Over five decades of experience in packaging design and manufacture, A. E. Sutton has lived through great changes in technologies and processes, which has earned them a reputation as industry leaders. With two CNC machines already in-house, Simon Sutton (Managing Director) saw a gap in the market for a third CNC dedicated to producing a bespoke foam packaging range.
We spoke to Byron Brand, Production Manager at A.E. Sutton, who discusses how the Kimla BPF CNC from Daltons Wadkin has revolutionised their production.
Supplying mostly to the computer, electronics, and medical industries, Suttons Performance Packaging have developed a streamlined design and manufacturing process. As the reputation of the business grew, demand continued to increase, and the ability to expand their in-house capabilities was paramount. Following in-depth discussions with the dedicated CNC team at Daltons Wadkin, the Kimla BPF CNC was the perfect fit for their requirements.
Options such as vacuum table, oscillating knife, creasing wheel, and camera recognition for cut to print finishing enable the Kimla to be tailored for working in a range of manufacturing environments, including foam processing. Automatic tool changers can be specified either as a linear rack on the rear of the machine, or as a larger capacity rotary changer mounted on the moving gantry.
Less than 12 months since the Kimla BPF was installed at the Chatteris site, the machine is being used not only for packaging production, but also for prototyping designs. Byron affirms the precision of the Kimla, “it enables us to produce cavities with very tight tolerances to the outside edge of the tray”. Being able to cut to the edge of the foam sheet or tray was a “huge benefit of the Kimla”, as it was previously very problematic.
Operators have reportedly found it “extremely easy” working with the Kimla, in fact only one operator is needed to load and programme the machine. Minimising material handling and machine supervision has in turn enabled the operator to go away and prepare the next job, or be utilised in other areas. Sustainability and efficiency have also proved profitable, Byron explained that by loading full sheets and utilising sheet yield there has been significantly less waste.
“We would recommend the Kimla from Daltons Wadkin, purely because of the premium product we’re now seeing”. Byron praises both the machine and it’s supplier, Daltons Wadkin, who provided “a wealth of CNC knowledge and support from the initial install, to training, and ongoing service”. Developing a positive working relationship with both new and existing customers is at the heart of Daltons Wadkin business ethos and it will be exciting to see and be part of the development of A. E. Sutton as they enter into the next five decades.
For more information on the Kimla range of CNC machines, contact Daltons Wadkin on 0115 986 5201, email info@daltonswadkin.com or visit www.daltonswadkin.com
Kimla Industrial BPF CNC
