Without a doubt, the reason is I met a guy here in the U.S., John Cole who rep'd some tooling companies in Auckland trying to get business from the U.S. He couldn't get enough business to make it work during the millenium downturn and went into a biotech firm in the Silicon Valley.
He gave me Peter Kurz' name who runs European Tooling in Auckland. I've had several small molds done there over the last 2-3 years, and he has been quick and the molds & parts have been very good.
The cost of a tool from Auckland was somewhat less than in the U.S. (not like Asia), but I can always count on easy emailing of details and discussions in English that make sense and get the job done quickly.
I also do NOT have to do the Asia routine: ..."I want a class A tool." ......""We do fline work Class work."" ..."I need nitrited or hardened pins and sleeves and guided ejection with a DME hot sprue bushing" ......""Oh, that will be extra...""
I am being unfair to the Asian's, but i have been burned. I also have a friend who is ch. engr. of a sno-board operation and they have been in China forever, and they still have a heck of a time finding the right toolmakers. He had to fire one the other day for failing to do quality work, and the guy jumped up from his desk and threatened to commit suicide if he lost the order. My friend said "We sorry, I'll send flowers.".
The only time I've run late is when I didn't realize what "On Holiday" meant...like don't bother to email or call around Christmas.
I obviously haven't looked around further, but my new designs are going to have to get quoted soon, so who knows where I'll go?
Later - Bo