Author: Laura Jemetta

Sheet Metal Machinery Maintenance: 6 Tips for Promoting Longevity

Posted on by Laura Jemetta

When it comes to sheet metal workshops, it is true that a workshop is dependent on the quality of its machinery. Along with the calibre and training of your employees, the performance of machinery is one of the most important factors that contributes to the overall success of your workshop. It is also important to note that regular machinery maintenance is critical for safety in any workplace that deals with sheet metal. To ensure that each piece of sheet metal machinery has longevity, it is important to have a particular focus on maintenance and repair. Keep reading to find out our tips for maintenance and then discover where to go when you need professional machinery maintenance and repair in Melbourne.sheet metal machinery

Keep Machinery Clean

An essential component of machinery maintenance is keeping machinery clean at all times. If machines get a build-up of rust, debris, dust, or metal shavings, this affects the proper performance of your machines, which in turn can affect the performance of your workshop. When thinking about cleaning machinery, it is essential that you consider all the necessary safety precautions that must be adhered to before cleaning can occur. When these have been taken into account, you can utilise appropriate methods for cleaning these machines, such as the use of compressed air, vacuuming, and soft brushes.

Create a Maintenance Schedule

Implementing a thorough maintenance schedule is an important part of ensuring the longevity of your machinery. It is critical that you adhere to the manufacturers guidelines for maintenance, as this will tell you the intervals at which to schedule maintenance. Create a calendar that will indicate when to conduct routine maintenance, inspections, and cleaning procedures. Having a schedule for these important tasks creates a solid foundation and sets the right tone for the workshop when it comes to proper maintenance.

Document All Maintenance Activities

This is another important component of maintenance for longevity – it is essential to keep proper records of all maintenance activities. This detailed documentation is essential for keeping and recording the history of your sheet metal machines. It is critical to record maintenance tasks that have been carried out, inspections, parts that have been repaired, and cleanings, along with any concerns and observations about the machinery. This is important documentation to have when it comes to getting assistance from manufacturers, as well as maintenance and repair experts.

Training and Involving Machinery Operators

When employees such as machinery operators are involved in the tasks related to machinery maintenance, they can create help promote machinery longevity. The whole workshop team should be involved in machinery maintenance efforts, and that’s why it is necessary that every member of your team has the relevant training. When you make an investment in training, this means that you can rest assured that all operators have the knowledge they need to report any issues with machinery immediately, so that they may be addressed. Properly trained employees should be able to identify machinery performance issues, as well as any unusual vibrations or noises. This, in turn, should help to keep the machinery running smoothly and prolong operation time without major breakdown issues.

Make Sure to Replace Parts When Necessary

It is normal for machinery to experience wear and tear. Parts that may need replacing over time include components such as dies, blades, punches, and filters. It is critical that these parts are replaced promptly when they need to be to ensure the optimum performance and efficiency of the machine. It is also important to keep a record of all replaced components in the documentation mentioned above. This will ensure that you are keeping an accurate history of the machine that can assist maintenance or repair professionals in the future.

Partner With Experts

When it comes to machinery maintenance, there is no better measure for longevity that you can take than engaging maintenance experts. It is important for proper machinery maintenance that you get in touch with qualified professionals that have the expertise and training to carry out the maintenance tasks safely and efficiently. Maintenance experts will be able to take care of complicated repairs, as well as carry out diagnostic tasks too. When you have a good professional relationship with experts in the field of machinery maintenance, you can rest assured that your machinery will always be well taken care of.

Do You Need Sheet Metal Machinery Maintenance?

Look no further than ACRA Machinery. We are experts in sheet metal machinery maintenance and repair, and pride ourselves on offering you professional expertise alongside exceptional customer service. Backed by 42 years of continuous experience in the sheet metal industry, we know how essential maintenance is to promoting safety and longevity in your machinery. As sheet metal industry experts, whether you need machinery repair, maintenance, or machinery sales, we are here to help.

When you need help with sheet metal machines, call us at 03 9794 6675, or fill out our online contact form and we will happily assist you.

