Velden’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of the industry continues with further investment in two brand new machines. On 15th March we added an Ehrt Professional Punching Machine plus an Ehrt Professional Bending machine to our extensive machinery portfolio. Both machines are housed in our newly refurbished busbar facility.
The design and manufacturing process has taken nine months of extensive discussions between Lee Valentine, our Plant Manager and Austin Kitchen, Managing Director with Ehrt Maschinenbau GmBH. The bespoke Professional Punching machine, manufactured in Germany, is the first delivered in the UK with 36 tools & automated material gantry system. It is also the first machine of it’s kind in the world to feature an integrated laser.
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“The addition of this highly automated technology will ensure Velden are operating in a highly cost efficient way, allowing us to offer competitive pricing with first class quality and improved lead times.”    Austin Kitchen Managing Director
The main criteria for adding this machine was cost efficiency, accuracy and speed. The 36 tools will reduce downtime for setting up and will ensure components can be made in one process instead of many. The self-loading aspect also improves time efficiency, whilst reducing dedicated manpower and allowing many different parts to be manufactured without ceasing production through the nesting programme, using the material gantry system. Highly advanced software allows CAD or DFX drawings to be instantly uploaded and programmed and the machine will automatically calculate the most efficient use of metal bars.
We foresee this machine taking our busbar production to another dimension by increasing our efficiencies, accuracy and quality to an unprecedented level. The inclusion of an integrated laser is unique and allows us to automatically mark every component, with batch number, part number or logo, thereby improving traceability and adhering to all quality and customer requirements, without intensive labour input.
Post punching, components will then go through an automated deburring process using another recent investment, our Costa Automatic Deburring and Finishing machine, which gives us the capability to deburr machined holes plus outside edges and will rapidly increase production, whilst guaranteeing a consistent finish.
Following the deburring operation, components proceed to our new Ehrt Professional Bending machine, which will fully automate the bending process. Achieving an accuracy of +/- 0.2° calculated from the spring back compensation, complete accuracy and consistency is guaranteed. The Powerbend software is easy to programme and automatically calculates how the bends are to be achieved.
To see how we can make a difference to your production requirements, please contact enquiries@velden.co.uk