A Partnership Cut Above the Rest Provides Industrial Blade Sharpening and More 

Don Phillips, Vice President of Operations at Interkraft SC LLC, has been in the paper and board industry for decades. Over his career, he’s faced several challenges that threatened efficiency, product quality and productivity. Valley Grinding has provided not just solutions and industrial blade sharpening but a partnership that propels his business forward. 

Problems that Slice into Productivity and Profits 

Some of the most problematic issues Don has grappled with include: 

• Poor finish on blades: A course blade finish left excessive dust, affecting product quality and cleanliness. 
• Incorrect setup: Frequent mistakes in setting up slitters resulted in faster wear, lower knife lifespans and more downtime. 
• Lack of support: Supplier representatives would visit Don’s site once a quarter at most, and only if he persistently contacted them. This made it difficult to resolve issues swiftly. 
• No solution for faulty OEM product: In a brand-new piece of equipment, the slitter section knives were physically made wrong and would not work. The OEM told Don there was nothing they could do about it, leaving Don in a helpless situation. 

Tailored Solutions that Cut to the Chase 

“At one time my knives were constantly wearing out on my sheeters. I asked Tony at Valley Grinding about replacing them with a carbide male and female knife because the grade of material is so much harder. But he recommended not to do that, and instead to use a carbide female knife with a male knife made of CPM 10v material. Everyone uses those grades now but at the time not many people were. Both knives gave me long, long, long run capabilities, and were only 30% higher in cost.” – Don Phillips 

Cleaner cuts for less dust:

Adjusting the knife angles to be as perfect as possible—along with providing superior industrial blade sharpening and grinding—provides less rub on the product, resulting in minimal dust that allows lines to run faster and longer. 

Regular check-ins:

Consistent, proactive communication from his Valley Grinding rep ensures Don’s needs are promptly addressed—often before he has to ask for help. 

On-site operator training:

By training operators on proper slitter setup, Valley Grinding not only extended the life of the industrial knives but also improved efficiency and productivity while decreasing downtime. 

Custom problem-solving:

When presented with a defective OEM part, Valley Grinding advocated for Don and engineered a practical, one-of-a-kind solution, despite the OEM’s inability to assist. 

Emergency responsiveness:

Emergencies happen often in Don’s line of work, and Valley Grinding’s readiness to respond has kept his lines up and running. 

Effective inventory management:

A well-managed inventory system with parts stored on the shelf, along with fast shipping and delivery, provide Don with the part he needs at a moment’s notice.