TPT March 2010

I ndustry N ews

Bandsaw improved plastics stockholder’s service

researched the market for a suitable bandsaw, they knew that a machine normally sold into the metalcutting sector was required; woodworking bandsaws are too lightweight. Once the order had been placed with Kasto, however, the competitor focused on the perception in the marketplace that Missler spares would be a problem in years to come, as machine production ceased in 2007 after Kasto bought the company. Ernst Wagner, managing director of the group’s UK subsidiary, dispelled the rumour by stating that availability of Missler spares was guaranteed for a minimum of 10 years, as required by European law. In the UK, there are over 150 Missler machines being maintained by Kasto. Over a 16-hour daily shift the Missler cuts rapidly through Ensinger’s wide range of plastic materials, including some very tough varieties. For example, 450mm diameter TECAST TM cast polyamide tube of 50mm wall thickness is sawn in fractionally over 1.5 minutes, using a band speed of 110m/min and a feed rate of 300mm/min. It equates to cutting 420cm 2 /min. When sawing 500mm diameter solid bar of the same material, a feed rate of 100mm/min completes the cut in five minutes, ie at 390cm 2 /min. Kasto Ltd – UK Fax: +44 1908 566106

ONE of Britain’s largest stockholders of engineering plastics, Ensinger Ltd, is providing faster delivery of more accurate cut pieces to its customers following the company’s investment in a Missler DEB 540 ce bandsaw from Kasto, UK. Installed in September 2009 at Ensinger’s headquarters and main distribution centre in Tonyrefail, South Wales, the 540mm capacity saw is resulting in at least a 10% increase in yield from each length of stock that is cut, according to Steve Tipples, director and general manager. In very exceptional cases, up to 40% of some materials is saved from being scrapped. With 60 to 70% of the company’s plastic stock at Tonyrefail sawn into millions of pieces every year, savings are considerable, especially with some materials costing up to £100 per kilogram. Bar, tube, profile and plate from mid size up to 500mm across were previously cut using an ageing bandsaw on which the blade tended to wander, producing a wavy

cut surface. Typically, it meant that if ten pieces could theoretically be cut from a length of stock, in practice only nine might be produced at times due to material loss between the cuts. A further drawback was that sometimes the billet ends had to be planed flat by hand to within the customer’s specification, incurring extra labour and energy costs as well as increasing lead time from order to delivery. All of these problems have been solved by the arrival of the Missler DEB 540 ce bandsaw. Ensinger can therefore once again quickly and reliably cut to size. Moreover, much closer tolerances can now be held. This can save the user time and money by not having to machine the cut faces, which adds further value to the service provided by Ensinger. When John Sullivan and Carl Morgan, respectively the company’s logistics manager and purchasing manager, TECAST TM cast polyamide tube being sawn at Tonyrefail on the Missler bandsaw

Email: sales@kasto.uk.com Website: www.kasto.uk.com

TUBETECH CORPORATION LIMITED TUBETECH WUHU MANUFACTURING CO.,LTD

A close up of the Missler bandsaw in action

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M arch 2010

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