Shannon-based Bolger Engineering, a contractor to the medical industry, recently saw its order for Medtronic Puritan Bennett PB-series ventilator components leap from 4000 a week to over 18,000. And that increase in production is continuing early this year.

Sales manager Paul Collins says the company quickly identified ways of adapting to increase manufacturing capacity, including bringing in 35 more people and implementing new 25/5 shift patterns. He also says it became clear that Bolger’s Radan CADCAM software from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence would be a key enabler in managing what he describes as a “major leap”.

“The design of the ventilators and individual parts didn’t change – but the challenge was to increase production by more than 500%,” he states. “We use Radan to program both our Trumpf punching machines and Trumpf laser cutter, so with over 18,000 components a week to produce for these ventilators alone, we knew that material utilisation and program optimisation were going to be crucial.”

He adds: “Our programmers typically take a 3D model or DXF drawing and import it into Radan to tool the part for either the punch or laser machines, depending on material thickness and profile complexity. They then nest and program the machine where Radan gives the best sheet utilisation. This is hugely important, as more often than not, material is the largest percentage of a job’s costs.”

Radan software allows the user to optimise manufacturing nests, while also enabling the profiling of components to within ±0.2 mm.

“That is very important as some components have 14 bends per part and we can very quickly see a high stack of tolerances when everything comes together at the assembly stage,” explains Collins.

For further information
www.radan.com

Hypertherm, a manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, has released ProNest 2021, a major version update of its CADCAM nesting software for automated cutting. This new release contains new features and enhancements designed to make customers more efficient and profitable.

Among the new features is a redesigned 2D CAD package that provides improved font support, the ability to shape text, and other new functions that are especially popular among sign makers. Furthermore, a CAD editor preference allows users to set a default CAD program for edits to parts in the ProNest part list. Customers can simply select the embedded ProNest CAD software or choose a third-party software such as AutoCAD.

Another enhancement is interior bridge cutting, allowing users to add bridges to text and other interior geometry so that pieces do not drop when cut. This capability helps to minimise interior cut-outs on parts for aesthetic purposes and reduces tip-ups.

“ProNest 2021 builds on the strong foundation of ProNest 2019 to make the programming process more efficient,” says Tom Stillwell, marketing project manager for Hypertherm CADCAM software products. “Whether using plasma, waterjet, laser or oxy-fuel cutting, this new version provides the powerful tools that fabricators and manufacturers need to increase material savings, boost productivity, lower operating costs and improve part quality.”

In addition, Hypertherm is releasing upgrades to its ProNest LT software for lighter production environments. Users with an active subscription and customers with an active maintenance plan, can upgrade to the new version of their respective product at no additional charge and continue receiving unlimited technical support, and other benefits.

For further information
www.hypertherm.com/CAM

Close Brothers Asset Finance has provided specialist designer and manufacturer, Brand Consortia, with a term loan backed by CBILS to help the business through the COVID-19 period, putting it in a positive position once site working is deemed safe again.

Based in Oldham, Brand Consortia specialises in the design and manufacture of signs and graphics for high-profile customers. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the business was on track to post a record year. However, the bulk of the company’s order book was postponed for a minimum of eight weeks because of the outbreak.

Matthew Sproston, area sales manager for the manufacturing division at Close Brothers Asset Finance, says: “We’re delighted to have been able to support a British manufacturing business at a time when they needed it most. The directors approached us for forbearance on their existing agreement, which was granted. They also needed a cash injection to provide working capital and help cover the new costs associated with adapting to social distancing measures in their manufacturing facility. The funds will provide the working capital they require to trade out of the pandemic.”

Brad Tupman, managing director at Brand Consortia, adds: “Pretty much the entirety of our workload has been suspended because the type of work we undertake involves site visits; these are critical to our work and have been pushed back to until the pandemic settles down. We have supply agreements in place with our customers and we’re confident in fulfilling our orders once we’re allowed on site again.
“We weren’t eligible for the small retail grant, business rate relief or larger schemes, and had been looking at CBILS as a financing option,” he continues. “We’re grateful that Close Brothers Asset Finance really stepped up, continuing to help businesses like our own while other lenders were not looking to take on new customers.”

For further information
www.closeassetfinance.co.uk

Ölands Vattenskärning AB, a waterjet cutting specialist in Scandinavia, has recently installed its largest machine to date. The machine, made by Water Jet Sweden, has a 4 x 15 m cutting area and is equipped with two cutting heads, one with 0-60°cutting capability.

Some time ago, Ölands Vattenskärning identified a need for a machine with a large cutting surface and the ability to cut in five axes. As luck would have it, another customer of Water Jet Sweden located nearby planned to close its operations. Since 2013 TBS Yard had been manufacturing large sandwich constructions for the shipping industry and, for this purpose, invested in a Grand machine from Water Jet Sweden. This powerful 4 x 15 m machine harnessed two cutting heads, including a five-axis Beveljet 60.

Serviced regularly, the Grand waterjet was in very good condition. Several companies were interested in buying the machine, but Ölands Vattenskärning eventually won the bidding.

The service team from Water Jet Sweden moved the machine to the new site. This turnkey service includes machine reconditioning, packaging, transportation and an operations guarantee, making sure that everything functions properly after installation.

“It’s common for customers to turn to us for this type of assignment because we offer the whole package and ensure that everything works,” explains Ronny Martinsson, head of customer service at Water Jet Sweden. “Moving a very large machine is complex when it comes to loading, unloading, arranging wide load transportation and so on. We took care of it all, arranged transport and carried out additional training on how to run the five-axis Beveljet 60 cutting head.”

As a contract cutter, Ölands Vattenskärning is now the only company in Scandinavia with the ability to offer a machining capacity of 60 sq m profiling surface with 0-60° cutting.

For further information
www.waterjetsweden.com

LVD is introducing the Strippit PL punch-laser combination, a machine that combines the punching and forming advantages of the Strippit PX or V-series punch press with the speed and versatility of fibre-laser cutting to complete multiple processes on a single machine. Three punch-laser models are available: the single-head style Strippit PX 1530-L; and Strippit V 1530-L in thick- and thin-turret configurations.

Strippit PL can laser-cut intricate shapes and process materials up to 10 mm, punch holes up to 6.35 mm diameter, and produce forms and bends up to 90 mm in length and up to 75 mm high. Combination technology offers complete part processing. The punch press handles high-speed punching and forming operations, while the fibre laser delivers high-quality cutting of outer contours and intricate inner contours, as well as material etching.

Built with minimal components, the solid-state fibre laser offers high cutting speed and low maintenance costs, making cutting operations faster, more accurate and cost-effective, says LVD. Strippit PL comes with a 3 or 4 kW fibre-laser source.

The Strippit PX single-head 20-ton punch press can punch, form, bend and tap, and undertake operations such as countersinking and scribing. Some 20 indexable tool stations hold any size tool, up to a maximum diameter of 90 mm.

LVD’s Strippit V thick-turret model features a versatile 48-station turret, while the Strippit V thin-turret configuration has a 40-station turret. Both 30-ton machines are equipped with four programmable 88.9 mm indexable stations.

Strippit PL includes features that deliver high productivity with uninterrupted operation, such as: the ability to process a 3048 x 1524 mm workpiece without repositioning; a large 406 x 1524 mm work chute to evacuate laser-cut parts; and a rack and pinion drive system that eliminates backlash and provides accurate positioning.

For further information
www.lvdgroup.com