Exsys Tool Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Exsys Tool Inc., the exclusive importer of Eppinger toolholders, adapters and specialty products, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in June 2020. 

Originally a play on the phrase “expert systems,” Exsys was established by President and CEO Stewart Bachmann and Craig Campbell, who served as Vice President of Sales until 1998. However, it began as a business run by Stewart Bachmann’s father, who had served as a director of manufacturing planning and had experience with the production of special tooling.

“My father started his business out of our house in California, with boxes of toolholders stacked up on the washing machine,” recalls Mr. Bachmann. “But he did some significant volumes with that infrastructure and his knowledge of working with Eppinger to develop specialized manufacturing solutions. So when Craig and I moved out to the Eastern time zone to start our branch of Exsys, I used what I learned from him to push our sales and applications expertise even further.”

Initially, this new branch focused on the sale of axial and radial toolholders, products the company has refined and optimized over the years. The company increased its capacity year after year, eventually forming an exclusive distribution partnership with Eppinger. Today, in addition to its current headquarters in San Antonio, Florida, the company has Canadian and Mexican distribution centers in Ontario and Monterrey, respectively, as well as factory representatives in Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Chile.

“We’ve been successful for 25 years for two reasons,” says Mr. Bachmann. “First, I’ve always insisted that our telephone is answered by a real person within three rings. Second, we always answer our phone, and we treat every call seriously, whether it’s an order for $30 or $30,000. And we’re wholly dedicated to our customers. If any of our products require repair, we’re at their facility, tearing it apart and reassembling it as quickly as we have to.”