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The TPR presents a Case Study
feature on Galaxy Tool Corporation based in Winfield, KS. From
planning and design to “cutting chips”, Galaxy offers customers
full service tool building for injection molding, blow molding,
as well as special tooling and precision parts. Larry Payne,
President/Owner and Richard Sutton, Executive Vice
President/Owner, share some insights into what’s driving the
company’s growth.
What is your
company niche, and what does your company do that is notable,
unique or different?
 Galaxy
Tool Corporation has an advantage in the tooling industry with
our large machine capacity. Galaxy has about 30 CNC machines
with three twin column machining centers. These large machining
centers allow us to manufacture sizable tools. Blow mold tooling
is usually limited by our customers’ blow molding machine sizes,
capabilities and head capacities. We have manufactured aluminum
blow molds in excess of 100 inches tall and others up to seven
feet square. Injection mold sizes are usually limited by weight
that can fit on our machines. Our normal business in injection
molds is around 750 tons or less but we can and have produced
larger molds.
When and how did
you get into the industry, what attracted you to it?
 Galaxy
opened for business in March of 1985 with four employees. Our
background was in tooling for the plastics industry; injection
and blow molds. The original owners worked at a Wichita, KS shop
before starting Galaxy and decided to locate to Winfield, KS
because of the need for a local tooling source for Gott
Corporation, which in 1986 was acquired by Rubbermaid Inc. We
still manufacture molds for the local area but we also produce
molds for companies throughout the country.
Relate a notable “best time” for
your company.
 The
best time for Galaxy has to be now. Throughout our history
Galaxy has experienced steady growth and at the present time the
demand for growth has never been stronger. We have purchased
several new machines in the last two years, acquired another
tool building shop and are just now completing our shop
expansion of an additional 20,000 square feet.
Similarly, relate notable
challenges that your company has overcome.
 The
biggest challenge we have faced is global competition, in
particular, Far East Asia. Their ability to manufacture
injection molds with a considerably smaller labor rate gives
that area a competitive advantage over USA manufacturing. We
have met the challenge by continuing to stay on the leading edge
of technology with the latest in design and programming software
as well as high speed 5-axis machining. Diversification was
another answer to this challenge. Over ten years ago the
decision was made to begin manufacturing tooling for the
aerospace industry. Galaxy’s location to the aerospace business
in Wichita, KS has been a benefit.
When you are
working on projects with your customers, what aspects would you
like them to better recognize?
Galaxy believes a better mold/part
can be designed if we get involved at the beginning of the
design stage. Most customers realize that this involvement will
improve the quality and life of the mold. We have designers
in-house that that can guide the customer into improving their
plastic design knowledge or Galaxy can design the complete
project from a simple sketch all the way through to making chips
on the NC machines.
List newly
acquired technology, machinery or key personnel in the last
year.
 Last
year we bought a SNK RB200F twin column 5-axis with weight
capacity of 33,000 lbs and table dimensions of 167” x 114” and a
water jet that can cut steel up to 6” thick with a stream of
water. A year before these machines were purchased, Galaxy
purchased two Okuma twin columns with weight capacities of
24,000 lbs and a table of 157” x 78”. This year we have already
acquired another water jet and around December we will take
delivery on another twin column SNK with table dimensions of
353” x 112”. Galaxy has been ISO 9001 certified since 1999 and
at the beginning of 2006 we became AS9100B certified as well.
Has your company recently
expanded? Plans to expand or from partnerships/alliances?
 Over
the last 20 years Galaxy has expanded its building four times to
a total of 50,000 sq. ft. In 2005, Galaxy acquired Encompass
Tool located a short distance away in Ponca City, OK. Encompass
builds essentially the same kinds of tooling that Galaxy does,
including tooling for aircraft. This acquisition expanded our
capacity by another 15,000 sq ft. Maximum capacity at Galaxy has
been reached again with all of the machine purchases over the
last several years. The beginning of 2007 started with the
completion of our latest building addition, adding another
20,000 sq ft and bringing Galaxy’s total to around 75,000 sq ft.
Are you involved
in any industry organizations or educational programs related to
the trade?
Galaxy has several members who are
involved in the Society of Plastic Engineers and the Society of
Manufacturing Engineers.
What do you think
about changes occurring in the industry due to globalization?
How has it affected the way you do business?
Many of our customers have used the
offshore mold builders in the past. Most all have found the
value less than satisfactory. Galaxy competes well with the
global market with high quality and low lead times and sometimes
even on price. We do garner much mold repair/rebuild business
from poorly designed molds that were manufactured offshore.
What will the industry look like
in 3 to 5 years?
We at Galaxy are always optimistic.
We believe in American manufacturing. We expect continuing
steady growth in the tooling industry. The demand for raw
material and machine tools sometimes pushes deliveries out
further than we can remember. We believe the manufacturing will
remain strong even with the challenge of the global market.
Number of years in business:
21
Current number of employees:
100
Current square footage:
90,000
Additional locations:
Encompass Tool and Machine
Websites:
www.galaxytool.com and
www.encompasstool.com
 Types
of tools built and/or run: Injection, blow, vacuum, lay-up,
stretch dies, hammer dies, bond tools, assembly & welding
fixtures and jigs
Industries served: Consumer,
automotive, aerospace, medical, etc…
CONTACT INFORMATION
Galaxy Tool Corporation
P.O. Box 531
1111 Industrial Road
Winfield, KS 67155
Phone: 620-221-6262
Email: sales@galaxytool.com
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