EuroWire Sept 2015

News Corporate

Technology plays a vital role at Whitelegg

Whitelegg Machines’ CFM wire bending technology is playing a vital role in improved productivity for Multimesh, one of the UK‘s leading fabricators of stainless steel, welded wire mesh products. Established in 1982, Multimesh (UK), a division of Harpscreen Manufacturing, has made its reputation through a creative and flexible response to its customers’ needs with the capability to produce either short-run, tailor-made specials or lengthy production runs. With its motto of ‘Making Wire Work for You’, the company’s 30,000ft 2 St Helens facility with over 50 employees serves growing home and overseas markets. containers where the qualities of stainless steel enable them to stand up to repeated autoclaving. For the catering industry, products include trolleys, frying baskets, racks and cooling trays – items that have to withstand high temperatures and intensive hygienic cleaning. The aerospace industry market is served by Multimesh’s wide range of ultrasonic decontamination baskets, used where vital components in ‘clean room’ conditions are treated prior to assembly. Agricultural, veterinary and equestrian are other important markets; the company makes threshing screen replacements for harvesters for home and export, pet transport cages and a variety of special tailor-made racks and grilles typically for equine transporters. A considerable part of Multimesh’s formed component output is from its Output includes medical decon- tamination baskets and

▲ ▲ Typical finished products

Prior to the installation of the machine, general manager Steve Watson had known of the CFM as he had been outsourcing pre-formed components from several suppliers who had their own machines. Determined to have an in-house CFM, he contacted Whitelegg Machines who suggested a visit to an existing client to view an operational machine. This proved the clincher, and a CFM with automatic butt-welding was supplied. The CFM brought immediate benefits to Multimesh’s output, not least being the simplicity of operation, allowing staff to set the machine through easy-to-follow on-screen graphics. The stainless coil feed wire passes through a three-roller feed to straighten the wire in both horizontal and vertical planes. This ensures consistent forming by the bend head and accurate butt-welding. The CFM currently handles 304 and 316 grade stainless wire in 4mm and 6mm diameters. Typical output of a rectangular formed and welded component is 700 per hour. The introduction of automation processes often results in manpower reduction, but not only has the CFM brought Multimesh substantially greater production but sales have also increased, as well as extra staff employed.

new Whitelegg CFM 850 2D wire bender with automatic butt-welding. Whitelegg has specialised in the development and manufacture of forming machines for over 50 years with sales worldwide. The latest CFM 50 series incorporates advanced software, new bend head operation and intuitive operator control. This machine has specific additional features for processing stainless steel. In-line chamfering combined with an argon gas application system produces a very strong butt weld with no flash, thus negating secondary operations. An additional bend head is supplied for very intricate or tight forming operations.

Springing into action Leeco Spring International is a full service spring manufacturer that stocks a wide range of both compression springs and extension springs, but also has the capability to custom-make springs for almost any industry or application. The company has an experienced design and engineering staff that can assist with any custom application, and can also offer secondary services and load testing capabilities. ▲ ▲ A wide range of springs from Leeco Spring International

General products include compression springs, clock springs, conical springs, extension springs, flat springs, garter springs, instrument springs, leaf springs, motor springs, precision springs, torsion springs, variable rate springs, Belleville washers, cantilever beams, rings, stampings and wire forms. The company has more than 8,000 different designs of compression springs on the shelf, ready to ship. Leeco Spring International – USA Website : www.leecospring.com

Whitelegg Machines Ltd – UK Website : www.whitelegg.com

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September 2015