Sheffield-based Gripple UK — a world-leading manufacturer of wire joining, wire tensioning and wire suspension systems — has invested in a TruPunch 3000 to manufacture a ground-breaking new product.
The machine was purchased from Luton-based Trumpf (
www.trumpf.com/en) to complement a TruPunch 1000 installed three years ago, and it is now busy producing Fast Trak — a new series of rapid trapeze brackets that are considered a revolution in pre-fabricated containment supports.
Gripple has come a long way since being founded by wire salesman and budding entrepreneur Hugh Facey in 1985.
His idea of a small ‘widget’ with spring-loaded steel balls to join two wires together was intended to help farmers erect field fencing, which until then had to have horizontal wires knotted together manually.
The Gripple wire joiner proved a roaring success, and the company recently celebrated the sale of its 600 millionth unit.
When the idea for Fast Trak was first hatched, expectations were high. This pre-fabricated trapeze bracket solution offers exceptionally quick installation of electrical conduits, pipework, ductwork and so on in restricted places.
Production manager David Grant said: "We have been moving towards more in-house manufacturing over the past few years to give us greater control over production schedules.
“We already had a TruPunch 1000 punching machine, but it was at full capacity, so it was clear that we needed another machine.”
With its skeleton-free processing, the TruPunch 3000 saves material as an inherent part of its operation, while its automation provides high productivity and convenience of operation.
Furthermore, with an average power input of only 5.6kW, the electric punching head makes the TruPunch 3000 very
energy-efficient.
The machine has been set to work producing parts for the 11 different sizes of Fast Trak. The components are punched from 2mm thick mild steel and are up to 1,200mm long.
Mr Grant concluded: “With Fast Trak officially launched, the TruPunch 3000 is busy manufacturing for stock, although a few large orders have already arrived from the USA and UK.
“If we hit the anticipated sales volumes, we will in all likelihood require another TruPunch 3000 to meet demand.”