In the world of metal stamping, especially deep draw stamping, success depends on more than just machines and dies. It hinges on a company’s ability to work with the material itself: understanding its nuances, predicting its behavior, and adapting processes to bring out the best possible performance. At Larson Tool & Stamping Company, we’ve built our reputation as a leader in deep drawn stamping, not only on precision tooling and engineering excellence, but also on a deep understanding of materials, strong supplier relationships, and a proactive approach to material management.
In this blog, we’ll explore three key areas that set Larson apart:
- Our ability to adapt tooling and processes when material comes in less-than-ideal condition.
- Our strong relationships with mills and service centers ensure that we secure the best possible material for our customers.
- Our robust Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and blanket order systems keep material ready and available for customer production runs.
Each of these capabilities represents more than operational know-how – they’re commitments to ensuring our customers get consistent quality, on-time delivery, and long-term value.
1. Adapting Tooling to Overcome Non-Ideal Material Conditions
In an ideal world, every coil or blank of metal would arrive within perfect specification: flawless surface finish, consistent thickness, and uniform mechanical properties. But in the real world, even reputable mills occasionally deliver material that doesn’t meet those perfect standards. Surface imperfections, hardness variations, or residual stress in the coil can all create challenges in deep draw stamping.
For many stampers, this means production delays, rework, or even scrapping parts. But at Larson Tool, we approach these challenges differently.
Tooling Adaptability and Engineering Insight
Our decades of deep draw experience have taught us that no two materials behave exactly alike. That’s why Larson’s engineering and toolroom teams are experts in adapting tooling to compensate for suboptimal material conditions.
If a batch of steel comes in with slight thickness variation, we may adjust hold-down pressures or alter punch and die clearance to accommodate the variation. When residual stresses or hardness issues cause tearing or wrinkling, our engineers will adjust lubrication parameters or make minor tool modifications to balance formability and dimensional stability.
This agility comes from our in-house tooling and design capabilities. We don’t rely on outside sources to solve problems – we have the expertise and equipment to make changes quickly, minimizing downtime and ensuring that our customers’ delivery schedules are met.
Protecting Our Customers’ Supply Chains
Our ability to adapt on the fly has real business implications. When a material issue arises, customers don’t have to face costly production delays or missed deadlines. Larson’s team works behind the scenes to identify the problem, implement a fix, and maintain consistent output – all without burdening the customer with added cost or concern.
This “material problem-solving” capability demonstrates one of Larson Tool’s greatest strengths: we don’t just stamp parts; we engineer solutions. Our customers trust us to keep production running smoothly even when raw material conditions are less than perfect.
2. Building Strong Relationships with Mills and Service Centers
While adaptability is critical, Larson Tool takes a proactive approach to material quality. Rather than waiting for issues to arise, we work closely with trusted mills and service centers to ensure our customers receive the best material possible.
Long-Term Partnerships Built on Trust
Over the years, Larson has cultivated deep, long-standing relationships with some of the most reliable material suppliers in North America. These aren’t transactional relationships – they’re partnerships built on mutual understanding and shared commitment to quality.
Because of these relationships, Larson Tool has access to premium materials, consistent supply chains, and responsive service. We can specify the exact grades, special formulas (Refined Chemistries), tempers, and surface finishes required for demanding deep draw applications—ensuring that each run starts with the right foundation for success.
Collaborative Problem Solving and Material Expertise
When unique or difficult materials are needed – such as specialized stainless steels, aluminum alloys, or high-strength low-alloy steels – our suppliers work closely with us to test, source, and qualify material that meets performance and cost goals. If a customer project calls for a challenging draw ratio or tight tolerances, Larson collaborates with both the mill and our internal engineering team to identify the most suitable grade and processing method.
This level of collaboration extends to our customers as well. When customers face challenges sourcing consistent material for their own products, Larson often steps in to handle that responsibility – using our supplier network to secure the right material at the right price and with reliable availability. It’s a value-added service that not only simplifies procurement but also reduces risk and improves quality consistency.
