Years ago, some of the operations that were performed in the shop required two men to complete them. However, this is all changed today. Sheet metal machinery manufacturers use as a selling point the fact that much or all of their machinery can be handled by one man, and they are willing to demonstrate this to you.
Sheet metal work used to be a highly skilled trade. One of the reasons was that everything used in the systems had to be made in the shop, which involved much complicated layout work as well as skillful shop operations. Today, due to better engineering and planning as well as the new sheet metal machinery available, much of the skill is no longer needed.
However, other skills are needed. Because of this trend, more air conditioning shops are making and installing their own sheet metal work. It used to be that the air conditioning contractor would "sub" out all of his sheet metal work. Consequently, less work is available for the sheet metal contractor who previously did this work for the air conditioning contractor.
For example, there is fully-automated sheet metal machinery available today that can do all the following operations in one cycle, beginning with a coil of galvanized iron:
- Cut to length
- Notching
- Beading
- Seaming
- Forming drive cleats or government flange and finish with a 90°
Today cleat-forming machines are available which one man can operate to turn a drive on a ten foot pipe. Otherwise, this operation would require two men.
These are just a few of the times that have been introduced to the sheet metal industry in recent years.
To determine whether or not the cost of the new machinery and new equipment are justified, you must consider whether the future savings with the desired new machinery would be large enough to make the change worthwhile. You must take into account your past, present, and future business and shop objectives.
Some of your sheet metal trade journals, associations, and conventions can help you keep alert to new developments in sheet metal work. A definite way to keep yourself informed on any new sheet metal machinery is to request the various sheet metal machinery manufactures to put your company on their permanent mailing list.