6 Ways For Sheet Metal Fabricators to Save on Costs

Posted on by Laura Jemetta

There are many industries that need to consider cost-saving measures, and the sheet metal fabrication industry is no exception. It’s a difficult economy at the moment, so identifying ways to save on costs in the workshop is essential for many industries and businesses right now. At the same time, maintaining quality is essential for any business, even while finding ways to save money. That’s why we have put together this article with tips that sheet metal fabricators can utilise to implement cost-saving measures, while preserving high-quality output as well as safety in the workshop. From reducing scrap metal waste, to sheet metal machinery repair, keep reading to find out what you can implement into your workshop to help to reduce costs.

sheet metal machinery

Efficient Management of Materials

One of the major expenses for sheet metal fabricators is raw material – the sheet metal itself. By implementing effective material management processes, you can potentially impact cost savings. One of the first steps is to evaluate your current inventory management system, and in doing so, you can attempt to minimise material wastage, and hopefully reduce excess stock. Also take into consideration forecasting and strategic ordering when it comes to material management.

In addition, programs such as nesting software allow you to optimise your usage of material. Nesting is the process of laying out patterns which are to be cut, in order to minimise material wastage. This means that your workshop can potentially save on costs through the efficient use of resources and reduction of sheet metal waste.

Streamline Production Processes

Ensuring that your workshop processes are streamlined is essential to saving on costs. When you review these processes, look out for inefficiencies that could be causing delays or wasting resources. These factors could be costing you money but flying under the radar.

In addition, you can also look for areas that may require automation in your workshop. This can save on labour, improve accuracy, and even improve efficiency and productivity.

Another way to streamline processes is by cross-training employees to perform multiple tasks across the workshop. This provides greater flexibility due to more of your employees having specialised skills that can be applied across the business. In turn, this can reduce downtime, and improve the overall efficiency of the workshop.

Implement Lean Manufacturing Principles

By adopting lean manufacturing principles, you can have a significant impact on cost reduction in the workshop. Consider the 5S methodology, which focuses on sorting, setting in order, systematic cleaning, standardising, and sustaining. This methodology can help to improve organisation and reduce wasted time searching for tools or materials.

Another option to further enhance productivity and reduce errors is the implementation of visual management techniques. These can include colour-coding storage systems, and clearly labelled workstations.

Energy Efficiency and Waste Management

The sheet metal workshop can often consume significant amounts of energy. When you reassess the energy efficiency of your business as a whole, you may find potential savings on energy costs. Conducting an energy audit will help you to identify places where your energy consumption could be reduced. Examples of areas of possible improvement can include: switching to more energy efficient machinery and equipment, optimising machinery usage, and even improving insulation in the workshop.

In addition, when you have efficient waste management practices, this can help to reduce the costs that are associated with the disposal of waste. For instance, recycling programs for scrap sheet metal could generate additional revenue. The same may even be true for packaging materials and paper.

Continuous Improvement and Training

When you promote and invest in continuous training for your employees, you help to foster a culture of quality and excellence in your workshop. This both ensures that your employees have all the skills and training they need to do their work safely and efficiently, but continual training also means that they can work most efficiently.

This workplace culture can lead to higher-quality work and greater productivity from employees who feel that you value their skills and efforts.

Machinery Maintenance and Repair

A further way to save on costs in the sheet metal fabrication workshop is to ensure that all machinery is maintained on a regular schedule, and repaired or replaced when necessary. This not only helps to ensure safety in the sheet metal workshop, but also ensures that your machinery is working efficiently – which is an important way to keep costs down. It is critical that all machinery is maintained and repaired regularly by professionals who are trained to do so.

Do You Need Sheet Metal Machinery Repair?

Look no further than ACRA Machinery. We are experts in the sheet metal industry, and know how important maintenance and repair of machinery is for the smooth and safe operation of a workshop. We are proud to offer you the very best in machinery repair and maintenance, alongside excellent customer service. Backed by 42 years of continuous industry experience, we can help with all your sheet metal machinery needs.

When you’re in need of sheet metal machinery repair, maintenance, or sales, we are here to help. Call us at 03 9794 6675, or fill out our online contact form, and we will happily assist you.

