This manufacturer of food waste disposals and hot water dispensers needed to increase production of the steel motor shell that houses the electric motor and stator. These food waste disposals range from 1/3 to 1 hp for residential units and 1/2 to 10 hp for food service units in commercial applications.

The company used to take a stamped steel sheet and roll form it to the correct diameter. Next, they would MIG-weld or resistance-weld the seam, expand it to the correct diameter and then put it in a lathe to cut and chamfer each end. This process would help ensure burr-free ends and keep the ends parallel. This procedure required handling between each station and a significant cycle time for each finished motor shell. It was also too slow to keep up with demand.