By always making smart strategic choices and keeping an eye on modern technology, quality and flexibility have become the hallmarks of the company. With the new TruBend 5320 with ToolMaster from TRUMPF, this is once again underlined. The automatic tool changer reduces downtime, while the combination of laser and bending software in TruTops Boost ensures that parts roll off the machines correctly in one go.
AMS has always been a company with a clear vision. Back in ’89, the first laser cutting machine arrived on the shop floor. One of the first five operational in Belgium—talk about pioneering. Current managing director Philip Schaerlaeken: “As a farrier in Hombeek, my father actually rolled into metalworking by chance. More and more people came knocking, asking if he could make small metal pieces for them. That service-oriented mindset towards customers is what we hold on to. Whether it’s a keychain with a logo or a heavy metal construction of 5 to 6 tons. To achieve this in the most efficient way, you always need the technology that gives you the most flexibility and delivers the best possible quality to your customers. Because in subcontracting, deadlines are sacred.” With a team of fifteen employees, including his wife Ilse Neefs, AMS makes sure deadlines are always respected.
But an own product is also made: arena drags, known under the name Pistesleep.be, and manure bins, known under the name mestbak.be. “Because of my father’s background as a farrier, we were familiar with the equestrian world. We understand exactly what users expect from these machines. Thanks to our modular design, we also add great value when it comes to maintenance and repairs. That’s where our production expertise comes in handy. The advantage of having our own product is that you have a solid basic workload for your machines. Supply is sensitive to fluctuations. We can compensate for those by producing more or fewer parts for the arena drags and/or manure bins,” says Schaerlaeken.
Lasers have since become commonplace in the metal industry, but AMS still makes a difference with an exceptionally flexible planning system that allows orders to be completed within 24 hours. Schaerlaeken: “Here, we work with a schedule of at most two to three weeks, transparent for everyone—both in the office and on the shop floor.” To achieve this, the company had its own software developed to track the progress of every order. Machine control has also been fully digitalized. Based on the customer’s drawing, programming is done offline in 3D. “We’ve been working this way with our laser cutting machines for a long time. The missing link was bending. With the arrival of the TruBend 5320, we now perform both processes in one seamless flow.”
The first TRUMPF joined the AMS ranks in ’97. Since then, the company has invested in five laser cutting machines from the German specialist. Excellent service from supplier V.A.C. MACHINES has certainly played a role in this. Now comes their first press brake. “With specs of 4,420 mm bending length and 320 tons of press force, the TruBend 5320 perfectly meets our needs,” says Schaerlaeken. “Its six-axis backgauges allow us to bend with total freedom. What we really wanted was to reduce setup times and prevent errors on the shop floor.” The TruTops Boost software was therefore one of the decisive factors in the choice. “It checks each drawing to confirm the part can be bent, and it ensures the correct unfolding before automatically generating cutting and bending programs. No collisions, no hiccups, no impossible operations. If we want to adjust something for a punch or die, the software automatically recalculates the other parameters.”
Once the part reaches the press brake, it’s the ToolMaster that makes the difference. Schaerlaeken: “It places the right tools in the right position—regardless of die opening, tool length, or tool height. All standard tools can be used as well as certain special ones. Everything is ready faster, our employees spare their backs, and they can’t make mistakes anymore. Since we mainly produce custom parts and small series, proper preparation is essential to avoid wasting time on the floor. At the office, all customer information is available to prepare the part correctly. That way, errors are eliminated in advance, so everything can be produced correctly in one go on the shop floor. That’s what ensures flexibility. That’s also why we invested in two in-line angle measuring systems for the press brake, monitoring every single bend.”
Source: https://metaalvak.be/nieuws/combinatie-snij-en-plooisoftware-vermijdt-fouten-op-de-werkvloer/
