Currently, nearly 70 HFOs have opened throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Under the HFO program, Haas distributors around North America — and around the world — are setting up facilities dedicated solely to the Haas product line. These facilities feature demonstration areas equipped with the latest Haas machine tools — VMCs, HMCs, lathes and rotary products — as well as fully dedicated Haas service departments and training centers.

"We want to provide the best of both sales and service," says Gene Haas, President of Haas Automation. "Our HFOs are independently owned and operated to provide the local attention our customers deserve. They offer a professional atmosphere where end users can test-drive Haas products and see the latest technology. Customers can expect the same high level of service from each and every outlet, regardless of location. Each HFO will still be unique, though, because it retains the local know-how and relationships that have been built up over the years by the local distributor."

Closely tied to the HFO network is a corresponding network of Haas Technical Education Centers (HTECs). Each center is the result of a unique alliance between Haas Automation, a local Haas Factory Outlet and a local learning institution, with the objective of providing students with hands-on experience in a real-world manufacturing environment.

All HTECs are Haas-certified, and require a serious collaboration between the school management and the local HFO to ensure an ongoing "win-win" scenario. These centers are dedicated to the future of the manufacturing industry, and they continue the Haas pledge to deliver high-quality education to the engineers of tomorrow. For more information about Haas Automation and the expanding network of Haas Factory Outlets and HTECs, please contact Haas at 800-331-6746, or visit www.haascnc.com on the Internet.