UKF Stainless, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of stainless steel tubing, has announced a major investment in a new state-of-the-art cutting machine for its specialist manufacturing arm, The Joint Perforating Company (JPC).
UKF/JPC believes the £300,000 RSA Rasacut machine, currently being installed at its Bromsgrove plant, will transform both its productivity and cost-effectiveness.
“We’ll be able to cut twice as quick and twice as many as with the previous saws,” said Russ Ingram, JPC’s sales and operations manager. “Where before we were cutting a tube, moving it to a separate deburrer and then to a separate washing machine to clean it, this new piece of equipment does it all and in a single cycle.”
JPC manufactures interrupted perforated tubes, used in car exhaust systems and also products for the commercial and domestic markets. JPC provides effective perforating in a variety of materials including stainless steel, titanium, mild steel and aluminised zinc-coated steel, in outside diameters from 32mm to 101.6mm and in lengths up to 1000mm. Tube perforations can be produced in a wide variety of patterns to suit customer requirements.
Once the new Rasacut machine is fully commissioned and staff have completed the necessary training to operate it, UKF/JPC plans to hold an open day, so its customers can see it in operation.
“It’s a very impressive piece of equipment to look at,” added Russ. “It represents a significant investment by UKF Stainless. As a company, UKF is not afraid to invest in the latest technology, even in the current difficult economic climate.
“We are a very proactive, dynamic business and we are confident about our future. We are going from strength to strength and moving forward all the time.”
The new investment has been awarded Made in the Midlands 2011 Manufacturing Achievement Award.