Investment in Ficep UK’s automated drilling and profiling lines has helped Wolverhampton-based Advanced Cold-Formed Sections (ACFS) to maximise its levels of factory pre-fabrication, reduce fabrication time, improve quality and save significantly on material costs.

ACFS, which is part of the Metek group, manufactures light steel frames, stud and tracks, as well as floor and mezzanine cassettes and cladding rails, primarily for the residential, hotel and student accommodation markets. The investment in two new Ficep systems, which include an Excalibur 12 drilling system, comes as part of ACFS’s continued commitment to driving innovation and meeting long-term sustainability objectives.

The new Excalibur system is now in situ at ACFS’s 7900 sq m facility in Wolverhampton. Since purchasing the machines, company owner Oliver Rogan reports a 120% increase in output of materials and a significant reduction in welding time with 42% fewer welders needed to produce the product range.

ACFS’s Excalibur is a CNC drilling system with an 18-m bed that allows ACFS to carry out tasks that include scribing, ID marks, notches and copes, as well as drilling. The system’s milling capability has enabled components to be connected with a single bolt, helping with cost reduction. According to Rogan, the Excalibur alone has enabled ACFS to process a record-breaking 60-tonne job in five days with only five welders. It also allowed the company to process beams beyond the capabilities of its stockholders.

Ficep’s software interface is another huge benefit. The Excalibur’s CNC software allows for remote diagnosis that allows Ficep’s service team to perform system diagnostics and routine checks.

“The results have far surpassed our expectations,” says Rogan. “Ficep’s systems help our welders to speed up production and reduce NCRs, giving us an end result that fits together seamlessly.”

For further information
www.ficep.co.uk