Fundamentals and Originality

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I might add that the more obvious the imitator is, the easier it is to distinguish the original. For those of us who can tell the difference, the decision to own only the original is that much easier.

These were some of my thoughts as I walked this year’s WESTEC trade show. Each year, SME’s Los Angeles tradition gets bigger, better and, I can only assume, more influential. It’s where all the major manufacturers show off their latest and greatest wares. WESTEC ’98 followed this pattern with one notable exception – the art of imitation was everywhere.

As a Haas representative, I was filled with a sense of pride as I checked out each and every new imitation. It seemed that every Haas competitor had their own version of a classic “Haas” machine.

For some manufacturers it must seem as simple as resizing, reshaping or changing the placement of their logo. For others, it was the color, texture and shape of the sheetmetal. Or, how about a change in the color of the sliding door, or the handle design. This was all so transparent, as if simply copying the machine’s external look would guarantee the same popularity with customers that Haas now enjoys.

I don’t want to give away too much here, but there is more to Haas’ popularity than two-tone gray sheetmetal. If you’re a Haas owner, then you know what this loyalty is all about. It is the unbeatable combination of rugged design, reliable operation and affordable pricing. In simple terms, it’s the classic, can-do product with true individuality.

Haas machines are designed and built by the same type of people who own and operate them. Haas believes in straightforward engineering and design principles. We use our own machines, every day, in our own machine shop. A Haas is built to perform for its owner – it’s that simple.

From the beginning, Haas CNC machines have succeeded, in part, because of dedication by the company to constant improvement. Haas machines get re-evaluated, literally, every day. Feedback from customers, combined with an engineer’s quest for perfection, sees actual design changes implemented as a routine. No one at Haas ever says it’s good enough.

To give you an idea of how this works in practice, here’s a sample of machine upgrades and new features released by Haas during the last few months alone: Live tooling is now available on select lathe models; a Big Bore option is now available for HL-5 and HL-6 lathes; the Haas bar feeder became available for certain turning centers; direct-drive VMCs and lathes now feature a Haas dual-drive motor with wye-delta switching; Haas HMCs now come standard with a new triple-chip auger system and all-new pallet clamping system for the HS-1RP and HS-2RP models; a new side-mount tool changer option is available for select VMC models; and the Haas control has a new “ETC” (electronic thermal compensation) feature and a Zip™ drive option for fast data transfer. Remember, this is just a sampling.

As for that external appeal, let’s face it, the “Haas look" is more a result of function than of aesthetics. What you see is there because it works, not just because someone thought it was pretty. Now, I’ve given away too much.

As a loyal Haas owner, or a soon-to-be loyal Haas owner, you should take pride in your decision to buy only the original. Don’t settle for anything less – it’s not worth it. When it comes to machine tools, Haas truly is an American original. If you need proof, just look at all the imitators. 

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