What’s needed to increase productivity by 200%? For Youngers and Sons Manufacturing Company, Inc, three Okuma Robot Loaders flipped the switch
Every Friday through Sunday in Wichita, Kansas, the company runs a distinctive kind of operation: employees leave, the lights go out and the spindles keep humming all weekend long, producing parts to exact spec. That kind of output is the result of one company’s vision to take its manufacturing capabilities to the next level through technology.
From humble beginnings to full-scale operations
On weekdays, too, Youngers and Sons Manufacturing runs with the same disciplined, automated approach. Its transformation has been more than 50 years in the making, growing from a small metal building on a farm making recreation equipment into a multi-facility manufacturer serving oil and gas, agriculture, and other industrial markets.
Along the way, company leadership kept looking for ways to strengthen its competitive advantage and prepare for future growth. That meant investing in the right machine tools and technologies, then building on each success. The progression was deliberate: choose the right machines, test the operation, refine the process, and keep improving. As recurring orders and steady demand grew, automation became the next logical step.
Positioning for growth
To help position the company for growth, Youngers and Sons VP of Manufacturing and COO Chad Hoheisel turned to Okuma and local Hartwig representatives. The solution was three Okuma GENOS L3000-e lathes, each paired with an Okuma Robot Loader.
The GENOS L3000-e is a one-saddle lathe built for powerful, high-precision CNC machining. Its integral spindle motor increases machining capacity, while highly rigid guideways support powerful cutting performance. In a compact footprint, the machine delivers turning with optional milling capabilities, Y-axis, and sub-spindle.
The Okuma Robot Loader – Rotary (ORL-R) is a seamlessly integrated automated part loading and unloading system. It uses a rotating platform and disc-style storage to hold part stock and finished parts, helping simplify automation without adding unnecessary complexity.
That simplicity mattered. With fewer than 10 conversational setup steps and a plug-and-play design, two ORL-Rs were running at 100% capacity in less than a week. After seeing the efficiency gains in real time, Hoheisel made the easy, economical decision to add a third. Hartwig Wichita supported the purchase and installation without delay, and the transformed workflow has delivered strong results ever since.
“We make between 600 and 800 parts a day per machine with the ORL-R. And it’s a fairly complicated part,” Hoheisel said. “In two months with this setup, it’s the most efficient, cleanest-running process we have.”
The optimized process now runs 24 hours a day with a 2-minute cycle time. It frees operators to focus on higher-value work instead of constantly tending one machine. Quality inspection checks and other important paperwork that are difficult to complete while machines are cycling also get the attention they need.
The robot loaders did not take jobs away from the team. They made jobs more fulfilling while creating measurable returns. Automation became both a cost-saving move and a growth mechanism, opening capacity for more complex, higher-value work.
“Our operators love the new processes, and we’ve had a 50% productivity increase,” Hoheisel added. “Projections show a 200% gain soon.”
Through continuous R&D, iterative designs, and a shared push for limitless potential in manufacturing, CNC automation keeps improving. Because Youngers and Sons leadership embraced the technology, employees embraced it, too.
Today, Okuma Robot loaders can triple efficiency because Youngers and Sons had a plan for automation before adopting it. Hoheisel first evaluated which machines and workflows were best suited for robotic integration, then worked with Hartwig Wichita to build a pre-flight blueprint.
“We became really good at making parts first and having the right workflows in place,” Hoheisel said. “Then we automated those processes.”
That preparation is a key reason the investment delivered so much impact. Hoheisel knew where automation would create the biggest gains because the hard work was done before the purchase order was placed. At Youngers and Sons, automation succeeded because the workflow was already sound.
He also recognized the value of Okuma Factory Automation solutions from a support standpoint. Okuma’s single-source approach meant the machines, automation, sales support, and service support all worked together. That helped simplify communication, improve consistency, and ensure that each asset and decision was backed by experienced experts.
What’s next? An Okuma Robot Loader for every Okuma Lathe
Another phase is already underway. Over the next six months, Youngers and Sons plans to grow from three robot loaders to seven while adding new machining capabilities. The next step includes the Okuma Robot Loader – Drawer (ORL-D) integrated with multitasking lathes, expanding what the company can offer customers in oil and gas, agriculture, construction, and heavy equipment markets. Growth created the capacity for reinvestment, and the company is returning to the same foundations that helped drive its success in the first place.
Youngers and Sons Manufacturing delivers orders on time, keeps quality high, and maintains a culture of continuous improvement. One-off orders become repeat business. Customers come to rely on them as the partner they cannot imagine operating without, thanks in part to Okuma technologies and strong Hartwig relationships. With an open mindset, best-in-class technologies, and strong partnerships, the future has no limits.
