Connecting with customers on a new level July 10, 2008     Tornos has always tried to connect with our customers to deliver what they really want. But how close are we to meeting that objective on a yearly, monthly, or daily basis? How can we make sure our mission doesn’t become marketing fluff? In today’s fast moving economy, we think the best way is to really listen to what our customers are saying about their day to day business and their plans for the future - and then act fast!   Our customers are competing on a global scale; the changes are happening rapidly and they are causing margins to shrink. To help alleviate these concerns, in the last year Tornos has introduced 11 new machines: four Deltas, four ‘e’ line machines, two Micros, and the Sigma 32. These machines have been designed to meet the very specific new needs of our customers competing in this global market. They all do one important thing: help our customers face price pressures on production parts.

Scott Kowalski President Tornos US

 

As you know, Tornos has a long history of making machines that produce the highest quality parts of medium to extreme complexity. This capability attracts customers like you, the best in the business, who appreciate a solidly built machine. (One customer I spoke with recently said his Tornos had "50-year build quality"). Tornos customers don’t shy away from complex parts and this has historically resulted in a profitable edge in the marketplace. But today – with increasing frequency – even manufacturers and producers of the most sophisticated parts are finding a need for perfect simple parts too. Thus, the introduction of the Delta product line - dedicated to cost-effectively machining simple parts. The Delta is an exciting venture for us, taking Tornos back into the "entry level" machine market.

 

Instead of beginning a multi-year R&D project to design a machine for this market, we formed a partnership with Tsugami to have them build the machine you wanted to our specifications in their production facilities. This allowed us to deliver the Tornos machine our customers needed in the fastest possible timeframe. In the U.S. and across the world, the Tornos sales force is receiving extensive training to help all of us better prepare end users for the demanding jobs and deliveries that brought this machine line into existence.

 

Another recent introduction by Tornos is the Deco 'e' line, a cost-effective alternative for the production of parts. Designed to help our customers win every price war, the cost-effective 'e' line can produce 0.40 to 1.25 inch (10 to 32 mm) diameter parts of medium complexity. It's sold as a package featuring a standard number of options that streamlines the manufacturing process in Moutier. Compatible with the Tornos 'a' line, these 7-8 axis turning centers let you engage three tools on the bar simultaneously.

 

For our customers who don't want to part with their old mechanically-driven cam systems but feel they must to compete globally, we offer the new Micro 7 and 8, modular machines ideal for parts under 0.32 inches (8 mm) in diameter. They have a very small footprint and take up about the same amount of room as the old screw machines they were designed to replace, but they achieve precision of ±2 microns for the Micro 7 and ±1 micron for the Micro 8. They can be programmed in TB-DECO or ISO; and they are built with 20 interchangeable tool positions.

 

Additionally, the Deco Sigma 32, for part diameters up to 1.25 inch (32 mm), allows for simultaneous machining with two tools. Also available with a choice of TB-DECO or ISO programming, this 6-axis machine boasts 22 tool positions. The ergonomics have been optimized for easy setup and tool changes, and accessibility is unparalleled.

 

The Sigma 32 joins the BioPak and Pursuit in the Sigma line. The two variants of the Sigma 20 are outfitted with all the attachments and accessories that a customer might need to make parts for the medical and general engineering industries, respectively. The two machines make it easier than ever to break into these more profitable markets. In the past, shop owners looking to transition to a new sector spent a lot of time researching which machine to buy, how to tool it up, and what accessories might be needed. But with the BioPak and Pursuit, customers can easily make a machine purchase and move into these new markets much more quickly.

 

Our objective in introducing these new machines is not to create "marketing fluff" and taglines. We’re adapting to our customers changing needs so we can continuously build and nurture long-term customer relationships. At Tornos, the term customer service is not a slogan, it’s the mantra we live by. Proof is that we’re connecting at a new level with machines for simple parts, simplified purchasing choices, and innovative training and service programs to help you make the most of opportunities in this new global economy.

 

We invite you to visit our IMTS homepage at http://www.tornos.us/imts. We welcome your input and feedback, so please go to http://www.tornos.us/company/contacts/contact.cfm to let us know how we are doing.