Lasershape, a UK supplier of subcontract metal components, has significant capability and capacity in its forming section. The highest specification Salvagnini panel bender in the UK and a 4m Bystronic CNC press brake are amongst the more recently installed machines at the company’s Nottingham facility as Lasershape looks to strengthen its position as an embedded manufacturing partner for its customers.
“We had been considering a panel bender for our thinner section sheet for some time,” says Adam England, Lasershape’s General Manager. “We were attracted to the technology primarily because there is no tool change or set-up time, unlike a press brake where 15-30 minutes is typical.”
The Salvagnini P2 Lean at Lasershape offers the highest specification of its type installed in the UK to date. For instance, the machine includes a CLA negative auxiliary bending tool, which is particularly useful for downward window bends or welding tabs that require sectionalised tooling. The machine also offers DPM, a special unit with suction cups that permits the manipulation foot to move aside and allow narrower profiles. Also featured is CLA SIM for automatic auxiliary bending blade composition, and P Tool, which allows various tools to be inserted under the blanking tool to perform embossing very close to the bend line without any crushing effect, for example.
“Having this impressive machine means we can offer our customers a different service to traditional press brakes,” says Mr England. “We can target different types of industries, particularly those requiring thinner gauge, box-type products, such as refrigeration, shop fitting, electrical enclosures and HVAC.”
Lasershape is using its new panel bender to process sheet from 0.5 to 3.0mm thick, for all material types, including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper, zintec and galvanised steel.
“It can fold far quicker than a standard operator, typically one fold per second,” says Mr England. “In trials we were achieving 45 bends in 48 seconds. It means we can reduce our turnaround times and sell the extra capacity that we now have. The machine is also great for complex parts. If a component has six different bends it would require the set-up of multiple tools on a press brake.”
