We’re pleased to announce that Airedale Springs has recently introduced a new Wafios FMU16+ to our comprehensive range of CNC coiling and wire forming machinery in response to increased manufacturing demands. This £200,000 investment in new machinery will increase capacity and form part of a broader plan to improve efficiency across the company. Our Wafios machines are the backbone of our manufacturing processes, and the new machine is a welcome addition to an already robust range of CNC machines.
A Welcome Addition to Airedale’s Wafios Range
When exploring avenues for increasing our capacity as leading spring manufacturers, we chose to invest in a Wafios FMU16+ because it offered the greatest product diversity while increasing performance by up to 10% compared to earlier generations of the machine. Airedale Springs already has a wide range of machines from Wafios, which are renowned for their precision, control and user-friendly design. It made complete sense to opt for the Wafios FMU16+ when expanding our coiling and wire forming machinery collection. Our engineers are familiar with the brand, and we have been working with Wafios CNC equipment for many years to produce consistently high-quality springs and wire forms.
What does the Wafios FMU16+ Offer?
First and foremost, the Wafios FMU16+ provides us with an increased manufacturing capacity, allowing Airdale Springs to effectively and efficiently meet customer orders within a reasonable timescale without compromising on the quality of the final product. The Wafois FMU16+ will sit alongside and support Airedale Spring’s wide range of modern CNC coiling and wire-form machines.
The new machine also offers many other benefits, with a multitude of spring manufacturing technologies that can perform at a very high standard, including an optical measuring system that offers 100% quality checking of parts manufactured on the machine. The quick retooling options make it easy to transition between wire sizes, which is ideal for moving between small and large batch sizes. The addition of IQ spring simulation software enables operators to design and program parts away from CNC machines, resulting in faster and more efficient production. The Wafios FMU16+ also comes equipped with a multi-touch monitor, and the enhanced touch screen gives the operator all the programming information they need in one place.
Suitable For Engineers at Every Level
As advocates for apprenticeships and as a company that firmly believes in hands-on training for up and coming engineers, it’s incredibly important that our equipment is accessible to staff of all levels, including trainees. It is only through using machines such as this one, that young engineers will gain the necessary skills required to thrive in our industry. Our new Wafios FMU16+ is well suited for apprentices and less experienced operators. The simplified programming option serves as a valuable tool for trainees, allowing them to gain confidence and develop the necessary programming skills.
Increasing Efficiency Through Integration
We aim to have the new Wafios FMU16+ integrated with the 123insight system by the end of 2022. Integration with the ERP system – which seeks to automate and streamline processes from start to finish – it will further strengthen productivity, minimise error margins, and reduce the time employees spend doing routine tasks. The introduction of 123insight to Airedale Springs was an exciting step for us in exploring how manufacturing processes can be as efficient as possible.
Our chairman Tim Parkinson had this to say on the introduction of the new machine: ‘The Wafios FMU16+ complements our already vast fleet of Wafios machines, bringing with it the latest technology with a higher production rate capability. The new camera technology will ensure our customers receive the best products possible.’
We look forward to seeing what the future and a more efficient Airedale Springs will look like and are excited to put the new Wafios machine to work, making out spring designs into physical products. Whenever we introduce new machinery or processes to Airedale, it always has our customer’s best interests in mind. If you would like to know more about our springs and wire forms and how we can help, contact us today.