THE MICROTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION PORTAL/THE SHOW
09.02.2018
A - Machines
INCREASING THE VOLUMES WITH SWISSNANO
To the decomagazine readers from Southern Europe and Switzerland, Mr. Almeida certainly is no stranger. He has actually worked for almost two decades for Tornos, first as an employee of the internal Sales Department for the Mediterranean markets (France, Italy, Spain and Portugal), before he moved to the Sales Department for the Swiss market (from 2001) and finally he became the Sales manager for this market (in 2011). At the beginning of 2015, he decided to take over Gérald Badan SA, an SME with about ten employees.
A smooth transition
Gérald Badan SA, a company that traditionally specialises in bar turning for the connection business, was up for sale due to the advanced age of the former owner. The arrival of Mr. Almeida was the opportunity to re-assure the customers and employees with regards the longevity of the company. After the purchase, the complete staff remained with the company and the familiar and kind atmosphere could be maintained. Mr. Almeida explains : “My colleagues are most competent and are definitely one of the assets of our company. I am truly delighted that the transition has passed off very smoothly.”
A means of production to round off the machine fleet
With its 50+ cam-type machines for the manufacture of simple parts and large-scale production and four Deco 10 machines for the production of complex workpieces and smaller batches, the workshop did not have medium-range machines to round off the offer. “We considered several solutions but the SwissNano was the machine that fitted our workshop best,” the Managing Director makes clear. And even the NC experts of the workshop that had been total fans of the TB-Deco had to find out that it was most easy to put TISIS and the SwissNano machines into operation and that they proved to be most efficient.
Seen from a different perspective
Given that Mr. Almeida had been responsible for the sales of SwissNano machines when he had been working for Tornos, and that he is now user of these machines, we were keen to learn what he is thinking now that he is looking at the things from a different perspective. And that’s what he told us : “There were no unpleasant surprises. I knew the machine and the high quality of the Tornos service very well and my machine operators confirmed my belief. Both the SwissNano machine and the Tornos service meet our expectations.” We also talked to the operator who works with the SwissNano. He explains : “At the beginning, I was not positive about this investment because I did not know the TISIS system and because the machine seemed to be rather small. Now, after one year, I’m rather fond of them. It was very easy to get familiar with them and the quality of the manufactured workpieces is excellent.”
A comprehensive solution with total interaction
The experienced operator who was used to work with cam-type bar-turning machines as well as with the Deco machines continues : “If you are accustomed to the Deco, the machining area of the SwissNano might seem a bit scary and the available space is rather limited… However, it is true that the machine boasts a good view due to its front access and that it’s only a matter of habit. A thing completely new to me was the LNS Tryton bar feeder suitable for tube feeding about which as well I had some doubts. But I was wrong – this bar feeder is really splendid and is working in total harmony with the machine.” Asked about the service, the operator tells us : “I am full of praise for the Tornos service which is most efficient and prompt.”
A business plan comprising SwissNano
From the time he acquired the company, the Managing Director has planned to buy new NC machines for the production of medium-complex parts. After an appropriate analysis, two SwissNano machines have been bought in the first year. Mr. Almeida explains : “It is clear that we had to round off our machine fleet and our calculation turned out to be correct because we could not only increase our working volume with our existing customer base but also open up new markets thanks to SwissNano. Today, the SwissNano machines are an integral part of our investment plan for the future.”
I’m really feeling at home
The SwissNano operator who has worked for Gérald Badan SA since 1999 declares : “I am very pleased with the transition of the company management, we have the same attitude to work and share the same idea of quality. In addition, however, the arrival of Mr. Almeida has clearly given us an new kick. Since the management change I already had the opportunity to train in programming with TISIS, to discover a new machine with SwissNano, as well as a new bar feeder with LNS Tryton and to tackle the machining of a great deal of new workpieces and even new fields of activity. I’m having a great time. As far as the working atmosphere is concerned, I’m really feeling at home.” And this enthusiasm for their work can be felt with all employees of Gérald Badan SA.
A comprehensive offer in Moutier…
Even if today the company is primarily known in the connection business, Mr. Almeida is planning to enter other markets, especially the watchmaking industry. He explains : “Even if it may not be the right moment to canvas customers from the watchmaking market, at least we are having good contacts.” However, the Managing Director does not hide the fact that, at the moment, his production capacity is fully exhausted. It should also be mentioned in this context that a new bar-turning machine operator has been recruited to complete the team. Mr. Almeida summarizes : “With the arrival of SwissNano, we could reach a net increase of our production capacity – it has already paid off.”
… and in Europe
The company is advancing and the Managing Director asserts that his concerns, if any, are only “good” concerns (such as meeting the delivery deadlines) – even if the start was rather bumpy. The purchase of the company actually took place at the same time the Swiss National Bank (SNB) abolished the floor rate. “Overnight, a huge pressure on the margins developed and the fact of being a Swiss company became a real disadvantage.” To counteract this state of affairs, a new company was established in partnership with a company headquartered in Portugal with ISO 9001, ISO 14 001, and ISO 13485 certification. While Gérald Badan SA is specialized in the production of workpieces of diameters between a few tenth of a millimeter and 10 mm, the Portugal-based production site offers capacities between 11 and 62 mm. “We are thus able to offer our customers a comprehensive range of diameters,” explains Mr. Almeida and he adds : “These are two separate entities and our development strategy for small diameters is based on our production site in Moutier”.
Responsiveness ? One of our core competencies
2015 has been a good year for Gérald Badan SA, and in 2016, the company got off to a flying start ; the first quarter was excellent. The Managing Director analyzes this situation as follows : “We are a small company and our responsiveness is our greatest asset”. Quality certainly is still playing an important role but it is no longer a unique feature. Today, it is an indispensable prerequisite to stay in the market that does not suffice anymore. “Apart from the advanced expertise or our highly qualified operators, our location is a major advantage for us : we are located at the heart of the micro-technology market, our machine supplier is a two minute walk and 90% of our suppliers are located within a radius of 10 kilometers. All of them are also highly responsive if needed and thus enable us to quickly find the solutions required for our customers”.
GÉRALD BADAN SA – SPECIALIZED IN CAMCONTROLLED MACHINING… AND MUCH MORE
Recently, a customer of Gérald Badan SA (an American company) had problems in purchasing a complex workpiece. Its usual supplier (an American company too) was not able to meet the demands and thus Gérald Badan SA got the opportunity to excel. Mr. Almeida declares: “This customer did not know us as a supplier of parts manufactured on NC machines but we could offer him our expertise. Within less then ten days, we could produce prototype parts on our numerically controlled machines and we could directly start series production”. The customer realized that its small and dynamic structure as well as the advanced skills of its employees enabled the company to be much more flexible and responsive than many other companies.
That means no regrets ?
After one year of heading the company and more than 40 million parts produced during this period, we asked Mr. Almeida about his state of mind and his objectives. Here is his answer : “The daily work with SwissNano has shown that I was right in buying it – it even exceeds my expectations. As for me, I do not regret anything; the company is evolving well, my colleagues are highly qualified and are taking pleasure in their work. As far as my objectives are concerned, I look forward to continuing my diversification and my investment plan schedules new NC units for the near future”.
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