The easy answer, of course, is to buy a Hurco.

The truth is, this question is vital for anyone starting a machine shop.

The initial inclination is probably to buy the lowest cost machine tool. And there’s some wisdom in that. But it may be penny-wise but pound-foolish. What should be considered is practical return on investment.

Hurco has found its customers typically generate a far higher return on their investment with Hurco equipment. How? Well, it’s not uncommon for Hurcos to have an operational efficiency that’s 50, 75 or even 100 percent better than non-Hurco products.

Some have thought perhaps a 3-axis knee or bed mill is the answer. It’s typically not. To compete effectively, a shop will need the productivity of a machining center, or else all an owner will do is operate the machines – and there’s a lot more to running a machine shop than just running a machine.

Hurco’s benefit for a startup is probably best displayed with the VM1 machining center and the TM6 lathe. The easy-to-learn yet amazingly agile controls mean you can be making parts very quickly. And the low price practically eliminates that barrier.


Case Studies: Madison Machining, Bobby Grace Putters