Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 2

TR E N DSET TE R PRO FI LE
SDS/ADAMSTECH

SDS/ADAMSTECH
James Cross
Vice President,
Sales and Operations

nnovation can be defined as the
application of improved solutions
to overcome new challenges, new
requirements or previously unrecognized market needs. Innovation is
achieved through the introduction
of more effective products, processes,
services, technologies or business
models. SDS and AdamsTech have
been widely regarded as innovators
for more than 20 years. Their role
as innovators is evidenced by a long
list of groundbreaking processes
and technologies the two partner
companies have introduced. An
impressive number of patents granted to the innovations, developed
through this partnership, serves
as further testament to their role
as industrial automation leaders.
Now, these two companies have
turned that innovating sprit inward
and innovated from within by forming one company that operates under
an entirely new business model.

Effective July 1, 2017, SDS and
AdamsTech combined forces to
form a single company to streamline operations and increase the
company's agility, facilitating a
more rapid response to market
demands. The first major innovation from this newly formed company is the recently introduced
Super ChannelBender XP. The XP
was specifically engineered to meet
the existing needs of the sign industry
as communicated to us by sign
manufacturers.
Automated channel letter
machines were a monumental
step forward when introduced about
18 years ago. Disappointingly, the
technology remained stagnant for
well over a decade. Companies
manufacturing these machines
failed to innovate, thereby creating
a tremendous opportunity for an
innovative company that was
aggressive and willing to ask
questions, listen to answers and
respond quickly to customers'
suggestions. Ultimately, the door
was wide open for a company
that would deliver solutions that
customers were seeking and
SDS/AdamsTech seized this
opportunity.
From concept to introduction,
the new Super ChannelBender
XP took only a matter of months
to reach the market thanks to the
responsiveness of SDS/AdamsTech.
Prior to the XP's introduction,

SDS/ADAMSTECH
6235 Lookout Rd., Ste. A
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 798-7110 x203
james@channelbender.com

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

DECEMBER 2017

channel letters were formed on
machines which left them in need
of several tedious, manual procedures before finally being ready
for assembly. Flanged channel
letters had to have holes drilled
or punched into both sides of the
overlapping seams so they could
be riveted together. One side of the
flange would be cut out by hand
to avoid having a double thickness
of aluminum at the flange overlap. Drain holes were punched or
drilled into letter returns, allowing
moisture to escape. Lastly, the
overlapping seam was a double
thickness of material, which
proved rather unsightly.
Customers asked for a solution,
so SDS/AdamsTech delivered
the Super ChannelBender XP,
eliminating the need to perform
these tedious, manual operations
by incorporating them into its
automated letter forming process.
As material feeds through this
machine, 1/8-in. rivet holes are
hydraulically punched on each side
of the seam overlap. These holes
align perfectly, which eliminates
drilling or punching. These 1/8-in.
holes can serve as pilot holes for
screws and are able to be positioned
anywhere in the wall of the letter.
This innovative punching unit
also has the ability to punch ¼-in.
diameter drain holes to allow
moisture to escape. Lastly, the
XP's new software allows the
machine to automatically create
a slight relief bend at the letter's
seam, which effectively eliminates
having an aesthetically undesirable
double thickness of aluminum at
the seam. In addition, this relief bend
does a tremendous job of camouflaging the seam. Cutting edge
features like these are the very
definition of innovation.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - December 2017