Raving Fan: Midwest Screw

	Midwest Screw: After 61 Years of Traditional Machining

by John Schlevensky - Mazak Sales Engineer (WI)

Midwest Screw, a small, family owned screw machine shop in Racine, WI has undergone a major change after 61 years of traditional machining. David Bradshaw, President of Midwest Screw, has always approached the market with a very specific marketing plan. David stated that by "staying small and limiting my attention to a few very specific customers I am able provide superior service at competitive pricing through automated processes." Until recently the majority of his productivity came from himself and two employees running six multi-spindle machines and four single spindles six days a week.

Over many years Midwest Screw has enjoyed long relationships with its customers in the agriculture and heavy equipment industries. Because David wanted to support his customers ever increasing just-in-time requirements he began looking at the possibility of moving into CNC machining. David wanted a solution that offered the flexibility his customers required and could be rapidly implemented in his shop. After five years of serious consideration, Midwest Screw purchased a Mazak Quick Turn 250HP lathe equipped with a magazine bar feeder and automatic parts catcher.

David Bradshaw "purchased the Mazak because after many years of research I found Mazak provided the greatest level of support, easiest programming, and fastest set-up times." In addition Dave was "impressed with the Quick Turn 250HP’s ability to hold extremely tight tolerances at extremely fast speeds."

Mazak and MSI worked closely with Dave. We studied his parts and gave him a solid idea of what to expect regarding machine implementation and productivity. A Machinery Systems' applications associate carefully walked through the control programming with Dave and ran the part. After that runoff David felt Mazak offered the best solution for the future of Midwest Screw. Machinery Tooling & Supply (MT&S), MSI's tooling supply partner, offered an attractive custom tooling package and Systems Financial Credit (SFC), MSI's financial arm, supplied the leasing services to provide Midwest Screw a total package.

During a visit to the Mazak North American Headquarters in KY, David and his wife Cara, Accountant for Midwest Screw, (pictured) saw their machine being manufactured. They felt very comfortable with their decision to buy Mazak after they saw the technology they were purchasing actually being used within the Mazak manufacturing facility. They also were impressed with the Mazak Technology and Customer Service Centers located on the same Florence, KY campus.

After their return from Mazak Kentucky, David and his assistant Todd Hush attended the Mazatrol programming school at the Mazak Midwest Technology Center in Schaumburg, IL. This training allowed them to began production almost immediately when the Quick Turn arrived at their shop. David strongly stated that "the machine generated substantial cash flow in 30 days; after just sixty days the machine was paying for itself with good profit margins." David attributes much of his success to having the confidence to run lights-out in just one month. He intends to use the monitoring capabilities of the Mazatrol Fusion 640 control to monitor his machine's progress from home during unattended production.

The Mazak has created opportunities for Midwest Screw. One of his largest customers called and asked for an additional 700 pieces with a two day delivery. In the past this would have been a problem. However, Dave was able to tear down one job and set-up this job on the Mazak in just an hour and a half - including the barfeeder. Because David has responded to his customers needs they have awarded him a 50% increase.

David feels that by working within his time tested business strategy - staying small and investing in automation such as Multi-Tasking Equipment - his opportunity for growth is limited only by his desire to grow.

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