June 13, 2025, Gardena, CA - TCI Precision Metals introduces new Automation-Ready materials designed to help manufacturers increase machining throughput and improve precision and consistency part-to-part. The materials solution combines pre-production planning support, customized materials, and JIT materials logistics.

TCI's materials experts work directly with shop floor management to design the right materials strategy for each automated cell. This includes considerations for material type and pre-production processes such as heat treating, handling, gripping, clamping, and related tooling. Test materials are then produced for validation. Once approved Automation-Ready Blanks are produced and delivered based on JIT production scheduling. Automation-Ready Blanks arrive certified to specifications and ready to be added directly to automated work cells.

 “Successful automation relies on consistency, starting with materials. The more variables you can eliminate, the better the outcome. Materials that are certified Automation-Ready mean you can count on them being close tolerance, flat, square, de-stressed, clean, and ready for repeatable precision processing. On the other hand, inconsistent material properties can contribute to inconsistency, leading to rework, scrap, and bottlenecks,” according to President and CEO of TCI Precision Metals, Ben Belzer.

Automation-Ready Blanks eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations, and outside processing. Each blank arrives deburred, clean, and individually packaged to avoid damage during shipping. Automation-Ready Blanks are close tolerance and consistent blank-to-blank. Each one is produced to customer specifications and is guaranteed as close as +/- .0005” dimensionally and as close as .0002” flatness, squareness, and parallelism.

To learn more about Automation-Ready Blanks, visit: Automation-Ready Blanks.

Founded in 1956, TCI Precision Metals is a family-owned precision manufacturer producing precision Machine-Ready Blanks from aluminum, stainless steel, and other alloys. With the added benefit of being a plate and sheet distributor, Sawing, Grinding, Milling, and Finishing operations make TCI Precision Metals a one-stop source for quality aluminum, stainless, and other alloy blanks. TCI Precision Metals offers customers rough CNC milling and turning services when large amounts of material need to be removed or features added to solid parts.

TCI is a warehouse plate and sheet distributor for Alcoa, Kaiser, and Hulamin Aluminum, including 6061, 2024, and 7075 aluminum plate and sheet, stainless steel plate, and other alloys. TCI stocks over 500,000 lbs. of material for quick turnaround on customer requirements. TCI serves the needs of the medical, oil & gas, aerospace, industrial equipment, defense, food packaging, semiconductor, and other industries.

TCI Precision Metals

Phone 800-234-5613

Email sales@tciprecision.com

www.tciprecision.com

TCI Precision Metals manufactures custom precision blanks that arrive ready to load directly into CNC machining centers. According to the company, precision blanks reduce the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, and squaring operations as well as outside processing. Each blank is said to arrive deburred, clean and to customer specifications, as close as ±0.0005" dimensionally and 0.0002" in flatness, squareness and parallelism.

The company manufacturers blanks from aluminum, stainless steel and other alloys. It provides rough CNC milling and turning services when large amounts of material need to be removed or features are added to solid parts or castings. Complete-to-print components can also be produced.

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TCI Precision Metals announced, today, the addition of specialized round stock conversion to squared, high precision Machine-Ready Blanks.

Depending on job specifications or customer preference, round and square, precision Machine-Ready Blanks are now available, starting from round raw stock. “Some customers prefer to start with round stock material even when the finished machine-ready material needs to be square, but most of the time it comes down to alloy selection and availability,” said Ben Belzer, President and COO of TCI Precision Metals. "For example, 144 Cold Finished Carbon Steel and 465 Stainless Steel are both far more readily available in round stock. There tends to be more waste converting round materials to square machine-ready blanks, but if specifications or material availability dictate, TCI can now efficiently deliver on the request with our ‘round to square’ milling services,” added Belzer. TCI sawing, milling, and grinding equipment are all designed for high volume production and are configured to convert and prep virtually all materials to precision machine-ready specifications much more efficiently than most shops can do in-house.

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TCI Precision Metals proudly announces its successful attainment of ITAR registration. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration signifies TCI Precision Metals' dedication to national security and adherence to rigorous compliance standards.

ITAR regulates the export and import of defense-related articles, services, and technical data to safeguard national security interests. By meeting the stringent requirements set forth by the United States Department of State, TCI Precision Metals has demonstrated its commitment to responsible business practices and the protection of sensitive information and technologies.

Achieving ITAR registration required TCI Precision Metals to undergo a comprehensive evaluation of its operations, policies, and procedures. The company successfully met all the requirements, including implementing a robust compliance program, obtaining appropriate licenses and authorizations for controlled exports, and establishing strict access controls and screening processes.

With its newly acquired ITAR registration, combined with its existing AS9100 Rev D, and ISO 9001:2015 Certifications, TCI Precision Metals is well-positioned to expand its reach and collaborate on defense-related projects and contract opportunities. The registration opens doors to partnerships with the U.S. government, defense contractors, and other entities in the defense industry, facilitating the controlled exchange of sensitive information, technology, and services.

