Saxon Fabrications Ltd, which specialises in the fabrication of structural steelwork, has acquired a Geka Alfa 500 flat punch and shear line from Kettering-based Prosaw Ltd (
www.prosaw.co.uk) for its Newton Aycliffe premises. Formed in 2010, the County Durham firm fabricates about 50 tonnes of steelwork each week.
The new line can accommodate flat bars from 50 x 3mm to 500 x 20mm and up to 6m long. The Geka system uses DSTV files to directly program from CAD format to the machine tool.
It allows fittings with different lengths and hole centres to be sheared and punched from a single flat bar, making it particularly flexible and easy to use.
Saxon says that it has proved to be a “significant cost-saving facility”, as the previous shearing system required the presence of a second operator.
The increase in capacity that the Geka system has provided allows the company to bid for larger jobs.
Managing director Andrew Wharton said: “We reviewed several different makes of punching and shearing systems before purchasing the Geka machine. Our decision was influenced by its ease of use, its extended tool life and the lack of problems compared to other makes, as well as its competitive price.”