b'How Methods Established Trust with a First-Time Buyer and Helped Equipa Machine Shop from the Ground-Up SUMMARY Settingupanewmachineshopiscut,Curtisadded.Whattheywere challenging. Successful owners conductabletoaccomplishwithastandard rigorousresearch,meticulouslyinspectRoboDrill was flat-out amazing.everydetail,andcarefullyevaluateSincethatfirsttestcut,Curtishas COMPANY: Global-Tek LLC,everyoption.SowhenKevinCurtiscontinuedtolooktowardMethods based in Puerto Rico. beganthesearchtoequiphisnewfortherightsolutions,eventually venture in 2009, he did his homework. requiringmulti-taskingmachinesin PROBLEM: Longtime2012. Thats when he reached out to machine shop professionalPutting Machines to the Test his contact at Methods, Sales Engineer Kevin Curtis was establishingCurtis was looking to purchase 30-taperDarren Wall, and started working with a new plant that wouldmachines for his new shop, MachiningtheNakamura-Tomeproductline, supply components onTechnologyLLC,basedinLongmont,installing five machines.an immediate basis. ToColo.FANUCsRoboDrillpiquedhisTheyreextremelyfastandhave identify the machine toolsinterestatprevioustradeshows;tremendousaccuracy,saidGuy he was going to use, Curtishowever, there was one problem. Dodds, head of business development requested a 1.0 end millIdidntknowanythingaboutat Global-Tek. One customer actually on a 30-taper machine toMethodsatthetime,hesaid.couldnt understand how we achieved cut 1018 steel. The cut wasPurchasingequipmentfromansuch a good surface finish on some of tough, with one potentialunknown entity and relying on them fortheir handled parts.supplier opting for asupport and service is a big ask, and I different end mill size duringhave high expectations. Continuous SupportandspeedcomefromsalesengineerTome machines, and other equipment.thecompanytomanufacturemore a test cut. Theanswerwassimple:atestcutThroughout the Pandemic Wall and the rest of the Methods team. Two additional RoboDrills were on the waycompetitivelypricedproductsand SOLUTION: MethodswhereMethodscompetedwithCurtissoonestablishedGlobal-TekMethodshasconsistentlydeliveredto Puerto Rico in early December, rightfaster turnaround times. completed the test cutmachine tool builders to showcase itsManufacturing LLC in Puerto Rico. Theservices, support, and products on time,in the middle of the holidays and someThecompanyalsoimplementeda on a FANUC RoboDrill,capabilities.Thecutitselfwasalittlecompany produces critical componentsDodds said. more substantial coronavirus outbreaks.manganese phosphate plating system, and has since suppliedmorecomplicated.Curtiswantedaforthemedical,aerospace,andDodds said Methods always recognizesMethods dependability is matchedwhich produces a coating that resists Machining Technology and1.0 end mill on a 30-taper machine todefense markets, which require flawlessthe needs of the customer. Global-Tekbyitsmachines,Doddssaid.Theabrasion and corrosion. Global-Tek with numerousprocess grade 1018 steel. precision. placed an order for six RoboDrills on Sept.RoboDrillshaveapproximately10,000Anotherrecentadvancementis machine tools. RoboDrills,FollowingnumerousmeetingsandMoreover,thecoronavirushas29th, and the machines were producinghoursofproductiontimebetweenanautomationsystemappliedtotwo in particular, allow Global- talking to other RoboDrill users, Methodsamplifiedlogisticalcomplexitiesandchips by early October.repairs.Thatreliability,precisionandRoboDrills, which allow the machines to run Tek to meet firm deadlines,Sales Engineer Bruce Fields performeddemandforGlobal-Teksproducts,WhenMethodsmachineshittheswiftnesshavegivenGlobal-Tekaat 95 percent efficiency unattended.even amid a pandemic,the test cut at Methods Phoenix, Ariz.particularlythosemanufacturedfordock in Puerto Rico, they get unloadedsignificant competitive advantage. Investinginnewequipmentand without compromisingtechnical center. the defense industry. Customers in thisand set up typically that day, DoddsBasically,wehavebeenabletohardware is a significant part of meeting product quality.Long story short, we were impressed,essential market require a consistentsaid. Darren has been there 100 percentprovide China pricing within the Unitedandexceedinggoals,Curtissaid,but Curtis said. streamofpartsdeliveredontime,of the time to make sure that happensStates, Dodds said. theresmoretoMethodsthanthe RESULT: RoboDrills haveMethodswastheonlycompanywithout fail. because he knows how important it is tomachines. From the test cut in Arizona to collectively run for 10,000that completed the cut in the requiredGlobal-Tekpurchasesmachineshave that support. Utilizing Technologythe shipment of RoboDrills on their way to hours (nearly 14 months)specifications.However,theoutcomebased on customer requirements andThroughoutthepandemicandCurtis continues to improve Global-TekPuerto Rico during a pandemic, he said without the need for repairs.wassuperior,too,Curtissaid.Theforecasts. To keep customers suppliedcountlessothercrises,Methodshasbyinvestinginhisteam,facility,andits the unique blend of service, support, Automating two of theRoboDrill was quicker and performed awithvitalcomponentsduringthekeptupwithGlobal-Teksgrowinghardware to remain competitive. and technology that has kept him coming machines enabled them tomore rigid cut compared to competitors. pandemic,theyneedmachinesondemand.Thecompanypurchased19Recently,Global-Tekinstalledanback to Methods after ten years.run at 95 percent efficiency.Methods went above and beyondtheir floor and in production as soon asmachinetoolsin2020.Theycurrentlyin-houseanodizingline.TheabilityWhen we need service, Methods byshowingtheRoboDrillssurfacepossible. haveapproximately33RoboDrills,twotoproducecoated,ready-to-shipgets it done and keeps us running, finishing capability on a section of theForGlobal-Tek,thatdependabilityautomatedjobcells,fourNakamura- partswithoutathirdpartyallowshe said.'