To improve its local manufacturing processes, WEG has taken delivery of two laser cutting machines and three bending machines for its sheet metal cutting operation at the company’s manufacturing facility in Robertsham, Johannesburg.

The company says that the new machines have helped to increase productivity and efficiency at its facility, which specialises in the production of medium voltage switchgear, motor control centres, medium voltage softstarters, low voltage variable speed drives, and softstarter enclosures. 

WEG Africa GM Anderson Kohler explains that the facility’s two conventional punching machines have been replaced by two 3 kW and 4 kW fibre laser cutting machines. The units are said to offer improved precision and accuracy, with the ability to cut metal at a speed about 50% faster than punching. The precise slitting ensures that cut surfaces have no rough edges, increasing product quality and reducing waste based on the best use of raw materials.

“Our machine availability is now between 95% and 99%, up from the previous 50% on the old machines,” says WEG Africa mechanical supervisor Arno Broodryk.

Kohler explains that the absence of physical tooling in fibre laser technology eliminates the need for setup and tooling time. These efficiencies help improve production capacity and internal delivery times, resulting in reduced customer lead times. 

In addition, WEG has replaced its two old bending machines with three modern units which feature new technology such as programming software that results in reduced human intervention and improved quality.

“The next step in our investment strategy is the acquisition of a new copper busbar punching machine, which is expected to arrive this year,” concludes Kohler.