The capacity of Smiths Manufacturing’s Durban production facility has been enhanced through the installation of a high-performance tube-bending machine manufactured by Italy-based bending specialist Crippa, project engineering manager Alain Lamusse reports.

The system, a Crippa CA520, is a tube-bending machine with five axles driven by an electric motor and operated by computer numerical control, and has the capability of bending tubes between of 6 mm and 20 mm in diameter.

“The diameters that Crippa offers cover our current production range”, said Lamusse. “Further, this machine has a double bending head, making it possible to bend tubes with complex left- and right-bend requirements, within a single load cycle.”

The company is investigating making the CA520 an integral part of its production line of pipes and hoses for motor air-conditioning systems.

“Each of our components is distinctive, with each aluminium tube needing to be specially bent for specific applications,” said Lamusse.

Smiths Manufacturing is active in the local automotive industry, and has contracts with all motor plants based in South Africa. Components supplied include complete engine cooling modules comprising condensers, radia- tors and fan shrouds, air-conditioning systems comprising integrated heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and air-conditioner pipes, hoses and compressors.

Productivity Impact

The company also exports a significant amount of its components to Europe through local original-equipment manufacturers and direct sales.

Lamusse explains that the new Crippa tube-bending machine will impact on the company’s productivity at its facility, which makes use of hydraulic, pneumatic and electric control systems.

“We have been finding it increasingly difficult to buy spares for one of our older machines,” he says. “In replacing our old facility, this new acquisition will go a long way towards avoiding downtime issues.”

Lamusse notes the new capabilities and enhancements that the Crippa has brought to the company’s production facility:

“Apart from the double-head bending feature, the enhancements include a ‘quick change tooling’ configuration that reduces time lost to tooling changeover and part setup. “Further, the speed of operation is much faster than our previous machine’s, so, all in all, the Crippa will improve our capacity and capabilities and, therefore, our costs.”

Sole agents for Crippa in South Africa First Cut’s director, Henry Frandsen, says Crippa technicians were brought to the site for the installation, with support from First Cut’s own technical team.

Bending Accuracy

The Crippa CA series also increases the levels of bending accuracy. The bending machines use high-technology single components, which lead to increased accuracy, high performance and reliability.

“The new installation has integrated seamlessly with existing systems. Crippa provides software updates and help with problem diagnosis, using an Internet link whenever necessary,” says Frandsen.

Although the equipment at the Durban facility is manually operated at present, the Crippa CA series has a built-in facility allowing for automatic loading and unloading of raw materials. Add-ons can easily be installed and synchronised with the machine, he adds.