By working in partnership with Prima Power since 2006, Coventry-based PAB has been able to maintain its leadership in the supply of formed pressings and panels for the prestige automotive market.

The company currently has two Prima Power eP-0520 servo-electric press brakes, an E5x servo-electric punch press, a Platino CO2 laser with automated material handling and stacking, and a Rapido five-axis laser.

Sales manager Rob Lewis says: “We have invested over £1 million with Prima Power (www.primapower.com). This is a strategic commitment that will continue into the foreseeable future. We also rely entirely on Prima Power for maintenance, training and advice on the use of the machines, making us a very satisfied customer.”

The Platino laser was purchased around eight years ago to cut aluminium sheet up to 5mm thick while achieving the best edge quality. Its integrated pallet system delivers material to the machine from the automated stack, enabling it to run ‘lights out’ 24hr a day.

2012 saw PAB’s old press brakes replaced by the two eP-0520 servo-electric press brakes, and the E5¥ servo-electric punch press arrived just a few months later.

“We added this machine because some parts such as automotive grills have lots of holes, and manufacture is far quicker using punching technology rather than laser cutting, where hole piercing times are too long for this type of work.”

The E5x uses far less power than a hydraulic punch press, and the shearing action is kinder on tools. “The punching and laser processes save us significant cost in hard tooling, which we would otherwise need for small prototype runs.”

Once panels have been formed, trimming to the finished shape is completed on the Rapido laser.

“We can trim low-volume high-value parts in batches from two to 300 very quickly and efficiently. Typical parts include brackets and welded fabrications in all shapes and sizes.”