Precise cutter set to slash steel wastage

By ELLEN READ

A high-precision steel cutting machine about to enter production for Fletcher Easysteel in Auckland could save manufacturers hundreds of thousands of dollars in product waste and open new international market opportunities.

Easysteel, a division of Fletcher Building, this week unveiled the $4 million machine it says will revolutionise the industry.

The Multi-Cut Blanking Line cuts steel into flat sheets ready for use in products such as washing machines, fridges and filing cabinets.

While older systems can cut to an accuracy of about 0.25mm, the new machine reduces that margin to 0.127mm.

Easysteel marketing manager David Munro said that meant there was no need for customers to then trim the sheets they received.

This would save them both time and money.

It would also help customers to target new markets, including the electronics market, where greater accuracy was required, he said.

The machine can process 35,000 tonnes a year - close to the New Zealand market capacity.

Illinois company Red Bud Industries, from the town of Red Bud in the United States bible belt, built the machine.

It arrived in five containers.

Red Bud engineers have spent the past two weeks assembling the monster and training local staff.

The machine can be operated by one person and is capable of running 24 hours a day.

More than 100 Easysteel customers attended the official unveiling of the machine in Penrose.

"This thing here is the best in the world," said Easysteel general manager John Beveridge.

"There hasn't been much investment in sheet metal service centres recently so this is a big deal.

"It's giant leap forward for the industry."