PUNCH, PROFILE, BEND, FORM OUTLINING THE FUTURE
“Since installation, the TruLaser Cell
5030 has been busy processing a multitude
of different parts,” states director Simon
Tregillus. “Not only have we been using it as
a 5-axis machine for pro ling 3D
components, but we’ve also deployed it
extensively for at-bed cutting, which was
one of the main reasons behind its selection.
It’s been processing everything from the
trimming of automotive pressings, spinnings
and extrusions, through to components for
the re-retarding industry.”
REFLECTIVE MATERIALS
The 4 kW Trumpf TruLaser Cell 5030 is
pro ling parts from materials that include
mild, galvanised and stainless steel, as well
as aluminium. GF Laser is also using the
machine to cut pressings and spinnings
made from copper and brass. Unlike laser
cutters that use CO2 technology, the brebased
TruLaser Cell 5030 has no such
issues with these re ective materials.
GF Laser has grown its turnover from £2
million to £3.5 million in the past three
years, and today runs a 24/7 schedule over
three shifts, set against a backdrop of
continuous investment in the latest
technologies. Moreover, the company has
recently completed a factory extension that
will expand its shop- oor area by 35%.
A few miles west at the Telford plant of
another subcontract fabrication specialist,
Wrekin Sheet Metal, recent investment
has topped £1.1 million in automated
punch press and laser-cutting technology
from Amada ( www.is.gd/nuqupi ). An
EMZ3612 MII electric punch press with
ASIII MP300/40 tower and PRIIIUL part
remover, alongside a Ventis 3015AJ
bre laser cutter with ASLUL3015 tower,
arrived in September 2020. By
leveraging the speed and capacity of these
new machines, the company is aiming to
double its turnover to £5.5 million within the
coming 12 months.
“We see ourselves as an extension of
our customers’ manufacturing facilities, with
Amada machines central to this offer,”
states sales director Simon Orpe.
“For instance, with the EMZ3612 MII
electric punch press being fully automated
from loading to unloading, we could get 72
hours of unmanned manufacturing if we had
the right product to go on it, which is
incredible.”
Wrekin says that its investment in Amada
manufacturing technology has led to a 150%
increase in both punching and laser cutting
capacity, largely thanks to the automation.
The Amada Ventis 3015AJ bre laser
cutter is also providing Wrekin Sheet Metal
with 40% more ef ciency thanks to its 4 kW
oscillator based on single diode module
technology and proprietary LBC (Locus Beam
Control).
The new Kerf plasma cutter at CLH Trailers
will pay for itself within two years
£1.5m INVESTED SINCE LOCKDOWN
With the arrival of the automated Amada
machines - as well as the company’s
investment in a powder-coating plant and
new personnel – Wrekin Sheet Metal has
spent circa £1.5 million since the rst Covid-
19 lockdown in March 2020.
“At present we’re extremely busy serving
the refrigeration sector, predominantly with
parts for chillers used by bars, restaurants
and hotels,” says Orpe. “You might think
that sectors such as this are quite
vulnerable, but we’ve seen a sudden spike
in orders. The con dence levels of these
customers and many others has completed
transformed from where it was back in
March and April, and with our new Amada
machines we’re ready to take advantage.”
Plasma cutting technology also remains
Programmed for progress
Coventry-based ACE Ceiling Products is using Lantek ( www.is.gd/
johilu ) Expert CADCAM nesting software to ef ciently nest parts
and auto-tool the punching operations for bespoke sheet-metal
components produced on its trio of Amada punch presses: Vipros
355 and 368 models, and a 2510 with automated sheet handling.
Damian Jones, managing director of ACE Ceiling Products says
that introducing the software “has led to a 90% reduction in CNC
programming workload”.
Much of the company’s work requires the parametric design
of families of parts before the export of ‘ attened’ components to
Lantek Expert. Nesting takes place according to material type and
thickness, mixing parts from different jobs on the same sheet.
“Components are tagged into the sheet and we identify them
with a series of small holes which make up a code for each part
number,” explains Jones. “The auto-tooling is very good, making the
process automatic, while the auto-nesting has generated savings of
around 15% in material usage despite our panel parts being large
and dif cult to nest ef ciently.”
Elsewhere, Radan ( www.is.gd/oboref) CADCAM software is
delivering higher pro t margins at van conversion specialist Bri-
Stor Solutions, which shares a site in Staffordshire with its sister
company Alpha Manufacturing (Alpha supplies parts to Bri-Stor).
Production begins with laser cutting and punching on Trumpf and
Bystronic CNC machines programmed with Radan toolpaths and
nests, before moving through the factory for folding, fabrication,
welding, powder coating and assembly.
“Our biggest challenge was meeting customer deliveries on
time, which Radan overcomes with its speedy programming, and by
nesting components for individual van conversion kits in the same
nest,” says Alpha’s marketing manager Chris Kidney. “The fact that
we can process the parts extremely quickly, from initial design to
getting them ready for machining on the shop- oor, has a signi cant
effect on delivery times to Bri-Stor, which in turn improves our
pro tability.”
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | January 2021 43
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