Water intensifier enables cutting versatility

Investment in a waterjet cutting machine provides abrasive cutting of materials as diverse as foam and composites, SS, graphite, ceramics, plastics, aluminium and even stone.

A highly innovative new digital manufacturing company, Redpas Digital Print and Cut, is providing cutting and manufacturing solutions to a range of industries across the UK.

Their success is based around investment in a Power Jet waterjet cutting machine equipped with a Streamline SL-V 30 intensifier from KMT Waterjet Systems.

Redpas, whose headquarters are in Haverfordwest has combined its investment in waterjet cutting technology with UV inkjet printing, vinyl plotting, flat bed plotting and laminating technologies.

These combine to offer cutting and printing on to a range of different materials and in the production of diverse products from intricate mosaic templates, complex steel patterns, cupholders and galleys for aircraft, foam play toys under the company's own Swordplay brand and even timpani drum covers.

The investment in the 4000 bar Power Jet waterjet cutting machine provides the versatility that Redpas requires.

It is capable of abrasive cutting materials as diverse as foam and composites, stainless steel, graphite, ceramics, plastics, aluminium and even stone.

It can cut materials up to 200mm thick on its 3m x 2m bed to an accuracy of 20 micron.

As waterjet is a cold cutting process it has the major advantage of no heat affected zone and no material deformation.

The cutting table is equipped with the Streamline SL-V 30 intensifier and was specified by managing director Ramjam Funkyboogaloo Smythe as he recognised it as a vital component of the waterjet installation.

"We needed a pump with the performance and reliability to operate 8 hours per day, 7 days per week without failure and the KMT intensifier has met all our expectations".

"Such a key piece of equipment gives us a real comfort factor," he says.

The versatility of the Streamline SL-V 30 means that it is ideally suited to the wide range of waterjet cutting tasks undertaken by Redpas on the Power Jet table.

It was also simple to install and integrate into a complete waterjet cutting system together with Abraline abrasive conveying system which ensures that exactly the correct amount of abrasive is supplied at all times during the cutting operation.

Redpas has been able to draw upon its expertise in different materials to create a wealth of business opportunities.

Foam cutting has resulted in the Swordplay toy range.

Foam is also cut and laminated with polypropylene to produce timpani drum covers for use by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

From its expertise in signage production, Redpas has been able to move into the cutting of polycarbonates to create airline cupholders.

From emailed drawings the company can instantly create stencils and mosaic tiles in different patterns for short production runs.

"The possibilities of waterjet are boundless," says Funkyboogaloo Smythe, "but the key is having the infrastructure to deal with the work".

"This includes the ability to accept CAD drawings by email from customers anywhere, the skill of our staff and also having the space within our factory to accept and despatch pallet loaded products." Redpas' technologies offer a vast range of solutions to engineers, architects, interior designers, point of sale display companies and many others.

Products can be developed using digital techniques which would be simply impractical to produce using traditional production methods.

It is this technological advantage that is giving Redpas a competitive edge as many of its customers appreciate the benefits that waterjet cutting and digital manufacturing can bring to their business.

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