Lutco’s new 800-ton heavy stamper is said to open up new opportunities for manufacturers across the Northeast by reducing their need to import heavy stampings from outside the region. (Photo: Lutco/PRNewswire)
The new press increases capacity for bigger—and more complex—compound and progressive tooling, enabling the company to offer larger, more complex components efficiently.
WORCESTER, Mass.—Metal stamping supplier Lutco, Inc., recently acquired a new 800-ton Minster model E2-800 Heavy Stamper, calling it “one of the largest and most advanced presses in the Northeastern United States.”
Lutco is a Worcester-based, ISO 9001:2015 registered manufacturer of semi-precision bearings, metal stampings, machined parts, and housed bearing assemblies. Its new stamping press “opens up new opportunities for manufacturers across the Northeast, reducing the need to import heavy stampings from outside the region,” Lutco said in a release.
The new Minster E2-800 Heavy Stamper provides a bed size of 109 inches by 54 inches and is said to be equipped with cutting-edge controls for optimized productivity. Additional features and upgrades are reported to include material strips up to 31 inches wide and ¼-inch thick (at that width); large tooling, accommodating die sets up to 50 inches by 104 inches; and increased capacity for bigger and more complex, compound and progressive tooling.
Lutco said the stamping press offers enhanced productivity with multi-up tooling, enabling simultaneous production of multiple parts per stroke. It also provides the capability to feed longer single parts and process higher stock thicknesses up to 3/8 -inch.
The investment in the press was a strategic decision, made in response to evolving customer needs. Now that the press is in-house, it enhances Lutco’s ability to undertake projects that were previously impossible while enabling the company to offer larger and more complex components efficiently.
“Our new press increases our production capacity significantly and allows us to embrace projects requiring larger, thicker, and more varied materials,” explained Bob Santoro, Lutco’s national sales manager, in the release. “It is a game-changer in how we respond to the complex needs of our clients.”
Lutco’s new press can process a wide variety of raw materials, including carbon steels, aluminum, stainless steel, HSLA, galvalume, Chromium-Vanadium steel (AISI 6150), and galvanized steel. Lutco said its engineering team expertly uses compound and progressive dies, along with secondary operations, depending on volume, to optimize cost-effectiveness for customers.
The press is reported to feature a state-of-the-art control package that streamlines operations, reduces setup times, and increases productivity. “This technological advancement is pivotal in maintaining Lutco’s industry leadership by setting new standards for operational efficiency,” the release stated.
Lutco President Dug Stowe emphasized the strategic vision behind the acquisition.
“As we unveil our new 800-ton Minster Heavy Stamper, we usher in a new era of possibilities for our clients and partners across the Northeast and beyond,” he said in the release. “This reflects our unwavering commitment to meeting the complex demands of modern manufacturing and delivering unmatched value and quality to those we serve. With this advanced capability, we’re saying a resounding ‘yes’ to new challenges and ‘no’ to missed opportunities. We want everyone to know that Lutco is not just keeping pace; we’re setting the pace.”