Focus on Italy
Flexible automation philosophy
Recognizing that, in general, 90-95% of the
cost of fabricated products is consumed by
non-manufacturing operations, Salvagnini
has been steadfast in its drive to reduce
work-in-process time as the means to help
customers to increase their profit potential.
“Over the past twenty years, the consump-
tion of sheet metal has seen constant linear
growth,” Lisac added. “We see the use of
more pre-painted materials and the growing
use of thinner sheet material. More job shops
are offering wider capabilities and more
value-added services to their customers..”
This, Lisac explains, is where Salvagnini
technology can make a difference.
“Production process improvement is where
margins will be made. If the production
process can be carried out more intelligently,
Above: tional press brake, which will take more time
more efficiently and rapidly, this allows our A flexible
and tooling changes etc.). We estimate that
customers time to think about inventing new automated
our panel bender is three to five times faster
products, entering new markets, becoming
Salvagnini
than a conventional press brake.”
more competitive or improving their opera-
system at
The P4-2516 panel bender with automatic
tions.”
Sarego
loading and semi-automatic unloading will
Typically, flexibility and automation do not
be ‘in action’ at the BlechExpo exhibition
go hand in hand. Usually, highly automated
in June, in the configuration that Salvagnini
systems are not flexible and highly flex-
has sold to a German manufacturer of steel
ible systems include an element of manual
workshop furniture. This machine is fitted
intervention. Salvagnini’s concept of flexible
with a number of additional options for
automation encompasses a focus on process
special processes: the CLA tools which bend
and operations as it tries to help its customers
welding tabs up, down or asymmetrically;
reduce the length of time between receipt of
the CUT option for making profiles that are
an order and delivery of finished products.
bent and cut directly on the machine and the
“Our panel benders, for example, can
ABA (Automatic Blankholder Adjustment)
produce finished panels using a completely
option which eliminates machine set-up
automated process (no manual element)
times, as the tool prepares itself automati-
which is also more flexible,” Lisac out-
cally during the bending cycle.
lined. “This means that products can benefit
In addition to these options, the P4-2516
from new designs – the panel bender can
can also be equipped with the RBU option,
make products that are smarter because
which uses special brushes installed in the
the bends it can do are more complex. The
feeding device to remove any scrap left by
customer using our automated technology
previous machining processes and the P
can improve the design of his finished prod-
option for making special bends (tubular,
uct. You can change and adjust the design
radius, etc.).
without needing to change tooling, mainly
The company has examined the bending
because the whole process of bending is
process in great depth. It spent time with
automated. Your tolerances can be tighter
the University of Linz studying the bending
and you can put a lot of bends onto a part
process and developed a mathematical for-
relatively quickly (as opposed to a conven-
mula for what happens when sheet metal is
34 May/June 2007 International Sheet Metal Review
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