Customer Successes

Western Steel, Inc., a family-owned business spanning across three generations, is based in Colorado Springs, CO. It originated as a scrap yard in 1904, the company has evolved into a one-stop service center within their 50,000 sq. ft. facility.

Willbanks’ introduction of tube and pipe to their service offerings included simple saw and miter cutting. Since upgrading to laser technology with Mazak's FG-220 FIBER and FG-400 NEO, Willbanks has expanded their tube and pipe processing capabilities. The team can now process a range of material, including rectangular, square, channel, wide flange, angle, and flat bar. Additional features like tapping, miter, stitch, and bevel cutting of steel, aluminum, and galvanized material have further enhanced Willbanks’ service offerings. Partnering with Mazak has proven to be instrumental in the successful implementation of the tube lasers and has given leaders confidence in Mazak when considering future growth.

Located forty miles south of Sacramento, Lodi is known for its abundant vineyards and grape production. Naturally, community residents and local businesses contribute to the substantial agricultural industry that supports the growing city. Family owned and operated, Acampo Machine Works is one of those companies—manufacturing vineyard and orchard equipment for the local farm community. Until recently, laser cutting was one process the company outsourced to a trusted supplier. As lead times for these laser-cut parts increased, the team considered bringing laser cutting in-house. Implementing the new OPTIPLEX NEXUS laser-cutting machine and high-pressure air system from Mazak has resulted in cost savings, quicker turnaround times, and new business opportunities. Creating top of the line machinery requires top of the line equipment and support from a trusted partner, and the Acampo team has found that in Mazak.

In the Ditch Towing Products, Fish Fighter Products, RazorBack Offroad and Inventive Products make up Inventive-Group. One company, four brands is the slogan that defines the business. Inventive-Group operates out of 87,000 square feet of space in Mountain Home, Idaho—with 65,000 square feet designated for manufacturing and 22,000 square feet for office space. The Inventive-Group team switched to Mazak as their laser partner after reevaluating the relationship with their previous laser provider. Finding a partner that aligns with their business philosophy and goals so well has been integral for innovation. The team at Inventive-Group is happy with their decision to partner with Mazak. They know they can count on Mazak’s team when the need arises and look forward to succeeding together.

Manufacturing is the mainstay of many businesses operating in the Midwest, and Right Angle Steel is no exception. With several metal fabrication job shops located near the company’s headquarters in Nappanee, IN, remaining competitive is a must. President, Josh Cook, shares “we like taking jobs that other centers turn down.” Intent on keeping the company’s manufacturing process up to date, Cook began looking at solutions that would increase production output. Today, Right Angle Steel operates out of a newly built 100,000 square foot facility serving the RV, trailer, automotive, and heavy equipment industries. Four fully automated flat sheet laser cells and a tube laser—Mazak’s OPTIPLEX NEXUS 3015 FIBER S4, 2–OPTIPLEX 3015 FIBER III 10kW, OPTIPLEX 3015 6kW, and FT-150 FIBER—fabricate everything from small laser-cut parts to large, welded assemblies.

Co-Line Welding Inc., maintains 375,000-plus sq. ft. of manufacturing facilities in Lynnville, IA, with 215 employees providing a host of metal sheet, plate and tube fabrication, and assembly services. Parts and products make their way to agricultural, construction, automotive, and other industries in North America. In 2003, the desire to bring back some outsourced laser cutting led the company to Mazak Optonics and was the beginning of a long-term laser-equipment relationship. Today, the investment in tube, sheet, and plate cutting in particular has yielded Co-Line a roster of 14 Mazak Optonics machines, including 4-, 7-, 8- and 10-kW laser cutters. Co-Line will add to its laser cutting offerings, with three 15-kW OptiPlex 3015 NEO 2D machines slated for install.

Southwest Welding started out as a custom welding and repair shop almost 40 years ago in Southwest, Indiana. At the time, the company serviced and repaired equipment for local agricultural and industrial businesses from their 1500-square-foot facility. However, the company’s focus soon shifted—from offering repairs to providing fabrication services. Partnering with Mazak has proven to be advantageous for Southwest Welding—by increasing efficiency, expanding capabilities, and improving part quality.

Founded in 1986, Springfield Sign began as a small garage-based shop focused on screen printing and vinyl signs. Today, Springfield Sign is a full-service national sign company. With extensive experience creating signs for major players in the restaurant, food/service, and retail industries, leaders at Springfield Sign understand the importance of preserving a brand’s image. However, the CNC router that they were using to construct signs was not meeting their expectations—as it was limited in its ability to make precise cuts. With Mazak’s OPTIPLEX NEXUS 3015 FIBER 6kW, LASER FLEX automation system, and FT-150 FIBER the company has been able to secure new business, reduce secondary processes, bring cutting in-house, and maximize productivity.

Plimetal Inc. is a Montreal-based shop founded in 1986 that specializes in laser cutting and bending for a variety of industries in Quebec. The shop works in steel, aluminum, and stainless steel and cuts both sheet and tube. A lot of the company’s work is custom, which involves producing one-offs as quickly as possible. In 2019 the company installed a Mazak 4 kW FABRI GEAR CO2 tube laser. The FABRI GEAR has not only helped Plimetal, but also their customers. While Plimetal has gained a new range of customers, their customers have also benefitted with reduced prices thanks to Mazak's FABRI GEAR.