5 Ways to Ensure Your Sheet Metal Workshop is Safe

Posted on by Laura Jemetta

Workplaces of all different kinds pose safety risks, but when it comes to sheet metal and metalworking, these safety risks are large, and very serious. That’s why safety should be the number one consideration in sheet metal workshops. Many of these safety hazards are unique, or particular to the sheet metal industry, so that’s why we have put together this list of important safety considerations for sheet metal workshops. From safe handling and PPE to machinery repair and maintenance, keep reading for more tips on workshop safety. It is critical to continually update your knowledge and understanding of safety in the workshop in order to keep every valuable member of your team safe and healthy at all times.

Sheet metal machinery repair

Appropriate PPE

Personal protective equipment is a critical component of safety in any workshop, indeed, in any workplace. There are many different types of PPE for the sheet metal workshop, and the kinds that need to be supplied can differ depending on the particular application or process being carried out. However, gloves, safety glasses or another form of eye protection, full length pants and long-sleeved shirts, steel-toed boots, a respirator mask, and head protection in the form of a hard hat are a minimum safety requirement.

As mentioned, there are other types of PPE that may be required for different processes – for example, a full face-shield for welding, or grinding. If you are an employer, then you are responsible for the provision of all PPE that is required for your employees to carry out their job safely. You are also required to ensure that all employees are compliant with wearing the PPE appropriately and at all necessary times.

Maintain Order and Cleanliness

Another critical safety measure for any sheet metal workshop is keeping a clean and orderly work environment. A cluttered or disorganised work environment is an unsafe work environment for everyone involved. Spills, or discarded material on the floor such as offcuts can cause falls which can result in injury. It is essential that employers, as well as employees are responsible for maintaining a clean and tidy workplace, to help to ensure the safety of everyone in the workshop.

Safe Handling of Sheet Metal

Safe handling of sheet metal does include using and wearing personal protective equipment like gloves when handling sheet metal. It also refers to utilising safe lifting and moving techniques in order to prevent different types of neck and back injuries. Working with sheet metal often requires utilising heavy parts, which means that all workers need to be informed of and trained in proper lifting and moving techniques.

Manual handling tasks include pushing, pulling, lifting, or moving. It is the responsibility of employers to not only identify potential manual handling hazards, but also take action to eliminate these risks. According to Safe Work Australia, a way to do this involves ‘good work design’. This means finding a way to accomplish the particular task without the need for hazardous manual handling – for example, through the use of automation.

When manual tasks are carried out in a safer way, this can help to prevent the incidence of health conditions or injuries known as musculoskeletal disorders, or MSD. Safe Work Australia notes that these injuries can occur in one of two ways:

  • ‘Suddenly, through strenuous activity or unexpected movements’ or
  • ‘Slowly, through gradual wear and tear from repetitive or continuous movements’.

Musculoskeletal disorders include, but are not limited to: muscle sprains and strains, back injuries, nerve injuries, and chronic pain.

Your Workshop is Compliant with OHS Regulations

It is important to remember that this is not an exhaustive list, and that your workplace has obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2017. It is essential that as an employer, you are aware of your responsibilities and obligations under the OHS Act 2017, and that you communicate these to your staff, which includes providing proper training for all employees.

Proper Machinery Repair and Maintenance

One of the most important things that you can do to ensure safety in a sheet metal workshop is to keep on top of regular machinery maintenance and repair. It is critical for safety that all machinery is maintained regularly by trained professionals, including servicing, inspections, and prompt repair or replacement, when appropriate. When you maintain your machinery, you help to ensure that the equipment that your employees use not only operates efficiently and correctly, but safely, too.

Do You Need Machinery Maintenance or Repair?

Look no further than ACRA Machinery. We are proud to bring you and your workshop the best in machinery repair, alongside machinery maintenance and sales too. Backed by 42 years of continuous experience, we are experts in the sheet metal industry and in providing exceptional customer service to all our customers.

