Smith's Machine Produces Key Parts for Remote Weapon System |
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When US Marines and Army troops fan out across Afghanistan's Helmand Province this summer, the 80 employees of Smith's Machine of Cottondale, AL, will be there with them. Though none of the highly skilled workers in this high-tech company will be in southern Afghanistan in person, their craftsmanship will be keeping American troops safer. Because, if you're going to eradicate the poppy crop, and thereby deprive the Taliban of their primary source of funding, there will be times when it's better to do so from inside the relative safety of a Stryker vehicle. And that's where Smith's Machine comes in. Smith's Machine manufactures key mechanical parts that allow the gunner on a Stryker to operate the remote controlled .50-caliber machine gun on the weapons system known as CROWS II (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System). Smith's Machine provides the parts it machines to Kongsberg Defense Corporation, which delivers the completed CROWS II to the US Army. Smith's Machine CEO Tim Smith explains what that means in practical terms: "Our ultimate customer is probably a Specialist in the Army, or perhaps a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps who is 7,500 miles away from home and counting on our manufacturing skills to get him back safely. When you think about it that way, it puts an entirely new perspective on the goal of zero defects." The company recently held an Open House of its new Plant 2 hosted in conjunction with the Tuscaloosa Industrial Development Authority (TCIDA). Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) was the keynote speaker. The CROWS II system was demonstrated at the Open House and tours of the company's two plants were conducted. The TCIDA announced the project in 2008. The project represents a $5.35 million investment, and new jobs have exceeded the company's initial estimate to total 50 team members at Plant 2. The Smith's Machine story is the American story. In the midst of a 1970s recession, Woody Smith told his wife Judy about his dream of owning his own machine shop. In 1974, Woody and his father opened Smith's Welding & Machine Shop in a garage. Today, Smith's Machine employs 80 highly skilled workers who provide the kind of state-of-the-art precision and quality that customers in the defense, aerospace and medical industries demand. Quality and customer satisfaction have been hallmarks of Smith Machine since Tim's father Woody founded the company in a garage in 1974. Woody Smith said, "From the first day, our philosophy was to do whatever it takes to get the job done right. If you're patrolling a 550-mile border with Pakistan, that's good to know." Looking to the future, for more aerospace and defense work, Smith's Machine will be AS9000 certified in September. Smith's Machine has invested in the latest machine tool technology to help fuel its growth. "We bought our first DMG machine tool in 2000," said Tim Smith. "We are very pleased with how it performs. We decided that we needed one vendor and one standardized control for all machines (verticals, horizontals, mill-turn, twin spindle turning and 5-axis). In 2003, after extensive market study, |
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comparing machine specifications, technology and company background, we chose DMG as our preferred vendor due to the machine technology and horsepower along with the support that DMG offers from the technical side. A big plus for us is the Siemens control, commonality is very important for our operators. No matter the machine, the operator can run it. Six years later we are still pleased with our decision, it has paid off." Smith's Machine currently has 20 DMG machine tools in its two plants. For more information contact: Tim Smith Smith's Machine 14120 Hwy 11 North Cottondale, AL 35453 205-553-7623 Fax: 205-553-9770
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