3 ways to maximise productivity from your steel saws

3 ways to maximise productivity from your steel saws

Structural steel fabricators across the globe are always looking for ways to maximise productivity on the factory floor. Improving productivity can be achieved in several ways, from investing in the latest technology to keeping machine downtime to a minimum. For those operating steel saws, we’ve put together our top three ways to optimise production processes and accelerate shop floor productivity.

Make sure steel saws are regularly maintained

Machine breakdowns are one of the most common issues for customers but regular maintenance can minimise the frequency and length of downtime significantly. This is particularly relevant to steel saws which can vibrate at high speeds and frequencies, causing blades to snap and damage to the machine. Our best steel saws for fabricators blog covers this in more detail.

By scheduling and carrying out regular maintenance, steel processing companies can:

• Highlight issues and fix at a suitable time, preventing the frequency of machine failures and avoiding downtime at peak production times.
• More accurately predict how frequently replacement of consumables are required so items are in stock exactly when needed.
• extend the lifespan of their steel saws without a reduction in machine performance.

Invest in automation technology for operational synergy

Although new equipment and technologies are introduced into the steel processing industry all the time, one significant change in recent years has been the introduction of automation technologies which help streamline production processes. An investment in automation can help steel facilities to turbo-charge their productivity.

Here are our top reasons why investment in automation will maximise productivity:

• Automation technology is fantastic for coordinating and integrating steel processing. Allowing for entire production optimisation. For example, our latest automatic sawing technology enables software to adjust miter positioning, clamps, blade guides and feed as well as automatically remove trim cuts, without operator intervention.
• Automated processes help improve the quality & accuracy of cuts, free up operator time and avoid common operator errors that result in timely reworks.
• Automation software can identify where bottlenecks within the process are likely to occur and allow operators to modify programmable sequences to increase efficiency at every stage of production.

Carefully select blade types and speeds for quality cuts

Maximum sawing productivity cannot be achieved without the right blade selection. At Ficep, we’ve tried and tested many blades over the years to understand what type of blades work best for specific requirements. Speed & feed is also a key factor in maximising blade performance and improving productivity. If a saw isn’t performing as well as it should be, or the wrong blade has been selected, then fabricators are likely to find themselves with increased frequency of blade failures and rework - slowing down production drastically.

What to consider when selecting steel saw blades:

• Different materials require different blade and tooth pitches. If the tooth pitch isn’t appropriate, an excess of chips can become trapped within the blade leading to a poor quality cut.
• The wrong blade can deteriorate quickly. Blunt blades not only lead to poor quality cuts but also heat build-up which can cause blade/machine failure.
• Incorrect speeds and feed for a specific requirement can also impact cutting quality. Slight adjustments to this can really improve performance.
• Pick a blade which suits the machine production requirements. Some blades, for example, are designed to be better suited for constant production due to quieter cutting and made of materials which prevent the likelihood of heat and wear damage.

Although these are our top recommendations for improving sawing productivity, we regularly work with customers to provide technical support and advice with their individual situations, as we know all steel processors and fabricators have different needs and budgets. Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you maximise your productivity, email sales@ficep.co.uk or call +44 (0)1924 223530.