For nearly a century, TE-CO Workholding has been a trusted name in the machining industry. What started in the 1920s as a small line of standardized jig and fixture components has grown into a company known worldwide for its vises, plungers, CMM fixturing, and other workholding solutions. With the recent addition of Raptor Workholding and Air Vise, TE-CO continues to expand its capabilities into automation.
But even companies with a long history of innovation sometimes find themselves held back by outdated equipment. For TE-CO, that bottleneck came in the form of a 1950s Rockford Planer.
The Challenge: Old Equipment, Lost Time
For years, the Rockford Planer was the backbone of TE-CO’s t-nut production, one of their highest-volume product lines. But keeping such an old machine in operation came at a cost.
“The machine was so old we had to make our own inserts,” said Michael Hodgin, Production Coordinator at TE-CO. “Our setup process was basically Dykem and an eyeball. You almost had two sacrificial bars at the beginning of every job to try to get everything tweaked in.”
Setups were inconsistent and time-consuming. Changeovers between part sizes could take over an hour. And with the hydraulic system failing, TE-CO was faced with a decision: invest heavily in repairs, or replace the machine altogether.
The Solution: A FlexCNC Machining Center
TE-CO turned to Flex Machine Tools for a solution. Before committing, they shipped a 12-foot bar of material to Flex, where the team set it up on the FlexCNC and ran the job start-to-finish.
“You guys actually took some of our material, set it up on the machine in-house, processed it, basically proved out functionality that this would work for us,” Hodgin explained. “And yeah, it worked out real well.”
That test gave TE-CO the confidence they needed to move forward.
The Results: Faster, Cleaner, Repeatable
Since installing the FlexCNC, the difference in their workflow has been dramatic.
- Setup Time: Changeovers dropped from 1–1.5 hours down to just 30 seconds.
- Tooling: Instead of custom inserts, TE-CO now uses off-the-shelf tooling, plug and play.
- Surface Finish: The FlexCNC delivers smooth, professional-looking t-nuts compared to the rough planer cuts.
- Repeatability: Programs and setups are consistent, ensuring reliable results job after job.
“All the tooling had to come off the old machine every time we changed,” Hodgin said. “Now it is plug and play. As long as that bar has been run before, you toss it up there, clamp it down, cycle start, and you’re ready to rip.”
Building for the Future
Today, every 12-foot bar of t-nuts that comes through TE-CO is machined on their FlexCNC. What was once a bottleneck has become one of the smoothest, most efficient parts of their operation.
“Repeatability was what we were looking for, and the FlexCNC has given us that,” Hodgin said. “Now we’ve got a nice, smooth, decent-looking finish on all of our t-nuts, and we’re saving time with every run.”
With their production modernized and efficiency maximized, TE-CO is free to focus on what they do best: providing high-quality workholding solutions that keep machinists everywhere productive.
Ready to Transform Your Workflow?
TE-CO’s success with the FlexCNC is just one example of how modern machining centers can unlock new levels of productivity, consistency, and efficiency. If your shop is ready to replace outdated equipment and eliminate bottlenecks, Flex Machine Tools has the solution.
Contact our team today to schedule a demo and see how the FlexCNC can revolutionize your production.
Watch below to see the full TE-CO story.
