American manufacturing is not dead:
Iron Giant

 

And it is right here in Cleveland!

 

I am really intrigued by the engineering behind what goes into making every day products (like tooth picks) as well as specialized stuff like this. I am particularly impressed by the engineering behind some of the medical/surgical devices that are currently in use. First (I assume) it takes a Doctor to dream up a new device and then explain what he needs it to do to an engineer that is able to understand his thoughts (hopefully not his hand writing) and translate that into a engineering model that works the way the non engineer doctor thought it might in the first place.

Another good example of this type of collaboration is the modern day fighter jet. It is dreamed up by guys with PHD's, flown by people with Bachelors degrees and maintained by people with most likely a high school education. The staff that writes those manuals have to be "tri-lingual"

 

That would be cool to see in operation.
There is less and less "big" stuff like this in operation.
and to Matt's point, my favorite shows are "how do they do it?" and How's it made?" and the like.

 

I thought (was hoping) that this was going to be a story about a new facility. I guess the best we can do is reopen facilities from the 50s.... Which were based on German machines from the 30s. Maybe American manufacturing isn't dead, just undead.

 

I am trying to source a small steel piece for a new product...

Maybe I'll give them a call and see if they are interested!

That is one BIG piece of machinery!

 

They forge aluminum Mike!

 

I don't think you would see many if any American companies building anything this large in the US. China possibly but not the US.

I saw this machine machine back in the '80's and it is absolutely huge!

 

Great.... that will make the part lighter!

 

Matt, I retired from a company that makes feminine protective products at over 500 per minute per machine (17 machines running to the tune of over 1.5 billion pieces per year) Believe it or not, this technology was adapted from the cigarette machine industry, where cigarettes are made at over 12,000 per minute! Engineers can perform miracles, especially German engineers!