Precision tools
Big Kaiser: record sales in 2017
Big Kaiser, the specialist for high-quality precision tools and systems for the metalworking industry, announces that it achieved record sales in 2017 with an increase of more than 20%.
"I am very pleased with these outstanding sales figures with a remarkable increase in all major regions and a particularly strong increase in Southern Europe," says Taku Ichii, CEO of the company. "The decisive factors for this development were the offer of new, innovative products, efficient logistics and the expansion of our well-trained and highly motivated sales team."
Taku Ichii, who took over as CEO in March 2017, brought many years of international management experience to the company. His primary goal was to further expand the company's reputation and leading position in the metalworking industry.
Big Daishowa, the nut company, completed a new logistics and distribution center in May 2017 to better serve growing customer demand. The 12,000 m2 facility has an inventory of around 1,500,000 products with 15,000 part numbers. The new warehouse is highly automated and built according to the principles of Industry 4.0. This has enabled Big Kaiser to improve the availability of goods and shorten delivery times in Europe.
The company has invested heavily in the expansion of its European sales team and the training of its service technicians and business partners. By focusing on technical and customer service aspects, the thoroughness, scope and responsiveness of professional customer service in Europe have been further optimized.
New products for Industry 4.0
To further expand its market position, Big Kaiser launched a series of innovative products in 2017. One highlight was the EWE, the first model in a new generation of digital fine boring heads with wireless connectivity and a flagship product for Industry 4.0. The EWE connects wirelessly to Big Kaiser's user-friendly app for smartphones and tablets to make it easier to monitor and configure the fine boring heads during setup and operation.
Combined with efficient product management and inventory control, the intuitive app has helped customers make a smooth transition from the previous EWD fine boring heads to the innovative EWE, several hundred of which have already been sold. The prototype of the new EWA fine boring tool presented at EMO in September 2017 impressively demonstrated that the developers are working tirelessly to make great products even better.
The company's strategic in-house electronics laboratory, which is working on developing powerful cyber-physical systems for Industry 4.0 by synthesizing Big Kaiser's machining tools with modern information technologies, played a decisive role in the latest product developments. Examples include digital display and measuring devices that set new standards in terms of accuracy, safety and production efficiency.
"We will use our internally developed technologies to offer synergy solutions for the increasingly digitalized workshops of the future," explains Taku Ichii.
Industry standards
The Big-Plus spindle and tool system has gained considerable ground with the increasing market penetration of the Big-Plus tool holder in 2017, it says, and has established itself as the de facto industry standard.
Customers are increasingly recognizing Big-Plus as the only system that offers simultaneous taper and face contact between the machine spindle and tool holder. Big-Plus is superior to other spindle designs - including conventional "double contact" - because Big-Plus is the only system with simultaneous taper and face contact, set with the Big-Plus gauges for spindles and tool holders, which ensure first-class precision and efficiency.
Latest technologies at industry events
At its largest trade fair stand to date, at the EMO in Hanover in September 2017, the company showcased a comprehensive range of products on 320 m2. A large number of specialists were on hand to provide visitors with information and purchase inquiries reached a record high.
In the oppressive heat of the Swiss summer, Big Kaiser held its own open days to present its new Smart Factory. The new plant had already completed over 5000 production hours by the end of the year. Several hundred customers from Switzerland visited the first "Smart Factory Days".
Big Kaiser also held four successful training courses on Industry 4.0. The networking of systems for innovative production, logistics and administration was explained in practical live demonstrations and presentations.
Big Kaiser will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2018 and the company is clearly ready to continue on its successful path. kp
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