Fisher Engineering, a company with over half a century of experience in the steel construction industry, is currently one of the largest steel fabricators in the United Kingdom. The company is based in Ballinamallard, Northern Ireland and has a production area of 23.000 m². Fisher processes annually approximately 25.000 tonnes of steel. Fisher participated in a number of major projects, both in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Some of the projects include. The Victoria Square Shopping Mall, Odyssey Arena and Waterfront Hall in Belfast, the National Conference Center (7.000 tons) and The Point Village, an office, retail and hotel complex (15.000 tonnes) in Dublin and BSkyB complex (2.100 tonnes) in London.
As a result of some larger contracts and deadlines promised, Fisher Engineering decided to increase their production capacity by investing equipment automated far beyond what they had purchased in previous time of growth. Fisher Engineering invested in a Voortman VB1250/V630M saw & drilling system installed as a split system, a Voortman V630M/VB1050 combined sawing & drilling system and a V550-10 punching & shearing system system with an automatic sorting system. This machine is used for the automated production of connection plates and fittings.
Brian Keys, director: "With the installation of the three new systems, we have experienced a significant increase in the output of our fittings area. This increase in output is mainly a result of the high level automation level of the machines combined with the material handling systems. At Voortman we found the state of the art technology that meets our current and future production requirements".
Brian Keys: "Voortman offered us an automated material handling system, the level of which could not be challenged by any other competitive fabricator. By connecting the machines to each other with automated cross transports and roller conveyers it is possible to operate the entire system with only one operator. It is also possible to produce unmanned over a considerable time span. In addition, the Voortman drilling systems drill with carbide tip drills making the system 2 to 3 times more productive than our previous equipment. In addition to the V550-10 punching & shearing system was chosen with a product sorting system to again enhance our capability and reduce manual intervention". By adding a product sorting system to the punch/shear line different contracts can be run simultaneously and then sorted into the correct bins when running unmanned.
Brian Keys: "It was evident Voortman were committed to their customers from the start and it was evident their after sales services and technical support is a contributing factor to their success. This was born out during their installation process with their installation team showing a high degree of professionalism throughout. All machinery was installed and commissioned successfully on program".
Read more about the Voortman V630M drilling system
Read more about the Voortman horizontal band saws
Read more about the V550-10 punching & shearing system
