Like many machine shop owners, Matt Blankenship didn’t know having his own shop was in his future when he started his career. But when working as a fabricator and aerodynamicist at Hendrick Motorsports, it eventually became obvious that it was time for something new.
“I don’t watch TV, just YouTube. One day in 2019, I saw a TITANS of CNC machine cutting parts. I decided to buy one for my garage.”
Just like that, Innovative Technology Manufacturing was born in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. The years that followed would bring growing pains and frustrations, growth and success, and a clear pivot to DN Solutions.
The Catalyst
Matt remembers the experience well: a service call that was supposed to take 4 hours wound up taking 3 days. “My wife went on the start of our vacation without me while I watched these guys take parts off the machine that they shouldn’t have while looking at an iPad to see what they should be doing. It was brutal. I threw the next quote I got from them in the trash and started looking elsewhere.”
That frustration turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because it resulted in InnTech’s trajectory-changing purchase: a 5-axis DVF 5000 vertical machining center and an influx of aerospace work.
“I won’t lie to you, I was scared to buy the DVF. Easily the biggest purchase of my life and I had no idea how to use that control or where work would come from.”
But the decision paid off immediately. Matt uploaded a photo of his new DVF to his LinkedIn page and netted 15 new customers. That flow of business allowed him to finally cut a long and unsustainable schedule to something much more manageable.
Finding the Differentiators
Right when InnTech started, Matt noticed something: if you were doing normal, simplistic parts, you were quoting against everybody in a race to the bottom. “You could probably sustain a shop, but you can’t easily grow one with that model,” he said. “I started looking at 5-axis machines and higher-end turning centers for more complex parts and harder materials that other shops would no-quote.”
Embracing complexity was one thing that separated InnTech from the rest, and it paired with a trait that’s even more rare in this industry: Matt’s willingness to ask questions.
“A lot of people are headstrong and don’t ask for help. But for me, I know that Ellison Technologies and Tom and Jack are always there if I need it. Most machine builders, including the guys I first worked with, can get you started. But once you need custom advice for a more complex situation, it’s crickets. With Ellison, I have an answer in minutes.”
“That level of help is so huge. All the guys attached to DN Solutions and Ellison are aerospace-equipped and willing to share. The relationships I have with each of them is phenomenal.”
More DN Machines Join the InnTech Floor
The DVF was installed in July of 2021, and a PUMA 2600SY-II followed in October 2022. “The PUMA is a workhorse. I don’t really need anyone to run it; it’s running right now without me and does it for hours on end. Sub-spindle and parts catcher just doing their thing.”
InnTech has plans for the future with DN involved as well. Matt is eyeing other models to support his aerospace work and some of the smaller parts he makes.
“I’m also pretty obsessed with the SMX mill-turn,” Matt said. “No clue what parts I’ll give it, but hey, not knowing that answer worked out okay with the DVF.”
An Uncertain Future, Now Certain
Matt’s an honest guy, and he’s open about what would have happened to InnTech if he hadn’t pivoted to DN machines. The hours he was burning made it obvious.
“I don’t think we’d still be here if I didn’t make the move to the DVF,” he said. “My first year with it, I tripled my gross with that machine alone. There’s so much we do in one operation now. The amount of work we churn out is incredible.”
If you’re feeling similarly stuck with your current machine tool provider, know that there’s an OEM out there with machines and people that have the reliability and skill you can lean on to get to the next level. Find your local DN distributor to get off to the races.
