Valued at just over £2 million, Trumpf UK has taken the largest ever single order in its history for a range of machines and associated automation from Stoke-based IAE – a leading manufacturer of livestock handling equipment, equestrian stabling, steel fencing and shelters.
According to IAE director, Frank Klucznik, the move will not only allow the 500 employee, £44 million turnover company to redeploy labour to other tasks – it will speed response times, improve accuracy and raise the bar from a design and development perspective.
Until recently, IAE predominantly operated second hand sheet metalworking machinery, which included one Trumpf model – a 3030 laser cutter with 4kW resonator. However, over the course of the past decade, the company has been developing a new purpose built 26 acre site at Stoke and the recent completion of a 72m by 32m extension earmarked for the sheet metalworking shop, signalled the appropriate time to consider investment in new technology.
The impressive performance of the company's second hand laser cutter and the associated support IAE received ensured Trumpf was among the front runners for the new order. “Ultimately there aren't many suppliers of sheet metalworking machinery who can provide fully integrated turnkey solutions, so when we got down to detail, there was only ever one winner,” Mr Klucznik stated.
The order placed by IAE includes: a TruPunch 5000 large format punching machine with SheetMaster auto load/unload, ShearMaster auto scrap shredder and TruTops programming software; a TruBend 5170S press brake with automated sheet feeding unit and BendMaster 150 bending robot; a TruLaser 3030 with LiftMaster Compact auto load/unload; and a STOPA Compact storage system (fully automated using crane transfer) with 220 spaces for raw material and finished parts.
The machines and equipment, which are due to start arriving at Stoke in February 2012, will largely be used for manufacturing IAE's own products, although due to its ability to run lights out, there is potential to sell subcontract capacity.
Products at IAE are entirely manufactured from natural and pre-galvanised mild steel in sheet/plate ranging from 1mm up to 25mm. Batch sizes can be anywhere between 200-off and tens of thousands for customers across the UK and mainland Europe.
“For our standard product ranges the market is very price conscious at the moment, and so the introduction of automated manufacturing will help combat this issue and keep leadtimes to a minimum,” Mr Klucznik concluded.
Trumpf
www.uk.trumpf.com
