine may have more or less connection points than the picture below.  There should only be a single two-pin connector. Step 4 Remove the Allen drive button head screws on the outer edges of the back panel of the machine.   Step 5 Locate the two wires on the back side of the existing panel mount connector.  Note: wire colors may vary based on the age of your machine. Step 6 Cut each wire roughly 2″ away from the existing connector. Step 7 Unscrew the nut and lock washer from the back panel to remove your old connector. Step 8 Insert the new connector into the existing hole and mark the 4 mounting holes. Step 9 Drill 4 places with a 9/64″ (3.6mm) drill bit.  A center punch may help keep the drill bit on location. Step 10 Install the 4 screws from the front face of the back panel and place a washer, then lock the washer and nut over the screw.  DO NOT overtighten, this will crack the plastic on the new connector. Step 11 Strip back the wires from the hardness inside the machine cabinet. Step 12 Connect the wires from the connector to the wires from the harness.  Polarity or color coordination does not matter for this.  A number of methods can be used so long as both wires are properly insulated from each other and from the machine cabinet. Step 13 Reinstall the back panel of your machine using the button head screws.  Use caution to ensure no wires are pinched during reinstallation. Step 14 Connect the vibration cord end from the Arc-er Head to the new panel mount connector. Step 15 Reconnect power to the machine.  Consult your company’s lock out tag out procedure if needed. If you have any questions about the installation of this new pigtail assembly, please contact Cody for Technical support on Electro Arc’s main line, his extension is 105, or email crobbins@electroarc.com

Stillion Industries is Celebrating 50 years of Business

1 CommentStillion Industries, , , , , , ,

When you hear the name Stillion, the first thing that should come to mind is Stillion Industries.  A southeast Michigan machine shop that has been providing service in Washtenaw County for 50 years this year!  A family business, you can count on Stillion Industries to provide the highest quality machining work.  Chuck Stillion started this small business in Ann Arbor on Dino Drive.  The company was passed from father to son in 2006. Stillion Industries expanded its operations by purchasing Dexter Manufacturing in 2013.  Again in 2019 by purchasing Electro Arc, a metal disintegrator manufacturer also based in the Ann Arbor area.   Electro Arc was a client of Stillion Industries machine shop for years before the company went up for sale and Keith Stillion decided to purchase it.  With the acquisition, we gained both the Electro Arc metal disintegrator product line of over 40 bespoke machines as well as the Ames product line of fine precision hardness testing instruments now machined in-house. Electro Arc is also celebrating a big anniversary this year.  75 years of Michigan-based design and innovation which has become an asset to industries worldwide!  Under the Electro Arc name, Ames Portable Hardness testers have also been manufactured by Electro Arc since 1975.  These two tools are dependable not only in name but in reputation as well.   Like Stillion Industries’ machining work, Electro Arc machines are built to last.  This makes the two companies a perfect complement to each other.  We take pride in the new Electro Arc products we now produce and strive to make them better so you can count on these machines for years to come as large and small shops worldwide have in the past. To celebrate this special double anniversary, Stillion Industries had an oldest machine contest in an attempt to make connections with old Electro Arc machine owners who are still running metal disintegrators made by the company in the 60s and 70s!  While the design has changed very little, the look of these machines has changed over time, you may see them with different cabinets or colors like green and blue!   With proper maintenance, these machines can last a lifetime!  As an Electro Arc machine owner, you can count on us for your machine maintenance, repair, and upgrade needs.   Every machine we sell comes with a one-year warranty.  Another promotion we are offering to celebrate is the model 1 Ames Portable Hardness Tester in its old wooden case.  This limited edition product is only available while supplies last!  We continue to offer repair and calibration services for testers with a model number of 12000 or newer.