Esteves Group

Esteves is our die supplier. Until yesterday, I thought that dies were pretty much dies. I can think of about six suppliers, and they pretty much all supply the same thing - dies. Price and quality are pretty much comparable between suppliers. However, Esteves is taking dies to another level. This guy named Carsten van der Putten has developed software, Drawing Die Wizard, that makes it possible for anyone with a basic understanding of computers to look into dies in a whole new way. The software makes it possible to manipulate variables - nib size, angle, bearing length, etc - and see the results in 3D. All of the sudden, the relatively old concept of the drawing die takes on an entirely new look. I have already used this software to support observations following a recent visit to a supplier. This gives me confidence in asking for several thousand dollars of capital to improve a process. The great thing is the designer of this software is visiting our plant in two weeks for an entire day. He and the sales director are going to teach all of our multi-wire operators and supervisors about dies using this software and microscopic analysis. He is in the process of revolutionizing the die industry. I can't wait to see the ideas that he has to offer us as we show him our facility.