Automatic material-handling system is the secret behind manufacturer's success.

Precision Quincy Corp, the Woodstock, IL, manufacturer of paint finishing systems and ovens for industrial applications, decided to shift from low volume runs to high piece part production. To handle the change, the company purchased Strippit's high speed Fabri-Center 1250 MXP/30 CNC turret punch press with automatic load/unload system. The punch press with material handling system has tripled productivity for Precision Quincy by eliminating manual part handling operations, improving the speed of production and part nesting capabilities while minimizing operator involvement.

"The punch press with automated load/unload system permits the handling of larger blanks and longer part runs. It frees operators from dedicated supervision of the equipment," says John Guanci Jr, president of Precision Quincy.

Expanding opportunities

That's a long way, technologically speaking, from Precision Quincy's start in the 1940s, making tool boxes and metal-fabricated components. Today, Precision Quincy's manufacturing facility encompasses 200,000 sq ft and houses the latest in metalforming machinery, including two CNC turret punch presses and state-of-the-art shearing and bending equipment. Approximately two-thirds of the products it produces are custom-manufactured for original equipment manufacturers in the appliance, automotive, and food service industries. The company currently employs 125.

"As we began handling higher volume part runs, we needed to increase our capacity, improve our productivity, and cost-effectively handle material," says Mr Guanci. "The combination high speed hydraulic punch press and automatic material-handling device addressed our current need and positioned us for more growth."

Uninterrupted part production

Precision Quincy's load/unload unit handles blanks as large as 4'x10' and flows work through the Strippit/LVD 1250 MXP/30 turret punch press in a continuous motion, at a fast, even pace. This uninterrupted production has improved the company's overall manufacturing time, allowing Precision Quincy to run one week's worth of production in a single day. Shop efficiency has also improved.

"The time savings are especially significant for our standard ovens," says Mr Guanci. "We are five times faster in terms of nesting the parts and can run in one day what would normally take us the better part of a week to complete.

Cutting costs

The patented load/unload system processes up to 10,000 lb (4545 kg) of sheet metal without interruption. Precision Quincy's material handling unit provides a complete load cycle time of 34 sec. It can handle ferrous and non-ferrous metals in material thicknesses from 0.135" (3.43mm) to 0.035" (0.89mm).

The system incorporates double sheet detection and sheet separation devices. When more than one sheet is lifted from the stack, a sensor initiates a sheet separation routine. Repetitive cycles of flex and re-check are employed until one sheet remains in the ready position. All this is done automatically while the previous sheet is being processed.

A large input stack capacity of up to 10" (254mm) or 10,000 lb (4545 kg) enhances overall machine productivity by providing high throughput volume without operator intervention.

The system's unloader hydraulic lift table decrements down to either the exact thickness of one sheet, or the total height of a sheet which has formed features. When the production run is done, the table descends and drives out clear of the unloader. This allows the load to be handled by the operator or removed by a forklift.

The system features a threecolor status light that permits monitoring of the system's operation at a glance, enabling the operator to quickly determine the status of the machine. This also frees the operator to perform other nearby tasks, such as secondary operations or tending to another machine.

"Prior to the automated system, it took one or two workers to load sheets for punching," says Mr Guanci. "Oversized and heavy sheets were especially challenging. Now material is automatically replenished, allowing us to operate the punch press with one worker who is employed with other projects while the machine is processing parts. We no longer need to have a person dedicated to the machine, which gives us more flexibility."

Improved efficiency leads to faster turnaround and allows Precision Quincy to be responsive to customer requirements while providing a high quality product.

"These days, customers are waiting longer to order and when they do, they want their order right away, so there are definite pressures to deliver quickly," says Mr Guanci.

With 1999 sales projected at $16 million, adding the Strippit/LVD equipment has proved to be a sound business decision. "Business is good," says Mr Guanci. "We're creating new designs for our ovens, doing a lot of circuit board ovens, and producing larger paint systems. It's an expanding universe and by improving our efficiency we are improving our competitive position. "

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