For over 15 years, XYZ Machine Tools and Ceratizit have had a partnership where they support each other’s activities with shared values and vision, long-term thinking and transparent communication. This collaboration, which started with a chance meeting of Glenn Stanton, Sales Manager Ceratizit UK and Ireland, Nigel Atherton and Mike Corbett of XYZ Machine Tools at Edinburgh airport, has led to a lasting relationship that has helped customers of both businesses benefit from the work carried out with this joint venture.
When questioned about how the two parties got together, Glenn states “Chatting with the guys from XYZ at the airport, we spotted a synergy between the companies in several areas, one of which was the typical customers that purchased from both businesses. Another common theme was the focus and drive we had to help customers become more efficient at a great price point. Over this last 15 years it has proved to be the perfect partnership”.
A machine tool is never going to perform without cutting tools or work holding and during its formative years, XYZ had never really aligned with a dedicated tooling supplier. At the start of the relationship Ceratizit, who were branded as WNT at that point, provided XYZ with some of their standout tooling that allowed them to demonstrate their machines to full capability and show the production gains to customers at the XYZ showrooms around the country.
Mike comments “high feed milling and the development of variable helix / variable pitch solid carbide mills were really starting to make an impression in machine shops around the country when the partnership began. It was perfect that XYZ had access to this latest generation of tools and were able to show customers how to reduce cycle times and, improve machine efficiency with the technical backup from a company that was at the leading edge of cutting tool performance”.
But the partnership took a giant leap forward very soon after starting with the opening of the Ceratizit Sheffield Technical Centre. With Ceratizit’s business model changing, space that was once used for holding tooling stock in the Sheffield Airport Business Park facility, became available for XYZ to install a range of their machines which created a demonstration / training facility in the northeastern part of England. A by-product of having these machines in Sheffield was it allowed the showroom to become the hub for training of Ceratizit technical and sales staff from not only the UK but, from other countries around Europe, and allowed the customer-facing staff to see how to get the best from their products.
Ceratizit have subsequently moved their Technical Centre to a dedicated building on the AMRC complex just down the road from their main offices but, still housing XYZ machines including ProtoTRAK controlled mills and lathes along with a 800 HD VMC and the UMC5X simultaneous 5 axis machine, they continue to use the XYZ machines to deliver technical training to both staff and customers but are also manufacturing bespoke work holding and fixturing which is marketed under the brand “Made In Sheffield”.
Both businesses are seeing a change in the landscape of machine shops around the country in getting access to tooling as quickly as possible. This is also being seen at XYZ and one of the advantages of this association is that they have access to the latest TOM 80 vending machine. Glenn makes the comment “As customers adapt to the changes that Brexit has brought; many are now taking advantage of having a vending machine installed on their shopfloors if they meet certain criteria we set”. To highlight the benefits the vending machine brings to the XYZ showroom in Burlescombe, Devon, Mike adds “Both our production team and Applications department use this machine to dispense Ceratizit tooling. We have full traceability of who vends the tools and re-stocking is carried out without any intervention from XYZ. This facility ensures tooling is always available to our staff without needing to call upon Ceratizit’s next day delivery service, adding to our efficiency”.
When asked the question what does the future hold for this partnership Glenn says ”As we develop new tools, grades of carbide, and add to our existing 5 axis vices and zero point work holding systems, XYZ will always be involved in the development of these products allowing customers to see first-hand in any of the XYZ showrooms around the country the latest technology we are offering. Mike closes by making the comment “Both Ceratizit and XYZ feel that everybody is a winner with this arrangement. XYZ get their tooling and work holding provided to show the power and robustness of their products. Ceratizit win because they can show their cutting tools and work holding in action to prove the performance gains that can be had by investing in their equipment but, as far as both companies are concerned, the main winner has to be the customer who can produce parts as efficiently as possible and reduce the cost per part by tapping into this long established partnership.
