Automated storage halves handling and inventory

To streamline its production and logistics, Bavarian precision engineering firm Werner Weitner, which primarily manufactures components and assemblies for the global automotive and medical sectors, has centralised a large part of its activities in a new factory building at its headquarters in Eichstätt. In the process, raw material storage has been updated with the installation of two UniTower systems from Kasto, which not only save time and space, but are ergonomic and economical.

CEO Heinz Weitner says: “Our logistics was becoming a challenge, as we had expanded organically over the years. The material that is now held in the two towers of our new production and storage unit was not long ago distributed in manually operated warehouse areas across several factory buildings on our site. Now everything is bright, clean and tidy, resulting in a pleasant working atmosphere.

“We’ve used sawing machines from Kasto for many years and been extremely satisfied with their performance,” he continues. “We were aware that the company also manufactures automated storage systems for bar stock and sheet material, so we sat down together to find a solution to our requirements.”

To optimise efficiency of material flow in the new factory, Kasto recommended installing two freestanding dual tower storage systems. The UniTower 1.0 is suitable for storing and retrieving bar stock up to 3 m in length, while the UniTower 2.0 has the capacity to handle material up to 6 m long. A KastoMicut E4.6 swing-frame, pivoting-bow bandsaw is located between the two towers’ output stations. The saw is designed for the cross and mitre cutting of bar, tube and profile.

There are six other Kasto saws on site, most of which are from the KastoWin bandsaw machine series, half of which have been replaced with more recently introduced models.

For further information
www.kasto.com

Work holding aids efficiency at Opus

Having identified a gap in the UK automotive market for a highly-efficient subcontractor that specialises in the production of premium-quality, low-volume components, the founders of Opus International Products established their business in 2013. In less than 10 years the company has grown to become a major force within its sector.

Given the company’s relatively short production runs, to help reduce changeover times and increase its machining efficiency, managing director Rob Coles recently searched for an advanced work-holding system, opting for a selection of solutions from Lang Technik UK.

“By using our Lang Technik work-holding systems on our Haas machine tools we’ve achieved the incremental production increases we were seeking,” he says. “Now, before inserting a workpiece blank into one of our new Lang Makro-grip vices, staff can use our Lang Technik stamping unit to make very accurate, minute indentations into the workpiece. Then, as the ‘male’ features on the jaws of our Lang vices engage exactly with the workpiece’s pre-stamped ‘dents’, we are able to achieve excellent holding power with the application of only minimal clamping forces. We are therefore able to hold, from the softest to the hardest of materials, under all machining conditions without fear of deformation. In addition, as the Lang Technik stamping unit makes its indentations into only the last 3 mm of workpieces, we are able to make savings on material.”

Coles adds: “As all of the indenting preparation work is carried out before each workpiece is placed into the machine tool, the use of our new Lang stamping unit and Makro-grip vices has slashed machining downtime. As we continue to ramp-up our production levels, we will be returning to Lang Technik UK for further products.”

For further information
www.lang-technik.co.uk

Lots to see from XYZ Machine Tools

XYZ Machine Tools’ main stand (Hall 18, Stand 130) will not be short of new products with several machines making their UK exhibition debuts, including the new XYZ SS 65 sub-spindle lathe (pictured), a first for XYZ and one that is generating lots of interest due to its capability and competitive pricing. Introduced in response to demand from customers seeking increased productivity and less spindle downtime, the XYZ SS 65 features a 16.5 kW, 4000 rpm main spindle with 65 mm bar capacity and 200 mm diameter chuck as standard, complemented by an 11 kW, 5000 rpm sub-spindle featuring a 52 mm bore and 150 mm chuck.

Also making its MACH debut will be the XYZ ProTurn RLX 780 lathe. While not new to the range, the sheer scale of this machine has precluded it from being shown before. Weighing in at 8600 kg, the machine features a swing over the bed of 780 mm (1090 mm in the gap) and a distance between centres of 3000 mm. The spindle is powered by a 32 kW motor with the gearbox providing two speed ranges from 20 to 1300 rpm.

For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Dugard turns up productivity

Dugard Machine Tools (Hall 20, Stand 640) will be introducing a number of new machine tools on its stand. For instance, the company will unveil the Kitamura MedCenter5AX five-axis vertical machining centre for fast precise machining, as well as the larger Dugard GTX-620 five-axis machining centre.

Another MACH premiere will be given to the Hanwha brand of sliding-head turning centres. Here, the Hanwha XD38R incorporates the facility to rapidly switch from guide bush to non-guide bush operation. Also on the stand will be the SMEC SL2000ASY turning centre (pictured). Built upon the foundation of a single-piece Meehanite casting ribbed with a torque tube design, box slide-ways are present throughout the SMEC range, resulting in good vibration dampening and thermal displacement characteristics.

For further information
www.dugard.com

Hainbuch to display latest technologies

Hainbuch (Hall 20, Stand 447) will host new and established work-holding technologies, such as the Manok Plus system. This extended variant of the manual Manok stationary chuck differs through the use of adaptation elements. With the Manok plus system, many more clamping possibilities are now available in combination with the Mando Adapt mandrel-in-chuck (or the jaw module for even larger clamping diameters).

The Manok work-holding system is suitable for five-axis machining and stationary applications as the chuck operates with a pull-back action, so components are pulled positively against any internal stop to give power and rigidity while reducing vibration during heavy-duty milling operations. To improve set-up and changeover times, the Manok incorporates a manual fixture that easily changes the clamping heads in a couple of seconds.

For further information www.hainbuch.com