CAD/CAM replacement saved profiling time

Existing software was unable to program lasers, its replacement offered flexibility - drawings and designs could be imported, drawn and nested in the one system - saving time for each job.

SigmaTEK has played a vital role in the way in which Parker Steel has developed its business over the past five years.

The steel stockholder, which employs over 450 people and has a turnover of GBP 60 million has been supplying UK industry with steel since 1904 from its head offices in Canterbury and depots in Andover, Gatwick and Waterbeach.

The company supplies sectors as diverse as construction and automotive and is the largest independent steel stockholder in the South of England.

Before SigmaNEST CAD/CAM and nesting software was installed, Parker Steel processed around 90 drawings per day producing irregular flat profiles for its customers.

Terry Martin, technical manager for Parker Steel said, "Our existing software was unable to program lasers.

We searched for a replacement, choosing SigmaNEST for its flexibility, and the way in which drawings and designs could be imported, drawn and nested in the one system, saving small but significant amounts of time for each job we processed".

The demand for special flat profiles from Parker Steel's customer base of 28,000 has grown significantly, with demand now running at 420 drawings per day.

SigmaNEST is used to program the company's six laser machines, three gas cutters, one water jet, one plasma and one Ficep Tipo metal working centre, which combines plasma, gas cutting, drilling and punching.

To keep the machines running and to ensure rapid delivery, Parker Steel has 12 seats of SigmaNEST running on a 3 shift system from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm.

The company creates 40-50 nests each day, ranging from single sheets to complex nests of 100 sheets containing thousands of parts.

Martin added, "SigmaNEST's automatic nesting produces a nest in seconds.

It also has multiple nest settings so that we can choose the nesting power to suit the needs of the job, saving valuable time and material by nesting both full sheets and remnants.

Additionally, it has the flexibility to allow us to intervene manually where necessary to optimise nests".

He concluded, "We have to turnaround work very quickly to remain competitive.

30% of our business is flat product, and 25% of that requires processing through SigmaNEST.

The software has evolved with our growing requirements - it has enabled us to do business which would previously have been impossible".

* About the SigmaTEK Corporation - formed in 1992, with offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, Seattle, Washington, USA; international offices in Europe, Japan and Australia, and a worldwide distribution network, over 4000 SigmaNEST systems are now in use round the globe.

SigmaNEST software maintains its technological leadership in sheet metal nesting and cutting by a relentless commitment to research and development, providing customers with tools to maximise material utilisation and increase machine throughput while minimising programming time and effort.

Authorised training centres around the world provide after sales technical support and education to optimise productivity for users.

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