Compass Precision Shop Increases Sheet Metal Cutting Speed and Depth
CHARLOTTE, NC – February 13, 2024 – Quality Products & Machine announced Tuesday that it has installed a 4,000 watt Mazak Optiplex 3015 laser cutter at its Charlotte facility, expanding its fabrication capabilities to meet growing customer demand. Quality Products is an operating company of Compass Precision, a Charlotte-based manufacturer of custom, close-tolerance metal components for mission critical applications.
“We have been running at near capacity in our laser operations at Quality,” said Bill Canning, Compass Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “This Mazak machine will increase our throughput while giving us the capability to cut thicker metal sheets.”
The Mazak Optiplex 3015 has the ability to cut sheet metal at a rate up to 440 inches per minute, faster than any of the company’s existing lasers. This unit will also slice stainless steel sheets up to one-half inch thickness and aluminum sheets and plate up to .380-inch thickness, both of which exceed current capabilities.
“Laser cutting is a core capability for Quality Products,” explained Greg Donaldson, Quality’s Operations Manager (pictured above, right). “About three quarters of everything we make runs across one of our lasers. Now we have both the capacity and capability to do more for our customers.”
Quality Products manufactures precision metal parts and fabricated assemblies for demanding markets such as power generation, aerospace & defense, and space. It is unique from many competitors in that it has both precision CNC machining and metal fabrication operations such as laser cutting, bending, punching, and welding in-house under one roof.
“Our internal fabrication capabilities complement our machining capabilities,” stated Fabrication Manager Al Farrar (above, left). “Many fab shops need to outsource machining, or the other way around. By doing it all in-house, we can better control lead-times, costs, and quality. Customers like that.”
Adding the Mazak Optiplex laser further continues the investment trend started when Compass acquired Quality Products in 2019. Following several years of low investment under prior ownership, Quality has purchased a 187 ton Amada press brake with six-axis capabilities and a thirteen foot bed, a Haas VF-7 CNC mill, a Zeiss Contura coordinate measuring machine, and an automated sheet metal loader-unloader for its existing Amada 2,500 watt laser.
Quality Products 47,000 square foot facility on Westinghouse Boulevard in Charlotte houses all of this new equipment as well as a complete complement of CNC vertical and horizontal machining centers, lathes, laser cutters, press brakes, turret punch presses, welding stations, and inspection equipment. It has about 30 employees and supplies customers down the street, across town, and around the country. Additional capital investment is expected.
“Compass loves buying new equipment to enhance its capacity and capabilities,” said Compass Vice President of Sales Jim Miller. “We have invested in significant new machinery at each of our operating companies within twelve months of acquisition. Compass buys really good shops, then invests heavily to make them even better.”
Compass Precision was founded in 2019 based upon the simultaneous purchase of three precision CNC machining companies in North Carolina – Advanced Machining & Tooling (Salisbury, NC); Quality Products & Machine (Charlotte, NC); and Tri-Tec Industries (Charlotte, NC). Compass added Gray Manufacturing Technologies (Denver, NC) to the fold in August 2020, then acquired Douglas Machining Services (Winona, MN) in March 2021. Since then, Compass has purchased R&D Machine (Oldsmar, FL) in April 2022; Strom Manufacturing (North Plains, OR) in July 2022; and Bergeron Machine (Westford, MA) in April 2023, bringing its number of operating companies to eight.
For more information about Quality Products & Machine and Compass Precision, please contact Gary Holcomb, Compass CEO at [email protected].