Allen Manufacturing, Inc. Lewiston, Maine - Since 1974 American Jobs - American Quality

Allen Manufacturing Blog

Made in USA • Lewiston, Maine

Practical posts on die cutting, contract stitching and assembly & kitting—written by a Maine shop that builds for real brands.

Die Cutting Assembly & Kitting Stitching

Latest Posts

See topics below - not all are completed yet, as we update the new site.

Die Cutting vs. knife cutting: Which is best for you project?

Compare steel die cutting with traveling heads or clickers and knife cutting for soft-goods. We break down tolerances, edge quality, cost per part and volume fit so you can choose the right method for textiles, foams, leathers, laminates and more.

Assembly & Kitting: Save Time Before You Ship

How pre-bagging, inserts and counted components reduce errors and speed fulfillment—especially for new product launches.

Contract Stitching: How We Build for Brands in Maine

Channel stitching, edge binding and quality checks that keep sewn goods consistent across production runs.

Die Cutting & Materials

Traveling-Head vs. Clicker Press: When to Use Each

Press tonnage, stroke and die setup—how we pick the right machine for leather, canvas, foam, PSA and other textiles.

Choosing Leather vs. Canvas for Die-Cut Parts

Durability, edge finish and cost—what to consider when your parts will be stitched, riveted or bonded.

Quality Checks for Repeatable Die-Cutting Results

Tooling inspection, first-article sign-off and lot-to-lot checks that keep tolerances tight across runs.

Prototyping, Sourcing & Shipping

Prototyping to Production: Our Pattern-Making Workflow

From sketches and samples to cutting dies—how to get from idea to repeatable production parts.

Material Sourcing: Getting the Right Material

Lead times and supplier tips for consistent texture, thickness and color.

Drop Shipping from the Factory: A Plain-English Guide

How we kit, label and ship to your customers—without adding steps to your workflow.

How-Tos, Case Studies & FAQs

Case Study: Leather Wallet Line—Cutting to Stitching

A quick look at material selection, pattern nesting and sewn details that keep the line consistent.

How to Send Us Files, Patterns or Samples

Best practices for files, cut lines, tolerances and labeling physical samples.

FAQ: Minimums, Lead Times and Made-in-USA Labels

Answers to common questions about order sizes, scheduling and domestic sourcing.