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Gears: A Stable of Manufacturing

Lapping Carrier Gears have long been a staple in the building blocks of human civilization. Our early ancestors used wind and water power with a combination of gears to grind grains, seeds, nuts and beans into flour. They used gears to pump water and bellow fire, to track time and to navigate the high seas. There is no doubt that without the invention of the gear, we would not be where we are today.

The advancement of Science and Technology often creates the fuel for its own expansion, with each new frontier requiring intricate and precise parts even more innovative than the last. Lasers require a variety of polished mirrors to redirect, steer or fold beams of photons in simple machines like light curtains, to detecting gravitational waves through space-time with LIGO. Telescopes require highly reflective surfaces to gather and refocus light in order to peer at cosmic targets over 13 billion light years away. While these technologies are without a doubt impressive, they would be nothing without the use of Lapping Carriers.

The Importance of Lapping Carriers

Lapping Carriers are used in a manufacturing process aptly called Lapping, where two surfaces are rubbed together with an abrasive between them when grinding and polishing materials is required. The gear teeth on the Lapping Carrier allow it to be rotated at varying velocities, combined with a library of abrasives, in order to achieve the required finish. Given these conditions, it is paramount that each carrier is produced to a very high and consistent quality. MVS Metals recently had the opportunity of Water Jet cutting some 1/2″ and 3/4” PVC Lapping Carriers for use in the polishing and grinding industry.

For more information on this and other capabilities, please contact us at Owen Industries!

 

Owen Industries welcomes Delta.

Owen Industries recently met Delta . Delta is the new Carter Lake Police Departments K-9 Officer.

OII was able to donate funds toward the purchase of Delta and looks forward to the positive impact he will have on the Carter Lake community.

Delta joined the department in June and has already been called to assist the Omaha Police Department as well as his many tasks with his partner Officer Matt Owens.

Officer Owens stated that Delta is always wanting to work and is a long awaited addition to the force.

http://www.nonpareilonline.com/news/local/meet-delta-carter-lake-s-newest-k–addition-in/article_7a93ca82-57a5-11e7-b22e-3b938dc5838a.html

 

 

Jerry Spiekermeier started with Northern Plains Steel June 25, 1984. Jerry’s first position was inside sales, in the 90’s he moved to outside sales, working on the road for 7-8 years. Jerry was called to duty in the Army Reserves, and then returned to the NPS sales team. Jerry also spent several years in Purchasing, yet ended his career in sales.

Owen Industries: What did you value most about you experience working at NPS during your many years of tenure?

Jerry Spiekermeier: Meeting the great people he works with and spending 30+ years with a super company.

OII: What do you consider to be the most significant change that helped the company grow?

JS: Implementing the SAP system. This make for better record keeping and analysis of product. It was a yearlong project, but made work easier, previously they kept all inventory by hand in a book.

The new PVS Metals Shop with the Red Bud machine is also a positive change.

OII: Do you recall a past project that challenged the team? One of those “They said it can’t be done” projects?

JS: Learning the new computer system. The team worked together and put in a lot of effort to identify issues and create processes.

In 1997 they added a new building with laser cutters and the shop became John Deere qualified to make parts for John Deere and Case Tractors

OII: What do you think the future has in store for NPS and for Owen Industries?

JS: Growth, finding ways to accommodate both old and new customers. NPS/OII will be around a long time.

OII: What’s different from the way things were done your first day on the job from the way they are done now?

JS: There is all new technology now, when he started they weren’t sure how to use the fax machine, and he would talk to customers and other businesses to see if they would get a fax machine. Now, fax machines and US Mail is not used as much, everything is electronic. In his early career, they hand wrote everything for inventory!

Jerry plans to find a part time job after his retirement, maybe working at a golf course so that he can work and play golf! He also plans to spend some time with his wife at their lake cottage and with his son in their classic 1968 Convertible Camaro.

Owen Industries/Paxton & Vierling Steel hosted a day long tour for eight Westside High School Welding Program students.

The students met with several different departments to learn the full process of steel fabrication; from raw material to final product.

Students met with Estimating learning how the project process is started, moving on to Drafting where the customers design is detailed and brought to life and Project Management on the importance of keeping the plan on a specific timeline.

The students toured the PVS Metals Shop where they were educated on stretcher leveling, laser design, CNC punching, tube laser and water jet cutting.

In the Structures Shop the students met with experienced welders discussing girders and welding specifics. They also visited the bridge bay learning about design and construction. The students had the opportunity to meet with staff and discuss issues and ask questions.

The tour was led by President, Tyler Owen, WHS graduate. He discussed the Owen Industries Apprenticeship Program and his personal experiences with welding and working in the steel industry.

It was a great day of education and welding for both staff and students at Owen Industries!

 

Owen Industries Welder Apprentice Program

Apprentice Interview: Aaron Gunn

Carter Lake, Iowa-based Owen Industries (an AISC member) is now an official registered apprenticeship sponsor and offers a three-year, competency-based welder apprenticeship program. In August the company began an interview and selection process, seeking four welder apprentices to offer on-the-job training as well as worksite classroom training, in partnership with Iowa Western Community College, at no cost to the apprentice.

Aaron Gunn started as one of four apprentices in the program in September 2016.

Aaron worked several jobs prior to the welding apprentice program; flooring, customer service, National Guard, security….jack of many trades. Aaron had a friend who encouraged him to apply and when he moved from Florida to the Midwest, he found the program listed on-line.

Aaron has worked in many different areas of the Structures building, he recently started welding in the bridge bay. This has become one of his favorite projects.

Aaron has learned many things in his 6 months with the program, he enjoys learning all the diverse happenings in the operation. He states asking questions is the best way to acquire important needed information.

Aaron has really enjoyed the people he works with here at Owen Industries/PVS Structures. His co-workers in the Bridge Bay have been helpful and have taught him many valuable lessons. The apprentices have classroom time on Tuesdays from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The instructor from Iowa Western comes to the training area. The program is 3 years long, and at the end each apprentice will be a certified journeyman. Nick Bristol, the PVS Structures Plant Manager has been a favorite mentor for Aaron.

Owen Industries’ welder apprenticeship program is an ongoing program and open to anyone who applies at their Carter Lake, Iowa, location, regardless of where they live. For questions or more information about the program, please contact Ronald D. DeBord, Owen Industries Vice President of Human Resources, at 712.347.5500 or rdebord@owenind.com.

 

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst toured Owen Industries on Thursday, April 20th.  Senator Ernst visited both the PVS Metals Service Center and PVS Structures Division. She met with a group of staff in the Bridge Bay, asking questions and learning more about the company. The tour was facilitated by The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC).

Check out the article from the Omaha World-Herald:

http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/ernst-lends-support-to-infrastructure-spending-during-carter-lake-tour/article_561c9ff6-2655-5508-ac82-7564c495ce05.html

Check out the article from The Daily NonPareil:

http://www.nonpareilonline.com/news/local/ernst-lends-support-for-infrastructure-spending-during-tour-of-carter/article_3833b6e8-27a8-11e7-ad36-8fb84f332dda.html