Hammond Machine Works drives rail industry efficiency with Eagle laser technology.

How to Get A Month’s Work Done in a Week with a 20 kW Eagle & Automation

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1908 company roots in American rail manufacturing

20 kW Eagle iNspire fiber laser power

1 week new turnaround for work that previously took a month

40+ employees supporting rail and industrial customers

A century of manufacturing excellence

Hammond Machine Works, based in Hammond, Indiana, has been shaping American industry since 1908.

The company’s legacy is built around rail, which today represents the majority of its production. Hammond continues to support customers such as Amtrak and Union Tank Car with a wide range of rail parts and components. Much of the work involves fast-turnaround repair parts, where customers cannot afford long delays. Over more than a century, the company has built a reputation for reliability, practical manufacturing expertise, and the ability to respond quickly to demanding customer requirements.

“The speed of the Eagle laser is giving us opportunities to develop new business and new opportunities for our customers.” Peter Nau Jr., Vice President, Hammond Machine Works

Case snapshot

Customer Hammond Machine Works

Location Hammond, Indiana, USA

Industry Rail industry manufacturing and precision fabrication

Solution Eagle iNspire 20 kW with CraneMaster automation

Applications Rail components, repair parts, aluminum and steel cutting

Main result Faster throughput, stronger flexibility, operator confidence, and improved cut quality

Need faster turnaround without sacrificing quality?

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Investing in speed and flexibility

For years, Hammond relied on traditional equipment, including a plasma punch machine purchased in the 1990s. As production requirements evolved, the company needed a larger envelope, faster processing, and greater flexibility.

Challenge

The company needed greater control over production

Legacy technology and outsourced technical support limited the speed and flexibility required to meet modern rail-sector expectations.

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Decision

A 20 kW Eagle iNspire with CraneMaster automation

Hammond selected Eagle to combine cutting power, automation, and ease of use in one production platform.

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Business impact

From month-long backlogs to one-week turnaround

The company dramatically shortened production cycles, creating new opportunities and improving responsiveness.

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Eagle iNspire 20 kW with CraneMaster automation at Hammond Machine Works

Operator confidence and quality results

The Eagle iNspire 20 kW with CraneMaster automation changed the way Hammond Machine Works approaches production. Operators quickly became comfortable with the system thanks to intuitive controls and straightforward training. The nesting software helps maximize material utilization, while consistent cut quality reduces post-processing and rework. Combined with the speed of the laser and automation support, the system allows Hammond to respond faster to customer needs while maintaining the high standards expected in the rail industry.

Higher speed
The Eagle system dramatically shortened production flow for recurring rail components.

More flexibility
Hammond can process a wider range of materials and part requirements in-house.

Operator confidence
Intuitive controls and reliable performance helped operators work with confidence.

Cleaner finished parts
Cut quality reduced the need for secondary processing and improved output consistency.

When a Month of Work Becomes a Week of Production

The combination of a 20 kW Eagle iNspire and CraneMaster automation enabled Hammond Machine Works to dramatically increase throughput, improve workflow efficiency, and respond faster to customer needs.

iNspire

High-performance fiber laser cutting for speed, precision, and productivity.

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AUTOMATION

CraneMaster

Automation support for material handling and continuous production flow.

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SOFTWARE

Software & Nesting

Maximize material usage, simplify workflows, and improve production visibility.

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PROFITABILITY

Benchmarking

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Conversion module

Want to know how much faster your production could be with high-power fiber laser cutting and automation?

Use this customer story as a benchmark discussion around throughput, turnaround time, labor efficiency, machine utilization, and cost per part.

Compare turnaround times before and after automation

Evaluate throughput gains on recurring production

Benchmark labor efficiency and machine utilization

Estimate ROI and payback period

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