"We are proud to have achieved ITAR registration," says Ben Belzer, President, and CEO of TCI Precision Metals. "This accomplishment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to national security, compliance, and responsible business practices. It also positions us to better serve our customers in the defense industry and expand our capabilities to support critical defense projects."

TCI Precision Metals recognizes that ITAR compliance is an ongoing process and will continue to invest in maintaining and improving its compliance program. The company will conduct regular internal audits, implement robust training programs, and stay abreast of any regulatory updates to ensure its operations remain aligned with the latest requirements.

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TCI Precision Metals highlights its precision machine-ready blanks’ capabilities at IMTS 2024.

Machine-ready blanks help shops shorten setup time, reduce scrap and increase overall throughput by up to 25 percent via eliminating material prep. The company says its blanks are guaranteed to arrive machine-ready for production, with standard-size blanks in low quantities ready for immediate shipping or custom, made-to-order blanks in production quantities available for quick turnaround times.

Precision blanks eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing. Each blank arrives deburred, clean and individually packaged to avoid damage during shipping. Ready-to-ship blanks can be ordered online for same-day or next-day shipping and arrive square, flat and parallel within ± .002″ of specified dimensions all around.

Made-to-order blanks are tailored to the customer’s specifications. TCI Precision Metals guarantees as close as +/- .0005″ dimensionally and as close as .0002″ flatness, squareness and parallelism. “Customers can use the time they previously spent in setup and prep for more productive use of CNC machining centers, adding to their bottom-line profitability. And with our ability to consistently produce close tolerance and flat blanks, part movement is reduced, improving overall quality,” says Ben Belzer, president of TCI Precision Metals.

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TCI Precision Metals highlights its precision machine-ready blanks’ capabilities at IMTS 2024.

Machine-ready blanks help shops shorten setup time, reduce scrap and increase overall throughput by up to 25 percent via eliminating material prep. The company says its blanks are guaranteed to arrive machine-ready for production, with standard-size blanks in low quantities ready for immediate shipping or custom, made-to-order blanks in production quantities available for quick turnaround times.

Precision blanks eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing. Each blank arrives deburred, clean and individually packaged to avoid damage during shipping. Ready-to-ship blanks can be ordered online for same-day or next-day shipping and arrive square, flat and parallel within ± .002″ of specified dimensions all around.

Made-to-order blanks are tailored to the customer’s specifications. TCI Precision Metals guarantees as close as +/- .0005″ dimensionally and as close as .0002″ flatness, squareness and parallelism. “Customers can use the time they previously spent in setup and prep for more productive use of CNC machining centers, adding to their bottom-line profitability. And with our ability to consistently produce close tolerance and flat blanks, part movement is reduced, improving overall quality,” says Ben Belzer, president of TCI Precision Metals.

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TCI Precision Metals will showcase its precision Machine-Ready Blanks capabilities to customers at IMTS 2024.

TCI Precision help shops shorten set-up time, reduce scrap and increase overall throughput by up to 25% by eliminating material prep. They are guaranteed to arrive machine-ready for production, with standard-size blanks in low quantities ready for immediate shipping or custom-made-to-order blanks in production quantities available for quick turnaround.

Precision blanks eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing. Each blank arrives deburred, clean and individually packaged to avoid damage during shipping. Ready-to-ship blanks can be ordered online for same-day or next-day shipping and arrive square, flat and parallel within ± .002" of specified dimensions all around.

Custom made-to-order blanks are made to customer specifications. They are guaranteed as close as +/- .0005" dimensionally and as close as .0002" flatness, squareness and parallelism.

"Customers can use the time they previously spent in set-up and prep for more productive use of CNC machining centers, adding to their bottom-line profitability. With our ability to consistently produce close tolerance, flat blanks, part movement is reduced, improving overall quality," said Ben Belzer, President of TCI Precision Metals.

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TCI Precision Metals showcases its precision machine-ready blanks, aiming to help shops shorten setup time, reduce scrap and increase overall throughput by up to 25% by eliminating material prep. The products are said to arrive machine-ready for production, with standard-size blanks in low quantities ready for immediate shipping or custom-made-to-order blanks in production quantities available for quick turnaround.

Precision blanks can eliminate the need for in-house sawing, grinding, flattening, squaring operations and outside processing, according to the company. Each blank arrives deburred, clean and individually packaged to avoid damage during shipping. Ready-to-ship blanks can be ordered online for same-day or next-day shipping and arrive square, flat and parallel within ±0.002″ of specified dimensions all around.

The company offers custom, made-to-order blanks made to customer specifications. They are reportedly guaranteed as close as ±0.0005″ dimensionally and as close as 0.0002″ flatness, squareness and parallelism.

TCI is offering new customers an opportunity to try machine-ready blanks on their next job with an IMTS trial promotion. Customers ordering ready-to-ship blanks online can receive 15% off their first order by entering code “BLANKS” in the coupon field at checkout. Customers considering made-to-order blanks in production quantities can receive a free sample blank made to their exact specifications along with their estimate.

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