In the world of CNC machine tools,  Haas owners and operators know that their machines deliver value. But what, exactly, does “value” mean? In the case of a Haas, it means that the machine’s performance exceeds customers’ expectations. For the price of a particular product, people expect a certain level of performance, reliability and customer service. Once a customer owns and operates a Haas machine, and interacts with both the company and their local distributor, they realize that they’re getting a lot more for their money than they expected.

But what about people who aren’t Haas customers yet? What do they know about Haas machines? They may have heard good things from Haas owners, but there remains one residual issue – the mildly negative reputation given to Haas by machine tool sales folks from competing companies. There is a lot of trash talk out there that goes something like this: “That Haas machine is OK but, you know, how good can it be? Jeeze . . . look at the price.”

And there you have it – the rumors start flying. In fact, this suggestion – that a low price implies low quality – is usually presented by a salesman from another machine tool company during the last few days of the month . . . while trying to close a deal against a Haas. On the surface, this argument might seem to have some logic to it. Let’s face it: A “too good to be true” price sometimes points to inferior materials, questionable workmanship or unreliable service and parts availability. Unfortunately, most of us know this from experience, and it doesn’t take much to project our expectations from one situation to another.

So, the word on the street from salesmen who are struggling to compete is that Haas machines are OK – but don’t expect too much. Haas owners, however, will tell you another story altogether. In fact, Haas machines are made with the same top-quality components as you’ll find in the machines that have the best reputations out there – and much higher price tags. Haas employs the same guideways, ballscrews and motors as every other respected name in the machine tool business. Could it be that, because these other companies charge more for their machines than Haas does, people actually believe their machines are superior?

Let’s ask the question another way: How can Haas build a CNC machine that is every bit as good as the competition’s, but charge considerably less – and still stay in business and continue to grow? The answer sounds simple, but making it a reality isn’t always easy.

What Haas does is strive for efficiency in everything they do. That doesn’t just mean clever designs, smart engineering and innovative solutions – it means constant improvement everywhere. It includes every department at the company, from front-office operations, to engineering, to manufacturing and assembly, to seemingly small things like facility maintenance and scrap removal.

This approach – total commitment to improving efficiency – lowers operating costs while allowing Haas to build a better product today than was built last year, last month or even last week. It’s all about keeping manufacturing in-house, investing in high-efficiency equipment, streamlining operations, and simplifying both the designs and the assembly of the machines. It’s about making these things part of the company culture – the normal mode of operation.

This may sound like just so much good marketing hype if you’re not already “in the know.” So, for the next few issues of CNC Machining, we’ll detail some of the ways that Haas Automation constantly improves operations, thus reducing expenses and delivering ever-improving machine tools at the industry’s most reasonable prices.

Installment One:

Common Components – The Haas Control

Today, Haas Automation’s machine product line numbers more than 60 different models. Every one of those machines comes with a Haas control, and every aspect of both the hardware and software for the Haas CNC is designed in-house by Haas engineers. The Haas control utilizes industry standard G-code programming, and is extremely easy to use.

With more than 45,000 Haas machine tools in use today, the Haas control is a widely accepted industry standard. Complete rule over the design and development of nearly every component of the control, coupled with the savings that come with volume purchasing, gives Haas the ability to build a robust control at a cost that other machine tool companies can only dream about.

Haas doesn’t just build its own computer numerical control – they also design and build the axis drives and spindle drives, for a complete, seamless package. Combine all this with the ability to institute changes immediately and improve outcomes almost overnight, and you can see the pricing and quality advantages this brings to Haas machines.

Haas owners get real advantages from this situation as well. Most importantly, the machine cost is reduced considerably, while the quality can improve without restraint. Compatibility between the control and the machine is simply a non-issue, so you’ll never get finger pointing from Haas. Since they design and build the entire machine – hardware and computer control – they’re responsible for the entire machine.

The Haas control is a good illustration of how in-house design and manufacturing, coupled with economies of scale for component procurement, and a culture that rewards constant improvement, can deliver a superior product at a very affordable price.

Next time: efficiency on the assembly line.   ~~

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