| |
 | |
Corus Service Centres has commissioned two additional 3.5 kW laser profiling lines at its specialist HR Coil Processing Centre in Leeds. This brings the total number of laser cutters at the Service Centre to five, and is the latest phase in a £3 million investment programme in laser profiling technology which began three years ago with the installation of the first cutter - a Bystronic Bystar 2.8 kW machine. Since then the business, a major supplier to the construction and earth moving equipment industry, has installed four additional lines to meet increasing demand for tighter sheet cutting accuracy, and the requirements of a growing number of customers who want to out-source primary processing operations. The largest of the two new machines, a Bystar 4025-8, has a 4m x 2.5m cutting area with an extended cutting table and an automatic repositioning facility for handling sheets up to 8 metres x 2.5 metres. It is the only one of its kind in the country. General manager, Steve Rowland, said: "Customer demand for laser accuracy has grown rapidly over the past three years, most notably in the "yellow goods" industry, to meet the requirements of the latest automated production facilities, such as robotic welders. Typically, we can now profile components to within +/-0.5mm, and laser cut holes to within +/- 0.15mm. This eliminates the need for further downstream punching, drilling and finishing operations. "Manufacturers are also specifying laser accuracies for much larger parts than in the past, such as base plates for excavator cabs. The addition of the two new lines means that we now have an unrivalled capability to satisfy this growing demand, in addition to our existing order-book for high volumes of smaller parts and sub-assembly kits." The service centre has also seen a significant growth in demand for shaped components, as manufacturers increasingly out-source non-core processing operations. An Ursviken 640 tonne press brake, which was installed last year, adds further value to many of the laser cut profiles by forming them into components before they are despatched to customers. This can accommodate profiles up to 25mm thick and 7.5m long, and it produces a diverse range of products including shaped base plates for excavator cabs, mast and hull parts for ship kits, deck plates for bailey bridges and beams for trailers. A 300 tonne machine is also available for smaller parts. | |
|
