Donn Products’ SACMA slitting machine still going strong after 30 years 23 April 2012 Proving that quality products go the extra mile, a SACMA slitting machine was installed at Donn Products’ Germiston South manufacturing plant 30 years ago and is still producing consistent quality cuts with minimal maintenance. “Although I was not working for Donn Products when the SACMA machine was purchased, it is clear that the advice proffered by US Gypsum, which was a shareholder in the company in 1982, has paid dividends. US Gypsum owned a number of SACMA slitting machines and advised the management of Donn Products to purchase a similar machine instead of outsourcing the slitting of steel rolls,” says Garry Powell, Factory Manager at Donn Products. Donn Products, which is part of the Saint-Gobain Group in South Africa, manufactures lightweight ceiling grids and drywall studs and tracks. The company previously purchased full coils of steel and paid a third party to cut it into sections for production. “The biggest disadvantage of this method is that these companies will usually only cut the steel into one standard size, whilst we require a number of different sizes for the variety of products we manufacture,” Powell explains. “By investing in the SACMA slitting machine, we have been able to react quickly to market demands for our product range; and at the same time we are able to save a substantial amount of money and at the same time reduce our carbon footprint,” says Powell. Simplicity of use and extremely low maintenance requirements are two factors that Powell enthusiastically advances as reasons for any company to purchase a SACMA slitting machine. The machine operation is extremely simple, and by using a simple Excel spreadsheet to calculate the weight and size of each product requirement, we can maximise the cuts on the coil by using every possible piece of steel.” Powell adds that the machine is easy to set up and maintenance is usually limited to lubrication and annual checks on the bearings and motors. “Testament of how reliable the machine is can be seen in the fact that after years of service, we have only now had to rewind the motor.” Donn Products is so impressed with the ongoing benefits the SACMA machine provides them with, they would not hesitate to upgrade with SACMA should the need arise. Southern African distributors of SACMA cutting machines – First Cut – have received similar accolades from other SACMA users who report years of dependable service and increased productivity. “At SACMA, the experience derived from almost half a century of business merges seamlessly with the new generation of entrepreneurial dynamism, modernity and competence to ensure a high return-on-investment for customers. We are able to assure customers that SACMA products not only have rigorous design, engineering and testing parameters, but they are built to cope with the demands of continual use over many years,” Steve Van Wyk, Director at First Cut, concludes. |
