The Bradbury Group Blog

Investing in Growth to Better Serve Our Customers

Drew Lindeman — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:16:06 GMT

At The Bradbury Group, our commitment to delivering world-class customer service remains at the heart of everything we do. As customer needs continue to evolve, we are investing in expanded facilities, enhanced technology, and additional resources to ensure we can provide the highest level of support for years to come.

To support continued growth within our Engineering and Mechanical Customer Service Departments, we have significantly expanded our customer service workspace. Our previous facility occupied approximately 1,700 square feet, and we have now increased that space to 3,000 square feet.

This expansion provides room for future growth while creating a more efficient environment for our support teams. The additional space allows us to enhance communication capabilities, improve workflow, and accommodate additional personnel.

Our service organization currently includes 18 field service engineers supported by an in-house team. These dedicated professionals work together to provide rapid response and expert assistance to customers across the industry.

With the expanded facility, we are positioned to grow our support team and continue delivering the responsive service our customers expect. Additional workspace also allows for improved phone support systems and upgraded technology that help us resolve issues more quickly and efficiently. “This expansion reflects the critical role customer service plays in our business. As demand continues to grow, we’re investing in our people, engineering expertise, and technology, to stay ahead. Our move into a new 3,000-square-foot facility isn’t about added space, it’s about creating the capacity to grow our internal customer service team by over 30%. This allows us to bring in top engineering and service talent, strengthen our technical support, and continue delivering the fast, high-quality response our customers depend on” said Jamie Schultz, Senior Manager Customer Service and Materials.

The Bradbury Group offers a wide range of services designed to maximize equipment performance, reduce downtime, and extend the life of our customers' investments. Our technical service teams provide support in areas including:

Controls Upgrades
E-Drive Upgrades
Roll Tooling and Recuts
Preventative Maintenance Agreements
Operator Training
Spare Parts Inventory Planning
Technical Service and Troubleshooting
Remote Diagnostic Support and more

These services help customers improve productivity, maintain operational efficiency, and ensure their equipment continues to perform at its best. “This new space gives us the opportunity to rethink how we operate—improving how we manage incoming requests, enhancing communication, and ultimately reducing response times for our customers.” Jamie added.

The Bradbury Group is committed to providing world-class customer service through our service departments. Our knowledgeable staff brings decades of experience in the metal processing industry and stands ready to assist with spare parts needs, service contracts, technical questions, and ongoing equipment support.

By utilizing the latest technology, our team can quickly assess issues and provide solutions in a timely manner. This proactive approach helps minimize downtime, reduce operational disruptions, and keep our customers running efficiently.

As we continue to invest in our facilities, technology, and people, our focus remains unchanged: delivering exceptional support and building lasting partnerships with our customers. The expansion of our customer service operations is another step forward in ensuring we are ready to meet the challenges of today while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow.

HELPING YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT, NEED, AND EXPECT.

PRE Open House: Celebrating Growth, Community, and the Future

Drew Lindeman — Tue, 19 May 2026 18:47:13 GMT

Mark your calendars for an exciting afternoon as Press Room Equipment opens its doors to the community for a special Open House event on June 2 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM at our expanding facility located at:

1650 North Alliance Ave., Springfield, MO 65803

The official opening ceremony will begin at 12:30 PM, where guests will have the opportunity to learn more about PRE’s mission, growth, and vision for the future.

PRE’s Springfield facility now spans an impressive 33,000 square feet, representing a major investment in both operational growth and the local community. What started as a focused team has continued to expand rapidly, with the company currently employing 29 team members and plans already underway to grow to 40 employees within the next year.

This growth reflects not only increasing demand, but also PRE’s commitment to creating jobs, building partnerships, and strengthening its presence in Springfield.

Visitors attending the Open House will have the chance to:

Tour the 33,000-square-foot facility
Learn about company operations and future plans
Network with local business and community leaders
Celebrate this exciting milestone during the opening ceremony

The event is designed to give the community an inside look at PRE’s continued expansion and the opportunities ahead.

As PRE continues to grow, the company remains focused on innovation, workforce development, and long-term investment in Springfield. Expanding from 29 employees today to an anticipated 40 employees within the next year is only one step in a broader vision for continued success.

The June 2 Open House is more than a celebration of a building — it’s a celebration of momentum, people, and the future of PRE in Springfield.

Press Room Equipment joined the Bradbury Group in 2023. Specializing in press feeding and coil handling equipment. PRE is a leader in innovation and design, consistently pushing the boundaries of what's possible in manufacturing.

We look forward to welcoming the community on June 2!

https://forms.office.com/r/E7SdV86Fir

Building the Future of Manufacturing in Kansas: Introducing BSMI

Drew Lindeman — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:29:24 GMT

Kansas manufacturing is growing fast—but the need for skilled workers is growing even faster. The Bradbury School of Manufacturing and Innovation (BSMI) at Central Christian College of Kansas (CCCK) in McPherson is set to launch in Fall 2026, creating new pathways for students and strengthening the future of manufacturing across the state.

BSMI is made possible through a partnership with the Bradbury Family Foundation, whose commitment to education and industry advancement is helping bring this vision to life. Together with CCCK, they are investing in a program designed to meet real-world workforce needs.

Kansas continues to grow as a manufacturing hub, with increasing demand for skilled workers every year. BSMI is being developed specifically to address this need—equipping students with practical, foundational workplace values, and in-demand skills that translate directly into careers.

