Milton Keynes-based Kasto Ltd (www.kasto.com) has introduced what it describes as a high-performance economically priced bandsaw to maximise the benefits of either tungsten-carbide tipped (TCT) or bi-metal blades (Hall 7 Stand 365).

The KastoWin Pro AC 5.6 offers short cutting times, long blade life and intuitive operation, says the company.

Compared with standard KastoWin machines, this bandsaw can increase production efficiency by 50-100% (or more in some instances), depending on the type of blade and material being cut.

The machine has an installed weight of 4.3 tonnes, and the saw band is driven by an 11kW frequency-controlled motor, delivering steplessly adjustable cutting speeds from 12 to 150m/min.

The maximum size of stock that can be cut is 560mm, and the smallest dimension is 25 x 25mm, while the shortest residual length is 10mm for individual offcuts and 35mm in automatic operation.

The saw incorporates ecological design features that reduce energy consumption, especially in the hydraulics. Kasto has complemented this technology by developing electro-mechanical down-feed of the blade — controlled via two ballscrews, each with a servo drive.

The hydraulics system is therefore only responsible for workpiece clamping and saw blade tensioning, so it is actuated far less than in the past, delivering an energy saving in this area of about 93%.

All drives are controlled by ‘intelligent’ converter technology, while dynamic parts such as the saw frame have been designed to be lighter.

Overall, these measures have made it possible to achieve significant improvements in energy efficiency, consumption being on average 28% lower than Kasto’s previous bandsaw model of equivalent size.

Depending on cutting times, annual energy costs for one saw can be reduced by several hundred pounds over a single shift, without affecting productivity, says Kasto.

Another bandsaw to make an appearance will be a representative model from the company's latest range of swing-frame pivoting-bow machines.

The KastoMicut comes in four model variants: manual (P 2.6), manual clamping with hydraulic down-feed (E 2.6), hydraulically actuated clamping and down-feed (U 2.6), and fully automatic (A 2.6) with ballscrew-driven material feed, carbide blade guides and an optional chip conveyor.

These saws supersede six models in the KastoPractical and KastoFunctional series; in comparison, they offer more-powerful motors and greater band tension, allowing a 50% increase in cutting force.

Blade speed is steplessly variable from 20 to 120m/min. KastoMicut saws have a cutting range of 260mm for round stock and 310 x 260mm for flat stock.

The shortest cut length is 6mm, with a residual length of 15mm for manually cut pieces or 40mm in automatic operation. Cutting accuracy is 0.1mm per 100mm of height. Mitre cuts are possible at continuously adjustable angles from -45 to +60deg.

In further support of ecology, in 2017 Kasto introduced an energy-efficient storage tower designed to provide a compact standardised solution for the automated storage and retrieval of material. KastoEcostore is available in two variants.

The first version is for holding sheet materials, while the second, which has not previously been announced and will be promoted at the show, is for storing bar and other stock up to 6.5m long.