NewsAnalysis: CNC CUTTING

Investment Opportunities: When to

Consider In-House CNC Operations

hink about this: You run a small

glass shop and choose to out-

source most of your glass-cut-

ting needs to a larger nearby fabricator

that operates CNC equipment. Lately,

however, you’ve found that you’re

sending more and more jobs to your

supplier and are starting to wonder if

it might be time to purchase your own

CNC cutting line. There’s a lot to think

about before making this decision. At

what point would this make sense?

What’s In It For Me?

CNC cutting equipment can help glass companies

streamline their operations and also create

a safer work environment since there is less

manual handling.

One reason companies might con-

sider purchasing CNC equipment is

labor availability—or lack of it. Steve

Rodgers, a glass solutions specialist

with Billco Manufacturing in Zelieno- ﬁnd you have the ﬂexibility to expand constraints of the glass channel where

ple,Pa.,points out that CNC equipment your product offerings or enter a differ- speed, cosmetics, dimensional toler-

requires less manpower than manual ent market with slightly similar prod- ances, design, packaging, etc., all play

cutting, which can be an attractive ucts,” he says. “A company’s current a very big part, and control of these

beneﬁt for companies struggling to glass supplier, for example, might not manufacturing processes cannot be

maintain a quality workforce.

offer certain products. If you’re pro- ignored. Having our CNC machines

“Also, when you’re manually cutting cessing in-house, you may ﬁnd you’re vertically integrated into our processes

glass, you’re typically moving racks able to offer products that [weren’t allows us that control.”

in and out constantly requiring much available before].”

labor. CNC equipment could reduce

how much you’re moving the glass companies have chosen to bring their

around, reducing labor costs,” says glass fabrication needs in-house.

As an example, many shower door Before You Buy

While the prospects may be enticing,

companies need to do their homework

Rodgers, adding that there can also be

ergonomic beneﬁts. That, he adds, also Ohio, fabricates its own glass, includ- right for them.

leads to improved safety, as less han- ing CNC processing.According to Steve

“They need to ensure they have

Lotz, executive vice president of opera- proper utilities, power, air, etc., that

Basco Shower Doors based in Mason, to make sure the decision to buy is

dling of the glass is necessary.

Tom Bechill, sales manager of Hegla tions, this type of business has evolved they have the ﬂoor space and the ﬂow

Corp., which has U.S. operations based from a “stock” product to a very “cus- of the product going through the plant

in suburban Atlanta, says companies tom” product.

is suitable,” says Jay Campbell, sales

often choose to bring fabrication in- “The custom nature of the business manager with Billco.“In best-case sce-

house because they believe it will allow means that we have a very short lead narios,you’re bringing the raw goods in

them to operate more cost effectively, time, to make any design anyone could at one end of the plant and then ship-

improve lead times and control the pro- ever order regarding glass shower doors ping the ﬁnished goods out through

cess. He adds that the ﬂexibility CNC and tempered glass,” he says. “Every another.”

equipment can provide is also a plus.

piece of glass is like jewelry. They are

“Once you bring it in-house,you may different and complex. Overlaying the

continued on page 50

USGlass, Metal & Glazing | September 2017

www.usglassmag.com

N_c_o_ne_t_i_nw_u_es_dAnalysis: CNC CUTTING

It’s also important that companies ever the price point, from the low end investment in CNC equipment can be

choose the right cutting system that can to the high, it’s still a lot of money, and signiﬁcant.

keep up with their expected growth.

“That can be a major savings,partic-

I think one of the biggest pitfalls that know what you’re getting from a capital ularly for a small shop,” he says.

some companies fall into is they don’t standpoint. Are you shopping for price

In addition, companies also need to

look far enough ahead,” says Bechill. or shopping for quality? Customers know they have staff that can operate

you have to be prepared. You have to

“

This[equipment]maybewhatyouneed need to know what they’re buying.”

and maintain the equipment.

“Make sure you have quality people

today,and that’s ﬁne,but how ﬂexible is it

Rodgers adds that ﬁnancing options

for the future growth of your company? are available to help make CNC equip- operating the equipment,” says Camp-

Everyone talks about a ﬁve-year plan,but ment more affordable.“It’s a long-term bell.“Give this job to someone who has

the reality is,if you buy equipment,you’re investment, so companies should eval- experience. You need quality people

going to have it for 20 years.

uate the true cost comparisons and treating it right and taking care of it as

He adds, “You need the ability to in- potential savings when comparing though it’s their own.”

terface from a control standpoint … the manual cutting versus CNC cutting,”

Fortunately, he adds, the equipment

software you start with is a big decision. he says. “They should see savings in is usually easy to learn and understand.

The software package needs to be mod- reduced labor, increased productivity

ular so you can grow and add on to it.”

Finances are also important.

“A week to ten days can get most

and increased cutting yields from in- companies operating the equipment

tegrating optimization software with efﬁciently,” says Campbell.

“

CNC cutters, across the board, are CNC cutting equipment.” He adds that

Bechill adds that most companies

priced better than ever and have more his company has done analysis for settle in and hit their stride within a

features than ever, and the technology large-sized firms that showed even few months.

is superb,” says Campbell. “But what- a 1 percent change in yield due to an

—Ellen Rogers s

Discover the True Capabilites of Glass

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GLASS SOLUTIONS

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: +1 206 538 5416

USGlass, Metal & Glazing | September 2017

www.usglassmag.com