Rego-Fix Opens New Center for Machining Excellence | Aerospace & Defense | advancedmanufacturing.org

Oct 29, 2024

Swiss-based tool-holding specialist Rego-Fix USA, along several industry partners, were on-site Oct. 24 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new Center for Machining Excellence (CME) in Whitestown, Ind., just 30 minutes from the Indianapolis International Airport. The event featured machining, cutting tool and distributor partners, all of which expect to benefit from the collaboration and training facilitated by the new center.

Kern Mikrotechnik was represented as a key partner at the event.

The 10,000-sq-ft (929-sq-m) CME is in addition to Rego-Fix’s existing 18,000-sq-ft (1,672-sq-m) Whitestown facility, which opened in 2016. The joined facilities create a 28,000-sq-ft (2,601-sq-m) center dedicated to serving Rego-Fix’s customers and the broader machining community. The previously existing facility employs 25 people and serves primarily as Rego-Fix’s hub for service, repair and training in the United States, as well as warehousing new and replacement products to expedite their delivery domestically when needed. The CME is expected to add another five full-time employees, as well as bring in industry experts for specific training on an as-needed basis.

Previously, collaboration would occasionally take place between Rego-Fix’s customers but only incidentally, as they happened to cross paths. The CME adds a significant space for intentional collaboration among Reg-Fix’s partners, as well as industry cross-pollination. Derek Minter, southeast account manager for HWR Workholding USA Inc., describes both the event and the mission of the new facility as offering “a fresh perspective on how manufacturers and distributors can work together” by sharing ideas for the betterment of the industry, working together to solve problems and finding symbioses between their technologies that will be helpful to the machining community.

Such collaboration is expected to shorten innovation and time-to-market timelines. Regarding some of Rego-Fix’s customers in aerospace and defense, where the need for precision is high, David McHenry, senior engineer and CME manager, says “we have been seeing a lot of work being done on rockets, especially engines.”

Training for the Future (and Present)

The CME also provides industry training to address the ongoing skilled labor shortage and skills gap. Training will focus on the specific skills needed for machining technicians including operating and maintaining the various systems.

Kitamura Machinery was also among the featured key partners

“In addition, the CME gives us, a west coast company, a place more centrally located in the U.S. where we can meet with our customers,” says Kelly Eilerts, a technical applications specialist at Lincoln, Calif.-based RobbJack Corp., an employee-owned supplier of solid-carbide cutting tools and end mills. “The need for skilled labor continues to grow. Everywhere I go, I hear ‘I cannot find qualified help.’ On the flip side, I do see activity in industry promoting the technical trades,” he notes.

Ryan Meleg, executive vice president, sales, marketing and product development at Omega Tool Measuring Machines, summed up the sentiment of many of the partners at the event. “This event has been a great success. I think we need to see more U.S.-focused regional shows and events like this, not just the big trade shows. Rego-Fix has shown once again that they are a true partner that wants to see and build off our success.”

“I think we are on the verge of seeing a lot of reshoring after November, whichever way things go,” he continues. “The machining industry and all of manufacturing will be on fire. I’ve seen an uptick this year in our business after a few down years and I think there is a bright future for American manufacturing.”

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