French laser profi ling
and fabrication
subcontractor
AFDL uses Hexagon
software to drive its
business
Many (tool)
paths to success
A French subcontractor employs Hexagon Production Software to drive effi ciency; Tebis provides trim
solution for UK vacuum moulder; industry & product news in brief
Laser subcontractor AFDL operates with
between ve and eight employees at
any one time, and has installed the
Workplan MES job management solution,
which connects seamlessly with its Radan
sheet metal CADCAM system. Both
packages are from the Hexagon portfolio
(https://is.gd/uciway), geared towards
supporting data-driven Smart factories.
Installing the Workplan job management
CADCAM & PRODUCTION IT PLOTTING A PATH TO SUCCESS
and quotation with Radquote module has
allowed AFDL (Atelier Forezien de Découpage
Laser) to become completely automatic,
from quotation through to invoicing, by
providing a full overview of orders received,
outstanding and delivered, and of the
company’s turnover. Site manager Stéphane
Noailly says: “Previously, we didn’t have
production management software and
invoicing was managed by our parent group,
DECOFOR, involving double entry of all our
delivery notes.
“We needed to invest in this type of
software because of strong growth and more
employees. It was becoming too complicated
to manage the company’s activities with
Excel les. We opted for Workplan, as it
comes from the same stable as Radan,
which we’ve used as our sheet metal
production software for over 10 years.”
Tebis trims up at APH3G
APH3G has 60+ years’ experience in manufacturing vacuum-formed
products, breglass mouldings, rim mouldings with machining,
assembly, prototypes, jigs and xtures. Manual trimming of parts
was the order of the day, but Tebis (https://is.gd/iyutus) software
was installed to eliminate that. Further applications have since
been added.
APH3G rst bought a trim licence in April 2018. A few months
later, a pattern machining option was added and then, in mid-2019,
the company purchased its second Tebis licence for pattern
machining.
Andy Hollings, director, explains why Tebis was chosen: “Upon
looking at various companies and the packages they offered, we
found Tebis to be very user friendly, with the technical capabilities
being perfect for our requirements”. Adds Martin Cork, engineering
director: “Tebis CADCAM software helps us to produce the
precision components to tight deadlines while producing high
precision parts.”
Of the improvements and bene ts gained, Cork says: “The
software allows us to save time in production. Also, Tebis has a
great Virtual Machining technology. We have much greater control
over our machines than ever before. We are able to see a collision
before it happens and we nally have full control and access over
the whole production process.
“What I like about Tebis software is that it is quick and easy to
use, we are surprised at how quickly we have picked it up after
few days’ training.”
www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets March 2020 43
/uciway)
/iyutus)
/www.machinery.co.uk