Germiston-based waterjet cutting and computer numerical control (CNC) machining company MAXJET last month announced the commissioning of its third waterjet machine to help enhance its operations.

The latest addition – which was manufactured and delivered by a US manufacturer – will be particularly beneficial for MAXJET customers in the aerospace and armaments industries which require the processing of materials ranging between 0.25 mm thickness and 300 mm thickness, says MAXJET director Preeshan Naidoo.

He adds that the new waterjet machine “clearly illustrates MAXJET’s commitment and dedication to industry in general”.

“Key to waterjet cutting at MAXJET is the fact that all equipment used are waterjets to process materials without adding heat-affected zones and keep all metallurgy or structural integrity of components intact. The machines help the company stay up to date with technology advancements and increased capacity, thereby adding value and efficiency to its effective servicing provision,” he notes.

The new waterjet machine is also equipped with modern servo drives and monitoring systems to improve the company’s in-house cutting and manufacturing capabilities, which will, in turn, produce “high-quality” products.

In addition to cutting materials of varying thicknesses, Naidoo highlights that MAXJET will use the new waterjet machine for the manufacture of its range of tooling jigs for local production and assembly lines, as well as for the manufacture of cutting blades.

“MAXJET also manufactures custom cutting blades from special tool steels for numerous machines where cut-offs form part of their functionalities,” he adds.

Benefits

MAXJET’s CNC-manufacturing processes create various advantages, including efficiency, high precision and reduced waste, which help contribute to environmental, social and governance goals and standards.

“The advantages for CNC lie in the precision held by digital and numeric encoders versus the older, conventional methods where human error is possible . . . Trial and error can be averted as achieving the correct parameters for processing the various materials and thicknesses can take extensive experience,” he posits.

Additionally, Naidoo explains that the company assists customers in “allowing specialists to undertake their part of the process” of using waterjet machines at its service centre, for the purpose of offering companies a solution that will ensure “massive savings in terms of labour, utilities, spare parts and machine running costs”.

Since its inception, and Preeshan’s more than 20 years industry experience, MAXJET has been contributing to the South African economy – including the industrial, manufacturing and mining sectors – by offering efficient and precise waterjet cutting products and profiling services.

The company also pays special attention to customer service as a means of ensuring that its customers receive timely deliveries and quality service.

“Our vast experience has seen the manufacture of several key components for the various production line machinery manufactured, designed and assembled in South Africa. Some of these machines are used locally, while specialised equipment is produced for the export market,” he concludes.