Modular construction system

Danny Jones, technical director at Kall Kwik Machinery, discusses how the company works with customers to provide tailormade Schirmer machines.  

When it comes to your business, nobody knows it better than you. You know exactly what you do well, and you know the areas you need to improve.

You also know when you need to invest in new machinery to improve the way you operate, and you know how you want it to perform.

When an external person offers ‘expert’ advice on how to increase your output or efficiency, without knowing the ins and outs of your company, they might as well try to teach your granny to suck eggs.

While most fabricator set ups will have lots of similarities, you won’t find two the same across the whole of the UK. Whether it’s size of facility, capacity or layout, each one is unique in its own way and there’s no off-the-shelf solution to suit everyone.

While I won’t claim to be an expert on anyone else’s business, there’s not much I don’t know about window machinery. By working alongside our customers, learning about their processes, and listening to what they want to achieve, we can suggest the very best bespoke machinery options.

It’s vital that customers are made aware of all the choices available to them before making an investment – not just the brand or model of machine, but also in regards to the options available on each individual machine.

For example, Schirmer machinery is often mistakenly considered to be ‘sold as seen’ and this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Schirmer profile processing lines comprise a modular construction system that allows individual machines and modules to be combined to meet specific requirements, including the size and features.

This makes the Schirmer a superbly adaptable piece of kit. As the UK’s original Schirmer supplier, we have the experience and expertise to work with you to create the best fit for your facility, making sure you use the benefits you need.

Traditionally, Schirmer cutting and machining centres feature a standard eight-axis routing portal comprising of fixed motors plus an additional axis-controlled angled rebate motor. However, for the past five years or so, an orbital router has been available as an alternative. This consists of two four-axis ‘C’ rings, each containing a 5mm and 8mm router providing a full 360º mechanism for dual drilling and processing. This greater freedom of movement means improved versatility and efficiency.

With fabricators trying to keep up with the pressures of extra demand, making marginal efficiency gains in areas like this can go a long way in helping your business.

When investing in new machinery, one of the main considerations for fabricators to take into account is size: will this machine fit into the space available?

While a typical Schirmer cutting and machining centre is a big piece of kit, smaller footprint options are available to suit factories less room. As with all variations, different sized machines offer different benefits, and our experience of working closely with Schirmer means we can advise on what configuration works best, on a bespoke basis.

When it comes to Schirmer, as with any machine, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

We want to help fabricators make the best decisions for their businesses, with each machine we sell having its own distinct advantages. As we see it, our job as machinery suppliers is to clearly explain all the available options and how each one can benefit your manufacturing process, enabling you to make an informed decision.

We work in partnership with you, as part of your team, to achieve a common goal: improving your business.