Kaltenbach and HGG Profiling Equipment, which specialises in high-speed plasma cutting and 3D profiling, have developed a strategic co-operation for the steel construction market across a wide geographical area.

The partnership is focused on thermal cutting, coping, drilling and sawing solutions for profiles and beams.
“In order to push the boundaries of technology and stay ahead of the game, technology suppliers need to achieve a high degree of specialisation,” says Daan van Dee, HGG global channel manager. “By combining the best of thermal cutting with the best of sawing and drilling, we create a total solution that offers a significantly higher value for our clients and stands out from the competition.”
Kaltenbach will add a new coping robot to its product range which is powered by HGG. The new Kaltenbach thermal coping robot is said to be one the world’s most advanced, combining HGG’s software, scanning methods and cutting intelligence with German engineering and manufacturing quality.
“At Kaltenbach we strive to supply our customers with the very best solution for each type of technology,” says Matthias Rummel, Kaltenbach CSO.
In the field of 3D coping HGG has been known for years as the technology leader, and by integrating this technology in our automated steel processing systems we increase the productivity of our customers significantly.”
Right from the start, the partnership turned out to be a perfect fit, and has already been positively received by the market. By combining the development forces of both parties, the possibilities for customers are said to be endless.
For further information https://kaltenbach.co.uk/

Barrett Steel, which operates 30 sites across the UK, including two key sites in Bradford and Shoreham, employs four Endeavour saw-drill lines (among other Ficep machines) and one Tipo A31 Plasma drill at Rotherham, taking the total number of installed Ficep machines to 11.

The family-owned business has been a Ficep customer for many years, but recent growth and site acquisitions generated a need for further steel processing machines with a focus on automation across three of Barrett Steel’s sites.
John Childs, operations manager, says: “We were influenced by the capabilities of Ficep’s automation and the Endeavour in particular. Line automation removes the need for our workers to touch steel between operations, which results in reducing the of risk accidents. This is a major factor in any decision making for us.”
The Endeavour enables operators to put material on at one end and remove it at the other in its completed state. Not only does this improve safety by reducing the need to handle steel, it releases workers to do other productive activities. This one change is contributing to a 40% increase in productivity, in particular at the Bradford site, and has seen machine utilisation running at around 90%.
“The Endeavour machines, at the time of purchase, were, in our opinion, the most sophisticated units on the market,” says Childs. “In the Endeavour, Ficep has a powerful machining centre with a close-coupled saw, while its speed in drilling and milling was much better than the competition. For us, the Ficep-linked automation is ahead of others on the market and it’s enabled Barrett Steel to increase capacity through improved productivity and a reduction in direct labour costs.”
For further information www.ficep.co.uk