Full-Time

Application Specialist

Western Michigan

GWS Tool Group

GWS Tool Group

201-500 employees

Designs and manufactures custom cutting tools

No salary listed

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Hybrid

Remote within the Grand Rapids, Michigan area; travel up to 50% is required.

Bachelor's

Category
Sales & Account Management (1)
Required Skills
CRM
Excel/Numbers/Sheets

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Requirements
  • One to three years of strong manufacturing experience with a focus on milling, turning, and grooving.
  • Knowledge of tooling and manufacturing processes.
  • Ability to assist customers with processing parts and selecting the correct tool applications.
  • Job shop experience.
  • Ability to determine proper speeds and feeds for materials used.
  • Ability to lift 15 pounds at times.
  • Valid driver's license and ability to travel up to 50%.
  • Ability to preserve confidential or sensitive information.
  • Effective time management, organization, and multitasking skills.
  • Ability to prospect new accounts.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
  • Some knowledge and experience in the relevant discipline through education and experience.
  • Ability to use assigned methods, tools, and processes and support sharing of best practices.
Responsibilities
  • Schedule appointments and meet existing customers to review applications and product requirements and identify opportunities.
  • Plan and conduct sales presentations with customers on a daily basis.
  • Liaise between the company and customers regarding pricing, service, and product launches.
  • Generate and develop prospect accounts by partnering with the distribution chain.
  • Update customers on product modifications, changes, and enhancements.
  • Maintain knowledge of new products, procedures, services, and tools through departmental and training meetings.
  • Attend conferences and trade shows.
  • Use marketing data and relevant sales management tools to maximize sales effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Organize and attend joint sales calls with distributors.
  • Prepare sales and marketing reports and maintain expense accounts.
  • Update and maintain customer account information for future sales.
  • Provide product quotes to customers with inside sales support.
  • Follow up after passing leads to managers with complete customer profiles, calls to action, sources, and dates.
  • Communicate customer needs and provide detailed information about products, programs, services, and company capabilities.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience designing special tools.
  • Experience processing customer parts from drawing to finished product.
  • Account management experience with current customers.
  • Proven ability to develop new customers.
  • A degree in any field of sales and marketing.

GWS Tool Group designs and manufactures custom cutting tools for industries such as automotive, medical, and aerospace. Its products include both standard and tailor-made tools, built in 12 North American facilities to meet high-precision needs. How it works: customers select or request customized tools, which are produced in-house and supported by regrinding services that extend tool life. This combination helps clients improve production efficiency and precision, with ongoing optimization to fit evolving manufacturing demands. How it stands out: GWS Tool Group maintains a large catalog (250,000 custom tools and 30,000 standard tools) and emphasizes customer-specific solutions, broad industrial reach, and a focus on sustainability through tool regrinding. Its goal is to deliver reliable, high-performance tooling and service that reduce downtime and lower overall production costs for diverse manufacturers.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Tavares, Florida

Founded

2014

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • GWS launched HTDR-CF in 2026, expanding aerospace composite-holemaking sales.
  • Wickman UK's 2025 Europe partnership extends distribution beyond North America.
  • L Squared's 2024 recapitalization and Sandvik backing fund more acquisitions and capacity.

What critics are saying

  • Sandvik owns GWS; Walter can absorb priorities, pricing, and capital allocation.
  • Acquisition-driven growth since 2022 risks integration drag across Balax, Peterson, and CGI.
  • Any aerospace slowdown would hit GWS's core custom tooling demand quickly.

What makes GWS Tool Group unique

  • Sandvik kept GWS autonomous in 2024, preserving custom-tool speed and branding.
  • GWS combines 250,000 custom tools with 30,000 standard products across North America.
  • Its HTDR-CF drill reamer targets CFRP aerospace holes with off-the-shelf availability.

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Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

12%

1 year growth

12%

2 year growth

12%
GWS Tool Group
Feb 17th, 2026
GWS Tool Group releases new HTDR-CF Drill Reamer.

GWS Tool Group releases new HTDR-CF Drill Reamer. GWS Tool Group is excited to announce that its high-performance HTDR-CF Drill Reamer is now available in standard sizes. After years of success as an exclusive, custom-only product, GWS Tool Group is bringing the precision of a custom-engineered drill reamer to an accessible, off-the-shelf tool. There is no longer a need to wait for a custom tool when a proven solution is ready to ship today. Designed specifically for non-metallic materials, the HTDR-CF delivers the precision you demand, exactly when you need it. Key Performance Benefits: * Cut Smoother: A variable flute design cancels out chatter-causing vibrations to provide a superior finish. * Last Longer: Engineered for maximum endurance and tool life, the protected cutting edge ensures lasting performance. * Cleaner Holes: Sharp reamer edges guarantee precise hole diameters while eliminating material delamination. Ideal Applications: * Aerospace Structural Assembly * Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) * Composite Stack Materials * High-Precision Hand Drilling Standard Tool Specifications: * Diameters: 1/8", #30, #11, 1/4", 5/16", and 3/8" * Lengths: 4" and 6" overall length (OAL) with a 2" length of cut (LOC) * Shank & Flutes: Straight shank with a 4-flute design * Coating: Bright finish (Custom performance coatings remain available upon request) Don't let material defects compromise your quality. Its Application Specialists are ready to show you how this proven reamer can deliver clean, precise holes with true off-the-shelf convenience. Find the Application Specialist for your region HERE or contact GWS Tool Group at 877-497-8665, [email protected] to claim your test tool now. Find your. Perfect tool. Tool filter. Search from over 30,000 standard products for a tool that meets your needs. Custom quote. Can't find what you're looking for? No problem. GWS Tool Group'll make it for you.

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