By Dan Winkler, Avtron Manufacturing

It has been nearly one year since Avtron and Bauer announced their business alliance.  Since then, I have visited with many of our existing customers as well as new, potential customers.  I talked with most of these customers about the alliance and our goals.  The response has been overwhelmingly positive.  Without exception, our customers welcome this strategic alliance of two well respected test equipment suppliers with the following goals.

• Single source for test equipment to cover electrical, electronic, hydraulic, fuel, pneumatic, rotary & linear actuators and wheels & brakes
• Uniform operator interface and report format
• Regional technical service centers in China, Singapore and Europe
• Component workshop consultation services

Very soon, regional technical service centers will be a reality in China and Singapore. Steps are underway to kickoff these two technical service centers by early 2008.

Most customers tell me that having someone to talk to in their own region who speaks the same language will make their jobs much easier.

Those customers that already have test systems from Avtron and Bauer are feeling a part of a very strong team working together towards common goals.  The goals that Avtron and Bauer outlined as a strategic part of the alliance are also valued and embraced by our customers.  I can even say that our goals are enhanced by our customers.  This is truly a case of the whole being much greater than the sum of the parts.  We are all learning from each other and growing stronger from the shared experience.

We will become part of our customers’ team, that is, their “test equipment department”.  The test equipment department will handle all maintenance, calibration, system upgrade and on-going support issues.  Unscheduled outages, extended downtime and lost production will essentially disappear.  The test equipment department will handle things efficiently and economically.  Together, we will reduce costs and cut operating budgets.