How a Customer Used Our Shear Inventory to Stay in Production During a Breakdown

ACCURSHEAR, Cincinnati, Shears, Sheet MetalTags: 10 foot shear, 12 foot shear, Accurshear, betenbender, cincinnati shear, emergency replacement, Fabrication Equipment, GMC Shear, hydraulic shear, Knuth shear, machine breakdown solution, Mechanical Shear, Metal Cutting Shear, Metal Fabrication, plasma cutter, shear rental, standard industrial, sterling machinery, Used ShearBrands: Accurshear, Cincinnati, Inc

When a crucial piece of machinery breaks down, production can come to a grinding halt. That’s exactly what happened to one of our customers when their trusted shear gave out—right in the middle of a heavy workload. In this story, we’ll share how they handled the situation, stayed operational with a little help from Sterling Machinery, and even discovered a better workflow solution along the way.

Meet the Customer

This long-standing Midwest fabrication shop has been in business for over 20 years and is known for fast turnarounds and quality work. They’ve relied heavily on a Cincinnati 1/4″ x 12′ mechanical shear for years. When it suddenly broke down, the team reached out to us at Sterling Machinery in urgent need of a quick solution.

Goal

Their immediate goal? Minimize downtime. With projects already underway and tight deadlines, they needed to either replace their mechanical shear fast or find a temporary fix while sourcing a new machine. Ideally, they wanted something similar to their previous equipment—but were also open to better alternatives if the lead time and cost made sense.

Process

1. Initial Consultation – They told us they were looking for a low-cost mechanical shear, ideally used and ready to run.
2. Broadened the Search – We contacted trusted suppliers like Knuth, GMC, Betenbender (USA Made), and Standard Industrial (USA Made).
3. Faced Market Realities – Most new machines were 2+ months out, so we helped them shift focus to in-stock used shears or short-term rental options.
4. Explored Versatile Options – We introduced them to the idea of downsizing to a 10′ shear, something more compact and often more affordable. Since they also had a plasma cutter in-house, we helped them see how combining a plasma + shear setup could optimize their workflow.
5. Reviewed Inventory Together – We showed them machines similar to their current setup, like this
   
   Used Cincinnati 1/4″ x 12′ Power Shear (Stock #A7074)
   

   and more modern alternatives like this
   
   Used Accurshear 1/4″ x 10′ Hydraulic Shear (Stock #A7299)
   
6. Custom Solution – We offered them the option to rent a shear immediately while they decide between purchasing a used shear or waiting for a new custom-ordered one.

Experience

The customer was amazed by the quick response and expert advice. They shared, “We thought we were out of options, but you gave us multiple paths forward. We didn’t even think about combining our plasma and a smaller shear until you mentioned it.” In the end, they rented a unit to keep production going and are now strongly considering a more compact shear that fits better in their workspace.

It’s Always a Positive Experience with Sterling Machinery

This customer came in with a broken machine and left with a working plan, a running shear, and a better understanding of their shop’s capabilities. Whether you need an in-stock replacement, a temporary rental, or a long-term upgrade, Sterling Machinery is ready to help you find the best-fit solution.

➡️ Browse our available 1/4″ shears here
➡️ Sell your used shear or machinery here

Need help choosing the right shear or setting up a hybrid workflow with your plasma cutter? Call us today at 626-444-0311 or visit www.SterlingMachinery.com — our experts are just a call or click away.