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Tactical Technology
Mikko Lindström,
President |
Finn-Power has a well-deserved reputation
for introducing show-stopping new metal fabricating technology
at the trade shows in which it participates. Euro-Blech 2004
was no exception. Finn-Power introduced an array of new products
at this year's exhibition, demonstrating once again the company's
leadership position in fabrication technology.
Each year Finn-Power
design engineers in Finland and Italy introduce new or enhanced
products to meet the changing needs of our customers. New
equipment technology has always been the lifeline to growth
for sheet metal fabricators. Equipment and tooling manufacturers
continue to make tremendous strides in developing new machines
and tooling that are not only more accurate and cost efficient,
but also capable of eliminating secondary operations while
performing functions thought impossible just a few years
ago.
Our latest arsenal of new products introduced
at Euro-Blech include the following:
C5 Compact Express - Adds
unmanned operation to the C5 versatility through highly compact
load/unload automation. It is fast, with simultaneous loading
and unloading during processing, accurate, and it does not
limit easy manual operation if needed.
L6 Laser - A new generation
flying optics laser featuring linear drive motor technology
and 4000 watt resonator to allow maximum speeds even in small
notches or narrow contours.
Shear Genius - Another new
generation machine from Finn-Power. The new Shear Genius
Flexible Manufacturing Cell combines punching, forming, and
tapping versatility of a modern turret punch press with high-quality
shearing for separating the components. The same programmable
clamps that are used for punching and forming are also used
for shearing...making all operations extremely accurate.
What Machine
to Buy?
With the many choices of machines available
today - turret punch press, laser, combination machines,
etc., - the
question of which machine type is best suited to a fabricator's
sheet metal production needs is a major concern with every
fabricating machine purchase. It is a question that must
be thoroughly researched, answered, and tested prior to submitting
the purchase order.
"Technically Correct" Machines
The choices
include a wide variety of machines, including:
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Turret punch
presses with either hydraulic or servo-electric punching
systems, with up to 15 3.5" full tonnage auto index or
Multi-Tool stations. The auto-index feature allows wheel
capability and multiple indexable shapes for contouring
on the turret punch press.
Flying optics laser with either AC digital
servo or linear drives. Punch
/ shear combination machines with AC digital servo or linear drives. Laser / punch combination machines with
hydraulic or servo mechanical punching systems with either
AC digital servo or linear drives.
Fabrication Under the Microscope
After evaluating
the many capabilities of the various machines, you must then
take a close and honest look at the processes that are currently
in place at your shop. Will these in-place processes allow you to compete
in the global market, or will you need to add new technology
to increase your quality, productivity, and profits? Today's
fabricators must be concerned not only in meeting their current
demands, but also must have the vision and strength to anticipate
future challenges and changes in the marketplace. The equipment
and tooling exists today to meet these challenges. The trick, of course,
is to choose wisely. And once the commitment has been made,
you must then dedicate the resources, training, preventative
maintenance programs, and even culture changes within your
company to ensure that your investment will be successful.
To
assist you in making these important decisions, please contact
us at Finn-Power - phone
(847) 885 3200; fax (847) 885 9692; e-mail sales@finnpower.com;
or visit our web site www.finnpower.com We will connect you with an experienced
sales engineer in your area to assist in your equipment selection.
With
our strong resources of people, equipment, and manufacturing
facilities in Finland and throughout the world, we promise
our many customers and friends a continued stream of new
and technically-superior products in the future.
On behalf
of all Finn-Power employees, we wish you a very Happy
Holiday Season.
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710
Remington Road 
Volume
14 Issue 2 -
December 2004