Northside Machine Invests for Success in Demanding Markets |
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"Northside Machine Company, located in Dugger, IN, manufactures precision components for the military, firearms, automotive, and medical industries, each of which is a demanding and competitive market," said a company spokesperson. "To maintain a profitable and reliable business in these environments, and continue enjoying a first-class reputation with customers through on-time service, quality workmanship, and competitive pricing, a company must be lean and efficient. "Fortunately, owner Rich Smith understands that a profitable company needs to provide its employees with the resources and training required to manufacture quality products. This also means being willing to invest in the most innovative machine tools to support his business. "A key factor in Northside's ability to maintain its sterling reputation, stay lean, and expand its business at the same time, was the addition of three five-axis Mazak Variaxis 500-5X machining centers. The company's first Variaxis was a used model, which allowed the company to learn about the machine's capabilities at a fraction of the investment." "We had to re-think how we did things as far as holding parts and tooling," said Rich Smith about working the Variaxis into his operation. "Once we got past that, we went out and bought two more new Variaxis machines with pallet changers. I wouldn't buy another without a pallet changer. They give you so much more uptime on the spindles." Smith says Northside has experienced growth every year, but the addition of the Variaxis machines helped the company grow an additional 20 percent. "Those three machines are our mainstay," Smith said. "We keep them running two shifts a day." Smith notes that Northside does very little full five-axis machining with its Variaxis machines, but uses it more for indexing. "We can work on five sides of a part with one setting," he said. "We run a lot of parts that have multiple holes and slots. For the most part, we can finish the part if not in one setting, then in the second." Northside's move to Mazak started in 1996, when it invested in a Mazak VTC-20B Vertical Machining Center from its local distributor, Shelton Machinery (Fishers, IN). Smith researched and compared the various machine manufactures before making his decision. According to Smith, he chose to partner |
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with Shelton Machinery and Mazak "because Mazak incorporated the latest in technology on their machine tools and Shelton Machinery displayed great knowledge of the machines they sell." Since investing in its first Mazak, Northside Machine has returned to Shelton for 12 additional Mazak machines, including the three Variaxis. Many of Northside's customers are established companies that require complex parts. The company is also often involved in prototyping parts and following through to the production phase. Through Smith's leadership, Northside Machine has the ability to machine a wide variety of complex parts, either in the development stage or in production because of his vision when purchasing equipment. This company does not purchase equipment for just one project. According to Smith, "We look ahead and try to be diversified without getting away from our core business. For instance, an additional option on a lathe many not affect the current project, but could prove to be beneficial in the future." Another reason that Northside consistently provides quality parts on time to its customers is its preventive maintenance program. All Northside Mazak machines are on a preventive maintenance schedule with Shelton Machinery. A Shelton service technician visits Northside Machine on a regular basis to perform routine checks. Referring to this program, Rich Smith said, "it helps to reduce downtime, which increases productivity. Potential problems can be recognized before they cause production issues." Along with a proactive maintenance program, it also is essential to take calculated risks. Northside Machine does this by purchasing equipment that may have more features than it currently needs, but will help them grow in the future. "We know what kind of work we have done in the past where various machine options would have increased efficiency," Smith said. "Sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling, knowing an investment will ultimately pay off in the future. These types of investments make us more competitive." Speaking of the future, Smith's sons, Mike and Denny, each with a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University, are deeply involved in day-to-day operations. They have helped the company grow by sharing in management, production, and planning responsibilities. For more information contact: Northside Machine Co. 8068 Main Street Dugger, IN 47848 812-648-2636 Email: info@northsidemachine.com
