Cosen fills the gap with new SH-520DM bandsaw

Any new fabrication equipment worth mentioning is often the result of a company listening to the needs of its customer. As just one example, fabricators working in structural steel, heavy manufacturing and job shop environments sometimes find themselves forced to compromise by investing in a small saw that cannot keep pace with production needs because the large-format saw would be overkill in more ways than one. The engineers at Cosen Saws, however, listened to customers and developed a solution with a product that it says “fills the gap” – the SH-520DM bandsaw.

Peng Huang, president of Cosen Saws North America, says at the heart of the SH-520DM double-mitre bandsaw is its ability to make a mitre cut up to 60° in either direction. For a variety of shops, that range is critical as it allows aggressive angles and precise cuts on I-beam, channel, tubing and other structural material without the need for multiple set ups or added equipment.

Huang says manufacturers in the utility and fabrication space need a saw that can handle straight cuts and severe angles, and the SH-520DM gives them that flexibility while keeping the material flow straightforward and well-supported.

“There was a need for the shops that started out with a smaller machine and wanted to grow their production into the next machine, but the next machine was too big to fit their floor space,” he explains. “The introduction of this model not only saved them on floor space, it also produces at the capacity that they can comfortably grow into.”

Cosen made a deliberate decision to go semi-automatic with the SH-520DM. Huang notes that not everyone needs a fully computerised machine. There is a strong market for saws that are intuitive, practical and versatile without heavy programming. The SH-520DM is designed to meet that need.

More information www.cosensaws.com

Cutting-edge stainless steel sawing: The real results

Since UK-based KR Saws was founded in 2004, the stainless steel industry has been one of its core focus areas. Backed by the innovation and research of parent companies Kinkelder and Roentgen, KR Saws says it has continually pushed the boundaries of cutting performance and efficiency. The company’s long-standing commitment to this sector is reflected in its position as the only bandsaw blade supplier to be a member of the British Stainless Steel Association.

Roentgen’s R&D team never stops refining its blade technology. After promising test results on stainless steel, the company introduced the Titan ST — a next-generation carbide-tipped bandsaw blade designed for speed, precision and durability. To put the Titan ST to the test, KR Saws partnered with a major stainless steel stockholder that wanted to reduce cutting times and improve productivity.

The stockholder had been using a bi-metal blade, but using Roentgen’s RCS cutting calculator, KR Saws recommended a cutting speed four times faster than the company’s previous set up. In addition, the Titan ST delivered longer blade life, while its pre-honed edge meant no running-in period.

“I’m actually shocked,” said the customer. “The carbide ST blade has been running for a week at the recommended feed and speed, and it’s still cutting perfectly. We’ve had over 100 cuts (16.6 m² blade life) and it’s still going; this blade is a game changer.”

Another recent stainless steel project pushed the limits further — cutting large-diameter 316 and 304 stainless steel. The target was to outperform a competitor’s average blade life of 8.9 m². Following Roentgen’s recommendation, KR Saws introduced the M51 Master, a bi-metal blade built for stainless and alloy steels. Across five blades, the M51 Master achieved an average life of 10.8 m², outperforming the competition by over 21%.

More information www.krsaws.co.uk

Why bandsaw accuracy drops and how to fix it fast

When the cutting accuracy of a bandsaw drops, the impact is immediate: uneven cuts, higher scrap rates and longer cycle times. In this article, UK bandsaw supplier Dimakin explains why cutting accuracy declines, and how to correct it quickly.

Accuracy rarely disappears overnight. In most cases, clear warning signs emerge first, allowing workshops to correct problems quickly and avoid unnecessary downtime. Common symptoms include angled or tapered cuts, rough or inconsistent surfaces, blade wandering, excessive burr formation, and inconsistent cut lengths. Operators may also notice increased vibration, chatter or unusual blade noise. These indicators typically point to issues with blade condition, set up, alignment or feed control.

Blade condition is one of the most frequent contributors to poor accuracy. Worn blades struggle to maintain a straight cutting path, particularly in thicker sections or higher-strength materials. Incorrect blade selection has a similar effect: fine-tooth blades can clog in thick material, while coarse pitches lack stability on thin sections. Both increase cutting resistance, leading to blade deflection. Prompt blade replacement and correct tooth pitch, geometry and width selection are among the fastest ways to restore accuracy.

