A bespoke cover from machine protection specialist Beakbane Ltd, Kidderminster (www.beakbane.co.uk), is helping the water-jet cutting company Aquacut to reduce costs, prevent breakdowns and ensure quality.

Established in the 1990s, this Cheshire-based company pioneered the use of water-jet cutting in the building sector; building, construction and architectural work still accounts for 90% of its work.

Managing director Stuart Middleton says: “Most of the work undertaken by our water-jet machine is cutting porcelain and ceramic tiles; this can be as simple as trimming them to size, or it can involve cutting them into complex shapes. We also cut all sorts of stone, as well as metals, glass, composite materials, rubber, plastics and even paper.

“However, before the jet breaks through the material being cut, there is a lot of splash-back — of water, the highly abrasive garnet sand that assists the cutting process and the very fine powder that has been abraded from the workpiece. This mixture can get into the drives and bearings of the machines; it then acts as a grinding paste that can destroy the mechanical components.”

Mr Middleton asked Beakbane to come up with a solution. The company measured the machine, examined the old covers and assessed the working environment before proposing — and subsequently fitting — a set of polyurethane-coated polyester concertina covers designed to withstand the wet environment and stop any abrasive dust or slurry getting into the drive mechanism.