Reflecting on 2023

Reflecting on 2023

Saturday, December 30, 2023 | News

As we bid farewell to 2023, we are thrilled to reflect on the remarkable achievements we’ve accomplished throughout the year at C&B Machinery.

Innovation: At the beginning of the year, we set our sights on innovation, and the momentum carried us through the successful launch of the Newly Designed Clamp Bore Face Grinding Machine. It was gratifying to see multiple CBVR-2F-2S machines built and shipped in 2023, a testament to the collaborative spirit with our customers in developing this new design.

Community: Our commitment to the local community has always been a cornerstone of our values. In 2023, we actively participated in two Job Shadow Days and National Manufacturing Day through the coordination of the Livingston Educational Services Agency. These events allowed us to connect with high school students and provide them with insights into specific career fields.

During Job Shadow Days in March and October, students shadowed our Controls Engineer and our Shop Leader/Machine Builder/Service Technician. National Manufacturing Day in October offered a valuable opportunity to showcase our facility and dispel myths surrounding manufacturing careers.

Increased Customer Satisfaction: Our customers are at the heart of our success, and in 2023, we made extra efforts to enhance their experience. The newly designed CBVR-2F-2S Clamp Bore Face Grinding Machine, developed in collaboration with our customers, garnered multiple orders, reflecting their confidence in our products.

We also delved into ways to improve our service offerings and preventive maintenance packages, aiming to extend the lifespan of our machines and meet our customers’ grinding needs more effectively. Stay tuned for more details on these enhanced service options.

Gratitude: As we express our gratitude, it’s essential to acknowledge our membership in the Orbitform Family. The cultural values of Orbitform continuously challenge and inspire the C&B team, pushing our ideas, skills, and pursuits into new and exciting areas.

Heartfelt thanks to our Customers, Vendors, and Business Partners whose collaboration made our 2023 successes possible. We eagerly look forward to working with you in 2024, continuing to provide the best USA-made grinding machines available. Here’s to a successful and prosperous 2024!

Employee Spotlight – Bob Waddell

Employee Spotlight – Bob Waddell

Monday, September 18, 2023 | News

Bob Waddell – Machine Builder

Bob has been a integral part of C&B for over 17 years. We are grateful to have him on our team and figured it was time to shine the spotlight on him.

What is the story behind how you came to work at C&B Machinery?

I began my work as a machine builder in 1979. I worked for about 4 companies and was very loyal to each one. I found myself looking for a new job when the owner either decided to retire or passed away.

 

About 17 years ago, I had finished up at a job and was looking for another one. I had worked in the building that C&B was occupying in Livonia and saw the sign that said they were machine builders. I stopped in, knocked on the door, told them about my experience and was hired.

Since coming to C&B, what has been your favorite project?

I don’t have a favorite project that stands out to me.

As a machine builder, the newest project is always the most challenging. I do prefer to build a brand-new machine over a rebuild, mainly because a rebuild has many challenges, is dirtier work and there tend to be more complications. You can pretty much guarantee there will be bolts that won’t come out and other areas that no longer function.

What about robots? How do you like incorporating them into your machines? 

I have been working with robots for over 30 years. This is not new technology to machine builders. Successful automation requires collaboration with the programmers and controls engineers and you work together with each other’s strengths.

Hot Sauce Meter – Mild, Medium, Hot, Fire

Open the bottle, but don’t pour it on.

As mild as you can get.

How did you get involved in the grinding industry?

When I came to C&B, I did not have any experience building grinding machines. I had general, industrial machine building experience. I had to learn from others and used my aptitude for machine building to figure things out. It wasn’t that different.

 

I did have a lot of alignment experience prior to C&B and that has been valuable in my role here.

Town you call home:

Born and raised in Ohio. Moved to Michigan around 19 years old and lived in Plymouth for 10 years. That is the place that felt most like home, though I have not lived there in 30 years. We rented a house near Kellogg Park and enjoyed the events and activities in the area.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about manufacturing as a career?

To become a machine builder, experience is not a requirement. If you try to become a machine builder, you will know pretty quickly if you have an aptitude for it or not. I found that I did, but have seen thousands of people try it and many do not.

 

The main requirements are good work ethic and a willingness to learn. You have to be able to work with others and be trained. Be open to learning and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

 

Manufacturing can provide a good career, if the work fits your personality. Working for a smaller company, like C&B, there is nowhere to hide. Everyone pulls their weight and does their job well. There is a lot of teamwork.

Blue & Gold (U of M) or Green & White (MSU)?

Maize and Blue. My wife did graduate from MSU, but she seems to cheer for the blue and gold, too.

What roles have you held at C&B? What does your current role entail?

I have only held the title of Machine Builder. There are many pieces to this role. I go out on service calls as a Service Technician because I am an expert on machines and how they are built. I am able to troubleshoot the issues pretty easily.

 

I also work with new employees and office staff to teach and train regarding how the machines are built and how they work. I enjoy this aspect of my job, as well.

The Acquisition of C&B Machinery

The Acquisition of C&B Machinery

Monday, August 17, 2020 | News

C&B Machinery Stacked Logo
Orbitform Logo

On August 17, 2020, Orbitform, along with its group of investors, acquired C&B Machinery. C&B Machinery will stay a separate entity with its own staff and facility with additional backing from the skilled manufacturing team at Orbitform. Orbitform looks forward to working with and supporting our highly skilled team.

C&B Machinery is an industry leader providing world-class precision disc grinding and metal removal equipment solutions. We are well known for our double disc grinding equipment, which is an efficient method of removing equal stock from opposing faces of a part. This process results in the highest quality level of flatness and parallelism on both opposing surfaces.

C&B Machinery has supported numerous industries, including automotive, aerospace, and hand tools. They offer new and re-engineered disc grinding and metal removal equipment. Their re-engineered machines include used machines retrofitted with the newest mechanical and control standards, rebuilt after a complete inspection to like-new condition, or some combination of both to provide the most cost-effective solution.

C&B Machinery’s new President Bill Tulpa adds, “We intend to carry on the heritage that C&B Machinery established over the last 40 years. I look forward to working with the existing, highly skilled C&B team to grow the business.”

Please visit the Orbitform website to gain a better understanding of their offerings and manufacturing capabilities. C&B Machinery is excited to have a growing team of manufacturing leaders to assist in propelling our business forward!