The Composites Supply Chain

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

This is more a rant than anything but I cant figure out how it is anyone can afford to stay in business.

Some of you know I was an underdog from the getgo with my geographical location. I have had to ship in from Texas and California for all my stuff. The little I can get from here is pretty worthless really.

My latest headache has been Airtech…

I order some peel ply, flow media, bagging film and tape from them and a week goes by. I check my bank account and nothing has been withdrawn.

I call them this morning and find out that they not only cant figure out how to supply my tiny order (according to them) but that they couldnt call me and tell me they didnt have it in stock.

How does a company that specializes in vacuum infusion supplies not know if they have any inventory?

I realize that Im not buying bulk lots of stuff from them but youd think with all the people that are closing up due to the situation, supply would ease up a bit on something.

#2

airtech has about a 3 week back order on just about everything. I ordered a 300 yard roll of bags like a month ago and they just bearly shipped it yesterday.

#3

Hybrid, try asking for their dist. lists as the manufacturers want to supply those and those smaller companys will supply the smaller end users.

When at Sampe, I’m planning to try and talk to the biggies to get them to give me their dist. lists to use on here or for them to come on here and post it themselves…but…?

#4

order the high strech bagging material, flow media, and tacky tape…one week, call, oh call our dist. call dist. no go they say one week. that was last week, still nothing at my door.

Airbus must be eating all the vacuum baggin materials a swell as carbon , i know GKN is a big customers of Airtech.

#5

Here in the UK its often better to spend time phoning round if you are unhappy with delivery time/service provided by a company.

Other companys often have what you are looking for, and are eager to satisfy smaller orders.

Chris

#6

I ordered a pack of tape (ten rolls) a roll of film, two rolls of peelply and a roll of flow media…I dunno maybe 400 dollars of crap?

Im not so much pissed that they dont have it but when I order it and I dont get the info it will take a week or 3 Im pissed.

I actually had to call them and ask what the hell was going on. Then I get the “Oh we are out of stock on this and this” Im going “WTF??? DONT YOU MAKE IT?”

I find it funny that in todays capitalist ideology, people still really like putting all their eggs in one basket. Why worry about the little gusy when you can worry about one or two big ones?

What happened to the addage “If you take care of the nickels and dimes, the dollars will take care of themselves”???

I still run my business by this priciple. I treat the guy spending 10 bucks with me the same as the guy that spent a thousand right before him.