3. VMI and Blanket Systems: Material Availability You Can Count On
Even the best material is worthless if it isn’t available when you need it. That’s why Larson Tool has developed a highly effective Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and blanket order system that ensures material readiness and production continuity.
What VMI Means for Our Customers
In a Vendor Managed Inventory program, Larson manages and maintains material on behalf of our customers – monitoring inventory levels, replenishing stock as needed, and ensuring that production material is always available. This allows our customers to minimize inventory carrying costs and avoid the headaches of tracking, ordering, and scheduling raw material deliveries.
For example, when a customer provides a blanket order for an annual forecast, Larson Tool can stage the appropriate quantity of raw material, pre-approved and tested, ready to draw upon for each scheduled release. Our system ensures that material is purchased in economic quantities, stored securely, and available for immediate use when production ramps up.
Learn more about our capabilities: Vendor Management Inventory
Reducing Lead Times and Supply Chain Risk
The benefits of this system go beyond convenience. By maintaining dedicated material inventory for key customers, Larson eliminates lead time bottlenecks. Our customers don’t have to wait for new coils to be processed or shipped; the material is already on hand and ready for production. In today’s unpredictable supply chain environment – where global disruptions can cause weeks or months of delay -this readiness translates directly into competitive advantage.
Cost Stability Through Smart Material Planning
Another advantage of Larson’s VMI and blanket order programs is cost stability. By locking in material pricing and purchasing larger volumes up front, our customers benefit from predictable, consistent pricing even when market volatility would otherwise drive costs up. Larson’s proactive planning and supplier relationships ensure that customers are protected from sudden price swings or shortages that can impact profitability.
Why Larson Tool Is the Leader in Deep Draw Stamping
The ability to adapt, source, and manage material effectively isn’t just a convenience -it’s a competitive differentiator. In deep draw stamping, material behavior defines part performance, process stability, and cost efficiency. Larson’s mastery of material management sets us apart from other stampers in several key ways:
- Experience and Engineering Depth – With over 105 years of experience, Larson’s engineering team understands the complex relationship between material properties and draw performance. Our in-house toolmakers and designers use that knowledge to optimize every stage of the process.
- In-House Tooling Capability – Because we design, build, and maintain all of our tools in-house, we can react to material issues immediately—minimizing downtime and ensuring that part quality remains consistent.
- Supplier Collaboration and Purchasing Power – Our long-term partnerships with mills and service centers give us access to top-quality materials, fair pricing, and dependable supply even in tight markets.
- Inventory and Material Management Systems – Our VMI and blanket order systems ensure material is always ready, priced competitively, and available exactly when our customers need it.
- Customer-Focused Flexibility – Whether adapting to non-ideal material or designing new tooling to optimize formability, Larson’s focus is always on protecting the customer’s timeline, quality, and cost targets.
Turning Material Challenges into Manufacturing Advantages
At Larson Tool & Stamping, we see material not as a challenge – but as an opportunity. Every coil of steel, every piece of brass or copper, brings unique characteristics that we can harness through smart engineering and adaptive processes. When you combine that with our strong supplier network and robust material management programs, you get a partner who ensures your production is stable, efficient, and reliable from start to finish.
From deep draw components that require perfect concentricity to precision metal stampings that demand tight tolerance and surface perfection, Larson Tool delivers consistent results – even under less-than-ideal conditions.
That’s why manufacturers across industries – automotive, appliance, industrial, and beyond – trust Larson Tool to deliver quality, dependability, and value at every stage of the process.
When it comes to deep drawn stamping, Larson Tool doesn’t just manage material—we master it.
About Larson Tool & Stamping Company
Since its inception in 1920 in Attleboro, MA, Larson Tool & Stamping Company has been making a difference as a valued supplier of precision metal stampings and assemblies to hundreds of companies in the United States. Larson provides high-quality, cost-effective solutions with our wide range of capabilities that include forming, stamping, deep drawing, machining, assembly, brazing, coining, and water-jetting. Through significant investment in leading-edge manufacturing equipment and the loyal support from customers and co-workers, Larson perpetuates the commitment made by our founders to do whatever is necessary to meet and exceed customer expectations.
