Customer stories
Progressive Mechanical - Clawson, MI
Progressive Mechanical - Clawson, MI
Progressive Mechanical - Clawson, MI
McCarl's - Beaver Falls, PA
Progressive Mechanical - Clawson, MI
Progressive Mechanical - Clawson, MI
DS Pipe - Baltimore, MD
Progressive Mechanical - Clawson, MI
O'Neil/INfab - Greenville, SC
O'Neil/INfab - Greenville, SC
Ragan Mechanical Pipe Fabrication - Davenport, IA
O'Neil/INfab - Greenville, SC
Ragan Mechanical Pipe Fabrication - Davenport, IA
Ragan Mechanical Pipe Fabrication - Davenport, IA
Ragan Mechanical Pipe Fabrication - Davenport, IA
Case Study - Progressive Mechanical, Inc.
Progressive Mechanical, Inc.:
At Progressive Mechanical, we take pride in our company history and reputation of hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence in every project we undertake. Progressive has two fabrication shops: one in Clawson, Michigan and another in Bay City, Michigan. We are dedicated to quality, safety, and efficiency in order to provide effective solutions for our clients.
The Business Challenge:
"Around 2015 we purchased a Watts W-132 pipe cutting
machine," said Brian Hund. "Our fabrication jobs began to grow so we moved into a new corporate building in Clawson which included a 35,000 sq.ft. shop. In 2019 we purchased a Rotoweld machine to add speed and efficiency to our pipe
fabrications."
"After COVID passed and our fabrication started moving again," continued Hund, "it became clear that we needed more speed and efficiency in our pipe cutting. Our fab team was consistently waiting for pipe to weld, but we also needed a machine that would work with our BIM modeling software.
Our Watts W-132 could not keep up with the welding machine. A huge project with over 260,000 feet of pipe fabrication made it clear that we needed another pipe cutting machine with more capability.
The Watts Solution:
"We looked at a few other machine manufacturers," said Hund. "The other machines were either too expensive or had software that did not merge with our M-Suite modeling
software. Watts and Rotoweld Rep Vince Penny from VMP Automation helped us through the whole process and in the end we were convinced to continue with another Watts
machine. In 2023 we purchased a Watts W-364 with a 25ft infeed bed."
The Watts Difference:
Hund continued by discussing the gains experienced by PMI using the new Watts W-364 machine: "The new Watts CNC machine dramatically increased our pipe
cutting capabilities. The Watts 3D-Profile Plus software merges seamlessly with M-Suite so we are able to bring all pipe cuts into the machine quickly. In addition, the nesting capability of 3D-Profile Plus also increased our efficiency. Finally, the ability to use the pipe header at the chuck end
reduced our material waste to less than 1%. This was a savings we had not expected. Less wasted pipe equals less material handling and labor costs. We use far less floor space dealing with wasted scrap pieces."
Watts Support:
"Unfortunately we have needed Watts support a few times," said Hund. "We damaged the machine...twice. Both times it was simply an oversight, but each occurrence included broken machine parts. That forced us to call Dave Dunham [Managing Director] or Jesse Scribner
[Production Manager/Technical Lead] for help and new parts. During one of these repairs we also had software issues. Dave Dunham flew to our facility from Washington and worked through the night to get everything working properly! When Watts says they will go the extra mile with their support, they are serious."
Progressive Mechanical Photo Gallery
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Case Study - DS Pipe, Baltimore, MD
Why Our Clients Choose DS Pipe & Steel Supply
At DS Pipe & Steel Supply, we understand that precision, speed, and reliability are critical to your success. By investing in the Watts Specialties W-604 6 Axis Plasma Pipe Cutter, we can provide custom pipe cutting services that are faster, cleaner, and more cost-effective than traditional methods. Our expert operators and powerful software platform ensure you receive precisely what you need with unmatched consistency.
Whether you’re managing a complex infrastructure project or high-volume pipe fabrication, our CNC pipe-cutting capabilities are designed to deliver superior results every time.
What Makes the Watts W-604 6 Axis Plasma Pipe Cutter Unique
The Watts Specialties W-604 is a powerful CNC pipe cutting and profiling machine capable of precisely handling large-diameter pipe. This model features a robust 6-axis profiling carriage and is operated using the sophisticated 3D-Profile Plus software. With this machine, fabricators can perform complex cuts and bevels on round steel pipe ranging from 4″ to 60″ in outer diameter, mounted on a 20′ to 50′ machine bed that supports up to 1,500 lbs. per foot up to a maximum of 30,000 to 50,000 lbs.
Advantages of Using the W-604 6 Axis Plasma Pipe Cutter
Precision and Smooth Beveled Cuts
The W-604 utilizes simultaneous motion technology to maintain accurate torch positioning along and perpendicular to the pipe’s linear axis. Simultaneous motion also keeps the pipe position perpendicular to the linear axis to perform beveled holes and end cuts. The machine also uses W-Series software for precise cuts and smooth, beveled edges, which saves time and materials over time.
Increased Productivity and Efficiency
The combination of fast, clean cuts and the powerful 3D-Profile Plus software results in remarkable productivity improvements. Measuring, marking, and setup tasks are almost non-existent. Operators can execute multiple cuts, nested cuts, and optimized material usage, all while keeping track of job progress in real-time.
Robust Performance and Heavy-Duty Support
Designed to handle heavy industrial work, the W-604 Plasma Pipe cutter conveys and rotates large pipes along a precision-machined and hardened track. It includes a floating pipe clamp with a locking mechanism to ensure accurate pipe rotation, eliminating pipe walk and increasing cutting accuracy.
3-D Profile Plus Software
3-D Profile Plus Software enables at-machine and remote pipe cut programming and job management. This software simplifies the importing, design, and nesting of parts. It streamlines job estimates, inventory management, and scheduling, allowing real-time job tracking. This software adds tremendous capability and efficiency for multiple cuts, nested cuts, and material usage.
Advanced Pipe Handling Capabilities
This machine has a hydraulically controlled lift deck, a powered conveyor, and hydraulically actuated off-loader arms to streamline the material handling. These features enhance the safety and speed of your workflow, allowing your fabrication team to focus on precision work.
DS Pipe Video
Photos of installation
State-of-the-art automated welding
Ragan Mechanical, Davenport, IA:
Ragan Mechanical is a mechanical contractor in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. In 2016, they invested in their first Rotoweld 3.0 Single Bay. Three years later, they decided to invest in a second unit so machines could be dedicated to different metallurgical groups if necessary. Today, they know they can count on the Rotoweld 3.0 Single Bay to deliver high-quality work, every single day.
- Mechanical contractor
- 90 employees Iowa, USA
- Operating 2 Rotoweld Single Bays