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

On a recent Saturday, HE&M Saw received an SOS of sorts from Pioneer IWS in Dalton, Ohio.

The gearbox on the company’s 22-year-old Twister bandsaw required replacement to continue manufacturing COVID-19 related hospital field cots. HE&M no longer manufactures the Twister, so it would seem that having a gearbox in stock would be a long shot. However, as HE&M Saw prioritises being able to service all of its saw models, the company maintains a large inventory of replacement parts for older and discontinued machines, including a certain gearbox.
As a result, HE&M Saw answered its customer’s request bright and early Monday morning and shipped the gearbox same-day.
“The overnight delivery of a new gearbox for our 22-year-old Twister bandsaw was critical to the production flow of manufacturing thousands of field hospital cots in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Eddie Wengerd, general manager of Pioneer IWS.
Pioneer Equipment, like HE&M Saw, is an American-owned company with more than 40 years of manufacturing history. Core business focuses on the manufacture of farming equipment such as ploughs and carriage gears, but has also evolved into industrial workflow solutions and custom steel fabrication.
When the COVID-19 outbreak struck close to home – two of the Wengerd brothers had to quarantine after exposure at a trade show – the company decided to help in the nation’s counter-offensive.
Pioneer re-tooled its manufacturing facility in two weeks to mass produce the cots; around 100 can now be manufactured every hour.
For further information www.hemsaw.com

Vollmer has struck-up a new business partnership with US-based Burton Saw & Supply. Burton Saw & Supply – along with its affiliates Simonds International, Cut Technologies and BGR Saws – is a producer and marketer of cutting tools and related equipment for the primary wood fibre industry in North America. Due to Burton’s large presence within the saw-mill industry, Vollmer of America has now established a close partnership to respond quickly to market needs with proven and reliable solutions.

While Vollmer machines, as well as spare-part requests within the saw-mill industry, will now be quoted and sold through Burton Saw & Supply, all installation, training, service and warranty work will still be handled by Vollmer of America.
“We believe that the partnership with Burton Saw & Supply will be very beneficial for all parties involved, not only in regard to streamlining communication channels, but most importantly for our customers, who will now get to have a more frequent contact base and improved support system throughout the US and Canada,” states Shannon Fox, North American sales manager at Vollmer of America.
With more than 800 employees worldwide, the Vollmer Group – which was founded in 1909 – has established itself as a specialist in grinding and erosion equipment. The recent launch of the new VLaser 270 has made Vollmer a full-line supplier of tool machining solutions. The North American subsidiary currently counts 26 employees, 19 of which are based out of the Pittsburgh office. The other seven are located throughout the US to cover more ground in sales and service.
For further information www.vollmer-group.com

The benefits of upgrading an old bandsaw machine are numerous, considering the advances in the design and functions of modern bandsaw machines, reports Saws UK in a new guide that highlights the top five advantages of newer models.

First up is higher bed height. Most horizontal bandsaws today have a higher bed height so users do not stoop to operate them – much better for health as this reduces the likelihood of a back injury.
Second is swivel bows: many newer machines have swivel bows for mitring as standard, while some of the more premium models include both a left and right mitre facility. For those who do not perform much mitring, and the material is not too big, it is even possible to flip the material upside down to do the opposite mitre on one-way machines.
Blade speeds are a further consideration. Most newer bandsaws include variable blade speeds, unlike many older bandsaws which only have two – the lower to cut stainless steel and tool steels, and the higher to cut mild steel, aluminium and soft alloys. This factor means modern bandsaws can cut more materials more easily, often via a frequency inverter. As a result, users can finely tune the speed of sawing to give the best cut and economic blade life on all materials.
Increasingly, micro-blade lubrication systems are being used by those who do not want coolant on the floor, points out Saws UK. These systems can be retrofitted at any time.
The final point on the list is automation: newer machines offer advanced automation solutions, meaning users can program them to batch-saw easily and efficiently, and even leave machines running overnight, massively increasing productivity and saving costs over time, even if the upfront outlay is greater.
For further information www.sawsuk.com