INVESTMENT PROTECTED WITH SWEBEND CNC CONTROL RETROFIT FOR ROUNDO PLATE ROLLING MACHINE

For over 40 years Shand UK have been designing and manufacturing hose and pipe coupling systems for rubber reinforced hose and reinforced thermoplastic pipe. Based in Stallingborough near Grimsby on the East Coast of England, the company has been assisting the world’s major manufacturers to solve their hose termination problems.

Shand Engineering, who have been awarded the “By Royal Appointment” and “Queen’s Award for Enterprise” keep at the forefront of their industry by innovation and investment in people, technology and equipment.

It is no surprise therefore that in 2006, Shand engineering chose Swedish manufacturer Roundo, then world leader in plate and section rolling equipment to replace their existing plate roll. This plate roll is the first of a multiple operation manufacturing operation for a critical product, with downstream welding, fabricating, machining and coating operations that follow. Yorkshire based WJS Machine Tools, the former UK Roundo sales and support operation have been supporting Shand Engineering with preventative maintenance programs to keep the system in top shape; and for those 12 years, the machine has maintained its accuracy and reliability.

Following the demise of Roundo, former Technical Director, Peter Nielsen formed SweBend to take up the challenge of innovative design and manufacture in the field of specialist rolling machines, designing and manufacturing systems that are delivered worldwide and providing a range of plate and section rolls alongside special application machines. In addition, SweBend and their partners have been well equipped to continue supply of legacy spare parts and technical support for Roundo machine customers in the field.

In addition, several “off the shelf” interfaces were developed allowing SweBend’s Seven™ CNC control to be retrofitted to replace almost any former Roundo CNC control. With bespoke electronic hardware and ever-developing operating systems, many of these legacy CNC controls are becoming more difficult to support and introduce a risk to business owners. The forward thinking management at Shand Engineering recognised this and turned to WJS Machine Tools for a control retrofit. The complete retrofit included new linear encoders, CNC control and off-line programming software. From engineers arriving on Monday morning, the machine was back in production with training completed by end of play on the Thursday.

The Shand operating engineers were impressed with the new intuitive operator interface ease of use and simplicity of the control. Decades of experience have been built behind the interface, making commonly required routines and adjustments very simple. Shand Engineering directors were relieved that their already 12 year old investment has been given a new lease of extended and reliable life with full factory support.