Switching to Mazak aligns with innovative company’s pursuit of continuous improvement
Innovation runs in Chuck Ceccarelli’s blood. Working or enjoying his hobbies, he continually finds ways to solve everyday problems. As a previous tow truck business owner and driver, Ceccarelli came across challenges many faced in the industry and started making custom tow trucks and accessories to simplify common concerns. His towing industry background and specialized solutions led to the launch of In the Ditch Towing Products in the mid-2000s. Towing axles, dollies, shovel holders, mounts, lights, and trash cans are just a few of the towing accessories available for purchase at In the Ditch.
Always looking for ways to achieve maximum efficiency, Ceccarelli’s fishing hobby prompted him to create rod holders, anchor mounts, and tackle trays for his boat. Other fishing enthusiasts frequently appreciated the functionality of these solutions and would ask where they could purchase Ceccarelli’s inventions. With growing demand, Fish Fighter Products was successfully introduced to the market in 2015.
RazorBack Offroad and Inventive Products are two additional brands with similar beginnings; they were established to make specialized solutions easily accessible to consumers interested in purchasing them. While RazorBack Offroad provides accessories for offroad vehicles, Inventive Products offers manufacturing solutions, including those that the Inventive-Group team created for use at their own facility, like adjustable welding tables.
One Company, Four Brands
Today, In the Ditch Towing Products, Fish Fighter Products, RazorBack Offroad and Inventive Products make up Inventive-Group. One company, four brands is the slogan that defines the business, and Ceccarelli oversees the day-to-day production for each brand as “Regional Director of Excitement with Platinum Status.” The decision to stray away from traditional titles comes from Ceccarelli’s recognition that the company did not get to where it is today without the Inventive-Group team. “My job isn’t any more important,” shares Ceccarelli. “There is a shared responsibility within the organization.”
This reasoning aligns with the Toyota business philosophy which the company follows closely. Two points from the philosophy that Ceccarelli and the Inventive-Group team prioritize daily are respect for people and continuous improvement. The team has integrated these philosophies so effectively that other companies take tours of the meticulous Inventive-Group facility to learn more about their successful business practices.
Flow and Continuous Improvement
Inventive-Group operates out of 87,000 square feet of space in Mountain Home, Idaho—with 65,000 square feet designated for manufacturing and 22,000 square feet for office space. Leading up to the facility’s construction, team members spent two and a half years focusing on flow. Everything from lighting to music was discussed with all team members to ensure optimal working conditions. As expected, the equipment purchased for the new facility went through the same vetting process.
While the Inventive-Group team was no stranger to laser cutting, they switched to Mazak after reevaluating the relationship with their previous laser provider. “We switched to Mazak in 2019,” explains Ceccarelli. “It was a major, major commitment to go from the company we had been with for almost 15 years to make the switch, but I felt the other company kind of lost their way.” The Inventive-Group team agreed with the switch. “I got everybody together. and we talked about ‘did we make the right choice?’ and everybody feels that we made the right choice,” continues Ceccarelli.
Partner for Innovation
When looking for a new laser partner, the Inventive-Group team reached out to several companies. Mazak was the only one that willingly showed up to their facility in Mountain Home, ID to discuss their cutting requirements in person. The decision to move forward with Mazak came down to the people. “It really boils down to the people behind the scenes and they've come through over and over on the things that we've asked,” notes Ceccarelli. “We've had nothing but a great experience. Mazak stepped in, earned our business, and earned our trust. We made the purchase, and we haven't looked back since.”
The Inventive-Group team invested in two OPTIPLEX 3015 FIBER III 8kW flat-sheet lasers with automation. Four automated towers feed material onto the lasers and provide the capability to run lights out. “Right now, we're cutting five to six days a week,” explains Ceccarelli. “We're cutting almost 24 hours a day with two lasers, so that was a major step in efficiency and really you don't need an operator. Everything is pretty much done in our nesting department.”
Mazak’s commitment to customer service cemented the relationship. When the Inventive-Group team was finding it difficult to contact Remmert in Germany for support with the automation towers, Mazak stepped in. “The Remmert tower, their hours weren't in sync with ours,” remembers Ceccarelli. “When we voiced that to Mazak, Mazak reached out to Remmert and got Remmert to staff their facility during United States hours. That was huge for us. That really, really cemented the relationship.”
The company’s first tube laser, Mazak’s FT-150 FIBER, turned out to be a great investment for business and the team anticipates purchasing another one soon. “The FT-150, we have the tapping and drilling option on it, so we're threading pipe and tubing for etching weld locations on pipe,” explains Ceccarelli. “Within the first six months, we were doing things with the tube laser, and we're like ‘oh my heavens, how did we miss this so long ago?’ We're looking at getting a second. It's been that remarkable to have that technology.”
Finding a partner that aligns with their business philosophy and goals so well has been integral for innovation. The team at Inventive-Group is happy with their decision to partner with Mazak. They know they can count on Mazak’s team when the need arises and look forward to succeeding together.