Product category:
CNC laser cutting and profiling machines
News Release from: Trumpf | Subject: TruLaser 2025 CNC laser profiling centre
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 July 2007
CNC laser profiling centre is automated
Supplying sheet metal components to the retail/point-of-sale industry looked like expanding exponentially, so a fabricated has added an automated CNC laser profiling centre to expand capacity.
Stratford Tools, a sheet metal fabricator based in Buckingham, UK, forsaw a shortfall in capacity as some very large contracts in the retail/point-of-sale industry were expected The decision was taken to take advantage of the benefits offered by automating the loading/unloading of a CNC laser cutting and profiling system for sheet metal
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Of interest too was the capability of unmanned operation to increase capacity and reduce costs.
The company was already operating two laser cutting machines and one combination punch/laser press, even so recent production flow 'bottlenecks' had indicated a growing shortfall in capacity.
If the company was going to gain more retail sector orders, then something had to be done.
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The bottom line at Lucy Switchgear is that one laser and one punch have enabled the company to produce 10,000 parts/week, compared with some 6,000 parts/week from the old two-punch facility.
Stratford Tools has since invested in a new Trumpf TruLaser 2025 CNC laser profiling centre.
The centre has fully integral loading and unloading units.
Giving the reasons why Stratford Tools went to a new sheet metal working machine supplier instead of its existing one, general manager of Stratford Tools, Stephen Cooke, explained: "We were not unhappy with our previous machine tool supplier, or their machines, but on this occasion the Trumpf TruLaser 2025 simply offered the best solution.
He said: "The simplicity of the machine and the way it works in terms of nesting and programming exactly match our future needs.
Other machines in its class appear overly complex.
We want a simple machine that we can run unmanned, using only semi-skilled operators to tend to its occasional requirements." The Trumpf TruLaser 2025 fabrication centre is publicised by Trumpf as a 'low cost, fully automated' machine'.
Its main features are as follows.
* It has loading and unloading units connected directly to the machine.
* Factory space occupied - or 'footprint' - is minimised.
* It offers X- and Y-axis movements of 2.5m and 1.25m respectively.
* Maximum simultaneous axis speed is about 170m/min.
Diverging away from a machine tool that one is used to is always seen as a risk by many companies, though in Cooke's view, he did not think that was the case as far as Stratford Tools was concerned.
He said: "We have plenty of laser cutting experience.
Along with Trumpf's help we will be fine - two of our operators have already attended the programming course." Trumpf delivered the TruLaser 2025 to Stratford Tool's impressive, 78,000ft air conditioned factory in April, 2007.
The TruLaser 2025 will cut and profile parts from a variety of materials including mild steel and zintec parts between 1mm and 2mm thick.
The machine will cut mild steel up to 12mm thick or stainless steel up to 6mm and aluminium up to 5mm, but Cooke said that he wanted the power for high speed cutting on thin gauge sheet.
Note too that Stratford Tools has its own nitrogen generation plant, so all jobs are cut cleanly.
* Nitrogen generator - "Previously our nitrogen was supplied by bulk cylinder banks, which significantly increased component costs," said Cooke.
"Also, not using nitrogen can present carbon-edge problems when welding.
The combination of our new TruLaser 2025 and our nitrogen generation plant will put us in a very competitive market position.
Our forthcoming orders for the retail sector are predominantly mild steel-based, so they will benefit enormously." * About Stratford Tools - Stratford Tools has recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.
The company founder, George Cooke is now semi-retired, leaving the day-to-day management of the firm in the hands of his two sons.
Today Stratford Tools is a 52-employee business that turns over GBP 4.5 million annually.
Aside from the retail sector, the ISO9001 accredited company has a strong history of supplying industries such as telecommunications, instrumentation and sound and audio.
Although Stratford Tools can produce 'one-off' components, typical batch sizes are normally around 100-200.
Cooke said that the company's customers return time and time again for a number of reasons.
"We win contracts because our customers buy into our philosophy of 'right-first-time' quality, on-time delivery and competitive pricing structure," he stated. Request a free brochure from Trumpf ...
"Our new TruLaser 2025 can help us improve even further in all of these aspects.".
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