Sheet and tube machining specialist invests in new bending machines

Meijer Metal in the Frisian town of Sint Jacobiparochie will celebrate its centennial in two years. But despite that age, the specialist in sheet and tube machining is completely with the times. Witness to this is the modern and up-to-date machinery, a showcase for SafanDarley's systems. On the shop floor are no fewer than ten machines from the Dutch machine manufacturer, including three new E-Brake Ultra bending machines.

Meijer Metal also invested in SafanDarley's offline software Autopol GT. On one screen, operators see exactly what needs to be produced.

Meijer Metal and Meijer Handling Solutions, part of the Meijer Group, have 130 and 50 employees, respectively. The company is experiencing steady growth and therefore adjusted its structure a year and a half ago. "We wanted to reduce lead times, implement improvements and further develop people, but due to rapid growth we were too often putting out fires. It was time to change our way of working," says production manager Reinder Hoekstra. "We are therefore increasingly working with multifunctional teams and are also implementing Quick Response Manufacturing to minimize order lead times. That development is in full swing."

The Friesland-based firm specializes in sheet and tube machining.

Bending benches from SafanDarley

To increase capacity and tonnage, Meijer Metal went looking for three new bending machines to replace outdated systems. "We submitted our requirements to several parties and the SafanDarley E-brakes came out as the best from the point of view of Quick Response Manufacturing and sustainability," says the production manager. "We have been working with SafanDarley for some time, because their working method fits exactly with what we want and do. We now have ten machines from the manufacturer in our shed on Oudebildtdijk, including several EHP press brakes and E-Brakes. With the new electrically driven bending machines with very user-friendly controls, we can make high-quality products even faster." Meijer Metal also invested in SafanDarley's offline software Autopol GT. Thanks to this user-friendly visual program, operators see on one screen exactly what needs to be produced. "Our customers from the high-mix low-volume market want fast delivery of high-quality products and then we have an ideal partner with SafanDarley," Hoekstra concludes.