The Crystal Clear Group recently upgraded its fabrication machinery with a Supercut 6 cutting and machining centre from Avantek Machinery.

In August 2020, while experiencing increased demand following the lockdown restrictions, Crystal Clear’s CEO Martin Randall wanted something that would not only enhance his operational efficiency but also provide consistent quality across all products.

Following the decision, three Avantek team members visited Crystal Clear Group to prepare the factory for the arrival of the 23m-long Supercut 6.

Crystal Clear’s operations director Tim Goldspink said: “The planning process was key. Two automated saws had to be moved out of production while installing the Supercut around the factory’s existing layout, and with such a large machine, we had to make sure it was installed safely.

“Dave Fox, Avantek’s Supercut manager, delivered a CAD drawing of our facility and showed us the most efficient way to set up the factory, which was superb.”

Martin said: “We’ve been using separate machines for cutting and machining for decades. With the need to increase production also came the need to increase efficiency without sacrificing quality, and the Supercut delivers both.

“With the Supercut 6, profiles are cut and cleaned in one motion, all with only one machine. It also moves all off-cuts into the waste basket for ease in recycling, which is paramount to our operations.

“The fact we could have all this within a few short weeks was what really swung it for me, and the Avantek team have been so easy to deal with.”

The Supercut 6 was delivered two weeks after Martin’s initial telephone call to Avantek and took four weeks to set up from start to finish, including working with software companies and training staff to run it.

“The Supercut replaces almost a dozen smaller, less efficient machines in our facility,” Martin said. “It delivers the consistently excellent results that we expect and are known for. It will also allow us to streamline our operations, and further increase our productivity by up to 1,300 frames per week.”