BOYER MACHINE & TOOL STORY

Boyer Machine & Tool Finds Strength in a Diverse Customer Base

Boyer Machine & Tool Company was one of three companies spotlighted at IMTS 2008. We revisited Boyer to learn how the company is faring as machine shop business has been negatively impacted. The company is holding up during these troubled times, but it's because they've been through this before and learned a lesson.

In its 64-year history Boyer Machine & Tool has weathered it all. Keeping their customer base diverse has kept them in business. Three things remain constants - looking for ways to support existing customers, taking a proactive approach to finding new ones and being inspired to invest in progressive manufacturing technology to keep the company moving forward.

"We are proud of our ability to handle very complex parts," says Boyer Machine & Tool CEO Bill Boyer who, together with his brother John, leads the company. "Over the years, IMTS (The International Manufacturing Technology Show) is where we continually go to see all of the technology available to us in one place. IMTS is where we get inspired to come back and find ways to improve our productivity, our quality and our profitability."

In the months following IMTS 2008 Boyer saw some softening in demand, but continued to follow their proactive plan for new business development and continue to invest in equipment for the shop.

The company teamed up with ThomasNet to invest in a complete revamp of its website which has made the site a selling tool rather than an electronic brochure. Boyer's web presence and link to ThomasNet.com have so far resulted in 55 prospects and 10 new customers. Boyer is quick to quote his mother, who co-founded the company in 1945, saying "profit is not a dirty word…it's what we need to survive."

The company also added an internal sales engineer and an outside manufacturer's representative who specializes in the aircraft industry. "As we prepare for AS 9100 certification we have all of the systems and processes in place for traceability and tight record control," Boyer continues. "The certification gets our foot in the door to begin the sales process. We see the same thing as we work to build our military business. Because we've had previous experience we get noticed."

Boyer also points out that relationships built and maintained through the years are a steady source of new business. Their experience is that engineers move from company to company and bring Boyer Machine & Tool with them. "They know our work, our level of quality and our value," we've been very fortunate through the years to keep these friendships."

IMTS has been Inspiring the Boyer Brothers for Decades

"IMTS, in the early 1960s, inspired us to purchase our first NC controlled mill - a Bridgeport mill with a Slo-Syn control that was the size of a refrigerator," Boyer remembers. "This was just at the time when the machine tool builders started offering NC equipment that was affordable for smaller companies and we knew that we had to keep up with technology to be successful."

A team from Boyer attends every IMTS led by Bill and John, who is the company's technical wizard. As a result of their IMTS experiences many investments in technology have improved productivity, quality and profitability. IMTS 2008 was no different." "We have our 'must visit' list of exhibitors," the brothers explain. "But in addition to that we like to walk the show just to get new ideas."

For IMTS 2008 the assignment included looking for machines that can machine very intricate and small - sometimes so small they can barely be seen by the naked eye - parts often required for medical applications.

Boyer purchased several machines as result of IMTS 2008. "We made some significant investments to expand our capabilities and be more productive," Boyer says.

A Brother TC-S2C CNC Tapping Center is producing stainless steel devices for medical applications. The Citizen M32-V Swiss Turning Center was intended to make one part for a major customer, but because it is so productive and versatile, can handle multiple jobs and is considered the most prolific machine on Boyer's floor. Joining the fleet of very productive and reliable Mazak machines, is a Variaxis 630-5X II vertical machining center Boyer uses to produce aluminum, steel, cast iron, brass and plastic parts for medical device applications. Two Hardinge Super Precision Quest GT27 S Gang Tool CNC Turning Centers equipped with Toellner loading systems are dedicated to inconel partmaking.

Along with great technology and even greater operators, Boyer has continually elevated the quality lab function. Today, each machine is equipped with a laptop connected to the company's wireless network so data can continually be fed to the quality lab.

"We're also evaluating the E2 Shop System as a new shop floor software," Boyer states. "We saw this at IMTS 2008 and are very interested in what it can do for us."

Thinking back on their history, Boyer says, "This isn't the worst we've seen. In the mid-1960s we were heavily involved with a home and office product manufacturer here in Columbus, Ind. They went on strike and almost all of our sales went away within days."

Boyer also recalls another time that an engine manufacturer cautioned them that it was not wise to have too much business with one customer. That has led the company into the aerospace, automotive, diesel engines, electronics, medical and healthcare markets. "For the last 40 years we've worked on keeping our customer base diverse," says Boyer. "Every day we think about how to get new customers. We never take our customers and there business for granted. We know the well can go dry."

Boyer says that they remain cautious, but will make the right investments in people and equipment to keep their customer base strong and their needs met. "Companies need suppliers to survive and that's exactly what we intend to do."

Founded in 1945 by Russell and Ruth Boyer, Boyer Machine & Tool is today a machine shop specializing in precise, custom-machining and assembly of small parts and assemblies used in technical, and often critical, applications in aerospace, automotive, diesel engines, electronics, medical and healthcare to name a few. Since the 1970s, the company has advanced through the leadership of Russell and Ruth Boyer's sons, Bill and John. As with the generation before them, they believe that the consistent expansion of their Columbus, Indiana facility and continuous renewal of equipment have enabled them to keep pace with customer needs, while constantly improving their ability to deliver excellence cost efficiently.

View ads as seen in industry magazines:
"Three things have kept our heads above water..." (PDF)
"After 64 years, our company has weathered it all..." (PDF)

Company Information

Boyer Machine & Tool Company, Inc.
Columbus, Indiana
800-551-6863
www.boyermachine.com

IMTS 2010 Exhibitors Mentioned in the Story

» Bridgeport - Booth S-8348, Metal Cutting Pavilion, South Building
» Brother International Corporation - Booth S-8548, Metal Cutting Pavilion, South Building
» Hardinge Inc. - Booth S-8348, Metal Cutting Pavilion, South Building
» Mazak Corporation - Booth S-8300, Metal Cutting Pavilion, South Building
» Marubeni Citizen-Cincom, Inc. - Booth S-9424, Metal Cutting Pavilion, South Building
» Shoptech Software Corporation - Booth E-3952, Controls & CAD-CAM Pavilion, East Building
» Toellner Systems, Inc. - Booth S-9182, Metal Cutting Pavilion, South Building