John Fredericks Plastics has further enhanced its manufacturing output with the installation of a new Graf Synergy single head CNC cill welder, supplied by machinery specialist, Haffner.

The investment reportedly follows a visit to Graf’s headquarters near Modena, Italy, last year, where the John Fredericks operations team explored advanced cill welding solutions.

During the visit, Graf demonstrated how the machine could streamline fabrication processes by delivering seamless, high-quality welds while removing several time-intensive finishing stages. The patented technology eliminates the need for corner cleaning, sanding, polishing of cills and penning in, significantly improving workflow efficiencies and reducing production time.

Mark Dicconson, managing director of John Fredericks Plastics, said: “Having the team visit Graf to look at cill welding options, it quickly became clear that this was the right solution to resolve a bottleneck in our fabrication process. Not only would the cill welder reduce production time and save on costs, but the finish quality of the end product was exceptional. From an investment point of view, it was an easy decision to make.”

Like all Graf Synergy machinery, the Cill Welder produces a precise, seamless weld free from excess sprue, enhancing consistency and reducing the need for post-weld finishing. The result is improved productivity and a cleaner, higher-quality final product.

Since the machine has been in operation at John Fredericks’ fabrication facility in Huddersfield, customer response is said to have been overwhelmingly positive. Mark added: “The feedback from our customers has been fantastic. They’ve particularly noticed the quality of the seamless weld, which really enhances the overall finish of the product.”

Mark also highlighted the collaborative approach taken throughout the project. He said: “Working with Haffner has been a pleasure. Both Matt Thomas and Mike Moulds have been great to work with from start to finish, and the whole process has been seamless in every sense of the word.”