Large Machining Supports TV Broadcast Infrastructure and More
Customers come to us with all kinds of manufacturing needs, quite often when a feasible solution is needed for a challenging fabrication requirement. Large metal components must be made in the shapes and sizes that engineered designs call for.
When parts are large, there’s a likelihood that we’ll hear about it thanks to word of mouth and the limited capabilities of other machine shops. Our tag line seems to be self-fulfilling; “Where others see problems, we see opportunities.” And when we see those opportunities, we act!
Investments in large CNC machining and handling equipment that we first made in 1999, and then in 2017 and 2018, have resulted in fulfilling the modernization of the nation’s broadcast infrastructure according to FCC mandates. And these same investments are paying off in other critical manufacturing areas.
Tooled Up for Larger Machining Projects
Part of the first FCC requirement was that TV signals had to go from analog to digital, largely to support high definition television. This meant that all of the antennas used for broadcasting TV signals over the airwaves needed to be replaced coast to coast. GMFCo tooled up to become a major national supplier of the masts used for constructing these antennas.
Another FCC mandate required that UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) signal ranges be sold or transferred to the cellular companies for the bandwidth that can handle 5G mobile technology. As a result, approximately 1,600 broadcast antenna masts needed to be replaced for the signals to be ‘’repacked’’ into a lower, tighter frequency range. Our experience in manufacturing antenna masts for America’s digital TV broadcasting placed us in prime position to help build the foundation that enables 5G technology. This collaborative effort has taken wireless communication to a new level.
The nationwide broadcast communication infrastructure project is nearly complete and our large machining investments are now being deployed in other areas. These include building large architectural metal fabrications, structural building components and making equipment parts that support our troops in the field.
Making a Physical Impact
As a company, we feel a sense of gratitude knowing our work makes a difference in people’s lives across the country. Because of our willingness to invest what it takes to tackle an immediate large metal fabrication challenge, new opportunities to use those investments always seem to open up for us. Word of mouth concerning expanded capabilities in large, complex metal components gets around and new projects come our way.
We more than doubled our large machining capacity over the last decade. Each equipment upgrade and plant expansion was made to fulfill a challenging market need. When you invest for the right reasons with the confidence of further leveraging those investments, you can be better assured of continued growth. This has been our experience ever since our company started in 1975.
Upsizing Careers
GMFCo is a career oriented company. We’re keenly aware of job market challenges which is why we keep investing in the human side of our company as well as the operational. We’re always looking to attract talented and career-minded engineers, machinists, welders, equipment handlers and management people. Most of our team members have been with us more than 10 years which says a lot these days! Please reach out to us if you have any questions about capabilities or careers.