THE downsizing of the Australian whitegoods manufacture industry in recent years has been blamed partially on the inability to upgrade manufacturing systems and subsequently much of this market has transferred overseas.
This negative trend is synonymous with whitegoods manufacture in western economies.
However, USA-based England’s Stove Works Inc has been able to buck this trend and has done so predominantly with FINN-POWER equipment.
The company’s distributor in Australia and New Zealand, Maxitec, supports the common belief that had more manufacturers of whitegoods and household consumables in this region adopted similar forward-thinking, the sector would be far more prominent today.
According to Sales and Marketing Manager of Maxitec, Andrew Bentrup, the issue in Australia has often been slow handling or multiple handling, so the inefficiencies had been costing operators significant sums of money.
“But England’s Stove Works dispels the myth that products such as whitegoods can only be economically made in non-first world countries,” he said.
England’s Stove Works is a leading manufacturer of pellet, wood, gas, and multi-fuel-burning stoves. The company produces 300-400 units daily and is adding a new plant for painting and finishing and shipping operations.
In 1998, the company introduced a new pellet stove — the PDVC — which quickly became a best seller. In order to keep up with demand for that product, and stay competitive in the industry, England’s Stove Works had to invest in new fabrication machinery.
At the time, the company was new to punching and used single station press. Management new it needed to upgrade its punching and bending operations.
After extensive evaluation, the company purchased a FINN-POWER F5 Express — load, punch, unload, using it so far on millions of heavy gauge steel sheet through it.
In July, 2005, the company added a FINN-POWER C5 Compact Express. The C5 Express adds unmanned operation the C5 turret punch press through highly compact load/unload automation.
The unit’s loading/unloading solution utilises the space above and below the machine — requiring only slightly more space than a turret punch press. It has proven to work fast, with simultaneous loading and unloading during processing, accurate, and it does not limit easy manual operation.
The 20-station, 33-ton C5 hydraulic turret punch press has a large sheet capacity and is available with either Siemens or Fanuc controls.
Tooling flexibility is also important to England’ Stove Works. Up to 10 auto-index and Multi-Tool® holders may be installed in a Finn-Power turret. England’s Stove Works has six auto-index stations and one 10-station Multi-Tool in the C5.
Unique to the C5 turret punch press, full tonnage indexable upforming allows complex forming operations to be made quickly by using a single forming tool. An index mechanism is used to turn the forming tool into an NC programmed angle.
Other features of the C5 turret punch press include:
Super Fast Servo Hydraulic Punching, easy loading, efficient unloading, automatic clamp setting and movement, catch & carry work chute,
During the company’s busy season — April through December — both the Finn-Power F5 Express and the C5 Compact Express operate 24/7. Management states FINN-POWER machines have allowed the company to compete in the world of large retailers.
England’s Stove Works still outsources nearly 50% of its punch/bend fabrication. The eventual plan is to do all fabrication in-house, so the company is looking at additional automation with either the Finn-Power Laser Punch or Shear Genius to help it reach the next level.
For more information contact:
Andrew Bentrup
Maxitec 02 8536 5800