Refurbished SACMA cutting machine proves its mettle at Whirlpool 03 February 2012 First Cut is well known in southern African as a distributor of high-quality international capital equipment and consumables that are built to stand the test of time and environment. Sourcing and nurturing relationships with its global suppliers, First Cut is in a position to offer the local market products that are engineered for durability. Italian company SAMCA produces a range of cutting lines that are used in many different areas of production. At SACMA experience, quality and innovation are the three principles united by a common denominator; the passion for their work. The company, which is 63 years old, boasts over 380 SACMA line installations in several countries around the world since 1960. “First Cut became a distributor for SACMA’s cutting lines in 2010 and we have received a good reception to the products from our existing customer base. There are a number of SACMA installations in South Africa and in all cases the company’s reputation preceded it. The feedback we receive from customers is that these machines provide extended longevity even in demanding applications,” Andrew Poole, Managing Director of First Cut says. SACMA’s cut-to-length lines provide the versatility required in fast-track coil processing environments by taking flat rolled steel or coiled steel, uncoiling it, levelling and cutting it to a desired sheet length, in a smooth and seamless operation. When Whirpool’s production facility in Italy decided to upgrade to a different model SACMA machine in 2001, they offered the existing SACMA cutting line to the factory in South Africa. After refurbishing and servicing the machine it was ready for operation at the Isithebe facilities in KwaZulu-Natal. Whirlpool took over the current production facilities in 1996, which resulted in a change in methodologies and equipment. This had a positive effect on the products, with specific emphasis on the KIC range. “We had been investigating the possibility of cutting our own steel from coil instead of outsourcing it, so the offer was extremely fortuitous. Not only did it save us money on the capital outlay, but we were inheriting a machine that had already proven itself in the field,” says Whirlpool Production Manager Glen Bissett. Bissett points out that the machine, which has presented no major issues in the past 10 years, is used to cut raw sheet metal to length for the day to day production of the fridges and freezers produced at the factory. “The SACMA machine allows us to better manage the process in terms of planning and flexibility and is relatively easy to operate, while at the same time cutting within the desired tolerance range.” Bissett is impressed with the low maintenance requirements of the SACMA cutting line. “We rotate the guillotine blades once every three to four weeks and sharpen the cutting blades three times a year. We have only instituted one roller change in 10 years while the brake is changed once every four months and the clutch is adjusted as required.” “When customers are able to report that their SACMA cutting lines are operating according to specification after so many years in service, it underlines our decision to become a distributor for the products in South Africa,” Poole concludes. |
