The current state of tool holding business

The state of the tool holding business is quite tough for all tool holder manufacturers worldwide. This is truly a global crisis. Since so few companies are purchasing new machining centres, tool holding competition is higher because tool holder manufacturers are all chasing the same business. Companies that are currently buying new machine tools are typically successful competitors that are interested in increasing their productivity. All of the new tool holder business from companies who are not purchasing new capital equipment seems to be focused on trying to make their existing equipment run more efficiently. This sort of customer mentality actually works well for balancing machines and shrink fit machines. But the lack of new machining centre purchases has obviously led to lesser needs from the tool holding buyers in the market. The fact that all the tool holder companies are in the same boat has ushered in higher expectations from the tool holding buyer. Consumers are taking their time to thoroughly investigate all tool holding options before making a decision. Since buyers are typically focused on increasing their productivity, more study and time is needed for them to ensure the tool holders they purchase actually do this. The number one reason that buyers will purchase machining equipment is to increase their productivity, and a thorough study of tool holding options will be a big part of this process. To successfully position themselves in the market, tool holder manufacturers must be able to demonstrate the benefits of their equipment. The consumers looking to increase productivity are typically educated users that understand their number one cost is machine time. They want tool holding technologies that are able to reduce this machining time, increase productivity, and ultimately leave a higher margin on their final product. This, in turn, should allow these manufacturers to take on new jobs and ultimately strengthen their business. Manufacturers now work more closely than ever with machine tool builders and cutting tool manufacturers to do whatever is possible to create an increase in business. Also, the manufacturers/buyers themselves are much more understanding about how this entire financial crisis affects their suppliers - who, after all, are also manufacturers.(the end)Alle Artikel