Penn Elcom has invested in a new Salvagnini P4 panel bending system which has been installed in its Hastings UK manufacturing facility.
The P4 is an absolute Rolls Royce in the world of panel bending. Powerful, stylish, fast – offering a fully automatic solution for manufacturing steel into components for the 19 Inch rack market, which is extremely buoyant worldwide for Penn.
The P4 - part of a total investment of around £700K, complete with associated infrastructure, is already running and making a difference.
It is one of Salvagnini’s most popular solutions, and one of the most flexible and versatile manufacturing systems (FMS) on the market right now.
Penn Elcom Chairman Roger Willems explained the decision to invest in this fabulous piece of kit as a “direct response” to the expansion of Penn Elcom’s core 19 inch racking business worldwide in the last two years.
“We wanted absolute consistency, the coherence, accuracy and precision in the manufacturing process that’s guaranteed by the P4, together with the additional adaptability and further efficiency it brings to our operation”.
The P4 is a truly multi-functional machine. It uses electronic technology to assess the gauge and Tensile Strength of the metal to ensure angular accuracy, regardless of Material variations. The P4 uses one universal tool for bending metal between 11 and 27 gauge. (0.4-3.2mm Mild Steel) It is around 7 times faster than standard metal bending machines, and enables quality one offs to be made quickly and effortlessly.
“The P4 gives us the complete flexibility to change programmes in just 60 seconds,” stated Roger. “We are committed to manufacturing rack components in Europe – irrespective of Brexit – and also in China, all for global distribution throughout our worldwide network. In the process we are underlining our commitment to creating good and stable jobs in the associated local economies”.
Penn Elcom’s Hastings, UK workforce all received comprehensive P4 training from Salvagnini UK which was “exceptionally well managed” stated Roger, ensuring that they are fully comfortable with handling and running the machine.
Roger hints that this Salvagnini P4 … is not going to be the last one they purchase!
2017 has been a big year for Penn Elcom. The Hastings plant has received over 1.7 million in investment, which has included replacement of all the previous Trumpf punch presses with the latest technology from Trumpf Germany.
Internationally, a large Penn Elcom China distribution centre has been opened near Beijing; a new Indian facility has come on-line in the buzzing hub of Mumbai and strategic restructuring of Penn’s operations in Colombia and Peru is designed to take advantage of sustained growth throughout Latin America.
This new machinery gives Penn an important advantage and will assist in the making of the strong range of products due in 2018.