Blade tension is equally critical. Under-tensioned blades flex during cutting, while excessive tension accelerates fatigue and places unnecessary strain on machine components. Following manufacturer-recommended tension settings and checking them regularly helps maintain stable blade tracking.

Guide and bearing alignment also play a vital role. Worn, misaligned or contaminated guides allow the blade to drift under load. Keeping guides clean, correctly aligned and positioned close to the workpiece minimises unsupported blade length and improves precision.

Finally, consistent feed control and secure workpiece clamping are essential. Controlled bow descent prevents blade deflection, while firm, square clamping eliminates vibration and movement.

More information www.dimakin.co.uk

Kaltenbach introduces saw-drill line of machines

Kaltenbach has unveiled its latest innovation: the KKS 463 NA | KD 140 saw-drill line. This versatile all-round machine has been developed to meet a wide range of requirements in metal construction, steel stockholding and steel fabrication. It combines all essential processing steps in one compact system – capable of handling various steel shapes, especially in the smaller dimension range. While large systems are often uneconomical for small-format profiles, Kaltenbach says this machine offers the solution the market has long been seeking.

With the new saw-drill line, steel processing companies can handle nearly all materials and profile shapes: from round material with a diameter as small as 15 mm to special profiles up to 140 x 140 mm or flat material up to 240 mm wide. Mitre cuts of up to ±20° make the machine highly versatile.

The technology enables fully automated and precise drilling, milling, thread cutting, flow drilling and marking on all four sides of the profile. High automation and speed are the hallmarks of this machine, which only requires personnel for loading. Remnant lengths of less than 15 mm ensure maximum material utilisation, making the entire production process more efficient and resource-friendly.

The automatic tool changer, intelligent material preloading with feed magazines and fully automated part sorting boost productivity. Automatic adjustment during material changes – without any manual set up – reduces staffing needs to a minimum.

“Our new saw-drill line was specifically developed to meet the needs of our customers,” explains René Eger, managing director of Kaltenbach Cutting Systems GmbH. “Market demand was high, and we’re proud to offer a solution that combines high automation with fast processing times. This enables our customers to work more efficiently and significantly increase their productivity.”

More information www.kaltenbach.com

Compact storage and sawing from a single source

To meet growing demand, stockholder, processor and distributor Brütsch/Rüegger Metals AG, located in Regensdorf near Zurich, has upgraded its operations by replacing a semi-automatic honeycomb storage system for housing long stock with fully-automatic Unitop and Unitower storage systems from Kasto.

Brütsch/Rüegger is witnessing significant growth, today stocking 5500 tonnes of metals of 8000 different types and sizes. However, with this higher level of business came challenges. The honeycomb storage system from the 1980s was reaching the limit of its capability.

“Expanding the existing warehouse was not feasible due to infrastructure constraints, leaving only one option – consolidation,” explains Patrick Epp, managing director of Brütsch/Rüegger. “This led to the initiation of a new project to increase storage capacity, modernise the warehouse and enhance process efficiency.”

The metals specialist had complex requirements for the new installation, which needed to offer twice the storage capacity and fit within the 26 m wide hall. Additionally, the system had to be reliable, easy to operate and able to employ seven different storage and retrieval stations, allowing simultaneous processing of materials with multiple saws.

Says Epp: “We’ve been using a KASTOwin A 3.3 bandsaw from Kasto since 2018 and we’re very satisfied with its performance. This was one of the primary reasons we chose to meet with Kasto at a trade fair to talk about our requirements.”

Kasto recommended its Unitop 3.0 overhead, horizontally-moving gantry crane system with 521 storage positions for storing material up to 6.5 m long, and its Unitower 3.0 cassette storage system, with vertically-moving stacker crane, able to accommodate 12 m long material. Both systems are computer controlled by the KASTOlogic warehouse management system. The installation also includes two new bandsawing centres from the KASTOwin series, models F 3.3 and A 3.6.

More information www.kasto.com