American Cutting Edge Blog

Industrial manufacturers have the unique position of selling both to distributors and directly to end customers. The sales team must treat each of these relationships differently and be prepared to address the distinct needs, challenges, and goals of each of these customer groups.

The goal is always to provide the end customer with the best possible fit for their needs. A product that meets their goals (both immediate and long-term) and is gained with minimal effort on their part. To succeed, the sales team must look beyond the immediate request and rely on their experience and expertise to guide conversations and purchases in a way that builds trust and promotes true partnerships.

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.

Are your chipper blades providing the performance you need? When blades are dull or damaged, the chips produced are inconsistent and are torn, instead of cut. When your customer sees that your chips are not consistent, the entire order may be rejected. Even worse, your customer may look to find another supplier.

Small business owner-operators, rental warehouses, and large-scale forestry and debris removal companies face the same question: How can I maximize the life of my chipper blades without compromising product quality?

Before you replace your next set of chipper blades, consider how these five areas impact the life and performance of your knives.

1. Are you operating within the specifications of your machinery and your blades?

Review the specifications of your wood chipper with everyone who will operate the machine. Doing so increases job site safety and can improve the overall life of your wood chippers and chipper blades.

When was the last time you reviewed your chipper blade supplier options? Most forestry and debris removal experts use the same supplier without routinely evaluating their options. If the knife is available and seems reasonably priced, why not order it? The decision is as easy as deciding to buy gas for your truck. You need the gas, it is available, and the price is consistent with your expectations. Done.

The decision regarding where to purchase your replacement chipper knives shouldn't become so routine that it's made out of habit or based solely on price. Putting a little more thought into your supplier options could have a significant impact on your bottom line. Here are some critical things to consider when evaluating your supplier relationship.

• Are you getting the right value for your purchase? There's more to a product than just price. If you're a dealer, does your supplier offer

COVID-19's final impact on the world remains to be seen. The ripple effects are being felt at every turn, in every community both on a personal and professional level whether businesses have had to temporarily close during lockdowns or convert production operations to help overcome PPE shortages. While some outcomes such as higher unemployment rates, potential supply chain disruptions, and market volatility are foreseeable, the converting and packaging industries as well as the recycling and sustainability movements are seeing a ripple effect.

Disposable Plastics During the Pandemic

As the long-standing nemesis of the sustainability and zero waste movement, single-use and flexible packaging represent a unique business case as the world faces this unprecedented crisis. Beyond the benefits of convenience that toss

Plastics are everywhere. From grocery store bags and most shopping carts to single-use cups and food packaging, you just can't get away from it. According to the non-profit, Plastic Oceans, the world manufactures 300 million tons of plastic each year. When you think about 300 million tons of something, it is difficult to picture the reality of what that means.

To put it into perspective and add a visual element, here are some things that weigh approximately just one ton. Picture them in your mind as you read this list: fully grown brown bears, adult polar bears, a small car, or a shipping container. The thought of the size of these things when multiplying by 300 million is overwhelming. Yet, that's the amount of plastic the world creates every single year. What makes this figure even more overwhelming is that over half of these plastics are for single use only.

Where

Engineering is a critical part of manufacturing operations. When it comes to industrial knife and blade manufacturing at American Cutting Edge, we would be lost without the expertise, knowledge, and commitment of our engineering department. Since it's Engineers Week, we thought we would tell you a little about how these mission-critical professionals add to our business.

Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Engineers Week celebrates the difference engineers make in our world. The NSPE dedicates itself to ensuring the future engineering workforce is diverse and well-educated by increasing the understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.

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Tree care professionals are well-acquainted with the importance of maintaining and replacing wood chipper blades on a regular basis. However, there's more to maintaining the performance of your machine than keeping up with your knives when they start to dull. One of the most neglected chipper parts, your anvil should be at the top of your maintenance list as well. Properly maintaining the anvil in addition to the knives helps your chipper's engine run efficiently and allows your equipment to do its job.

The anvil is a stationary metal bar mounted to the chipper's housing that supports the end of the logs as the chipper knife cuts them. Proper fit and condition of the anvil is absolutely critical in order for your chipper to function and perform as it should. For every three to four sets of replacement blades, the anvil needs to be completely replaced. Because of this part's

When it comes to manufacturing, distributing, and selling industrial knives and blades, metallurgy matters. A keen understanding of metallurgy plays a crucial role in determining what type of steel to use, when an element will enhance or detract from the performance of a cutting edge, and the overall durability of the end product. Metals are considered the backbone of the engineering industry. If your industrial knife supplier doesn't understand the behavior of the metals and alloys, they won't be able to effectively transform those raw materials into an end product that will provide a successful outcome for your cutting operation. Partnering with an industrial knife supplier with metallurgy knowledge and experience can make all the difference in your operation.

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Why Material Selection Is Critical

When it comes to industrial knives and blades, material selection matters. The purchase of industrial machine knives and blades is often driven by price because the decision-maker is unaware of the benefits of using a different and more suitable material. Let's be honest, two knives of different materials look very similar. Sometimes, it's very difficult to tell them apart. But, the fact is that materials behave differently in cutting applications.

Factors That Influence Material Choice

Varying factors contribute to the decision to use a different material. Those factors range from a need for better wear resistance, more accurate cutting, or superior slit quality just to name a few. One recurrent customer question across all of the industries we serve is how to get better performance and life out of industrial machines knives and blades. And, our answer is always the same. "It depends on what your goals are for your cut

When it's time to replace your industrial machine knives or blades, you might not realize you have a choice when comes to your knife vendor. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacement knives are those that are made or sold by the manufacturer of the machinery.

Finding the right industrial blade and knife supplier isn't as easy it may seem. You might think it could be as simple as ordering the part number of the knife or blade that corresponds to the model machine you're running. However, there's a lot more that goes into buying replacement knives than part numbers and placing the order.

If you're simply buying the part you need, replacing the knives, and moving on with the next item on your list, you could be missing out! Working with a trusted industrial knife supplier like American Cutting Edge can provide you with an opportunity