Whether you need machinery maintenance, sales, or repair, ACRA Machinery is here to help. Call us at 03 9794 6675, or fill out our online contact form and we will be happy to get back to you.

Sheet Metal Glossary: 10 More Terms You Should Know

Posted on by Laura Jemetta

The sheet metal industry is a vital one, that not only contributes to the economy but sustains and contributes to countless other industries. Sheet metal manufacturing itself is a complex trade carried out by trained and knowledgeable professionals. There are a great many terms surrounding this industry, and these terms can be complicated and multifaceted. This is why we have decided to further expand our sheet metal glossary. The following terms are all connected to the sheet metal industry as well as the manufacturing processes that relate to it. Read on to discover something new about sheet metal or brush up on your existing knowledge and learn where to go for sheet metal machinery repair.

sheet metal machinery

#1: Sheet Metal Manufacturing

Let’s start with a broad definition of what sheet metal manufacturing, or fabrication, actually is. The term is used to refer to the process of creating metal structures from raw material – sheet metal. There are three general categories of processes: cutting, bending, and assembling.

#2: Sheet Metal

This is metal that is formed into flat and thin pieces, which are then able to be changed, through cutting, bending, and assembly, into differing shapes.

#3: Notching

Notching is a process that is used on sheet metal and falls under the category of cutting. It is done through the use of a punch press which selectively cuts away the excess or unwanted metal. There are different types of notching, including tube notching, end notching, and side notching. Tube notching is generally carried out in order prior to joining tubes in a tee joint, or another similar joint. One, or both of the tubes may be notched before assembly is performed through the use of a weld. End notching performs this process on the end of a tube, and side notching does so to the side of a tube, usually creating a vee-notch.

#4: Bending

Bending can be defined as the process of forming sheet metal into a desired shape. This fabrication process changes the geometric shape of piece of metal, without the need for cutting, for instance. It means that no material is taken away from the original workpiece, so the volume is not affected.

#5: Curling

Curling is a sheet metal fabricating process which essentially forms the edges of a workpiece into a hollow ring. A curling die is used to complete this operation, which is often carried out to get rid of any sharp edges in the metal piece.

#6: Rolling

This sheet metal process is also used to reduce the thickness of a workpiece or to achieve a uniform thickness. The workpiece is passed through a pair of rolls (though there can be more than one pair) to essentially flatten it evenly. There are three categories of rolling processes: hot rolling, cold rolling, and warm rolling. The general process of rolling sheet metal is similar to what happens when you roll out dough when baking bread, or cookies.

#7: Ironing

Another sheet metal manufacturing process is characterised by achieving a uniform thickness on a particular workpiece. Just as with the bending process, the workpiece retains its volume, as when the metal is thinned, it actually lengthens.

#8: Deep Drawing

Deep drawing is a sheet metal process that is often used in combination with ironing processes, as both ironing and deep drawing are frequently used in the manufacturing of structures that are cup or box-like. These products often include items like pots and pans and aluminium cans. Performed with a punch and die, the process involves a sheet metal blank that is drawn into a die by the mechanical action of a punch.

#9: Perforating

The process of perforating sheet metal is a type of cutting process which punches holes into a flat workpiece. The holes are small and punched close together in formation and the perforated metal is then used for a variety of applications in both industrial and commercial settings.

#10: Shearing

Shearing is an operation which cuts a workpiece in a straight line. This is achieved by placing the sheet metal piece between two dies and punching it at the other end, which produces the cut.

Do You Need Sheet Metal Machinery Repair?

Here at ACRA Machinery, we are experts in the sheet metal industry, and we are aware of the critical importance of machinery repair and maintenance. These elements play a very important role in supporting and ensuring the safe operation of businesses in the sheet metal industry. Whether it’s your bandsaw, plasma cutter, or another machine that needs repair or maintenance, look no further than ACRA Machinery. Backed by 42 continuous years of experience, we are proud to offer you brilliant customer service, alongside professional expertise.

So, if you’re in need of sheet metal machinery repair, maintenance, or sales, we are here to help. Call us at 03 9794 6675, or fill out our online contact form and we will be happy to assist you.