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Transcript

Section 1: Company Vision and Leadership

Q: Acxess Spring has been in the spring manufacturing business for over 30 years. What’s been the driving vision behind the company’s growth and its focus on custom solutions?

A: The driving vision behind Acxess Spring has always been rooted in solving problems and serving customers better than anyone else in the industry. I started the company after decades of working in traditional spring manufacturing and seeing firsthand how many companies struggled with customer service, slow response times, and rigid production systems. I believed there was a better way—a more responsive, agile, and innovative way to serve customers.

We focused early on custom solutions because that’s where the real engineering happens. Anyone can make standard parts, but creating a spring that solves a specific need—whether it’s in a medical device, an aerospace control system, or a consumer product—requires deeper expertise. That challenge is what drives us. We’ve grown by listening to customers, staying nimble, and investing in tools and people who can adapt and innovate fast. Our reputation has been built on that commitment to precision, customization, and partnership.

Q: From aerospace and medical to industrial applications, your customer base is incredibly diverse. How does Acxess Spring approach the unique needs of so many different industries?

A: Every industry has its own language, priorities, and constraints, and our approach is to understand those deeply before we ever start designing or quoting. In aerospace, we’re dealing with weight limits, extreme reliability, and strict quality controls. In medical, it’s about consistency, sterility, and compact designs. In industrial equipment, it might be load strength, fatigue life, or ruggedness. We adapt our materials, designs, and processes accordingly.

Our team has decades of experience across industries, so we know what questions to ask and how to design springs that meet the specific needs of that application. We also keep a wide inventory of materials and machinery that allows us to jump between sectors without delay. Ultimately, we’re not just selling a spring—we’re delivering a custom-engineered solution that fits into a much larger system, and we treat each one like a critical component. That mindset is why we’ve been able to earn trust in such a wide range of sectors.

Section 2: Challenges in Manufacturing Today

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you’re seeing in the spring manufacturing space today—whether it’s material sourcing, workforce, or rising costs?

A: There are a few major challenges we’re navigating. First, material sourcing has become more complex. The price of spring wire has become more volatile, and availability can fluctuate unexpectedly. That impacts planning, lead times, and pricing. Second, skilled labor is increasingly hard to come by. Spring manufacturing is a craft—a kind of mechanical artistry—and the people who know how to make a spring by feel and eye are retiring faster than we can replace them.

We’re also seeing rising costs in nearly every area—raw materials, energy, freight, compliance. Managing those while still keeping lead times short and quality high is a real balancing act. The good news is we’ve invested heavily in automation and cross-training our team, which helps keep us lean and responsive. We’ve made it a priority to stay agile and proactive rather than reactive.

Q: The past few years have put enormous strain on supply chains. How has Acxess Spring adapted to ensure customers still get high-quality products on time?

A: During the early days of the supply chain crunch, we made the strategic decision to increase our inventory of wire and other key materials. That gave us the flexibility to keep building when others were stuck waiting. We also leaned heavily on our in-house manufacturing—that way we had more control over our timelines.

Our stock spring catalog was also a major asset. When custom materials were delayed, we could often ship customers a stock spring that met their needs immediately, keeping their lines running while we finished the custom parts.

Above all, we communicated. We let customers know exactly where things stood, offered alternatives when needed, and worked closely with them to keep projects moving. That transparency and problem-solving mindset made a big difference.

Q: Precision is obviously crucial in spring manufacturing, especially for industries like medical or aerospace. How do you maintain tight quality standards while scaling production?

A: Quality is baked into our process, from the initial design through final inspection. We’re ISO 9001 certified, but we go beyond the standard. Every production run includes multiple inspection checkpoints. We use CNC coiling machines for consistency and pair that with experienced technicians who understand the nuances that machines can’t always catch.

As we scale, we also scale our QA resources. More team members, more automation in testing, and more rigorous documentation. For high-stakes industries like medical and aerospace, we often provide 100% inspection or special testing protocols. We never treat quality as a checkbox. It’s a core part of our reputation, and we protect it at every step.

Section 3: Innovation and Customer Focus

Q: One of Acxess Spring’s differentiators is rapid prototyping and fast turnaround times. How important is speed to your customers, and how do you make that possible internally?

A: Speed is critical. Our customers are often racing toward product launches, validation deadlines, or just-in-time production schedules. They need fast answers and fast parts. That’s why we built our business around agility. Our online tools like Spring Creator let customers design and quote custom springs instantly, and our store offers same-day shipping on thousands of stock parts.

Internally, we keep raw material in stock and maintain a flexible production schedule. We also dropped our prototype minimums to just 25 pieces, so customers can test quickly without committing to high volumes. It all comes down to having the right people, the right tools, and a company-wide culture of responsiveness.

