Tooling & Equipment International
Tooling & Equipment International (TEI) specializes in producing pre-production and production prototype aluminum castings for various industries and offers comprehensive turnkey packages for high volume foundries.
Company Overview
Tooling & Equipment International (TEI) specializes in building pre-production and production prototype aluminum castings for a wide array of industries. With extensive experience in designing molds and core boxes for high volume manufacture, the company offers complete turnkey packages including tooling, fixtures, and automation systems for high volume foundries. TEI also manufactures and distributes Hot and Cold Box Sand Injectors (Blow Tubes) for the casting industry.
History
TEI's origins can be traced back to the founding of Automotive Pattern in 1918. The company transitioned to Tooling & Equipment International in 1983. By 1998, TEI had moved into its current 83,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility in Livonia, Michigan. In 2001, TEI further diversified into military and non-automotive castings and machining. TEI now employs over 120 people.
Technologies and Capabilities
TEI utilizes advanced technologies including soft tooling manufactured by CNC machining resin board, air-set and blown cores using a variety of sands, and 3D printed molds and cores. They offer heat treatment with water and air quench capabilities, as well as casting machining on 3, 4, and 5-axis CNC mills and lathes. Their state-of-the-art foundry enables accurate castings in minimal time, replicating the geometry and mechanical properties of high pressure die cast parts with wall thicknesses as low as 2.5mm.
Certifications and Standards
TEI is ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR certified, ensuring that their processes and products meet international standards for quality and security. They employ a range of inspection methods including real-time X-ray and CT scanning for casting integrity, as well as spectrometers for melt chemistry, hydrogen vacuum for melt condition, and ultra-sound for wall thickness.
Awards and Recognitions
TEI has received multiple awards at the AFS Casting of the Year Competition. Notable recognitions include the Best Prototype or Innovation Award in April 2019 for the Interplanetary Lander, and the Casting of the Year Award in April 2018 for the CYCLOTRON Swingarm. They also received Best-in-Class Awards for the Thermal Command Center in April 2017, and the Honda Water Passage in April 2014. Honorable mentions include the Crankcase Assembly in 2017 and the EcoMotors Accessories Plate in 2015.