Michael Geiger set up in business with used machine tools six years ago. Today, with the crisis behind him, he has seven used machines in operation in Uhingen. With his decision to buy a used Mori Seiki CNC lathe with gantry loader, he is now involved in automated batch production.
Directly on the B10 in Uhingen stands the impressive new building belonging to Michael Geiger Metall. A visitor coming from Stuttgart should leave the B10 at the exit for Göppingen-West /Uhingen-Ost and turn 3 times to the right in order to reach the Junkerstrasse. It is the last building in the little cul-de-sac and immediately attracts the attention of the visitor. Michael Geiger and his wife Tanja are the bosses here. While he looks after all technical aspects of the business, Tanja Geiger is in charge of the bright new office above the factory hall.
On the ground floor in the factory the company policy becomes clear. This contract manufacturer has six lathes specialised in the processing of turning workpieces. His plant has now been completed by the newly-acquired milling machine from Deckel Maho, which has just been commissioned. “Up till now we had to subcontract our milling work”, explains Michael Geiger. “Now we are more flexible and carry out this work ourselves. ”If business continues to be so good, he can imagine also acquiring a grinding machine.
His orders come from gear manufacturing, from the machine tool industry, from the car industry or from building companies. A regular customer, Wezel GmbH Kaltumform-Technik in Frickenhausen, supplies standard parts which he machines and processes. These orders were initially around 20,000 or 30,000 parts. Geiger was forced to decide whether to employ 2 or 3 new workers or whether to go for a solution in automation. “We had to reduce costs and considered a machine with gantry loader”, he remembers.
Michael Bosetti, Director of BTT Bosetti Tech Transfer in Ispringen near Pforzheim recommended a used lathe, a Mori Seiki CI 20 with gantry loader. “We have known each other for a long time and I know that I can trust his judgment”, says Geiger. Thanks to his extensive contacts Bosetti soon found the right machine. The two of them were able to view the machine on site in Cologne and Geiger made a quick decision. Talking about this decision, he says:” Compared to a new machine this one was significantly cheaper”.
After this, everything happened very quickly. “A few technical details had to be clarified”, says Bosetti. However, a week later the machine was in Uhingen. “After another 3 days, it was already in operation”, says Geiger, emphasising how quickly everything went. Geiger goes on:” The machine has been running for 3 years, we are very satisfied with it and in the meantime we have four machines from Mr. Bosetti in our factory”. A Mori Seiki is a good machine, and the cost/performance ratio is very favourable, enthuses Geiger.
Geiger did not carry out any test production before buying the machine: “It was a matter of trust, as always.”However, if a customer prefers this, he can of course have it”, adds Bosetti. “The functional guarantee which we supply at the time the machine is commissioned ensures absolute precision which means that the customer can produce perfect parts”, explains the dealer. The guarantee assures the customer that the machine can do what the dealer has promised. The dealer accepts full responsibility up to the point when the customer commissions the machine. There is always the danger that damage could occur during loading or during transport, says Bosetti. When the customer has accepted and signed for the machine, the dealer relinquishes his responsibility.
When asked whether she would again buy a used machine, Tanja Geiger says: ”Up till now we have only bought used machines and have only in one case had a problem”. This problematic machine, an Italian lathe, was the most expensive of all, but gave problems from the beginning. New defects continued to emerge and Michael Geiger was tempted to reach for his sledge-hammer. However, he had not bought this machine from Bosetti, he said laughing.
There was a time last year, however, when Tanja and Michael Geiger were seriously worried. In 2004 Geiger had set up his first machine in a friend’s workshop, and in 2005 rented his own production hall. “In 2007 we looked for a site in our hometown Uhingen and built our factory here in 2008”, says Tanja Geiger supplying a short history of the company. “We moved here in November 2008, the machines were transported to the new factory and set up, and suddenly we had no orders”, says Tanja Geiger, still obviously shocked. At first we ascribed this to the Christmas holidays. “Then however we had to put our workers on short time, some of them spent up to 2 months at home”. We only had to get rid of one man but this was not because of the crisis. “In 2009 we didn’t even achieve half the turnover we had had in the previous year,” she says thoughtfully.
However, business is good again and the two entrepreneurs are happy. Business started to get better in September. “In November and December there was a real spurt and the market is getting now significantly stronger”, says Michael Geiger relieved. He has already had to take on two new workers. His production hall has an area of 400 sq.m. and although he has just installed the new milling machine, there is still room for a further two machines. Looking to the future, Geiger says:” We can expand if required, there is still enough room.”
Michael Bosetti is happy about the Geigers’ success. The use of used machines has enabled them to survive a difficult period. The price advantage of used machines makes it possible for even large factories which have to make prototypes or which have short runs to take advantage of these. “The Basel II behaviour of the banks is a highly limiting factor on the financial possibilities of companies of all sizes”, says Bosetti. That is certainly also a reason to finance the purchase of a used machine using own capital rather than to go cap-in-hand to 20 different leasing companies.
Dr. Rolf Langbein
Teilen:
