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Articles

How to Make Your Employees Want to Stay, with Adam Wiltsie–EP 130

July 25, 2023 - 10:39am -- Selcuk Gulboy
Adam Wiltsie, Director of Operations of Vanamatic

Last week, I heard a story about an old customer of Graff-Pinkert who lost three key machinists because a shop down the street was paying more. It led me to make a post on Linkedin, asking if machinists and setup people were paid enough to attract young people to the machining field. On the whole, commenters vented that they were not compensated what they felt they deserved working in the machining industry.  The post has 53 comments so far (I’m usually lucky to get one).

How Unexpected Help Creates Profitable Relationships: Seeking Serendipity

July 10, 2023 - 2:36pm -- Selcuk Gulboy
Schutte S32PC that got wet in Cologne, Germany

In November of 2015, our used machine tool company, Graff-Pinkert, bought a Schütte S32PC, mfd. 2002, in Cologne, Germany, from a dealer we didn’t know. It was a nice looking machine. A big 32mm CNC Multi-Spindle, painted red and cream because it came out of a Mercedes factory. We were excited to bring the machine to the US until the seller allowed it to get wet when he put it outside in a rainstorm.

Should I buy a Cobot or a Good Old Fashioned Robot?, with James Persenaire of FANUC

June 26, 2023 - 2:50pm -- Selcuk Gulboy

On this podcast I spoke with James Persenaire, a district manager at FANUC America Corporation. James gave insight into the strengths and weaknesses of collaborative robots and how Fanuc’s collaborative robots differ from competitors such as Universal Robot. He also addressed misconceptions about traditional robots that they are expensive and dangerous. He emphasized that the integration of the robot is the primary factor in both its cost and safety.

What to Do About the Skilled Workers Shortage?

June 20, 2023 - 12:54pm -- Selcuk Gulboy
3d rendering cyborg control robot assembly line in car factory

The question seems as obvious as the sun in the sky. Our company can make more money if we can find skilled workers to run our machines. Where are they? 

What if that is the wrong question? 

What if there were a dozen questions and the simple, straightforward one was leading you into a brick wall? 

What if a better question was how much will it cost to hire the skilled workers I need? 

Change is Painful

June 14, 2023 - 1:38pm -- Selcuk Gulboy

For years, Graff-Pinkert has tried to convince customers who use 6-spindle Acme-Gridley or New Britain automatic screw machines that they would benefit from running Wickmans instead. 

Before I go any further with this spiel, I want to add that I have never run production, so I’m sure there are reasons why Wickmans are not always the best option. And, the point of this blog is a lot more than just a commentary on screw machines.

Manufacturing Parts for the Department of Defense, with Mike Topolewski—EP 189

June 8, 2023 - 1:53pm -- Selcuk Gulboy

Sometimes machining companies tell Graff-Pinkert they have long running, lucrative jobs supplying parts to the D.O.D., and it always has seemed a little mysterious to me. What are these parts they are supplying to the government? How does a company get to become a supplier to the D.O.D.?

Is supplying parts to the U.S. Government a good idea for a small-sized or medium-sized machining company?

Connecting the “Right People” at the Right Times: Seeking Serendipity–EP 188

May 30, 2023 - 2:22pm -- Selcuk Gulboy
Noah with Chris Armstrong in Front of Citizen K16 VIIP after Successfully Running it!

Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Today, I’m going to tell you a story about how dots in my past came together serendipitously to help me solve problems and make some good deals in our used machinery business. When I met the people in these stories, I had no idea they would be significant to our business down the line, and of course, I never could have predicted how they would connect with one another.

Running a Machine Shop like a Tech Company, with David Wynn–EP 63

May 26, 2023 - 1:34pm -- Selcuk Gulboy

Lately, Graff-Pinkert has seen a lot of new opportunities for our used machinery business–particularly in the category of machines that I like to call “Sexy Ugly.” Many customers are clearing the decks of their dirty Acme, Davenport, and Brown & Sharpe cam screw machines to become pure CNC machine shops, while at the same time, quite a few machining companies are still embracing those ancient cast iron beasts.

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