Metalworking

Cold calling in metalworking

Machine shops win work part by part. A call the week a buyer's usual shop is backlogged, offering a fast quote, gets you on the RFQ list.

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Why cold calling works here

Metalworking (CNC machining, fabrication, laser cutting, welding, sheet metal) sells to manufacturers and OEMs on capacity, precision, and turnaround. Cold calling works because openings are concrete: a new part out for quote, a current shop backlogged or slipping on tolerance, or a buyer wanting a second source. The buyer is a design engineer or purchasing lead. Lead with technical credibility and a fast, real quote on a drawing — not a generic capabilities pitch.

Pains you can lever

Current shop backlogged, pushing lead times past the deadline
Out-of-tolerance parts and inconsistent quality scrapping runs
Single-source risk with no backup shop for a critical part
Slow quoting on RFQs stalling their own production planning
Material and finishing cost creep on repeat parts

How to open the call

Offer speed on a real part: 'Is your current shop keeping up on lead time, or are quotes and deliveries slipping? Send me a drawing on your next part and I'll turn a firm quote around in 48 hours — that's usually why buyers add me to the RFQ list.'

Objections you'll hear (and how to handle them)

We have machine shops we use.

Good shops are worth keeping — I'm asking to be your backup when they're backlogged or slow to quote a part. One RFQ tests my speed and price with zero risk to your current work.

Switching shops is risky on tolerances.

Agreed — that's why I'd start with a small first article or a non-critical part, so you verify our quality and repeatability before anything critical moves. Prove it on low risk first.

Send me your capabilities.

I'll send what's relevant to your parts, not a general list. What materials, tolerances, and volumes do you run — and is your bigger squeeze lead time or price right now?

What Tepio's AI brief surfaces here

Tepio's AI brief reads the company's site to infer their products, likely machined or fabricated components, and materials — so you open on a specific part and tolerance, not a generic shop pitch.

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