During the metal stamping process, blanks or coils of sheet metal feed through one or more die and tool sets. These die and tool sets form and cut the sheet metal into its desired shape.

At Keats, we perform a variety of custom metal stamping operations, including:

  • Blanking
  • Bending
  • Punching
  • Coining
  • Drawing
  • Embossing
  • Piercing
  • Curling

Product Metal Stamping

Our custom metal stamping methods are fast, reliable, and multi-functional. We deliver parts that provide exceptional performance to our customers. In addition, we have the ability to add special features to our stamped parts such as:

Threaded

Countersunk

Numbered

Embossed elements such as logos

Assembled

Staking

Joining

All our dies and tools are engineered and built in-house, using our state-of-the-art EDM and CNC machines. Creating our own die and tool sets allows us to maintain tight tolerances of up to 0.0005″ throughout the entire metal stamping process.

Custom Metal Stamping Capabilities

As leaders in metal stamping, our customers rely on our expert design and development services. We create a range of metal components in all sizes, from simple to intricate.

We provide service and support to our customers throughout the entire process, from prototype development through high-volume production. We have the capability to process orders of up to 50 million parts. Our custom precision metal stamping produces a variety of components, such as:

  • Electronic Terminals
  • Sensor components
  • Yokes
  • Thrust washers
  • Heat sinks
  • Printer cartridge blades
  • Medical components
  • Inserts
  • Fuse clips
  • Brackets
  • Contacts
  • Covers
  • Latches
  • Furniture parts

Production Methods

At Keats, we utilize several metalworking processes to create custom metal parts.

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Custom Metal Stamped Parts

Multi-slide and Four-slide Stamping

We own and operate one of the largest production fleets of Four-Slide machines in the world. We also are currently the only manufacturer in North America to operate Wünsch Multi-slide-forming machines. In both multi-slide and four-slide stamping the tooling accesses the metal at a right angle. In four-slide stamping the slides remain fixed at 90 degree angles, while in multi-slide stamping, the slides are on an adjustable forming bed.

In both methods, the positioning of each slide allows the creation complex bending operations for metals parts. Slide stamping’s ability to work with an unlimited number of planes and axes results in high customization capability with little waste.

Progressive Die Stamping

In progressive die stamping, the sheet metal acquires its shape by passing through a series of workstations. Each die is capable of cutting, bending, punching, coining, embossing, drawing, or shaving the metal.

Depending on the complexity of each part, the metal can pass through as few as one or as many as 40 steps. Progressive die stamping typically results in more waste than multi-slide or four-slide stamping, however, progressive die stamping tools are usually faster to set up.

Industries Served

Given our capabilities, we can serve the custom metal stamping needs of a broad range of industries and can projects of all sizes. Since 1958, Keats has served a variety of industries, including:

Communications

Communications

Construction

Construction

General Manufacturing

General Manufacturing

Military / Defense

Military / Defense

Keats Portfolio

Our portfolio highlights just some of the parts that we’re capable of producing.

MEDICAL

Custom Beryllium Copper Spring-Contact Stamping

APPLIANCES

Custom Copper Top Spring Stamping & Contact Assembly

AUTOMOTIVE

Custom Phosphor Bronze Terminal Stamping

AUTOMOTIVE

Custom Steel Shield Four Slide/Multi-Slide Stamping Reel-to-Reel

AUTOMOTIVE

Phosphor Bronze Terminals

ELECTRICAL

Custom Brass-Formed Hinged Contact Jaw

Full-Service Custom Metal Stamping

Our services go beyond custom metal stamping. We offer secondary services to provide end-to-end solutions to our customers, including:

Plating

E-Coating

Heat-treating

Stress Relieving

Pick & Place

Screw Insertion

Reel-to-reel

Tape & reel

Quality control and quality enhancement are at the heart of what we do. To learn how we can create custom metal stamping parts to your specifications, please contact us.

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Custom Metal Stamping

Custom Metal Stamping FAQ

What is metal stamping?
Metal stamping is the manufacturing process in which a strip of sheet metal is fed through one or more die and tool sets to apply pressure, re-forming and cutting the piece into a desired shape. The sheet metal can come in either blank or coil form, and common stamping operations include blanking, punching, coining, drawing, embossing, piercing, curling, and more.

What is progressive die metal stamping?
Progressive die metal stamping is a stamping technique that uses an automatic feeding system to push coiled metal through a series of stations — each stroke adds a new stamped feature to the part until the desired geometry is achieved. The different die stations exist within the same tool.

Why should I choose progressive die metal stamping over other methods?
Progressive die stamping is a highly efficient process that allows manufacturers to run high volume orders at rapid speeds. The automated feed combined with custom dies and tooling enable complex geometries with high repeatability, minimal scrap material waste, and quick tool setup and changeover between jobs.

What industries do you serve?
Keats provides custom metal stampings, assemblies, and wire forms to customers in the automotive, communications, construction, medical, electrical, appliance, and military industries, as well as makes discrete manufacturing products for aerospace, smartphones, and toys.

Do you make custom parts?
Keats specializes in the design and development of custom stamped parts and sub-assemblies. Our team of expert engineers creates all of our tooling and dies in-house using EDM (electrical discharge) and CNC (computer numerical control) machines. With our custom tooling, we can hold tolerances up to 0.0005” to achieve the most complex geometries.

What materials can be stamped?
Keats possesses a broad range of material capabilities but some of our most common orders include steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, nickel, and aluminum. Our tooling can also stamp specialty metals such as lead, Inconel, and Kovar.

Do you offer any secondary services?
In addition to several core stamping techniques, Keats offers secondary finishing services such as heat treatment, powder coating, stress relieving, and plating to match each customer’s exact specifications and application requirements.

What certifications do you hold?
Keats is certified to ISO:9001, TS:16949 & ISO:14001 Our quality management system encompasses all of our processes including stamping, wireform, metal form, and assembly. We are committed to maintaining up-to-date certifications to best serve our customers. Our company ensures regular compliance with the REACH limit for dangerous chemicals, as well as internal environmental and quality standards.

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