You Won't Want To Miss METALfab & FENCETECH 2017! 

NOMMA's O&MM Fabricator magazine continues to receive positive feedback! We have a 2017 editorial lineup full of industry-specific material to help professionals in the metal industry learn and grow; a bonus of one to two business-related articles to assist in various employment practices, building a better clientele, how to have a healthy work/life balance, and so much more!

Important Reminder: NOMMA ListServ has Moved to NOMMA SocialLink

NOMMA Executive Director, Todd Daniel, recently sent out information regarding NOMMA’s transition from its ListServ to its new SocialLink. For those who currently use the NOMMA ListServ, please be sure to create your SocialLink account as the ListServ will soon be discontinued. 

NOMMMA encourages you to move to its new system and begin posting. Here are some instructions to get your started: 

1) Log-in to the NOMMA website (if you need help, contact the NOMMA office) 

2) Update your profile.

3) At log-in you will go into the new member-only area. Click on "QuickLinks" and then "Forums." If you are on the front end of the website (public area) go to "Members" and then "Forums"

4) Join the General Discussion Group and other groups that interest you.

5) Post away! 

6) To use the system in email mode, go to each forum that you are subscribed to. Click on "Forum Actions" and then "Subscribe to Instant Updates." 

7) To see activity in newsfeed or timeline mode (like Facebook or LinkedIn) click on "My Feed"

8) To get the forum posts in daily digest form click on "Forums" and then "My Subscriptions & Settings." Then click on "Subscribe to Digest." 

If you do, please be sure to share this information with NOMMA's editor, Marbella Miller. We love to feature news, updates, tips, etc. from our members and friends in the industry in both the O&MM Fabricator and in the NOMMA Newswire eNewsletter. You can reach Marbella directly by emailing her at marbella@naylor.com. 

Interior Railings - Non Ferrous, Non Forged

This category includes all railings including custom castings and cold forged elements with less than 5% custom hand forgings.

Gold Winner:
Hess Ornamental Iron LLC
Felton, Pennsylvania

This steel project was created for a brand new restaurant renovation. The greatest challenge that the Hess Ornamental Iron team faced with this project was nailing down a design that would match the overall look of the "as-yet-to-be-finished" building. The large cast posts did not come as one piece, they had to be assembled, welded, and ground while maintaining a consistent surface to appear as one piece of metal. The black powder coating was antiqued and highlighted with a bronze-gold paint to give a rustic feel and to better match the clear coated bronze top cap. 

This project took approximately 210 hours of labor. 

Silver Winner:
Metal Head Inc.
Lafayette, Louisiana 

The designer of this project was the Fabricator. The finish i Satin black with gold and bronze accents. It was made from various steel bar from 3/8"x 3/4" to 1/2"x 1 1/4". All of the scrollwork was done in house and all leaves were purchased components. The residential grand stair guard rails were designed and built by the fabricator. The framework was mocked up on site and returned to the shop for final fabrication. The install went smoothly and the Metal Head team was able to complete the installation in six hours.

This project took approximately 300 hours in labor. 

Bronze Winner:
Eagle Machine & Welding Inc.
Newark, Ohio

Janet Hollingsworth is a librarian who runs BLDG 61 makerspace in Boulder Colorado. "Here at BLDG 61 (the Boulder Library Makerspace) we are launching a major apprenticeship initiative in 2017. We are developing a series of 3-month intensive sessions for under-served youth as well as sessions aimed at helping the homeless re-enter the workforce by learning woodworking and transferable job skills in our makerspace. All of our apprentices are paid (grant funded) and encouraged to become mentors for subsequent sessions and co-teach public workshops towards the culmination of the apprenticeship. The resulting products crafted by our apprentices are exhibited in a local art gallery and sold to fund future sessions. We are just now completing our first session, and it has truly been life changing for some of our apprentices. Additionally, we serve the community as a hub of all-ages maker education, one-on-one training, and no-fee access to cutting edge equipment (woodworking, metalwork, laser cutter, fiber arts, glass fusing, screen printing, and more)."

More people are working for themselves than ever before, but that doesn't mean the new ranks of gig workers, so-called "solopreneurs," and everybody in between are finally freed from experiencing the corporate world—far from it. The clients that independent workers take on inevitably put them (back) into contact with work cultures, expectations, and financial pitfalls that many had hoped self-employment would mean a clean break with. And that's true not just of the businesses independents contract with but also of the third-party platforms that match both parties up. Here's a look at how to navigate that dynamic and some of the risks it contains. Most new independents have no experience running a business . . . and that leaves many of them vulnerable.

No matter how much careful planning goes into a project, disaster can still strike when you least expect it. And when it does, it's important for project managers to know how to minimize the damage and keep the team moving forward. Sometimes, the signs are obvious: deadlines are being missed, your communication channels aren't keeping everyone on the same page, and team members are confused about the scope of their individual responsibilities. If this sounds like something you’ve experienced, this article offers a "basic project recovery plan to stop the bleeding and steer your team back on track."