The Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire uses large quantities of profile steel in a wide variety of geometries, lengths and bends, which is why it has invested in a modern production line featuring an automatic mitre bandsaw from Behringer. The Behringer HBP410-723GA saws round profiles up to a diameter of 410 mm and flat material up to 600 mm wide.

The saw line is loaded on the infeed side by means of a transversal lift truck, which enables the buffering of round, square and flat bars with an initial length of up to 12 m. Material is positioned using two grippers, one on the infeed side and a section gripper on the outfeed side. The combination of the two grippers ensures safe material handling; even short sections sawn on a mitre are transported away reliably. The system is supplemented by an automatic marking system with inkjet technology for marking the sawn parts, eliminating manual labelling and reducing sources of error.

Cuts and offcuts are removed from the machine using a section gripper and disposed of on a material table directly behind the mitre bandsaw with a push-off device. The operator does not need to do anything. The sawn good parts are also removed by the gripper on the discharge side, moved over the discharge roller conveyor and placed on a material store arranged parallel to the roller conveyor with another push-off device. The discharge gripper easily clamps and moves cuts, offcuts and parts from 50 mm to 12 m in length.

Using this sawing solution, Chantier de l’Atlantique was able to reduce its cycle times by 50% compared with the old sawing system and drastically increase throughput – all with fewer personnel.

For further information
www.behringer.net

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

Lenox has won three Pro Tool Innovation Awards, representing best-in-class products in the construction industry. The winning products were selected based on innovative features, advanced power delivery, improved ergonomics, technological advancements, developments in job site safety and overall user value. Nearly 500 tools from 89 manufacturers were tested to determine this year’s winners.

The Lenox product award winners were: the Lenox 360 bandsaw monitoring system (Best Software & Apps – Tool Control); Lenox Aviation snips (Best Hand Tools – Cutting); and the Lenox Gen-Tech bandsaw blade (Best Accessories – Blades, Band Saw).

“Innovation is the cornerstone of product development across all Stanley Black & Decker brands,” says Jaime Ramirez, executive vice president and president of global tools and storage for Stanley Black & Decker. “To deliver on our mission of empowering those who make the world, we are unwavering in our promise to provide the tools, technology and resources that professionals in the trades and construction industry need to get the job done.”

The Lenox 360 system is one of the most notable wins for the brand. This monitoring system provides access to key insights, measurements and the control of valuable sawing operations data. As a result, the technology is ideal for steel service centres and fabrication shops, where it can improve decision-making and maximise efficiency through the capture of data in real time via sensors installed on the saw.

“Our brands are continuing to push the industry forward through ground-breaking new features that improve the user experience,” says Tabata Gomez, chief marketing officer of global tools and storage for Stanley Black & Decker.

For further information
www.lenoxtools.com

Power tools and accessories manufacturer FEIN has released a series of new products to the UK market, including a metal chop saw, a Bluetooth charger and the my.FEIN service app, allowing users to access everything from warranties and receipts, to battery information and services.

FEIN’s new MKAS 355 metal chop saw has launched across the UK, delivering precise and rapid results when cutting metals in the workshop or on-site, reports the company. The cold cutting process means the material is not heated, resulting in no metal dust to ensure maximum safety for end users. The saw also includes an 1800 W motor with soft start technology, alongside an ergonomic handle design to combine comfort, safety and power.

“We’re always looking for more ways to make our customers’ lives as easy as possible, with safety firmly front of mind,” comments Andy Mills, managing director of FEIN UK. “We’ve channelled this into our new MKAS 355 metal chop saw, Bluetooth battery and the my.FEIN app. The products aim to create a more efficient experience for our end users, in turn offering increased productivity,”

Now available in stores nationwide, the new ALG 80 BC battery has 8 A charging current for short charging times and Bluetooth connectivity. The product is compatible with FEIN’s entire 18 V cordless range, including MultiMaster and the 18 V Combi Drill, as well as the my.FEIN app.

With the my.FEIN service app, users can access all of FEIN’s services in one place. The app will store all registered tools, including an individual inventory number for each tool, while making it even easier to register new tools.

For further information
www.fein.com/en_uk

US-based saw blade and file product manufacturer, Simonds Saw, has launched a new range of bi-metal bandsaw blades. Multiple rounds of testing, prototyping and optimisation with professionals in the field led to the development of four bi-metal bandsaw blades in total. According to the company, the new product range excels at general purpose cutting, production cutting, structural steel cutting and exotic alloy cutting.

“We fully expect our new product line of bi-metal bandsaw blades to have a global impact on the metal-cutting industry,” says Simonds Saw president David Miles. “We’re excited for loyal bandsaw users all over the world to put these new products to good use. Whether they’re cutting structural steel in Indiana or titanium in Shanghai, we now have the optimal bandsaw blade to maximise uptime and materials, in any application.”

Simonds Saw has now stopped production of Dieband, Broadband, Blockbuster, IC Enduro and X51 in favour of new range. However, these products may still be available while stocks last.

Dieband, Broadband and Blockbuster will be phased out in favour of Epic GP, while SBX GP will replace Broadband and IC Enduro. X51, Simonds’ existing product for the cutting of tough steel and high-nickel alloys, will be phased out in favour of SiClone XP.

After extensive field testing, the existing Simonds’ SiClone bandsaw blade was determined to be high performing in its current state and so stands prepared to meet the next generation of metal-cutting needs.

Addison Saws is the UK’s exclusive Simonds retailer, with the full range available directly from the company and its network of nationwide dealers. All bandsaw blades are hand-welded on site and to order, with many available for next-day delivery.

For further information
www.addisonsaws.co.uk