Swarfcast

It takes tremendous balls to start a machining company from scratch. And, maybe a little extra chutzpa to start a shop that primarily runs cam screw machines making millions of parts for automotive. After 23 years working in job shops and running a small farm, Karl Drasgow cashed out his 401K to found Drasgow Inc., [...]

The post What it Takes to Start a Multi-Spindle Shop, with Karl Drasgow–EP 235 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

Our guest on the podcast today is Rogério Mezadri, Director of SAMOT Mexico, a 200-employee automotive machining company in Guanajuato, Mexico. Rogério and I discussed the challenges running a machining company in Mexico. We talked about Mexican manufacturers upgrading technology. We also talked about the difficulty to find enough skilled manufacturing workers in Mexico. Yes, [...]

The post Machining in Mexico, with Rogério Mezadri–EP 167 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

Damn. It’s already 2025? I was just getting used to the idea that it was 2024. Today, Lloyd and I are reflecting on what worked and didn’t work in our used machinery business and our personal lives over the last year. We’re also discussing our intentions and predictions for the new year. Will we sell [...]

The post What the Heck is Our Strategy for 2025?–EP 234 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

Do you ever ask yourself why the majority of businesses out there are struggling to survive while an elite handful are crushing it? On today’s podcast we are discussing that question. Our guest is Steve Preda, founder of Steve Preda Business Growth. He is also an author of three books and the host of the [...]

The post How to Think Like an Entrepreneur—Not a Technician, with Steve Preda-EP 202 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

One of my favorite machinery dealers we work with is from Brazil. He specializes in sending machine tools to South America.  A used machinery deal is usually a challenge to close—even if a customer says they need it. Even if it’s an excellent machine that’s rare on the used market, at a good price, it [...]

The post How Optimism Will Lead You to Luck in Business: Seeking Serendipity–EP 179 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

I often ponder—why do some people own and build companies, while most people are destined to spend their careers as employees. In Part II of my interview with Mike Payne, owner of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication, we explore this question. Mike comes from a family of six generations of teachers, not business managers or entrepreneurs, [...]

The post Why Some People Build Companies and Others Don’t, Mike Payne (Part 2) EP 233 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

On today’s podcast, I’m talking with Mike Payne, owner of Hill Manufacturing and Fabrication in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to peek inside the mind of a prolific acquirer of manufacturing companies. Before purchasing Hill in 2018, Mike spent 20 years in M&A, orchestrating over 100 deals across nearly every industry. Since then, Mike has acquired four [...]

The post Manufacturing Acquisitions with Purpose, Mike Payne (Part 1)-EP 232 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

Today’s show is the first episode of a multi-part series about how machining companies acquire new work.  Our guest is Federico Veneziano, CFO and COO of American Micro Products Inc., a precision machining company in Batavia, Ohio. Federico says one his key strategies for getting new customers is proving to them his company will minimize [...]

The post Reducing Your Mfg. Customers’ Pain, with Federico Veneziano-EP 119 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

Have you ever wondered how a used machinery dealer like myself approaches buying secondhand equipment? About a month ago, I did my first LinkedIn live talk and featured that subject. I focused the talk on my techniques for communicating with sellers and equipment experts. I believe the majority of people these days lean too much [...]

The post 3 Secrets to Buy Used Equipment like a Used Machinery Dealer-EP 231 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.

Sometimes machining companies tell Graff-Pinkert they have long running, lucrative jobs supplying parts to the D.O.D., and it always has seemed a little mysterious to me. What are these parts they are supplying to the government? How does a company get to become a supplier to the D.O.D.? Is supplying parts to the U.S. Government [...]

The post Manufacturing Parts for the Department of Defense, with Mike Topolewski—EP 189 appeared first on Today’s Machining World.