From its 10,000 sqft facility in East London, professional CNC cutting service madeCNC combines modern technology with innovation and passion, says manager, Jack Nazareth …
Why should I visit your website?
Because our sales process is very hands on and bespoke to the customer, we're limited by what we can achieve with a website in terms of functionality. For that reason, we worked with a team of designers to create a beautiful portfolio of work we're really proud of.
I think our site really stands out from our contemporaries, by elevating the website beyond a simple source of information. It's something we're really proud of.
Describe a typical working day …
The workshop typically opens at 8am at closes at 5.30pm, and we work really hard to try and maintain that stability for our staff. There are exceptions, of course, when a last-minute rush job comes in on a Friday afternoon, but generally we strive to maintain a healthy balance.
I'm generally consulting with clients throughout the day, pitching in with feeding the machine during peak hours and picking the soundtrack for the office (probably the most important job).
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It may be a cliche, but we really never have two jobs the same. Offering a bespoke service means there is always a unique combination of problems to be solved, and that's what keeps it interesting.
I love the community we're a part of, too – if there's something we can't do, we generally know someone who can. Likewise, we're the go-to people for so many creatives and makers, it really feels like a family.
What are the latest industry trends you're seeing?
Textured panels are a big trend we're seeing right now - that's taking a basic, off-the-shelf cupboard or unit and upgrading it with CNC-machined, 3D facades to get an instant facelift.
The pandemic obviously had a significant impact on the way people relate to their homes and offices (and home offices), with 2020 seeing us producing fast, smart and affordable furniture pieces to quickly respond to an explosion in demand. In 2021 we're seeing people come to terms with a more permanent change to the way they work – that means we're creating more substantial furniture, more tailored to the spaces carved out for long-term work from home.
Do you have any plans to grow your business?
Of course. Growth for us is not just about turnover, though. I think we're nailing our current offering, but there are so many more technologies we could adopt and give the madeCNC treatment.
I'd like to take on laser cutting in the near future to pick up the finer detail work, as well as different materials and substrates. Plasma cutting and water jet, too. Not to mention the whole world of additive manufacture - 3D printing, etc.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
madeCNC was primarily founded to satisfy the need of our sister company, madeWORKSHOP. They design and build big, intricate bespoke sets for film and live events, and spent years outsourcing work to CNC cutting services that were unreliable or fuzzy about the details, or just didn't understand the needs of fast-moving production.
madeCNC is everything we wanted from our competitors but couldn't find in a complete package – hands-on experts, meticulous attention to detail, constant communication with the client and deep understanding of their needs.
We built the company that we'd want to give our business to, if that makes sense?
What services/products do you offer?
Our services can be broken down into the four stages of an order; design, from simply preparing CAD files for machining, all the way up to complete design and prototyping from scratch; cutting - we utilise the latest three-axis milling tech on sheet material as big as 3 x 2m, for every kind of cut; fabrication - because we share a workshop with madeWORKSHOP (some of the best makers around) we can offer a complete fabrication service on cut parts, including sanding, painting, staining, assembly, installation and loads more; and delivery - collection is available five days a week from our East London location, or we can carefully pack and prep cut parts for delivery nationwide.
What changes have you made to your business strategy over the past few years?
Our core strategy has always been to offer top tech with top customer service, which hasn't changed and continues to inform basically any decision in the company. As long as that continues to resonate with businesses and individuals that need our service, I don't foresee any big changes in direction.
What are some of the most interesting projects you've been involved in?
I'm a nerd about CNC, so the technical details I find exciting about a project probably wouldn't hit with readers! There have been a few jobs recently that turned out spectacularly and really showcase the unique forms only a CNC process can create. We recently completed a total dining room fitout for a North London restaurant opening soon, with these stunning, flowing booths that hang from the wall.
What's unique about your business?
No doubt it's the people. We've fostered such a strong team with such a depth of knowledge – I really think you'd be hard pressed to find that anywhere else.
