Structural steel and tool steel stockholder and processor, JKZ Bučovice, is using KASTObbs automated block bandsaws to cut large, heavy billets and plates of various geometries, grades and dimensions. The company delivers components to domestic customers in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania and the Baltic States.

Founded in 2000, employing 125 staff and with an annual turnover of €20m, the company holds approximately 10,000 tonnes of steel in its 15,000 sq m warehouse. The oldest Kasto vertical block bandsaws have been in use for nearly 20 years and are still operating reliably today. More recently, the company invested in two KASTObbs A 3×20 bandsaws for cutting material up to 420 mm high by 7 m long and weighing up to 56 tonnes.

Marek Hermann, sales and production director at JKZ, says: “The new KASTObbs saws are very robust and reliable and provide the high degree of quality and precision that our customers demand, especially those in the toolmaking sector.”

Characteristic of this bandsaw series is a longitudinal cutting method using a vertically oriented blade. The saw head moves on rails having side-mounted, hardened and ground rollers, while the workpiece remains static on the saw table. This configuration results in a small footprint, while the torsion-resistant, welded construction provides smooth running and vibration-free operation, leading to shorter cutting times and longer blade life.

JKZ employees are able to adjust the cutting infeed to optimise productivity, consistent with the required workpiece quality and the cross section of the material in-cut. Band speed is also infinitely variable from the integrated control panel.
For further information www.kasto.com

Starrett, a manufacturer of saws, tools and measuring instruments, has invested $1 million in German technology with the purchase of a new manufacturing line to produce bi-metal steel with laser welding. With the acquisition of this new equipment, the expectation is that the bi-metal steel production capacity will increase by around 25%. This increased production capacity will boost exports of finished saw blades, meeting demand from Europe and the rest of the world.

According to industrial director Cláudio Luis Guarnieri “the new line will start operating in September”.

Starrett also has another process to produce steel: the Bimetal Unique line. This patented process is used in the manufacturing of saw blades that have advanced technology for cutting metals and other materials. In studies developed in Starrett laboratories, a saw blade produced with Bimetal Unique steel shows 22% superior durability and a 20% faster cutting time.

Last year, Starrett invested $1 million in new machinery for this patented line. In addition to generating new business, the upgrade of the machines aligns with Starrett’s vision and values of investing resources and technology in research and development.

“When investments are made, besides increasing industry sales, it also means updated technology, consequently improving the quality of our tools for the consumer,” says Guarnieri. “Offering a product with high performance is the main goal of industry.”
For further information www.starrett.co.uk

Choosing the best saw blade depends on compatibility. Users need to match the blade itself, its size and tooth design to the material that requires cutting. Here, Saws UK outlines a number of principles that can help simplify selection.

Carbon steel bandsaws blades are reliable in general purpose applications. These blades are available in many tooth sizes and densities, providing an excellent match for many different materials, including steel, stainless steel, mild steel and non-ferrous metals such as zinc, brass and bronze.

Bi-metal bandsaw blades offer superior strength and resilience. During manufacture, the blade of spring steel incorporates a hardened edging of high-speed cobalt steel that provides an effective, long-term cutting performance when processing all types of structural metal.

For the sawing of high-volume batches, the strong and resilient ground-tooth bandsaw blade is an effective choice. This blade type can withstand the intense heat produced when sawing continuously at high speed in materials such as stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminium and copper.

If needing a versatile bandsaw blade that can cut a wide range of diverse materials, the carbide grit edge bandsaw blade is a good pick. This blade is highly reliable, producing a fine cut finish with minimal resistance even when sawing abrasive materials that include hardened steel, cast iron, titanium and nickel-based alloys.

HSS-DMo5 circular saw blades are manufactured from a high-speed steel alloy incorporating tungsten, molybdenum and vanadium. Of particular note, these blade are steam-treated to ensure they have an extra fine surface that significantly reduces friction when cutting mild steel, stainless steel and structural steel.

TCT circular saw blades are exceptionally long-lasting. They can also withstand the extreme heat produced while operating at high speed in materials that include titanium, zirconium, nickel and cobalt.
For further information www.sawsuk.com