Storage of raw material after it has been delivered and subsequent sawing of the stock into manageable sizes for handling and deployment onto machine tools are often the first two processes in a factory. The efficiency of both functions can be dramatically increased if they are automated. KASTO’s presence on stand 610 in hall 19 at the forthcoming MACH 2020 show in Birmingham (NEC, 20th – 24th April) will provide an ideal opportunity for stockholders, OEMs and subcontractors to quiz the company on what it can offer and the competitive advantages that can be obtained.One of the company’s recent product introductions for streamlining storage is the KASTOecostore tower, a standardised solution for automated, 3D storage and retrieval of sheet material and pallets. There is another, similar system for storing bar and other long stock. Advantages include low space requirement, high storage density, short material access times, energy savings and value for money.
KASTO will also be able to explain the widening choice of automation systems on offer to minimise labour costs and increase production output from the company’s circular sawing and bandsawing machines. Industrial robots make production more flexible and efficient, from batch sizes of one to large volumes. They also improve working conditions for operators and can significantly reduce costs in stockholding and manufacturing operations. Sawing systems are increasingly being automated by robots, as they are fast, reliable, precise and if necessary can work 24/7 without human intervention.
Robotic systems are also taking over numerous process steps following sawing, from removal of the cut pieces through deburring, chamfering, measuring and marking and on to weighing, sorting and stacking on pallets or in containers.
Stock to be cut can be supplied to a machine by means of a roller conveyor or magazine, for example, sparing workers the effort of lifting and reducing the risk of injuries. Depending on how it is equipped, the sawing machine can run attended, with the control system holding all parameters of a job including material diameter, blade speed, rate of downfeed, cut length and number of parts.
KASTO can implement combined storage and sawing systems in which all processes are automated, from storage of the raw material to retrieval of the cut parts. The control software can be linked to an ERP system for transparency and efficiency. Other processes like turning or milling can be integrated within a fully digitised, Industry 4.0 production environment.
