Fully Automatic Sawing System Significant Streamlining Thanks to Double Mitre Bandsaw

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GT Steel Construction AB in Vaggeryd, Sweden, has invested in a 45-meter-long (148 feet) bandsaw concept supplied by Maskin AB Erlandsson & Hjorth. The fully automated system from Meba can produce beams up to 18 meters (59 feet) in length.

GT Steel Construction employs 26 people and is owned by Managing Director Richard Nordin and Tobias Abrahamsson, who is responsible for technology and development in the company. GT Steel specializes in the manufacture of steel structures for construction, warehousing and commercial properties. There is optimism at GT Steel, as the economy is developing positively. "Things are going well, which is very positive for us," says Rickard Nordin. GT Steel has grown in recent years and plans to continue on this course. In order to actively push development, the company has built a new factory in Vaggeryd. The old factory in Skillingaryd was too cramped, among other things. In the new factory, GT Steel achieves a much better production flow, from material handling to the finished product. The modern premises in Vaggeryd include offices, a welding hall, a warehouse and a sawing hall, which houses the 45-meter-long (148 feet), fully automatic MebaEco 510 DG double mitre bandsaw.

"We save a lot of time with this system. The sawing process is five times faster than with a manual machine," says Mohamad Al Ali, workshop manager. The system can saw beams up to 18 meters long and with a diameter of 500 x 700 millimeters (20 x 28 inches). Robin Cehlin, salesperson and future CEO of Maskin AB Erlandsson & Hjorth, sold the system: "The system consists, among other things, of a saw as a standalone unit and a measuring unit."

Measurable Benefits

The Meba Eco 510 DG bandsaw is based on a technically continuously developed "modular system," from which countless models can be systematically configured. At GT Steel, the saw is equipped with the MS3 measuring stop, which provides easy handling, especially with heavy materials. In this case, the measuring unit can measure beams up to 18 meters long (59 feet). Additionally, the system features powered roller conveyors on both sides of the saw, as well as an input and output unit. On the discharge side, chain cross-conveyors and a pusher are installed. The material is brought to the system by forklift or crane. For the operator controlling the machine, manual handling is no longer necessary—unlike before, when GT Steel only had a manual system.

The fully automatic sawing system not only leads to significant streamlining of production but also improves ergonomics and significantly reduces the workload compared to working with a manual saw machine. In a manual setup, the operator must perform additional heavy tasks after placing a beam with the crane, such as pushing the beam into the saw and accurately positioning it before sawing. In the fully automatic system, after placing the material, the operator programs the sawing program into the software. Once completed, the beam is automatically transported through the system and moved via the roller conveyors. The length is measured exactly using a stop. Inside the stop is measuring technology that sends a signal to the software upon contact with the material, indicating that the correct length has been reached. When the beam is set to the desired cutting length and the angles specified by the customer, the material is sawed. "Everything operates fully automatically," says Robin Cehlin.

Both Positive and Negative Angles in One Operation

The Meba saw is a double miter saw that can cut both positive and negative angles in one operation. If a beam needs to have a positive angle on one end and a negative angle on the other, which is common for steel beams, it no longer needs to be removed and turned over. The operator can specify in the program where the beams should be placed in the system. This means, for example, that all beams from a specific welding series can be placed separately. If an urgent order comes in, it can be executed without disrupting the rest of the production. In this case, the operator pauses the automatic program and executes the urgent order. The system can also be operated manually if the operator wishes. All movements of the Meba saw can be controlled manually.

Intensive Consultation Prior to the Investment

Robin Cehlin from Maskin AB Erlandsson & Hjorth visited GT Steel Construction multiple times before the investment to carefully identify the needs of the steel constructor. Meba has committed to providing "utility-focused sawing solutions," which is supported by the intensive consultation by Robin Cehlin as well as the extensive visit of the managing directors of GT Steel Construction to Meba. The visit included a tour of the company, the production facilities, assembly, and extensive discussions to clarify details with all relevant departments. The subsequent after-sales services also contributed to the system being well-suited to the needs of GT Steel Construction. Maskin AB Erlandsson & Hjorth is the general representative for Meba in Sweden. The German company Meba is a pioneer in bandsaw technology and is known for its high-quality saws and sawing systems. Since the late 1950s, Meba has invested heavily in technology, significantly advancing the development of bandsaw technology.

Meba offers a wide range of metal bandsaws—from small manual and semi-automatic machines to double miter and fully automatic CNC machines, as well as highly digitized and automated complete systems.

*Marketing & Communications, Meba Metal Bandsaw Machines