As a global specialist for pumping complex media, Netzsch Pumpen & Systeme GmbH, headquartered in Waldkraiburg, specialises in the development, production and sale of positive displacement pumps. For the manufacture of its pumps, semi-finished products in various grades with diameters of up to 540 mm are cut from whole bars and tubes. These saw cuts are then fed to subsequent turning/milling production processes.

The old sawing centre at Netzsch consisted of two stand-alone automatic bandsaws from Behringer and many individual cantilever-arm storage systems, which took up an entire production hall. The overhead crane was used to unload the raw material from the lorry, store the bars in the manual long-goods store and feed the saw. In addition, the materials were not catalogued.

“The manual labour required was enormous – our employees invested a lot of time searching for the required material on the shelf, transporting it to the saw and measuring it by hand,” says Markus Hanslmaier, project manager for production planning at Netzsch.

Today, Netzsch takes advantage of two Behringer automatic bandsaws. The HBE411A Dynamic and HBM540A are characterised by precise saw cuts and reliability in unmanned operation. This is ensured by the basic design of the two bandsaws in portal construction, the use of vibration-damping cast components, their saw feed system with servo motor and the reliable chip disposal system.

As a result, costs can be reduced during the sawing of semi-finished products by minimising processing allowances. Particularly with regard to the range of materials, which often includes expensive heat-treatable steels and duplex steels through to titanium and nickel-based alloys, there is a high savings potential. Moreover, the manual labour required by operators has been drastically reduced.

More information www.behringer.net

The world of forging is highly intricate, involving numerous applications and constant evolution. Ficep says its caters to this sector with a range of machinery designed to meet all production needs: including an array of high-speed disc saws. These machines are suitable for many applications, particularly those requiring the cutting of bars, tubes, ingots or blooms. 

The ‘S’ series sawing machines include various models: horizontal, inclined and vertical saws, with cutting capabilities from below or above. All these machines can cut round and square solid bars, while vertical ones can also cut rectangular/flat bars.

Vincenzo Rubat Baleuri, sales manager of the forging division at Ficep, says: “Our machines guarantee repeatability, cutting precision, squareness and regularity of the sawn surface. This high standard is a real strength, achieved through careful design, optimal blade guidance and robust motor power.”

The ‘SP’ series stands out for its high-speed cutting of pipes.

“This range has been designed with special attention to sizing the crucial components to minimize blade vibrations,” he adds. “Special care has been given to fine-tuning the software managing the cutting parameters during the work cycle. This involves dynamically adjusting the blade rotation speed and the head feed during the pipe’s inlet-outlet phase, where the metal section engaged by the blade is greater compared with the central part [where thickness is minimal]. This also reduces cutting time. Our lines overcome the limitations of traditional disc or band saws, increasing productivity through their speed, precision, cut quality and reduction of production waste.”

Ficep can also combine its range of bar loaders with both automatic magazines and AGV shuttles for laser-guided transfer of bar bundles from steel stock to the machine roller-way.

More information https://ficepgroup.com

In the steel construction realm, efficiency and automation stand as cornerstones for achieving top-tier quality standards promptly and reliably. Ficep, a global specialist in automated steel processing, meets these imperatives through its integrated solution featuring the Valiant drilling unit and the Katana bandsaw.

The Valiant + Katana system shines particularly bright in its swift process execution, empowered by automation and technology. This amalgamated approach reduces total processing time, outperforming scenarios reliant on specialist labour for finishing stages.

The process maintains a high level of control and predictability, aiding in streamlined production planning. With Valiant, processes such as drilling, automatic marking and milling operations come into play, leaving only welding ahead of the final painting phase. On the cutting front, Katana enables operators to execute both straight and mitred cuts up to 60° quickly.

These saws boast construction features tailored for high-speed performance, while upholding stringent cutting quality standards. Horizontal and vertical hydraulic clamps maximise workpiece stability, while robust motor power and bandsaw blade rotation speeds ensure efficient operations. Automated handling phases further enhance productivity.

The production momentum of this integrated system hinges on Ficep’s direct-drive spindles, channelling 100% of the motor power to the tool.

Notably, the integrated system’s installation stands out for its simplicity, requiring no expensive civil works. This translates to significant time and cost savings for customers, enabling quick production commencement and minimising downtime.

The Valiant + Katana system’s most significant advantage lies in its potential for full automation. With remote control via a mobile app, operators can monitor and manage the system from anywhere, optimising production efficiency even beyond regular working hours and during downtimes.

More information www.ficepgroup.com