Established more than 60 years ago, Phillips Tool was initially founded by Ted Phillips in 1959 as a tool and die manufacturing business serving local customers in the Frankfort, Indiana area. In 1962, the company started sharpening saw blades and welding bandsaw blades, and after more than 20 years of saw blade servicing playing a greater role in the business, the next generation of the family changed the company name to Phillips Saw and Tool (PSAWS). Soon afterwards, the company invested in grinding technology from Vollmer and it has not looked back since.

“Our first Vollmer in 1995 [a CHC025] blossomed and our saw shop today looks like a Vollmer showroom,” states PSAWS president Jeff Chynoweth.

While many machines at PSAWS already provide automated loading/unloading, the company never stands still.

“We changed the automation system on our Vollmer CHD270 machine from the ND230 to the larger capacity ND360, which really takes automation to the next level,” says vice president Jordan Chynoweth.

The ND360 handling system takes the previous three-station system up to six stations, providing the capacity for up to 550 circular saw blades to be loaded automatically. Not only has the ND360 increased automation capacity from 250 to 550 saws and the maximum diameter capacity from 630 to 840mm diameter, it also permits the integration of up to three grinding centres.

Regardless of the pandemic, business has remained relatively strong for PSAWS and the company has reaffirmed its commitment to customer service, ordering an additional two Vollmer machines that arrived in 2021.

“We ordered a CHD271 machine that was incorporated into the existing CHF270, CHD270 and ND360 cell to deliver complete automated production autonomy,” says Jordan Chynoweth. “We also took a CHF1300.”

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www.vollmer-group.com