The line transfer concept goes beyond the old-fashioned subcontractor relationship. By transferring individual or multiple-part machining lines, a manufacturer can reap lower part prices, eliminate high labor costs, improve machine uptime and extend equipment life.
The line transfer story goes back to 1985 when the firm took in Caterpillar Inc.'s clutch piston manufacturing line. Flinchbaugh manufactured the product using CAT processes until their in-house manufacturing improvements proved more efficient.