Young & Woods is a leading provider of sheet-metal solutions to a wide variety of industries. The Essex-based company’s workforce has access to a comprehensive range of modern manufacturing plant and provides an all-embracing range of sheet-metal related services — from small-batch work to the large-volume manufacture of metal components and fabrications.

Formed in 1946, Young & Woods has made a point of investing in highly efficient accurate machinery and employing skilled staff. This has allowed the company to continually quote extremely competitive prices and deliver high-quality work.

Director Alan Lee says: “We consider that investing in the best available machinery pays major dividends in terms of equipment reliability, plus both the quality and volume of our output. To ensure maximum benefit, we work in partnership with our machine suppliers and remain loyal to those that provide us with the quality of machines and the levels of service we require.”

An example of Young & Woods’ affiliations with its suppliers is the enduring relationship with Coventry-based Prima Power UK Ltd (www.primapower.com).

“Some years ago, we invested in what was then the world’s fastest laser profiling machine — the Prima Power Syncrono.

The speed of the machine helped us to keep pace with the ever increasing demand for our services. In fact, the Syncrono’s ability to cut holes in excess of 1,000 per min, combined with its automatic load/unload capabilities, enabled us to introduce 24hr unmanned operation and considerably improve our productivity; the machine also allowed us to reduce the price of our components and to shorten manufacturing lead times.

In addition, the precision offered by the Syncrono ensured that we preserved our reputation for high-quality work.

“Our positive experience with the Syncrono, along with the service provided by Prima Power UK, led us to favour the company when we needed another laser profiling machine and a turret punch press. We subsequently bought a Platino 2.0 Fiber laser and a Punch Genius.

“Following installation and operator training, the fibre laser was soon fully operational and providing the high levels of productivity we need; and compared to our older Prima Power machine, we have been impressed by the wide range of materials the Platino 2.0 Fiber laser can cut. In fact, its ability to handle a much wider range of materials has opened up several new markets to us.”

Maximising competitiveness

Because the new 2.0 version of the Platino Fiber laser machine has been developed to maximise customers’ competitiveness according to their applications, a series of options is available to suit different production needs.

For example, Smart Cut is for the fast cutting of thin sheets (up to 5mm) and gives cycle time reductions of 30%, while Max Cut is for the fast cutting of medium- to thick-gauge sheets and cuts processing times by up to 40%. Night Cut is designed for intensive production, with higher rates of piercing and cutting process safety.

This compact machine, which has been designed to provide excellent accessibility, features a synthetic granite frame that gives high levels of thermal stability and vibration damping. A new focusing head with a single universal lens provides the efficient cutting of a wide range of materials and thicknesses; moreover, the ‘optical chain’ is totally sealed and protected from contamination.

Platino 2.0 Fiber is available with “high-brilliance energy-efficient” fibre lasers from 2 to 6kW. Moreover, the optional automatic nozzle changer allows 24/7 non-stop production. Also featured are the manufacturer’s Safe Impact Protection System, which protects the machine’s head in the event of a crash, and a quick alignment system known as OPC.

Control is via the user-friendly P30L CNC with 17in LCD touch-screen and ‘track-ball’. Off-line programming is provided by the Maestro-Libellula and NC Express e3 CAD/CAM systems. A wide range of modules allowing the automatic loading/unloading and storage of material is available, as are modules for integrating these machines with flexible manufacturing systems.

A UK first

Purchased to increase Young & Woods’ punch press capacity, the new Punch Genius from Prima Power features numerically controlled servo-electric axes and was the first model of the recently launched machine range to be installed in the UK.

Mr Lee said: “When we compared the performance of the new Punch Genius with turret punch presses from other suppliers, we found that the latest Prima Power machine offered an impressive speed of operation, high levels of energy efficiency and low maintenance requirements. Now fully operational, our new Punch Genius is producing impressive amounts of high-quality work.

“Contributing to the machine’s productivity are a large tool capacity and the wide range of tools available — plus fast and easy set-up. Its forming capabilities further reduce the manufacturing cost per component.”

The new Genius machines are available with two performance levels — Pure and Dynamic — both of which can be equipped with a range of options.

For example, the ‘intelligent’ rotating ram head shortens tool-change times and increases the availability of ‘in turret’ tools, especially index tools. Up to 300kN of servo-electric punching force can be selected for the ram, while automatic overload protection and automatic central lubrication ensure reliable machine operation, says Prima Power.

Also featured are moving brushes in front of and inside the turret, to prevent the scratching of sensitive materials. The brushes’ movement is activated by the program when needed and a special scratch-free punching mode is available.

Furthermore, the TaskLoader facility can be used to choose programs for the machine direct from a bar code on the works order, while the new Android-based Tulus MUPS application makes the operator’s work easier by providing instructions for tool set-ups and other tasks.