Production Equipment Resurrection Provides 900% Capacity Increase
“The team at the Advanced Manufacturing Center was a tremendous resource in getting our 1960s-era duplicator lathe back into service. They were thoughtful, skilled partners who helped us nearly rebuild the machine from the ground up and bring it online after years of sitting idle. Since then, the lathe has significantly increased our production capacity, reduced costs, and opened the door to new markets beyond our traditional marine products. Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in helping us modernize while staying true to the craftsmanship Shaw and Tenney is known for.” -Neil Gutekunst, Owner, Shaw and Tenney
ABOUT SHAW AND TENNEY
Shaw and Tenney, based in Orono, Maine, has carried on its tradition of handcrafting some of the finest wooden oars and paddles since at least 1858. Their longevity makes them one of the oldest marine products manufacturers in the United States. The six artisans they currently employ take great pride in achieving the highest quality wooden products, from classic canoe paddles to sculling oars to masts and flagpoles.
THE CHALLENGE.
In an effort to increase production capacity, the previous owner of Shaw and Tenney acquired a 1960s-era duplicator lathe, along with other specialized equipment, but sold the business before the machinery was put into service. The new owners, Jennifer and Neil Gutekunst, recognized the obvious potential of the idle duplicator to address a key bottleneck in the rough-shaping phase of oar production—upstream of the fine handcrafting work Shaw and Tenney is known for. They continued investing in the project, ultimately bringing the duplicator lathe into production to support and streamline their traditional manufacturing process.
MEP CENTER’S ROLE.
Based on a decade of success collaborating with the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) to solve problems and innovate, Shaw and Tenney reached out to see if the AMC could assist with preparing their duplicator lathe to meet their needs. Over the next two years, various aspects of the 4-spindle lathe were improved, replaced, or refurbished to prepare it for its role in improving production efficiency. The full effort included manufacturing tooling, equipment guarding, quality control tools, all new motors, belts, and bearings, installation of a VFD, and creating oar-patterns out of steel, all of which were necessary to cover the duplicating process from beginning to end.