In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment, time is money, and responsiveness is everything. For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), working with a full-service sheet metal fabricator can mean the difference between meeting critical deadlines and falling behind the competition.
At Estes Design and Manufacturing, we understand the pressures OEMs face: tighter timelines, evolving customer demands and rising material and labor costs. That’s why we’ve invested in a full-service model that offers comprehensive capabilities and services under one roof, from product development to rapid prototyping and production. When you trust your manufacturing with a provider like Estes, you gain more than a vendor. You gain a proactive manufacturing partner focused on delivering results with speed, quality and efficiency.
Speed starts at the concept stage
Responsiveness doesn’t start on the shop floor; it starts with design. Our Estes Accelerator Product Development team collaborates closely with customers to understand their needs, suggest design-for-manufacturability improvements and optimize components for efficient production. This front-end expertise helps avoid costly delays later in the process and ensures a smoother handoff to production.
Fast, full production – smarter, and more predictable
Once prototyping is complete and the customer is ready to move to full production, our automated sheet metal fabrication cell Max Velocity, powered by Salvagnini, transforms expectations. Max Velocity isn’t just a collection of machines – it’s an integrated manufacturing ecosystem that redefines what cellular manufacturing can achieve.
The heart of the system is the MV Warehouse, an automatic storage and retrieval system that keeps material flowing precisely where and when it’s needed. Each component of the cell –from punching and bending to laser cutting and part handling – is fully automated. The result is faster throughput, shorter lead times and improved consistency in every part produced.
In addition to robotic laser welding, we’ve recently added CNC machining capability to our shop with the acquisition of an Okuma 30 HP, 15,000 rpm Genos M560-V 5-Axis Machining Center that can process a variety of materials from titanium to aluminum. Designed to reduce thermal growth and distortion, the Genos M560-V provides accuracies of 0.00055″ in the X axis, 0.00047″ in the Y axis and 0.00039″ in the Z axis, making it well suited to the high-tolerance precision needed for the aerospace and defense sectors.
Delivering value beyond the machine
Full-service providers also excel in coordination. At Estes, our cross-functional teams, including engineers, quality inspectors and project managers, ensure seamless communication from project kickoff to final delivery. Whether you need a quick-turn prototype, a complex production run or a long-term manufacturing partner, we have the infrastructure and expertise to make it happen.
With our advanced integrated systems and services, we’re able to scale production quickly, respond to last-minute changes and maintain tight control over quality and delivery schedules, all while reducing labor costs and material waste.
Why OEMs are making the switch
In an increasingly competitive landscape, OEMs need more than transactional suppliers. They need responsive partners who can keep pace with their demands. Full-service providers like Estes Design and Manufacturing offer the tools, technology and team to bring products to market faster, more efficiently and with greater confidence.
Let us help you turn your next concept into a reality – at max velocity.
