Sheet metal laser and press brakes ordered

An expanding UK sub-contract sheet metal working firm has placed a GBP 800,000 order for a CNC laser cutting system and two high specification press brakes.

The sub-contracting and sheet metal fabrication division of Altron Communications Equipment, Swelco, has ordered a Bystronic Byspeed 3015 CNC laser cutting system equipped with a ByTrans loading and unloading system; a rotary axis for an existing Bystar laser cutting system and two high-specification Bystronic Beyeler Xpert press brakes.

Bystronic UK took the GBP 800,000 from Swelco.

Altron manufactures CCTV equipment.

Swelco said that 60% of its work comes from external customers and 40% is for Altron.

Swelco already operates a Bystronic Bystar 4020, 4kW laser CNC laser cutting and profiling machine as well as two other laser cutting systems.

Swelco now wants to expand into new markets and consolidate its current flame and jig cutting work, which is why the company decided to retrofit a rotary axis to its exisitng Bystar system.

Swelco will use the rotary axis to process tubes up to 315mm diameter.

Swelco has also decided to retire the two older, laser systems.

These will be replaced by the Byspeed 3015 laser cutting system with automation.

The Byspeed 3015 system will provide Swelco with the additional capacity to expand existing business and its sub-contract customer base.

* Making the choice - Swelco firstly worked out the required capacity, the materials the new machine would be required to process and the overall competitiveness.

Part of the process included identifying which laser cutting system out the Bystronic range would be the most suitable.

Once all this had been decided bench mark tests were carried out on the Byspeed as well as competing systems.

Swelco's managing director, Steve Jones, said: "When looking at machines to trial we felt the Byspeed with ByTrans would suit our future demands in terms of material utilisation and thickness; and overall speed".

The company ran a series of tests over different nests.

He reported: "In one 6mm (thick metal) nest our existing older laser took 1h 24 min, the Bystar produced a similar result, whereas the Byspeed cut the nest in just 34 min.

The speed of the machine was 'electrifying'".

Jones said that it was not just the speed and quality of the machine that gave Bystronic the order.

It was the quality of the organisation, its professionalism, progressive attitude, attention to detail and its terrific service and after-sales facility.

Jones added: "The ByTrans system will allow us to venture into automation and 'lights-out' production for the first time and we need to be assured that support will be there should we need it.

We also have the Team software which will allow us to control and analyse the cutting process".

* Using nitrogen instead of oxygen - Jones also said that it was suggested that Swelco invest in, through a third party, a nitrogen generation facility.

Using nitrogen will allow those components usually cut with oxygen to be cut with nitrogen, therefore reduced cutting times even further and would make Swelco more competitive.

* Press brakes - in addition to improving its laser cutting facility, Swelco wanted to further improve its press brake (brake press) facility.

The two Bystronic Beyeler Xpert pressbrakes, of 3200kN (320 tonf) x 4m and 1500kN (150 tonf x 3m, will replace three older machines.

Swelco expects that the two Beyeler two new press brakes, with one existing machine, will do the work of five older press brakes.

Jones said: "With the Beyeler Xperts' interchangeable tooling and quick set-up times resulting in reduced machine down-time, I envisage a 30% improvement in capacity and accuracy.

Investing in a single source supplier was a major factor as was the consistency of the Beyeler Xperts and the ease of programming".

He added: "The larger 4m machine is equipped with tooling to bend deep channels together with increased daylight and stroke of 300mm (our largest profile is 600mm square with two bends) and the lifting aid on the machine will be invaluable.".

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