President, Exactaform USA
With more than 40 years in the cutting-tool industry and over two decades at Exactaform, Peter Raynor has been central to the company's story, from helping build Exactaform UK to founding and leading Exactaform USA. A precision-engineering specialist in tool design, application and manufacture, he brings deep, hands-on expertise to aerospace and automotive customers across the UK and North America.
Pete has been a pivotal part of the Exactaform family for many years and was instrumental in growing Exactaform UK into what it is today. In 2017 he relocated from the UK to the United States to establish Exactaform's presence in North America and ensure the success of the new operation. Today, as President of Exactaform USA (based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee), he provides strategic guidance and technical expertise to customers, making sure the US business upholds the same high standards as the UK headquarters.
Pete came into the industry through a five-year apprenticeship with a local tooling manufacturer and holds an HNC in Mechanical Engineering. Before Exactaform he worked as a proposals engineer, sales engineer and product specialist at Komet, including a spell as a project engineer at Komet in Germany. He joined Exactaform as a sales engineer handling quotes, drawings and applications, became General Manager of the UK business, and then moved to America to start up the US division.
Pete is Exactaform's internal go-to for tool design, application and manufacturing, working most closely with the aerospace and automotive sectors. His experience spans roughly 35 years with carbide, 30 years with PCD and 22 years with composite machining. What sets him apart is a field-first understanding of how tools actually perform: he knows what a design needs to do on the machine, and how it can realistically be manufactured.
Pete was instrumental in setting up and expanding the BAE Systems account, and designed and tested tooling used on the F-35 programme. He has designed many of the special and standard tools Exactaform sells today, working with companies large and small across the UK and USA. His developments include the 4 Flute Drill Reamer and the ExactaBurr.
"I enjoy going into customers and solving problems on the machine."