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EBM meets growing work volume with Bystronic laser |
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by Jerry Cook
 A rapidly growing volume of work recently prompted EBM Laser, Saint-Augustin-de-Demaures, QC to install a new Bystronic laser cutting system.
“We decided to install a new laser because we wanted to add production
capacity to keep up with a growing volume of work,” says Gaëtan
St.-Jean, owner of EBM Laser.
To say that EBM Laser’s sales are growing quickly is an understatement.
In fact, according to St.-Jean, the company’s sales will have grown
from $950,000 in 2001, when EBM began operations, to approximately $9
million by the end of this year.
EBM, which has 50 employees at its 22,500 sq. ft. plant, specializes in
sheetmetal fabrication ranging from laser cutting to mechanical
assembly for various customers including the automotive sector,
agricultural, general industrial, and more. The company’s sales are
100% domestic.
In addition to laser cutting, EBM Laser provides a variety of other
services including bending, rolling, welding, CNC machining, and more.
The company also builds mechanical assemblies. Typically, EBM Laser,
which is a low to high volume manufacturer, is working with sheet
steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. With laser cutting, the company
is working to tolerances of plus or minus 0.005 in. For other
manufacturing operations, EBM is working to general shop tolerances.
EBM Laser is currently in the process of attaining ISO 9001:2000
certification. The firm anticipates becoming ISO certified in early
2009.
According to St.-Jean, in order to keep up with its growing customer
base and volume of work, EBM recently installed a Bystronic BySpeed
3015 laser cutting system. The BySpeed 3015 laser is 4,400 watts and
features a table size of 5 ft. x 10 ft. The BySpeed provides a number
of features and benefits including acceleration up to 3G which reduces
production times and increases throughput; and low wear on the drive
due to Bystronic’s dynamic Direct Helical Motor (DHM) drive. The
BySpeed 3015 laser cutting system was supplied by Bystronic Inc.,
Hauppauge, NY (bystronic.com).
The new BySpeed 3015 laser system employs Bystronic’s ByCell automated
storage system and ByTrans material handling system. Working together
with the laser system, the ByCell and ByTrans are designed to enhance
flexibility, optimize machine utilization, and reduce material handling
and downtime.
In addition to the BySpeed 3015 laser, other Bystronic equipment that
EBM Laser has installed includes a second 4,000 watt BySpeed 3015 laser
system, one Beyeler PR-150 press brake with extended open height and
stroke and one standard PR-150 press brake.
It was EBM Laser’s previous experience with Bystronic equipment that
influenced the firm’s decision to install the latest Byspeed laser
system, says St.-Jean. “We already had a Bystronic laser cutting
machine and a Bystronic bending machine. Since we were satisfied with
the performances we were getting from both of these machines, we
decided to continue our relationship with Bystronic by buying the new
laser cutting machine.”
Since EBM previously had experience using Bystronic laser cutting
systems, training on the new 3015 laser was a relatively simple and
straightforward process, says St.-Jean. “Bystronic provided the company
with specialized training for programmers, machine operators and
maintenance personnel. Those training sessions were extremely helpful
and dynamic. The machines are user friendly and easy to become familiar
with.”
St.-Jean says that the new BySpeed laser cutting system has provided
EBM Laser with a variety of benefits including increased productivity,
enhanced quality, improved delivery, and overall cost reductions. The
new Bystronic laser cutting system is definitely meeting expectations
in terms of performance.
bystronicusa.com
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