In Plymouth, Ohio — a town once known for locomotives, tractors, and even an early automobile that bore its name — manufacturing has always been about building smart with what you have. That spirit lives on at Sauder Machine, a 12-person shop that is fueled by a passion for precision and a commitment to quality. When CTO and chief engineer Lester Weaver saw his team bogged down by paper-based setups and missing details from decade-old jobs, he turned to shopGURU software (IMTS booth #133341). The result wasn’t just digitized workflows and faster setups; it brought ease and enjoyment to a small team managing an impressive workload. “I’m a stickler for precision,” says Sauder CEO Jay Sauder. “Whether you’re machining 0.006-inch burner nozzles for Even Heat Manufacturing clothing irons or starting with a 40-pound block of aluminum for a hydraulic actuator that has a tolerance of ±0.001 inch on 180 measurement data points, there’s no room for error. We love challenges. Investing in technology helps us make precise parts with confidence.” Precision Without Boundaries: From Global to LocalPrecision machine components manufactured by Sauder Machine in Plymouth, Ohio. Sauder makes a hydraulic actuator that has a tolerance of ±0.001 on 180 measurement data points.Sauder Machine produces precision parts for both major brands and specialty shops, some located just minutes away, while others are situated in the far corners of the world. The company manufactures hydraulic components for Parker Hannifin and Moog, and pharmaceutical components for Thermo Fisher. Unique projects range from hydraulic wheel cylinders for drum brakes and brake systems for Amish carriages, to machines that bond rubber to wooden wheels for rickshaws, coaches, and carriages. Sauder also crafts specialized tools for the leather industry, components for snow rail guards for Metal Exteriors, a local building supply company, and machine forgings for Wabtec, Inc. Sauder is a Tier 1 supplier to A.M. Castle & Company, producing tubes for the aluminum foil industry. If you’ve ever purchased a brand-name aluminum foil at a grocery store, it likely ran across the rolls produced at Sauder Machine. Another of Sauder’s customers, Tops, Inc., a manufacturer of aftermarket truck brakes, relies on Sauder to make replacement parts for machines built from drawings that date back to the 1930s. Streamlined Setups Keeping track of setup details — how a coolant line is routed or a fixture aligned — could at times be a headache, especially for older jobs without complete documentation. shopGURU changed that. Beyond organizing setup instructions and job sheets digitally, the software lets the team attach photos for each setup, ensuring that every operator can see exactly how a job should be run. Weaver says this feature alone eliminates guesswork, reduces errors, and allows operators to focus on more precise, value-added work. Operators at Ease, Jobs on Track The impact on the shop floor has been tangible. “Operators now see a 40-60% reduction in setup time,” says Sauder. “They’re less frustrated and more engaged, making the work gratifying, not drudgery. They’re focusing more energy on creative problem-solving rather than hunting down missing details, double-checking paperwork, or searching for the person who set up the job the last time.” For a small team with a big workload, the improvement is significant — and it makes coming to work more enjoyable. IMTS: Inspiration for the Shop Floor Sauder’s skilled machinists focus on precision, using advanced equipment and shopGURU software for both high and small batch production.Sauder Machine’s commitment to innovation extends beyond the shop floor. Both Weaver and Sauder are regular visitors to IMTS, where they spend two full days exploring the East Building and its surrounding areas. They have found solutions in the booths of Hexagon (IMTS booth #134102), Darex (IMTS booth #432364), Mazak (IMTS booth #338300), Mitutoyo (IMTS booth #134117), Index (IMTS booth #339119), SMW Autoblok (IMTS booth #431617), and many others. They see it as a bridge to the future — finding new technologies and approaches that can be implemented back home, often discovering hidden gems they hadn’t imagined, such as shopGURU. It’s this ongoing curiosity that drives the shop to continually improve its processes, efficiency, and quality of life for its team. To maximize their time at IMTS, they always book a hotel at McCormick Place. “The investment is worth it,” Weaver says, “because staying on-site lets us spend every minute seeing new technologies, making connections, and bringing ideas back to the shop.” Discover Small Tools with Big Impact For manufacturers looking to see how small tools can make a big difference, IMTS is the perfect destination. Explore hundreds of solutions that save time, reduce errors, and improve work life. Start your search at IMTS.com, plan your visit, and register today at IMTS.com/Register to see how even small tools can have a massive impact on your shop.
Sauder Machine boosts efficiency and shop-floor morale with shopGURU, cutting setup times, reducing errors, and letting a small team manage a big workload.
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