Glenmore Hane, a specialist in fine-limit sheet-metal fabrication for a wide range of industries, is using its investment in the latest automated laser-cutting and press-brake technologies from Kidderminster-based Amada UK (www.amada.co.uk) to achieve an ever-stronger market position.

The Slough-based fabricator says automation is the key factor in creating a significant amount of extra capacity, which in turn is supporting the generation of additional revenue.

Although its origins go back to 1973, Glenmore Hane was created in 2014 from the merger of Glenmore Engineering Ltd, Glenmore Plating Ltd, Hane Instruments Ltd and AA Finishers.

The merged company moved into 12,000ft² premises on the Slough Trading Estate and today supplies sectors that include aerospace, automotive, marine, defence, electronics, food, lighting, medical, pharmaceutical, scientific instruments and retail.

General manager Mark Hall said: “We are set up to tackle anything from prototypes and one-offs through to large batch runs. We have the cutting-edge technology and the latest equipment to design, fabricate and finish in-house.

"In fact, we are strong advocates of investing in the latest manufacturing technologies.”

A case in point is the recent installation of an Amada LCG-3015AJ fibre laser, which is now firmly “bedded in and working hard” cutting 3 x 1.5m metal sheets with a ±0.01mm positional repeatability. Moreover, axis speeds of 170m/min (simultaneous) mean that the parts do not suffer from heat distortion.

Mr Hall says: “For us, the advantage of fibre laser is the reduction in the melt effect on coated surfaces and cut edges. The beam kerf is very clean and about 10-times smaller than that of CO₂ lasers.

In addition, real-time measuring sensors detect the slightest undulation and make material tolerance adjustments to help ensure zero rejects. Investing in this machine was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”

Benefits of automation

The laser’s table load weight of 920kg and a 3-tonne automatic loader/unloader allows Glenmore Hane to run large orders on tight deadlines round the clock; and because the company only operates a single-shift system, the ability to run ‘lights out’ is a key requirement.

“The automation allows us to take on additional work and ultimately gives us the opportunity to grow. The LCG-3015AJ helps us to react quickly and flexibly, which helps to differentiate us from competitors.”

Some 80% of the company’s components are made from aluminium, typically 1.5mm-thick 5251 aluminium alloy; the company also produces parts from 0.5-5.0mm-thick mild steel, stainless steel, brass and copper — and it uses an Amada LC-2512C1AJ punch/laser combination machine for parts that benefit from integrated punching and tapping capabilities.

Glenmore Hane also has an Amada HG-1003ATC (Automatic Tool Change) press brake, which can load even the most complex tool layout within 3min.

“The ATC on the new press brake saves us so much time. Set-ups on other press brakes can take up to 40min, but with the HG-1003ATC we can interrupt a series of 1,000 parts, for example, and be bending a more urgent batch within a few minutes.

“Further helping our productivity is Amada’s VPSS software package, which is ideal for creating the 2-D CAD drawings required for production, and for importing DXF, DWG and Autodesk files for product engineering.

“We are also using Amada’s Production Designer, which imports 3-D solid models — from SolidWorks and various other 3-D software packages — and automatically creates ‘unfold’ drawings with accurate bend information that can be processed through our Amada Blank software. This simulates NC code in full before actual production.”

All sheet metal work at Glenmore Hane conforms to ISO9001:2015 quality management standards.

Additional services offered include graining, welding, anodising, priming, coating, assembly, packing and delivery. Today, some 48 people are employed in 12 departments.

In-house finishing processes are a particular specialty, and the company offers both chromic and sulphuric anodising (including black and hard anodising), as well as Alocrom 1000 and 1200 chromate conversion coating and non-chromate conversion coatings such as Iridite NCP and SurTec 650V.

Glenmore Hane can also apply various adhesive primers and epoxy primers, as well as zinc plate and clear passivate, spray painting and powder coating.