The second KOMET SERVICE® Partner for North America, Ekstrom Carlson of Rockford, IL is now ready to re-grind and re-coat KOMET tools, as well as tools of all brands under the KOMET SERVICE banner.
Chicago, May 6, 2013 – An established player in the tooling business since they started operating as an industrial machinery manufacturer in 1904, Ekstrom Carlson has over the years broadened their product and service portfolio to serve the metal working industry with:
- Custom and standard solid carbide and HSS end-mills and router bits
- Spindle repair services
- Spray mist systems
- Saw and router spindle motors
- Other related services
The next step in their growth strategy materializes itself with the company joining the KOMET SERVICE network currently being established in North America. This partnership will allow Ekstrom Carlson to supply its expanding customer base with the best products and services in the region thanks to KOMET’s support, training and technology.
As expressed by Todd Kreissler, President of Ekstrom Carlson at their KOMET SERVICE Grand Opening celebration on April 25: “KOMET has that vision of building a network that will increase customer satisfaction through local service. As a small company, we can be very nimble in responding to customers’ needs, and it’s great to be backed by the strength of the KOMET GROUP.” He added: “We’ve been manufacturing carbide tools since 2006 and have been steadily growing. I am confident that this partnership will bring us a lot of opportunities; we look forward to working with KOMET and their established channel partners.”
Ekstrom Carlson is now offering customers in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin refurbishment services on solid carbide drills, thread mills and reamers. Their territory includes Rockford, Dubuque, Madison, Milwaukee and the Chicago area bordered by highway I290 to the South and route 61 to the West. They can also manufacture KOMET-designed simple special drills, milling cutters and form milling cutters, and they offer the complete range of standard tools from the TOOLlife tool program which includes:
- Solid carbide and replaceable head drills
- Milling cutters
- Thread and drill thread milling tools, machine taps, roll form taps
- Reamers
- Turning tools
- Countersinking tools
“The KOMET SERVICE network is growing rapidly with our second partner joining less than a month after the grand opening ceremony of our first partner” says Thomas Whennen, Manager, KOMET SERVICE, adding: “And we have since welcomed two more partners to the network – this is an exciting time!”
Ekstrom Carlson continues to invest in tool manufacturing and tool refurbishment with the recent purchase of two additional CNC grinders and inspection equipment. Air filtration equipment has been added to provide an even better work environment for its technicians and the company is embarking on their ISO 9001 certification process.
Todd Kreissler concludes: “We are dedicated to the tooling business as our main product offering and our mission is to provide the best in service and quality to our customers requiring new cutting tools and sharpening services. Becoming a KOMET SERVICE Partner will help Ekstrom Carlson supply customers with the best products and services in the region.”
About KOMET of America, Inc.
KOMET of America, located in Schaumburg, Illinois, is the largest subsidiary of KOMET GROUP®, the global technology leader for metal cutting tools, tool concepts and complete solutions for hole making. With its KOMET® , DIHART® and JEL® brands, KOMET GROUP is a leading global manufacturer of precision tools for bore machining, reaming, and threading. The Group has been at the forefront of innovation in the sector for over 90 years – a tradition that began with the early indexable insert borers and continues today with their mechatronic tool systems. The company currently employs approximately 1,600 staff in its 20 subsidiaries and is represented in more than 50 countries.
About Ekstrom Carlson
Founded in 1904 as a woodworking equipment manufacturer, Ekstrom Carlson is today a manufacturer of high-quality solid carbide and high-speed steel cutting tools addressing the metalworking, woodworking, plastics and foam industries. Its tools are used in general machining, machinery manufacturing and packaging, as well as in the aerospace, medical and automotive sectors. The company’s steady growth is supported by portfolio expansions targeted at serving its customers’ evolving needs, a focus on offering top-of-the-line products at the best possible price, and a commitment to exceptional customer service.
Read about it in the Midwest Manufacturing News – May Edition