Market demand prompted Voortman to design and build two new styles of plate processors that would revolutionize plate processing around the globe. The performances of these two very different systems has surpassed our own expectations as Voortman customers around the globe have embraced both concepts.
Why two types?
When Voortman’s Sales and Engineering departments began discussing plate processing solutions, it was very clear there was a need for two additional types of plate processing machines. The first machine had to be a vast improvement on the current single pass plate processing systems on the market, employing roller feed measuring systems that do not correct for mill edge condition and could not process the entire plate. The second machine would distinguish Voortman as the global innovator of steel processing machinery, pushing levels of productivity to a whole new level.
What’s in the name C and S?
The “C” model is a combined drilling, tapping, layout marking and thermal cutting plate processing system. The cutting, drilling, tapping and layout is conducted on one gantry as the plate is fed through the machine via a gripper measuring system. The gripper measuring system combined with a second slave gripper running on a ground way eliminates edge condition and material waste issues associated with roller feed measuring systems. The linear guides, which the gripper systems is positioned on, ensures accuracy not realized by dated systems and allows the plate to be fed all the way to the cutting torches to maximize material utilization. The “C” model is best suited but not limited to small parts that can be automatically removed without interrupting production.
The “S” model is a dual gantry plate processor that splits the drilling, tapping and layout marking on the first gantry and thermal cutting and thermal layout functions on the second gantry to allow for both processes to occur simultaneously. By enabling all these functions to occur simultaneously productivity can increase up to 45%! The machine automatically moves the plate from the drilling gantry to the thermal cutting gantry with an integral magnetic lifting system to eliminate the need for a crane in most cases. This system is best suited to producing larger parts in a high output environment.
Each of the Voortman plate processing systems can be utilized in a fully automatic MSI (Multi System Integration). This allows for stock plate to arrive via automatic material handling from a shot blaster directly to the plate processing system.
"Barbot is very pleased with its investment. The V330S satisfies all our needs. The many features and the speed of the machine has resulted in increased productivity by 50% on materials thicker than 20 mm. Working with two separate gantries allows simultaneous drilling and cutting which increases our overall productivity with 80%! Voortman has given us great help with the commissioning of the machine. Remote maintenance ensures fast and reliable response and I think this is an excellent service!"
Jean-Michel Leroy, Managing Director BARBOT (France)
www.barbot.fayat.com
“Our new Voortman V320C has been a great addition to our CNC processing capability giving us higher quality parts and shorter cycle times. We were impressed with Voortman’s commitment to customer service during installation and commissioning.”
Tim Verhey, Vice President Walters INC. (Canada)
www.waltersinc.com
Market response
From the first time we exposed the S-type on the Product Introduction Days 2010 we received different opinions on the S-type. Going from “too high capacity” and “too big for our workshop” up to “this is what we need” and “we want this immediately”. It did not matter what the opinion was but everybody was convinced of the quality, possibilities and capacity of this system. This was not only to see in the reactions but also in actual sales. The S-type is doing its job already in several countries all over the world to the client’s full satisfaction. A French user even had a weekly production of 100 tons of plates!! Despite the fact that this is extraordinary, it does show what the machine can do.
The whole success story of the C- and the S-type shows that even in these times it is possible to discover new business. It also shows that clients have flexible thinking about steel fabrication and they are still open for new ideas.