George Yamane Mazak Corporation P.O. Box 970 Florence, KY 41022-0970 859-342-1700 Fax: 859-342-9524 E-mail: gyamane@mazakcorp.com
Southwest Mazak Southwest Technology Center Dana Scott Mazak Technical Center 770 North Belt East Houston, TX 77060 281-931-7770 Fax: 281-931-6191 E-mail: DScott@mazakcorp.com
LA, AR Richard Cahn Dixie Mill Machine Tools Co. 901 Tchoupitoulass Street New Orleans, LA 70152 504-525-6101 Fax: 504-525-3089 E-mail: rcahn@bellsouth.net
OK Rick Engles Machinery Resources Inc. 5550 South 94th East Avenue Tulsa, OK 74145 918-622-6495 Fax: 918-663-0923 E-mail: rengles@mritul.com
N. TX Bernie Lopez InterTech Machine Tool Sales, Inc. 2100 Hwy. 360 #2103 Grand Prairie, TX 75050 972-647-0707 Fax: 972-641-6191 E-mail: Bernie@intertechcncmachines.com
El Paso, TX Felipe Arvizo Magnum Precision Machines Inc. 12025 Rojas Dr. Suite A El Paso, TX 79936 915-856-7900 Fax: 915-857-4700 www.magnumprecisionmachines.com E-mail: farvizo@whc.net
NM Rick Edgar Magnum Precision Machines, Inc. 8448 Washington Place NE Albuquerque, NM 87113 www.magnumprecisionmachines.com E-mail: redgar@magnumprecisionmachines.com
Southeast David Kennedy Mazak Southeast Technology Center 1075 Northbrook Parkway Suwanee, GA 30024 678-985-4800 Fax: 678-985-4801
TN Don Roberts Pinnacle Machine Tools, Inc. 855 W. College #D Murfreesboro, TN 37129 615-904-7786 Fax: 615-904-7783
AL Jerry Edwards Pinnacle Machine Tool Inc. 120 Commissioner Drive Meridianville, AL 35759 256-828-2600 Fax: 256-828-8805
SC, NC, VA Rick Smith MachineTech, Inc. 118 North Wingfield Road Greer, SC 29650 864-801-1998 Fax: 864-801-1949
GA Tim Kramer Premier Engineering Co. 1635 Lakes Pkwy. Ste. U Lawrenceville, GA 30043-5897 678-442-8382 Fax: 678-442-9363
MS Richard Cahn Dixie Mill Machine Tools Co. 901 Tchoupitoulass Street New Orleans, LA 70152 504-525-6101 Fax: 504-525-3089
FL John Grabenau Premier Machinery Inc. 990 Sunshine Lane Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 407-786-2000 Fax: 407-786-2001
Northeast Steve Wilkins Mazak Northeast Headquarters 700 Old County Cir. Windsor Locks, CT 06096 860-292-4400
DE, E. PA, MD Jim Rutan Mazak Sales & Service 1866 Colonial Village Ln. #110 Lancaster, PA 17601 717-397-7433 Fax: 717-397-5399
E. NY and NJ Greg Kaufman Mazak Sales & Service Valley Cottage, NY 845-267-2121 Fax: 845-267-2156
W. NY Bill Miller A.W. Miller Technical Sales East Aurora, NY 716-652-8282 Fax: 716-655-4915
W. PA Dennis Buday A.W. Miller Technical Sales 3 Tara Drive PO Box 220 Harmony, PA 16037 724-453-1690 Fax: 724-453-1695
Midwest Bill Bettis Mazak Midwest Technology Center 300 East Commerce Drive Schaumburg, IL 60173 847-885-8311 Fax: 847-885-9565
ND, SD, MN Mike Nagel Northwest Machine Technologies, Inc. 13025 George Weber Dr, Ste 3 Rogers, MN 55374 763-493-3660 Fax: 763-493-3677
NE, West IA Duane Ohlrich Industrial Systems & Supply Inc. 2962 33rd Ave PO Box 621 Columbus, NE 68601 402-564-4445 Fax: 402-563-4171
East IA Bill Bettis Mazak Midwest Technology Center 300 East Commerce Drive Schaumburg, IL 60173 847-885-8311 Fax: 847-885-9565
MO, S. IL Bill Summers Municipal Tool & Machinery Co. 2465 Rock Island Blvd. Maryland Heights, MO 63043 314-994-9905 Fax: 314-994-0410
KS Paul Domurat Concept Technical Sales, Inc. 6240 W. 135th St. Overland Park, KS 66223 913-647-5366 Fax: 913-647-5355 E-mail: pdomurat@concepttechsales.com
WI Mike Cekanor Machinery Systems North 3280 Gateway Rd Brookfield, WI 53045 262-781-4850 Fax: 262-781-6489
IL, N.W. IN Ron Mager Machinery Systems Inc. 614 East State Parkway Schaumburg, IL 60173 847-882-8085 Fax: 847-882-2894
E. MI Jim Addy Addy Machinery Co. 36055 Groesbeck Highway PO Box 159 Fraser, MI 48026 586-741-3000 Fax: 586-741-3015
E. MI Peter Addy Addy Machinery Co. (new Grand Rapids location soon) 800-AddyNOW
Mazak North Central Headquarters Rick Ware Mazak Corp. 8025 Production Drive Florence, KY 41042 859-342-1700
IN, KY Jim Shelton Shelton Machinery, Inc. 9900 North by Northeast Blvd. Fisher, IN 46037 317-845-5588 Fax: 317-845-5925
S. OH Ray Calvin Mazak Southern Ohio Technical Center 2016 Springboro West Dayton, OH 45439 937-853-0700 Fax: 936-853-0020
N. OH Frank Gibbons Numerequip 4810 Briar Road Cleveland, OH 44135 216-265-0400 Fax: 216-265-0407
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