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# Smith Machinery Company

Custom Design and Machining (CDM)
Machines Parts with Best in
Class Machinery

Custom Design and Machining (CDM) is a small machine shop in a small town in Utah…but that is where small stops. The company has very big capabilities and talent.
Co owner Brad Gardner knew from a very early age that he loved machining. He learned the fundamentals in high school, back when they still taught shop in high school. Then he went on to Utah Technical College at Provo (now Utah Valley State University). Brad’s skills were so advanced that he was made shop foreman for the college program.
In 1980, Brad, a young married man just out of school, had to find work to support his family. Brad says, “I went to Volt Manufacturing, and met with the owner, Phil Sigler. I asked him for a job, and he said he wanted a guy with more experience. ” Brad says, “So I asked him ‘just how does a young machinist get more experience if nobody will hire him?’” Apparently this worked, as he hired Brad to start working immediately.

After 2 years at Volt Manufacturing, Brad continued to hone his manufacturing expertise, working first for Williams Research now Williams International, then Brigham Truck and Imp. in their Tool division, and finally Thiokol (ATK), where he remained for nearly a decade.
At the young age of 33, Brad made the leap from employee to business owner. He started his first business with a partner, and subsequently went out on his own when a customer asked him to open a new machine shop. He named it Custom Design and Machining (CDM) in memory of his father in law, who owned a grocery store called C&D’s.

Today, the company, a woman owned business, offers machining (mill and lathe), wire EDM, as well as manufacturing design assistance. Its customers range from Fortune 100 companies to small rural farmers requiring farm equipment repair, to inventors. It offers Kanban for inventory management
for its customers that request this. CDM is truly a family owned business, with Brad and his wife Tracy, and two of their four children Hagen and Tandi, active in the business.
You will find some of the most high technology, superior equipment at CDM, from its numerous Mazak machining and turning centers, to its Romi combination manual/CNC lathe, to its latest Mitsubishi wire EDM. For nearly all of the years Brad has been involved in purchasing machine tools, he has remained loyal to one Sales Engineer, Scott Trumble.
Brad says, “I bought my first Bridgeport from Scott when he was with another machine tool dealer.” He continued, “I have a fond memory of a machine tool purchase I made through Scott while the two of us were pursuing one of our passions – fishing. We were on Devil Creek Reservoir in Idaho, talking about my business and it led to a new machine purchase.” He continued, “I buy from Scott because of our relationship, as it is one that is built on trust and honesty.”
Scott joined Smith Machinery Company 7 years ago, and with his new employer, Scott was able to offer some of the best in-class machine tools to Brad, from the Mazak line, to the Mitsubishi line, to the Romi line, to name a few. Over the years, Brad has purchased Mazaks, a Mitsubishi wire EDM and a Romi from Scott and Smith Machinery

Brad utilizes an interesting method for evaluating best in class machinery. He says, “I look to see what is on the used market. When you find a machine tool brand, and there are a number of machines, just a few years old, that are already on the market, you have to wonder why.” He continued, “You just don’t find Mazaks on the used market often, and this speaks to their strength.” Brad additionally values the fact that he is purchasing Japanese machines that are made in America when he buys the Mazak VCN 510C Vertical Machining Centers.
Brad loves machining, and he loves the technology that facilitates machining. Brad says, “For a long time, I’ve wanted a wire EDM. For one thing, I’ve had customers tell me that if I had one, they could send more work my way.” He continued, “I did some analysis a couple of years ago, and it showed that nearly 85% of my work was small part runs (1-5 parts), often prototype parts. These parts would run as well on a wire EDM as they would on a machining center, and there are cost advantages with the wire EDM in terms of reduced expendable tooling.”

Brad and his team couldn’t be happier with their new Mitsubishi wire EDM purchase. He says, “For one, we were surprised with the ease of use with the wire EDM. Additionally, we received excellent training from Smith Machinery. It consisted of 3 days of set up and on-site training. Then we ran the machine at our shop for one month, after which we received additional training.” He continued, “Smith Machinery and Mitsubishi really took care of us.” The team at CDM was particularly impressed with the Mitsubishi talent and resources, noting that there are 14 technicians across the west coast available to support them immediately with training and repair.
In CDM’s early years, 70+hour workweeks were common, and vacations were unheard of. During this time, Brad was conservative in his acquisition
of capital equipment, always cognizant of the need for financial solvency. Brad’s son Hagen says, “In the last couple of years, Brad (Dad) has gained confidence in our business. He’s taken a vacation to Alaska to fish, leaving his team to run the business, where there is no phone service.” Hagen continued, “He has also become much more aggressive in
acquiring new technology.” Brad agrees, saying, “You can’t make money unless you spend money, and if you don’t keep up with technology, you will not survive.”

Brad and his team thoroughly enjoy working with inventors, and supporting their customers’ efforts to design products best for manufacturability. Today, Brad is working with some inventions, that he says, “Could hit it out of the park.” Hagen is designing and building metal promotional products that companies can offer, name engraved and plated, to their customers.
To contact CDM, whether you are a Fortune 500 company, a farmer requiring new parts, or an inventor, they are a superior choice. Contact
them at 435-257-0668.

Article courtesy of A2Z Metalworker

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