Students at BSMI will gain experience in a wide range of high-demand areas, including:

Automation and robotics
Mechatronics
Manual machining
Production systems
Precision machining and CNC technology
Process optimization

This hands-on, career-focused approach ensures graduates are prepared not just for their first job—but for long-term success in a rapidly evolving industry.

BSMI will offer multiple entry and exit points for students at different stages of their journey, including:

Industry-recognized certificates
Associate's degree in Manufacturing Technology
Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Technology

Whether students are entering the workforce quickly or pursuing advanced education, BSMI provides a pathway that fits their goals.

“We have designed the program alongside industry leaders to ensure that students are being equipped to hit the ground running as they enter the workforce” said Program Director Kash Farney. A key strength of the program is its close partnership with industry leaders from across the nation. These collaborations will help ensure that the curriculum stays relevant; technology remains cutting-edge, and students graduate with skills employers are actively seeking.

While BSMI will directly benefit students and the Bradbury legacy, its impact will extend far beyond campus. By developing a stronger, more skilled workforce, the program will support manufacturers across Kansas and contribute to the state’s economic growth.

As the launch approaches, excitement continues to build around what BSMI represents: opportunity, innovation, and a stronger future for Kansas manufacturing. The next generation of makers, builders, and innovators will soon begin their journey at BSMI.

Learn more visit: Manufacturing Technology - Central Christian College

We Build Machines. We Sell Solutions.

+1.620.345.6394.

Levelers vs. Straighteners: Key Differences in Coil Processing

Drew Lindeman — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:28:11 GMT

In sheet metal processing, two machines often get confused with each other: coil straighteners and levelers. Both are used to improve sheet flatness, one more capable than the other. Understanding these differences is crucial for successful manufacturing.

Steel, as well as other sheet metals stored in coil form, experiences uneven stress. When the coil is uncoiled and curvature is retained after uncoiled, this is called a coil set. Crossbow is a curvature across the width of the strip where the sheet forms a smile or frown shape due to stress differences through the faces or top and bottom surfaces of the strip. Edge wave and center buckle are length differences in the strip. When edges are longer than the center of the strip, this is referred to as an edge wave. The opposite occurs when the center is longer than the edges and is referred to as center buckle.

While similar, levelers and straighteners address different issues. A coil straightener is primarily used to remove the coil set or crossbow. Feeding the metal strip through rolls that bend the strip up and down uniformly across the face. This reduces the internal stress created when the metal is coiled. A properly sized straightener eliminates the coil set or crossbow caused by the coiling to prepare for further processing. Straighteners focus on surface-to-surface stress and cannot fix uneven lengths across the strip exhibited as an edge wave or center buckle.

Levelers provide a more advanced form of sheet metal flattening. Levelers can remove coil set or crossbow like straighteners but can also correct the length differences.

Using closely spaced rolls allowing for greater bend angle, these rolls can be flexed under load to allow the machine to create areas of a longer path for the strip. The bending actions on the rolls allow the leveler to stretch specific areas of metal, equalizing length, and stress to provide a flat strip. Levelers correct defects that straighteners cannot, such as edge waves and center buckles.

Although coil straighteners and levelers look similar, their capabilities are different. Properly sized straighteners can remove coil set or crossbow, while levelers can do this and improve the overall flatness of the material by correcting length issues as well.

The Bradbury Company has been building and improving hydraulic levelers since the mid 1980s. Since then, Bradbury levelers have become the most versatile and efficient metal flattening machine available. With brute hydraulic force, focused tension, and power at the point of plasticity we equalize stress delivering premium flatness day after day. World-class controls, automatic leveler adjustment, and unique options have made our levelers easy to operate and continue to be the most productive roller leveler available.

To learn more please visit Bradbury Group Roll Forming and Coil Processing Equipment

We Build Machines. We Sell Solutions.

+1.620.345.6394.

Board and Batten Roll Forming Machine | High-Efficiency Trim Line

Drew Lindeman — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:32:30 GMT

Bradbury Group Australia has completed an innovative, cutting-edge board and batten machine as part of a 3x1 blank-fed trim line, designed for efficiency, and long-term durability. The system operates using a simple on/off motor, with speed
controlled via a potentiometer. Because the line is blank-fed, material can be processed as quickly as the operator can feed it, maximizing throughput.

These board and batten machines are highly customizable, offering exceptional versatility with a range of optional features available. Bradbury Group Australia can also engineer this equipment as a standalone board and batten machine, which would be approximately half the width of the 3x1 machine —ideal for operations requiring a more compact footprint without sacrificing capability or durability.

The machine offers adjustable pan widths through tooling and the ability to roll ribs or striations in or out, providing flexibility across different profiles. It is also available as a coil-fed system with a pre-shear, simplifying operation, and improving workflow. In a coil-fed configuration, the line can run at speeds of up to 100 feet per minute, enabling significantly higher production volumes.

Key Specifications

Profiles – Board and batten with customizable trim selections
Material Gauge – 29-22
Footprint –18 feet long x 3.5 feet wide x 4.9 feet high

As a proud member of the global manufacturing leader The Bradbury Company, Bradbury Group Australia combines extensive experience, diverse expertise, innovation, and dedication to deliver superior outcomes for our customers.

The companies within The Bradbury Group are recognized worldwide for cutting-edge technology, built-in reliability, and exceptional service. These qualities enable us to consistently meet and exceed customer expectations across global markets.

We are committed to setting the standard in automated production and systems integration within the metal processing industry—providing solutions that enhance efficiency, performance, and long-term value.