Irish first
Limerick based Curran Aluminium has become the first company in Ireland to install a Tekna 743 vacuum clamping three-axis machining centre from Emmegi, giving it the ability to machine its own flat sheets and flashings in-house for the first time.
The company is a leading fabricator operating in Ireland’s commercial construction market. It has recognised that there are huge benefits to be gained in both quality and efficiency from being in control of as many elements of its own production as possible.
Previously, Curran bought in machined sheet but can now integrate the process into its own factory.
The Tekna 743 works by positioning sheet panels on a 6,400mm x 2,000mm worktable topped with air-porous Forex material. Vacuum technology sited underneath the table clamps the panels securely, creating a stable and unobstructed work area for machining across the whole panel or in pre-defined sections. Drilling, milling and cutting are carried out via a 12 or 19-piece onboard tool magazine, powered by a 10kW 24,000 rpm spindle.
The Tekna 743 machine was supplied by Emmegi (UK) which has been Curran Aluminium’s machinery partner for many years. The Curran factory already features, for example, Emmegi Precision TS2 and Combi Electra saws, Emmegi Phantomatic X4 machining centres, and ancillary machines such as crimpers, notching saws, end millers, and tape machines.
Curran Aluminium reviewed both laser cutting and water jet cutting alternatives before agreeing that the Tekna 743 was the best solution for its factory. Although this was the first installation of this model of machine in Ireland, Curran was reassured by the fact that a specialist engineer from Tekna in Italy was contracted by Emmegi to work alongside its own Irish engineering team to ensure that the installation went very smoothly.
