| The high cost of gasoline has made fuel-efficiency
a top priority for automakers and consumers alike. Variable valve timing (VVT) is an exciting technology that
can improve automobile fuel efficiency by up to 8%. While only about 10% of all new cars in the United States currently
have VVT technology, it is projected that this could grow to 80% or
more in less than five years. VVT technology is built with high precision steel
components. The VVT components for Aisin's U.S. facility were originally
produced in Japan, where they were finished in a single grinding process. Unfortunately, the steel parts experienced
severe rusting problems during shipment to the United States and needed
to be 100% visually inspected. In order to solve the problem, Aisin turned to A.J.
Rose, a leading metal stamping company in the United States. A. J. Rose in turn chose Lap Tech Industries to develop a
high-precision finishing solution for these stamped metal parts. Lap Tech Industries not only had the
expertise and equipment, but also had a solid track record as a reliable
partner to the metal stamping industry. The part specification not only called for tight tolerances
for flatness (SPEC) and surface finish (SPEC), but also needed to be
finished in the most cost-competitive manner possible. Lap Tech engineers determined that a multi-stage finishing
approach would be needed. The process begins with double disk grinding, followed
by fine grinding / flat honing, and then finished with brush deburring. This entire finishing process is completed
under one roof at Lap Tech's facility in Dayton, OH. The results are impressive. The plant's ISO2001-9000 certified quality process ensures
that parts now meet or exceed all specified tolerances. In addition, the efficiency of the finishing
process ensured that the parts were highly cost-competitive. The close proximity of Lap Tech's plant
to Aisin Automotive's facility enabled a JIT delivery. This program, along with the use of surface
treatment solutions, ensured that the parts arrived 100% rust-free,
without need for any further quality inspection. Lap Tech can deliver the high quality and low cost
demanded by the global automotive market. Our
close partnerships with metal stamping companies enable us to deliver
complete solutions to customers.
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