Round Tools remain a strong strategic focus area for Seco in 2018. Efforts initiated last year, including upgraded production facilities, enhanced marketing strategy and extensive training programs, continue at a higher pace this year, and we are pleased to see that they are starting to show results.

Though we still have work to do to bring our distributors the delivery service they expect, our standard carbide and HSCO delivery levels have been improving since December of 2017 and are finally trending upwards. In February of 2018, they both reached their highest level since April 2017.

Niagara Cutter™ Delivery Service Levels (in Percentages).

We also keep focusing on R&D and developing new technology. Our 2018.1 Product Launch includes a metric expansion to our Niagara Cutter Mold and Die range. With the increase in Mold and Die manufacturing in the North American market, we believed there was a growing need for a full metric range of MBZ215 and MZN410R/510R products from Niagara Cutter. We expanded the range to include ball nose end mills from 0.5 mm up to 12 mm in diameter and high-feed end mills from 2 mm up to 12 mm in diameter. Both of these product families are effective in hardened steels from 48-65 HRc, cast irons and nickel-based superalloys. With these recent additions, our product family’s versatility has now reached new heights in the high-speed hard milling sector.

Everyone at Seco is committed to developing our Round Tools presence and with a total investment plan of $25 Million between 2017 and 2020, we will keep putting all the resources we need in place to succeed. With a market potential equal to inserts and a dedicated sales force, we truly believe that we have the opportunity to drive Round Tools growth, together with our distributor partners.