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Machine Makers | Haas Customer Success Story
 

Machine Makers is a contract engineering firm in Auckland, New Zealand, that specializes in the design and manufacture of visual inspection machines, as well as precision machined components and assemblies for local industry. The company was started 3 years ago by Anthony Matijasevich and his wife, Gina.

“We bought an existing workshop that had been running for 20 years,” Anthony explains. “With that workshop, we purchased an array of existing CNC machines, including 3-axis mills and lathes from various manufacturers.”

Getting new business, however, proved to be difficult. “What we discovered was that we were just another 3-axis shop,” Anthony says. “Our Engineering Manager came back from visiting customers and said, ‘We need a 5-axis.’ So we went shopping!

“Our main two considerations were: support and support. We needed to buy from a company that placed support as their highest priority.”

At the time, the local Haas Factory Outlet (HFO) had three factory-trained service technicians, which “provided the required level of comfort that my machine assets would be looked after.”

“Then there was Karl Medley,” Anthony notes. “Karl (the National Account Manager for HFO – New Zealand) examined all our needs, and provided the most detailed and thought through machine proposals. We really trusted his guidance.”

They selected a Haas UMC-750 Universal Machining Center to expand the shop’s capabilities into 5-axis machining. “This paid off dividends straight away,” Anthony says, “by securing work that would not have been possible in our previous workshop setup.”

Investing in the latest machine tool technology from Haas had other benefits, as well. The Haas Intuitive Probing System, for example, “increases accuracy, allows ‘lights-out’ machining, and requires a lower skill base to run,” explains Anthony, adding that he also likes the machine’s ability to run unattended, and power down safely at the end of a cycle, for true lights-out operation. He uses the HaasConnect mobile app to monitor the machines remotely. “This alerts you if a tool is broken, or that production has finished, and the machine has powered down correctly,” he explains.

The fact that Haas control is the same across all machines is another benefit, Anthony notes. “A common interface platform makes training and operation so much easier.”

“So, following this one-brand formula,” Anthony adds, “we have now bought our fourth new Haas machine, an ST-20Y, which has bought us unimagined benefits of being able to turn and mill in one operation. This is perfect for the boutique-style, low- to medium-production run business that we are.

“That’s our story . . . so far!”

ABOUT Machine Makers

✔ Haas machines:

✔ Products they make on Haas machines: automated visual inspection machines, as well as a variety of precision-machined parts and products

✔ Location: Hillcrest, Auckland, New Zealand