CUTTING TOOL CONTROL, INC.( CTC) OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, WAS FOUNDED BY BRUCE LOWRY IN HIS EARLY 20s, WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS GOOD AT SELLING PRODUCTS TO MANUFACTURERS. He had worked for some other distributors when he decided to rent a warehouse where he could live and start a business. Lowry named the business after seeing a space-themed movie in the late 1970s that featured a control panel. He thought the word“ control” epitomized the ability to bring next-level services to his customers. The business started when Bruce realized he had an affinity for solving customer problems with products in the marketplace. Today, the business is a distributor of coolants, lubricants, fire suppression equipment, and oil mist collectors for CNC machines, plus the sale of grinding and regrinding of cutting tools for machinery. Their offerings are not broad, but what they do offer, according to Lowry, is problem-solving products for their customers in the Pacific Northwest.
The business has operated for over 45 years and now has 10 employees. Brian Tengs, controller, has been with the company since 1984, and Bruce calls him“ My best employee” because, he said, he himself is not great with money, and“ I wouldn’ t have anything if it weren’ t for him.” In 1986, the company grew to 100 customers with inside and outside sales!
The company truly launched when it became a distributor for Blaser Swisslube, a family-owned Swiss company offering machine coolants. Bruce said,“ It was different from everything else we sold.” The product is used in machines across all industries, wherever a coolant is needed.
Josh Beamon is an area sales manager with Blaser Swisslube and has worked directly with Bruce for 10 years. He shared,“ They’ ve been a great partner and always do everything we’ ve needed.” The partnership between the two companies now stretches over 38 years.
Both companies and the employees of CTC said the reason for their successful partnership is the focus on problem solving for customers. Beamon said,“ We refer everyone who
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