Machine shops and general manufacturing base in Bradenton, FL ? (Tampa: crime, home)

[downthrust]

I am a self-employed mechanical engineer and I design parts that I need to have machined from plastics/metals. I live in NJ now.. and there are tons of machine shops, etc. up here.

I'm looking to relocate down to the Sarasota/Bradenton area of florida.. and I'm wondering what is the manufacturing base like down there?

I understand Tampa has a good deal of machine shops.. but I don't want to live or set up an office in Tampa.. I hear the crime is bad there.

so I was wondering how Bradenton compares to Sarasota and up and down the west coast there?

[Sunshine Rules]

The answer's still pretty much the same as when you posted a similar question last spring. Not much manufacturing requiring machining in the Sarasota - Bradenton area, so your selection of machine shops is small.

Roehr's on N. Orange is probably your best bet. You might try Dang's on 17th or Mictron on Cattlemen.

[veggienut]

I'm in Louisville, KY and there are numerous of machine shops that have closed here in the past years. I'm trying to liquidate my machine shop. Do you know of anyone up in Jersey who uses manual machines that are 3-phase such as horizontal mills, drill presses or packaging machines~?

[WantPalmerRanch]

Originally Posted by downthrust

I am a self-employed mechanical engineer and I design parts that I need to have machined from plastics/metals. I live in NJ now.. and there are tons of machine shops, etc. up here.

I'm looking to relocate down to the Sarasota/Bradenton area of florida.. and I'm wondering what is the manufacturing base like down there?

I understand Tampa has a good deal of machine shops.. but I don't want to live or set up an office in Tampa.. I hear the crime is bad there.

so I was wondering how Bradenton compares to Sarasota and up and down the west coast there?

Use Octek in Sarasota. They are a very successful injection molder and they have a very advanced machine shop for making their injection molds.

If your parts WILL be produced start by asking for prototypes from them promising production quantities.

Polycarbonate could replace some of your metal parts.

[Harbor Hopper]

Originally Posted by WantPalmerRanch

If your parts WILL be produced start by asking for prototypes from them promising production quantities.

I hope you don't mean *FREE* prototypes. "Promises of production" mean nothing until a PO is in hand. I am a project manager for a plastics company (credibility). We have customers that on occasion ask for "free" samples. No way. You WILL get burned, and prototypes are expensive to make.

[downthrust]

what type of packaging machines?

Originally Posted by veggienut

I'm in Louisville, KY and there are numerous of machine shops that have closed here in the past years. I'm trying to liquidate my machine shop. Do you know of anyone up in Jersey who uses manual machines that are 3-phase such as horizontal mills, drill presses or packaging machines~?

[WantPalmerRanch]

Or get yourself a Smithy like I did. Back home I had a Fadal 3016 VMC.

A used 3in1 Smithy could cost less than a $1000. It mills, drills, and turns.

http://http://www.smithy.com/midas/pricing/xl (http://http//www.smithy.com/midas/pricing/xl - broken link)

[veggienut]

Originally Posted by downthrust

what type of packaging machines?

I have an AmPak packaging machine and AmPak die cutter.

I also have Delta & Rockwell drill presses.

[Picshooter]

Sarasota job fair focuses on matching manufacturers with workers' skills | HeraldTribune.com

[downthrust]

funny... I actually am in the same industry as this company... have dealt with them in the past... nice people!

Originally Posted by Picshooter

Sarasota job fair focuses on matching manufacturers with workers' skills | HeraldTribune.com