August 2021 - wecubex

Our production portfolio has been expanded since May this year! With the new AE 26 10 NT punching machine from our partner AMADA, we can now also manufacture large-format components.

This model is a turret punch press that offers us greater tool capacity as well as improved energy efficiency.

Particularly when processing perforated sheets, we can now achieve better quality with greater cost-effectiveness. Larger parts with upward and downward forming as well as reinforcing ribs are also easier to produce. Whereas previously we could only punch medium-sized formats, large formats are now no longer a problem for us. On the one hand, the working area is larger because the length of the punching machine can be extended. On the other hand, we also have extension tables that provide an even larger working surface and prevent the sheets from sagging.

“Since May, we have been producing tank and sweeper cover blanks with the new turret punch press at Plant 2. This has been in the planning stage for some time, and we are pleased that we can now offer our customers even more customised services,” says Managing Director Christian Graeve.

The new investment also offers two further advantages: Thanks to its electric servo drive, it is significantly quieter during operation than a conventional punching system with a hydraulic drive and therefore also requires less maintenance. Furthermore, this punching machine is considerably more energy-efficient. This saves 43 tonnes of CO₂ per year!

A high-speed sweeper is a product that not every company or local authority is likely to need. Nevertheless, it is important that high-quality suppliers are available for highly specialised products. This is exactly where we work together with our customers!

Our company was founded in Herbolzheim 23 years ago. And since the very beginning, we have been manufacturing complex assemblies for our customer Aebi Schmidt. For more than 16 years, for example, we have been producing the debris collection containers for the AS 990, the high-speed sweeper in question.

This machine stands out above all for its high area coverage on operational and traffic areas at airports.

At airports, however, there is not only a large amount of debris, but it is also extremely important for safety that this debris is reliably removed using a sweeper. We are therefore pleased that we have been able to contribute to this high-quality sweeper for so many years.

Starting with sheet metal processing, the metal is laser-cut and bent. It then moves on to the welding department, where the individual parts are welded together to form assemblies. Thanks to the specialist expertise of our employees and the appropriate welding technologies, we can guarantee the highest quality here.

If requested, the debris collection containers are professionally and individually painted, ensuring that the product reaches our customer Aebi Schmidt safely and in full splendour using our own logistics.

“It is an absolute pleasure to look after such a long-standing customer,” says Maik Schneider from the Sales department. “This close cooperation with many of our customers is certainly also a factor in our success. Without trusting communication, we would not be able to offer our services in such a precisely tailored way.”

The relationship between Kaltenbach in Lörrach and our company has existed since 2005. Founded 130 years ago as a German family-owned company, Kaltenbach now has more than 20 branches and ten subsidiaries and operates across a wide range of industries. Admittedly, there are similarities between its portfolio and activities and those of WECUBEX. After all, like us, the company in Lörrach had its own sheet metal fabrication facilities, which meant that cooperation did not initially seem obvious.

Nevertheless, the relationship continued over many years. At the end of 2020, we received an email from a buyer at Kaltenbach asking to enter into discussions again. Things quickly became more concrete, as Kaltenbach was looking for a reliable, strong partner to outsource its production in the sheet metal and welding sectors. As a result of internal restructuring, the focus in future will be on machining, painting and assembly. Following the initial discussions and a tour of the plant, it was clear that we could become this partner.

The pilot project in the area of mild steel and welded assemblies therefore began in January this year. Through outsourcing, Kaltenbach can now set new priorities, while we can contribute our strengths through a new type of cooperation – customised manufacturing depth in the sheet metal sector.

“The cooperation is a lot of fun because we communicate on an equal footing and are actively involved in shaping this outsourcing project,” reports Christina Grieger from one of our sales teams at WECUBEX, adding: “The foundation is our mutual trust.”

Around three years ago, we organised a company visit to Kaltenbach Lörrach for our apprentices. During a tour, our commercial and technical apprentices at the time were able to gain numerous insights into the company.

The pilot project has now been running successfully for seven months, and we would like to thank Kaltenbach for this consistently trusting cooperation. We look forward to further joint projects!