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Slippery rock Gazette
Coldspring
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We try to get everything in place so we are certain that when we design a tool, it is going to work for them. Because of this we don’t see a lot of tools come back, or situations where a cus- tomer is looking for a credit or a replacement. We try to avoid that by clarifying expectations with the customer up front.”
The Benefits of Electroplating
The electroplating process at Coldspring offers not only a bet- ter performing tool, but a tool that is fully rebuildable. When the diamonds are worn, the core can be stripped and re-plated at a lower price than purchasing a new one. This is a key feature, especially when the tool was cus- tom built, explains Coldspring Product Development Specialist Joel Vettleson.
“When a customer has us build a custom profile or the steel of the tooling itself was expensive, they can continue to get more produc- tion out of it if they’re able to put new diamonds on the tool each and every time. Obviously, if it’s a quarter-inch or half-inch tool, it doesn’t make sense, but on a larg- er CNC application, it makes a lot
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types of material. For example, let’s say they’ve got a limestone quarry, and they process their own limestone, as well as buy materials from other limestone quarriers. In a lot of cases, if it’s a blade or a grinding tool – whatev- er it is – they want tools for those specific types of stone. We work with them to ensure they have the best tool for their needs.”
As for designing custom specs for large scale operations, Reitmeier said they have an expe- rienced hammersmith who works in the field and consults with Coldspring customers. “He’s been in the tool industry primarily his whole life, and so he understands everything about the production process and the tool making pro- cess, and gives us the feedback that we need in the tooling shop to be able to build the proper tool.”
Using What They Sell
With the exception of blade cores, diamonds, metal bonds and powders for plating, all Coldspring tools and segments are made in- house in Cold Spring, Minnesota. All research and development is also done in-house, with the lat- est focus being on quartzites and porcelain based on market trends, explained Vettleson.
“In-house, we’ve had some ex- posure to quartzites and a lot more in the last couple of years, and we have developed blades to cut that stone efficiently. When it comes to porcelain, we are also explor- ing that right now with a couple of customers and outside vendors. We are even pushing in the direc- tion of using electroplated blades for thin porcelain. Generally, with electroplated tools, you’re not go- ing to get the same lifespan that you would with a sintered tool, but you can control the shape, the size and the cut, as well as being able to reduce chipping on edges or miter cuts.”
As for what Coldspring’s hot sellers are these days, it’s their CNC tooling for shaping and fin- ishing, stock removal tools and finger bits, both in sintered and electroplated.
Additionally, and a big bene- fit for BB Industries customers, Coldspring, while gearing up for the roll-out of their products, has been working closely with Peter Hauser, BB Industries’ CNC specialist.
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of sense if it’s a repetitive or large job.”
Massmann added, “Probably, the best example of this would be our customers in Indiana who are mak- ing products out of limestone. They have massive drums that are used as planers to flatten slabs, or in some cases to expose the aggregate in a concrete product. These things are huge, upwards of eight-feet long. If you can imagine a big drum spin- ning and a slab going underneath it, the tool grinds that thing per- fectly flat. The core, itself, might be worth $20,000. So obviously if there wasn’t the opportunity to just replace the diamonds when they are dull or when they round over, it would be pretty expensive. That is a huge cost advantage to those cus- tomers to be able to do that.”
Josh Reitmeier, Director of Operations: “It’s important to note that a large number of our tooling customers are not just in the coun- tertop world. A lot of the folks that we deal with have their own quarry or multiple quarries, and they are primarily processing one or two
Diamond Blades
Adapters and Bushings
Anchoring Systems
Drilling / Core Bits
Electroplated Grinding Wheels
Router Tools