Contact Details:

First Cut (Pty) Ltd

18 Adam Road
benrose
Johannesburg
Gauteng
2091
South Africa

Tel: +27 11 6141112
Fax: ++27 11 6141121

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The ability to increase productivity and reduce operating costs is the goal of every manufacturing facility. As the world faces an ongoing critical skills shortage, access to alternative modes of manufacturing become increasingly important.

 

“First Cut believes that by providing companies with higher levels of automation, we are empowering them to increase productivity,” says First Cut’s Capital Equipment Director Steve Van Wyk. “Our primary concern is investigating ways of maximising current production lines in order to supply a faster return on investment.”

 

Copalcor, South Africa’s largest manufacturer of copper, brass and their alloys required a circular saw that would deliver high-quality cuts with minimal fuss and maximised automation. Copalcor took delivery of a new Everising P70 machine in April 2012 and to date the machine has operated seamlessly.

 

“We first purchased an Everising P65 circular saw from First Cut in 2006,” says Copalcor’s Executive Manager of Group Manufacturing, Barney Barnard. “We were very impressed with the performance of the P65 and when we decided to upgrade, First Cut suggested we opt for an Everising P70 circular saw.”

 

Operating from a 55 000 m2 manufacturing site in Wadeville, the 64-year-old Copalcor Group has four divisions – casting, a rolling mill, extrusions and forgings. Copalcor also has a trading division with branches in Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The plant operates 24 hours a day, for 11 months of the year, and employs 420 people. Ensuring that each division works together synergistically to provide high-quality products is a top priority.

 

“Speed and accuracy in a circular saw are very important attributes for Copalcor. We cannot afford to have anything less than best practice when it comes to cutting the brass and copper rods for our forging process,” says Barnard.

 

In addition to the quality levels provided by the Everising P70, Barnard was also impressed by the saw’s automatic function. 

 

“This function allows the operator to set up the machine and then move away to continue working on the forging process. The saw automatically and consistently produces an accurately cut rod. This has resulted in a reduction in manpower, with an associated reduction in operational costs as well a significant saving due to the high cutting tolerance of the P70,” Barnard points out.

 

“The quality levels produced by the P70 are excellent. This can be attributed to the extremely thin cutting blade, which results in a higher yield of finished material. In turn, this equates to increased profitability for Copalcor.

 

Throughout our relationship with First Cut we have been impressed by their high levels of aftermarket service. Assistance is always provided promptly and professionally. Their advice has been technically sound and their knowledge of their products has resulted in increased operability and profitability for Copalcor,” he adds.

 

“The Everising P70, with its user-friendly and easy-to-operate touch screen is the ideal circular saw for companies like Copalcor. First Cut considers not only the operational requirements of its customers, but also the business goals adopted for sustainability. Copalcor required a circular saw that would provide them with a fast, high-quality turnaround. I believe that we have managed to fully achieve these goals with the P70,” Van Wyk concludes.