AUTOMATION AND COMBINATION

The company’s plan is to optimise production in the UK and create a centre of manufacturing excellence. Central to this ambition has been the purchase of a TC 6000 Laserpress. However, this is not just investment in combination technology. It is also a substantial commitment to automation.

This prestigious installation is due for completion in July. It comprises a TC 6000L, our top of the range laser punching machine, with a wealth of integrated automation components. These include TRUMALIFT automatic loading and unloading, TRUMAGRIP scrap skeleton removal and TRUMASORT automated sheet retrieval.

Perhaps the most significant element for Scotsman Beverage Systems is TRUMATOOL, our automatic tool storage and exchange system. This adds 70 tool stations to the 21 provided by the standard magazine. Completing the package is ToPs 600, our off-line programming system.

The high productivity and flexibility of this automated cell lends itself perfectly to the lean manufacturing techniques that Scotsman Beverage Systems is employing to optimise production. It will also allow the company to bring in-house all of the fabrication work it currently out-sources each year.

“The combination of both technologies on one machine clearly offers the best solution for Scotsman Beverage Systems,” explains Operations Director, Simon Felton. “And the automated features that complement the machine will allow economical production whatever the batch size.”

Edge quality was also an important consideration and trials in Germany confirmed that the finish achieved by the laser punch across the company’s materials of manufacture was superior to that of straight laser and straight punching.

Scotsman Beverage Systems manufactures a large variety of parts in batch sizes that range from just one to 75. It therefore needed a machine that could be highly cost efficient even on short runs. Three suppliers were considered but the TC 6000L won through, principally because the basic machine could be easily grown into a complete FMC.

“The addition of the TRUMATOOL extended tool magazine is very important for us,” explained Simon Felton. “It will allow us to have all the 86 tools we use in production instantly available. “With this we can produce any part from our large mix, at any time of the day or night, as one-offs or in batches.” It is intended that as soon as possible this machine will be running lights-out, 24/7.