KMF has purchased a new P4lean-2516 Salvagnini panel bender (P4L) that uses 60% less electricity, saving the company an estimated £8000 a year.

Several upgrades are featured, including CLA-SIM auxiliary blade command, MAC 2.0 to calculate suitable bending trajectories and a patented bending formula which will automatically adjust a bend to any mechanical or thermal deformation. The machine complements an existing P4-2516 panel bender from Salvagnini that has provided more than 78,000 hours of working time for KMF to date.
The P4-2516 required 600 litres of oil, but new P4L machines use electronic actuators with only 13 litres of oil in total. All current P4L machines use touch-screen controls running on a Windows 10 platform. Moreover, the panel bending system is Industry 4.0-embedded, including the service support option of 24-hour machine monitoring to ensure all systems are working within tolerance.
“To provide an idea of efficiency and productivity levels on our panel bender, it is currently around 80%,” explains Pete Krynicki, programming and folding technician at KMF.
The Salvagnini machine can manufacture metal panels up to a maximum of 2500 mm long and form bends up to 165 mm high. A favoured feature is the panel bender’s interactive graphics programming, which will significantly decrease the task of KMF programmers with its intuitive programming and 3D simulation of different bending phases. The new panel bender also offers automatic tool changing and the ability to switch from one operation to another in a few seconds.
“As a metal fabrication subcontractor, being able to complete small and large batches without manual tool changes will significantly improve our speed of processing and flexibility,” adds Krynicki. “We also appreciate the personalised service, training and support on the panel benders that we get from Salvagnini – it is a real partnership.”
For further information www.salvagninigroup.com

One of the world’s most famous manufacturers of guarding for machinery, Procter Machine Safety, is benefiting from the performance and quality attributes of a newly installed Trumpf TruBend 5130 CNC press brake.

The machine has been acquired to increase bending capacity at the company’s 100-employee Caerphilly manufacturing plant, where it has been joined by Trumpf’s TruTops Boost programming software.
“To be honest, we assumed that Trumpf machines would be too expensive, so we initially discounted them for that reason,” says John Procter, the company’s director of machine safety. “Nevertheless, we arranged a visit and were not only impressed with the press brakes on offer, but the prices were cheaper than we envisaged.”
The TruBend 5130 offers features such as lower tool displacement and five-axis back-gauge functionality. Since installation, the machine has been set to work producing parts for machine guards made from mild steel, aluminium and stainless steel, typically from 1 to 5 mm in thickness. Many of the parts are made to order, so are either 1-offs or low in batch size.
“We like the bending aid,” states Procter. “This helps with lifting and has allowed us to increase efficiencies due to less man-hours being required on any given job. Ultimately we have been able to cut shifts by up to half. In addition, thanks to the capabilities of the Trumpf TruBend 5130, we can now bend parts that were previously not possible.”
In terms of tangible savings, the press brake has made a positive contribution to the company’s bottom line. “I would estimate that the machine is around 15% faster than our existing press brake capacity,” explains Procter. “In addition, we are enjoying labour cost savings, as well as benefiting from less human error, which in turn means reduced scrap.”
For further information www.trumpf.com

Recol Engineering Ltd, a Northampton-based subcontract supplier of complete metal-based manufacturing solutions, has installed an Amada HG-1003ATC (Automatic Tool Changer) automated press brake to facilitate its current period of sustained growth.

Indeed, the company’s continuous programme of ongoing investment in the latest manufacturing technologies has never been healthier, as evidenced by Recol’s commitment to automated manufacturing solutions. As part of a total spend close to £2m, investment in the press brake was complemented by an order for an automated ACIES2515TAJ 4 kW fibre laser.
To support the laser, Recol has also ordered an Amada AS-ULS-NTK double-tower system with 30-tonne capacity. The system provides 10 raw material shelves and five finished component shelves. Some 72 hours of unmanned operations give true lights-out weekend production.
“We want to leverage the full effect of the available automation so that we have no reliance on labour,” says director Ben Guntrip. “The buffer of the store makes for a very lean operating concept, which in turn means we can control material diversity across our machines.”
While the automated fibre laser will be delivered early this year, the Amada HG-1003ATC automated press brake was installed in November 2018.
“In total we are investing close to £2m to ensure that Recol retains its market-leading position,” concludes Guntrip. “However, the new Amada fibre laser and press brake are not just about gaining extra capacity, they are about process efficiency, reducing lead-time and ensuring we are not reliant on certain machines. Pure and simple,
we are futureproofing our business.”
For further information www.amada.co.uk

Rhodes Interform, the Group Rhodes business which specialises in bespoke composite and metal-forming machinery, has expanded its team with the appointment of three service engineers to enhance customer service.

The starters – Gary Lymm, Nigel Hartley and Paul Lowden – are all experienced in either mechanical, hydraulic or electrical engineering, as well as servicing and repair.
Steve Jackson, technical sales manager for Rhodes Interform, says: “There has been growing demand over the past 12 months for our repair and maintenance services from the metal press industries, including aerospace, automotive, white goods and general sheet metal fabrication. Gary, Nigel and Paul will play a key role in expanding our service agreements with customers as we continue to demonstrate how we can reduce plant downtime and maximise operational efficiency through planned maintenance schedules.”
As well as producing presses, Rhodes Interform says it reconditions and upgrades existing machines at a fraction of the cost of buying new. This service includes complete machine refurbishments on all Group Rhodes metal-forming, materials handling, clay preparation and concrete working machinery, as well as refurbishment work on equipment of other makes. The company can also offer full PLC or CNC control system upgrades, supported by software designed to meet the individual requirements of each customer.
Group Rhodes recently showcased its bespoke composite and metal-forming machinery at the Advanced Engineering show in Birmingham. Composite machinery manufactured by the company is used to manufacture structural components for production road cars, as well as flight critical parts for a variety of aircraft. The company also offers a range of cold forming technologies for specialist metal-forming applications across a number of sectors.
For further information www.grouprhodes.co.uk

After using Haco Synchromaster press brakes in tandem (two ERMS 30250 models), a HSL3013 hydraulic guillotine shear and a Compact 40 ironworker, a supplier to bus manufacturer Ashok Leyland that specialises in the manufacture of truck cabin, cowl, front end structure (FES), fuel tank, load body and stallion load body systems, has invested in additional machines from Haco Kingsland.

This time, the South India based company has installed a further set of Synchromaster press brakes in tandem (two ERMS 36250 machines), along with another HSL3013 hydraulic guillotine shear and Compact 40 ironworker.
The customer is a well-known supplier of Ashok Leyland, which is the second largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India, the fourth largest manufacturer of buses in the world and the 12th largest manufacturer of trucks. In order to increase production capacity and provide more accurate components to Ashok Leyland, the customer decided to buy another 7.2 m x 500 ton tandem press brake.
After using one tandem press brake previously and enjoying impressive performances, the company has acquired two further Haco CNC Synchromaster press brakes that can be used in tandem as required. The Synchromaster is a well-equipped multi-axis CNC press brake with electro-hydraulic levelling, depth control and high angular and geometrical precision.
The company also bought another shearing machine for cutting 3 m long x 13 mm thick plates. According to the customer, it appreciates the European quality combined with competitive pricing. The new machines have already been installed at the factory and are in full production.
For further information www.kingsland.com