FABRICATORS FACE MANY NEW MARKET PRESSURES: OSHA LEGISLATION, RISING QUALITY EXPECTATIONS, SHORTER DELIVERY CYCLES, AND SHRINKING LOT SIZES. THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS ARE RESPONDING TO THESE PRESSURES WITH A CATALOG OF TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS. TURRET PUNCH PRESSES WITH SERVO-CONTROLLED HYDRAULIC RAMS PROVIDE QUIET OPERATION AND ELIMINATE A HOST OF SECONDARY OPERATIONS. AIR BLOW/OIL MIST TOOLING PROVIDES THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY NECESSARY FOR A PREDICTABLE JIT PROCESS. SOFTWARE IS NOW AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FABRICATION PROCESS, PROVIDING SIMPLIFIED, RELIABLE PART PROGRAMMING. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SIMPLIFIES THE APPLICATION OF MANY OF THESE COMPLEX TOOLS. THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE INNOVATIONS IN THESE AREAS THAT ADDRESS THE PRESSURES FACING FABRICATORS.