Q: Technology is changing how manufacturers operate. Are you seeing trends like automation, advanced machinery, or digital tools reshaping how springs are designed or manufactured?

A: Absolutely, and we’ve been at the forefront of that shift. Planet Spring, the original Spring Creator, was one of the first online spring design digital calculators in the industry. Spring Creator, it’s now used globally and has transformed how engineers spec out custom springs. On the shop floor, we run dozens of CNC coilers that improve speed, repeatability, and safety. Technology it’s not about replacing people—it’s about equipping them with the best tools possible. Innovation has always been in our DNA.

Q: Can you share an example of a customer project where Acxess Spring helped solve a significant engineering challenge or brought a new product to market faster?

A: Absolutely. One example comes from the trailer ramp industry. A client had purchased torsion springs from a ramp manufacturer—not a spring specialist—and they kept breaking after just a few uses. We stepped in, asked for exact ramp weight, travel, dimensions, shaft size, number of springs, etc., and designed a robust custom torsion spring rated for their specific torque and usage cycle. It solved their breakage issue and dramatically improved the ramp’s reliability on the field.

We’ve seen similar success in robotics, particularly in exoskeleton design. Compression springs used in wearable robotic aids must store and release energy in sync with human
gait—something we refine using our online tools like Spring Creator and our online force tester. Accurate simulation and force testing upfront mean faster validation, less prototyping, and thousands less in development cost.

On the household product side, think about something like framemytv.com—those TV wall mounts need springs for quick adjustment. We provided custom compression springs that made their mounts smoother, safer, and more reliable. It’s a simple feature, but it makes a massive difference in user experience.

In each case—trailers, robotics, consumer gear—we combine client-supplied specs with our engineering tools to create the exact spring they need, fast, without guesswork.

Section 4: Growth, Marketing, and the Future

Q: As a manufacturer with a strong technical product, how does Acxess Spring approach marketing and getting in front of new customers?

A: For us, marketing is about education and accessibility. We’ve built our websites and tools to be resources, not just catalogs. Spring Creator, our calculators, technical blogs—they’re all designed to help engineers solve problems, and in doing so, they discover us.

We also invest in SEO and content marketing. Trade shows still have value, but most customers today start online. If we can meet them there with real value, we earn their trust before we ever speak to them. That’s how we’ve grown organically and built long-term relationships.

Q: For manufacturers competing in a crowded space, what advice would you offer about differentiating your brand and standing out online or at trade shows?

A: Focus on what you do best and amplify it. For us, that’s speed, customization, and technical expertise. We made those our brand pillars and built tools and messaging around them. We also focused on delivering real value before the sale—that’s what gets attention online.

People remember who helped them solve a problem. That’s how you stand out.

Q: If we were to help you generate 200–300% more qualified leads this year, what would those ideal leads look like? Is there a particular industry, application, or type of customer that’s a perfect fit for Acxess Spring?

A: Our ideal leads are companies working on custom spring applications in high-performance sectors. That includes medical devices, aerospace systems, robotics, or advanced industrial equipment. They’re often in the R&D phase, need quick prototyping, and value engineering collaboration.

They may start with a small order, but there’s long-term volume potential. What makes them ideal isn’t just the order size—it’s the fit. When they value precision, speed, and partnership, that’s where we can provide real value and build a lasting relationship.

Q: Looking forward, what excites you most about the future for Acxess Spring—whether it’s new capabilities, new markets, or new technologies?

A: What really excites me is how accessible and intelligent spring design is becoming. We’re launching a major update to Spring Creator soon, which will make spring calculations, quoting, and prototyping even faster and easier. It’s all about giving engineers and product developers the power to iterate, test, and build without the friction.

We’re also watching AI closely—it’s integrating into nearly every aspect of our industry. From smarter quoting systems to design optimization tools, AI is helping us move faster and smarter. While we’re still in the early days of AI adoption in manufacturing, we see massive potential in combining human expertise with data-driven guidance. That blend will define the next era of custom spring production—and we plan to lead the way.

Engineering Excellence: Inside Acxess Spring's 30-Year Journey
An exclusive interview with Alfonso Jaramillo, founder of Acxess Spring hosted by Katherine Seymour from MacRAE’S

For over three decades, Acxess Spring has been quietly revolutionizing the spring manufacturing industry—one custom solution at a time. From aerospace control systems to medical devices, from industrial equipment to consumer products, this company has built its reputation on precision, speed, and innovation.

Katherine Seymour from MacRAE’S has recently sat down with Alfonso Jaramillo, the founder and driving force behind Acxess Spring, to discuss the company's journey, the challenges facing modern manufacturing, and what's next for this industry leader.

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