I am a mechanical engineer with 4 years of experience in systems engineering in the automotive industry. I am based in Türkiye, and I believe there is a gap in the market for affordable cutting tools.
For this reason, I am planning to start designing and selling cutting tools. My initial idea is to focus on carbide end mills, but I would really appreciate any suggestions if you think there are better options to start with.
My plan is as follows:
I will dedicate the first year to producing my first products through outsourcing,
The next 2 years to building a customer portfolio,
And if things go well, eventually invest in my own machines and establish my own company.
At this point, I have very limited knowledge about tool design and manufacturing. Could you please guide me on where to start?
I would greatly appreciate any advice, resources, or experience you can share.
Be very careful in who you deal with in outsourcing. Non-compete and non-disclosure agreements hold little weight in many east Asian countries, where a lot of low-cost manufacturing is done.
Thank you for your advice. Thats a I really dont know how to handle it but I know some people who has 5 axes and I will work with them in the first steps.
Have you considered other ways to enter this market, without taking on the risk and cost of becoming a manufacturer so soon? Another option you might consider is to search for existing manufacturers of cutting tools that need distributors, especially in Turkiye (and maybe this helps them gain access to other countries, possibly even Europe). As a distributor, you would learn the ropes of importing products into the country, stocking and selling, retaining customers, and learning about their needs. This is already an important set of skills that you also need to cultivate as a manufacturer, but as a distributor you don’t need to take on that risk until you are ready. Later when you choose to manufacture your products, you will have some years of experience that will guide your choices. This could reduce the risks inherent in outsourcing the production, and choosing the right products for your existing customer base. This would make you more likely to succeed; an important concern when you are competing against some very large online retailers.
Do you know, yet, what will set your products apart from the ones on AliExpress and Amazon (and so many others)?
Have you figured out why cutting tools are too expensive in Turkiye?