Sheet metal work, always correct and always on time

Mechanical engineering is a profession in its own right. Unata makes the difference by being able to carry out the entire project, from mechanical design to complete automation, in-house. For this, it counts on an extensive machine park, but also on the cooperation with 247TailorSteel to cut and bend sheet metal. A winning tandem that gives Unata the utmost flexibility.

Unata stood for "Union for Adapted Technological Assistance" when it was founded in 1985. Today, from that workshop for mechanical constructions, the Aarschot-based company has grown into much more than that. "Our focus is now on mechanical engineering and automation projects. If customers are looking for a solution that is not readily available on the market, they can come to us for customization. 'Speciallekes', so to speak," says project engineer Sam Wuyts with a wink. 

And that covers a very wide range: internal transport systems, packaging machines, sorting plants... With more than 3,000 completed projects on the counter, we can Unata boast a great deal of experience. "The strength of our company is our ability to listen well. In a conversation with a customer, we don't focus so much on what he asks for, but try to hear what he really needs. That is our starting point to engineer and produce a solution. In doing so, we can offer everything in-house, mechanics, electronics and software programming. The customer no longer needs other partners, which streamlines the process enormously," Wuyts said. 

Sheet metal work couldn't be simpler

Unata has a team of 35 experienced employees and a 2,500 m² workshop for this purpose. Since flexibility is an important key word in machine building and automation projects, the company has Unata has extensive machinery, including for sheet metal work. However, it is increasingly calling on the services of 247TailorSteel. 

Wuyts: "Because the combination of our own machinery and a reliable supplier just yields the greatest possible gain in efficiency. For larger series, we cannot match the prices that 247Tailorsteel offers us for cutting and bending work. A service we learned about when we were facing machine downtime here. The cooperation immediately turned out to be a hit: the material was there as agreed and in the quality we had requested." 

What Wuyts greatly appreciates is the ease of use. "Everything is done through the Sophia® portal. DXF file load and five minutes later I already have my quote. And even in corona times everything was running on wheels, with the delivery times." 

Better manufacturability

Consequently, what began with carving evolved into pleating. "Admittedly, we first let the cat out of the tree a bit when 247TailorSteel began offering this service. However, a few smaller projects immediately showed that the accuracy was very good. And the ease of use especially stands out. I can even charge a complete assembly in the Sophia® portal, everything from cutting and folding is neatly listed in the quotation and executed to perfection. With very complex pieces, something might go wrong. This is also peculiar to our industry, we always try to push the limits for our clients and their projects. But this actually goes perfectly in 90% of the cases," Wuyts adds. 

The same applies to tube laser cutting. Through cooperation with 247TailorSteel explores Unata increasingly the ability to streamline complex welding, by welding fits into tubes. "We don't have one on the shop floor ourselves, but thanks to 247TailorSteel now adjust them so that they fit together like puzzle pieces. On a saw,- and drill, that would not be feasible, the tube laser can."

Thinking along with customers

247TailorSteel also cast itself in this story as a partner who thinks with its customers. At the request of Unata added 247TailorSteel Magnelis to its materials offering. Magnelis is a relatively new material. Whereas only thin sheet metal is possible with galvanized sheets, there are opportunities for thicker flatwork in galva with Magnelis. 

"In thicker material, we otherwise had to resort to bare steel and paint work. The latter allowed lead times to increase. If we combine Magnelis with tie rivets (for which Unata cooperation with Dejond), we can even skip the welding work altogether. So with Magnelis there are quite a few gains to be made in lead time (less masking, less waiting), cost reduction (no more powder coating) and quality (less chance of welding defects). The catch, however, was that they could only be ordered in large quantities. 247TailorSteel went right along with this story, however, so we now get all the sheet metal in Magnelis delivered neatly finished by them."