Zapkut panel saw helps realise Signmaker's aspirations
Aspire Signs Press Release
While buying sheet materials in cut-to-size can be a
pragmatic solution that works well enough for predictable and limited volumes
of work, its limitations quickly become apparent. Those limitations present the
growing signmaker with a key decision: how to manage the cutting of sheet
materials for maximum efficiency and flexibility, while minimising costs.
Swindon, UK based Aspire Signs found their answer in
Sagetech Machinery's Zapkut ZM16 moving column vertical panel saw.
Established three years ago, Aspire Signs provides a wide
range of interior, exterior and vehicular signage. The company has secured
diverse clients, ranging from solo tradesmen through to multi-million pound
businesses.
Restrictions to growth
As Aspire Signs grew, it quickly became clear to Director
Ollie Stobbs that buying sheet materials in cut to the required sizes, while
apparently the obvious approach, was restricting the company's ability to
capitalise on many sales opportunities. It was also leading to the wasting of
materials which if used, could contribute to the growing company's bottom-line
profits.
"To respond to rush orders, we needed to be able to
stock sheet materials and cut them on site," Ollie recalled. "Also, I
wanted to be able to make use of off cuts: they were basically profit going in
the bin."
Additionally, while 'free' cut-to-size services are
currently widespread as a result of fierce competition among signmaking sheet
material manufacturers, these offers are likely to dry up as the economy
recovers and demand rises. As a result increasing numbers of signmakers are
looking to bring cutting in house.
Knowing he needed a vertical panel saw, Ollie's challenge
was one of prices. In common with many small businesses, he had limited budget
to work with and, as he noted, most vertical panel saws fell into the
"Stupid money" pigeon-hole.
The solution – at the right price
The breakthrough came when Ollie saw an article in the sign
press telling the story of how a Zapkut ZM panel saw had enabled another
signmaker to break through the growth ceiling imposed by buying materials in
cut to size (here).
Having talked through the ZM's capabilities with Sagetech
and seen a machine in action, Ollie was impressed. "Sagetech were really
helpful, and it was obvious that the ZM would do everything we needed. On top
of that, the price was excellent," he enthused.
A couple of years on, Ollie remains pleased with the ZM16.
"It's absolutely superb – you can't beat it," he said. "It's
really compact, sitting out of the way in the corner. It's hassle-free,
produces very little dust and the cut finish is excellent. The variable speed
control is really useful for different materials."
Versatile and easy
Aspire Signs' Zapkut ZM16 finds its primary use in cutting
Dibond and Acrylic, as well as some MDF and Foamex – ZM saws will also cut
Corex, solid aluminium sheet and plywood, among other materials.
The frustration arising from having sheet materials in stock
but no viable way to cut them in order to respond to 'rush' orders has gone:
"It's a two minute, one man job," Ollie commented. "Slide the
sheet onto the machine – vertical sheet handling is a lot easier than
horizontal – set the blade for the dimensions required, and cut. Done. It's so
much easier and makes us so much more flexible."
How would Ollie sum up the Zapkut ZM16? "It's great! It
was easy to set up and install, it's simple and quick to use, the measurement
scales are accurate and it's very compact, especially taking into account the
sheet sizes it will cut."
The Zapkut ZM16 moving column vertical panel saw is part of
Sagetech's extensive range, including the Zapkut ZK portable panel saw family
and the heavier-duty Koolkut machines. The range covers applications from
occasional cutting through to mid/heavy industrial use, catering for all
popular signmaking and woodworking sheet sizes from 8' x 4' (2.4m x 1.2m) to
3.1m x 2.1m. Unlike many 'guillotine' cutters, Sagetech's saws cut horizontally
as well as vertically, so require no extra headroom to cut the full length of
even those 3m x 2m sheets.
