Striving for perfection for custom turnings

Small components are often an important link in a larger whole. They contribute to the proper operation of machines or products. To do so, however, they need to be produced accurately down to the smallest detail. Amalo from Ingelmunster can help with this. The company specializes in CNC turning: from fifty pieces to large series with a diameter of 2 to 65 mm. Skilled hands, modern CNC machines and years of passion and experience are the solid foundations of the success story written by Chris Martin and Ann Lombaert.

When Chris started his company some twelve years ago in a small workshop and with one machine, he had already accumulated almost twenty years of experience in metalworking. Today, Amalo (Atelier MArtin LOmbaert) has become a fixture in the field of CNC turning for various sectors, such as machine building, window and door fittings, design, lighting, seals.... 

"In our production hall we have eight fully automatic CNC lathes and a fully automatic CNC milling machine, which make it possible to produce 24/7. Of course, skilled hands are also important. While my wife mainly takes care of the administrative tasks, I myself and our three permanent employees are responsible for the smooth and accurate realization of the turning work. Our technical expertise allows us to produce the highest quality parts," says Chris Martin. "We focus on larger, more complex series in aluminum, inconel, stainless steel..., where we can offer the necessary added value ourselves. For example, applications in design or in the medical sector are very attractive, because there you have to take into account a strong aesthetic aspect in addition to functionality and technology. In addition to the materials already mentioned, we process all types of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, and plastics. For coating, galvanizing, anodizing, grinding, phosphating and other post-treatments, we rely on loyal, experienced partners."

Reliable, environmentally conscious partner

As a family business, Amalo attaches great importance to long-term individual customer relationships based on mutual trust. Maximum flexibility and superior service play an important role in this. 

"We always want to guarantee our customers the best result. That's why we actively think along with them from the request for proposal to delivery, without losing sight of the deadline," says Ann Lombaert. "After all, each project starts from a customer's drawing, which we adjust where necessary to enable optimal technical execution. After approval of the quotation, production is set in motion. Through our ERP system, the order automatically enters the planning and we communicate openly about planning and delivery dates, even if there is a change during the course of the project. If required, we also work with annual contracts, storing goods in our warehouse and delivering them just-in-time on demand." 

"We also think about the environment in everything we do. For example, our production area is equipped with a ventilation system with heat recovery, guaranteeing our employees a healthy working environment. Thanks to the solar panels on the roof, we can generate much of the energy we need ourselves. The rest comes contractually from a supplier from green energy only. In consultation with suppliers and customers, we try to group our deliveries of raw materials, materials and finished products as much as possible to minimize the CO2 footprint. We also consciously choose to work only with European materials, eliminating the need for long-distance transportation."

Ready for the future

Amalo has experienced steady growth in recent years, even doubling sales during COVID-19. Status quo or slight growth was projected for this year. 

"We are working on optimizing our internal organization to be ready for further growth in the future. Moreover, we have recently started working on a file for ISO 9001 certification, which once again emphasizes our commitment to quality at every level," say the managers. "Our team was already expanded last year with two additional employees, but even today we are still looking for additional technically skilled personnel. We also want to continue investing in the expansion of our machinery and even have plans to build on our current site. The word 'sitting still' is not in our dictionary, because we want to evolve and move forward."