Fabrication shop expansion for Hambleton Steel

Hambleton Steel says it has increased fabrication efficiency and streamlined material flow after installing a new Voortman integrated process line at its main Rotherham fabrication facility.

Utilising an area in the factory with a lower floor level and formerly used for painting and dispatch, the installation required Hambleton to erect a new 2m-high steel floor covering 1,500m².

“The new steel frame was fabricated in-house and is supported off the existing slab providing continuity to the main shop floor,” said Hambleton Steel Operations Director Mike Dixon.

The new steelwork consists of 2m-high stub columns and UB beams that are decked using SMD R51 metal flooring and a 200mm thick slab.

The Voortman integrated process line consists of a VSB1500/4 shot blaster, a V630 multi axis drilling and scribing unit and a VB1050 band saw.

All of the machines are in a split system that is linked with fully automated rollers and cross transfer systems allowing multifunctional use.

“By rejigging our factory and installing the new machines we’ve increased our sawing and drilling efficiency by up to 40% and decreased our crane handling of steelwork by 50%,” says Mr Dixon.

In addition to the blast/drill/saw line, the company has also procured a V550/6 punch/drilling shearing machine to process flats and angles.