Staycold International invests in new manufacturing equipment including a coil fed fiber laser cutting machine | Metalworking News

Oct 14, 2024

Staycold, a leading South African manufacturer of self-contained commercial fridges and freezers primarily for the beverage and hospitality industries, has recently installed a LASER ISSE F3000 RS Turccut LP series coil fed 3kW fiber laser cutting machine. The company has also purchased a Hugong hand-held fiber laser welder and a Cannon injection foaming machine to assist with the foaming division’s capacity and flexibility to insulate the cabinets.

“Although our current sheet metal processing equipment is still in good order and will continue to produce components in the future, the company has reached a stage where we need to optimise our efficiencies and increase capacity to meet demand. To do this you have to invest and we have begun a process that will see the company introduce new technology and equipment onto the production floor that will accelerate our fabrication, eliminate operational mysteries and standardise on how we get things done,” said Lena le Roux, MD of Staycold International.

“Technology will drive the company forward. We are embracing change and the new equipment will process the components faster than ever before – we are already achieving a 21% improvement in efficiencies. However, the driving force in all of these developments is the quest for quality. We are not introducing change for the sake of change, especially in departments where production is working just fine. Our equipment is tired and the necessity to upgrade was a reality,” continued le Roux.

The layout of a Laser ISSE fiber laser coil fed cutting line

“We don’t only need quality materials to be a world-class manufacturer of quality products. We also need leading-edge machinery that can contribute to our productivity, efficiencies and flexibility. This is to upheld our promise of supplying durable, quality products,” explained le Roux.

Cannon injection foaming machine“The injection foaming machine, which was installed earlier this year, was purchased from Italian manufacturer Cannon. It is Staycold’s second foaming machine. All Staycold products are manufactured with environmentally friendly Ecomate insulation, as proper insulation plays a fundamental roll in overall system energy efficiency.”

“GreenSense is the accreditation developed for Staycold products that incorporate the energy saving technology. The benefits to the customer are lower running costs, lower maintenance costs and increased rated service life. Staycold products are also featured in the EIA’s Pathway to Net-Zero Product List – a London based research group that supports and accelerates the race to net zero emissions by 2050.”

The Laser ISSE fiber F3000 RS Turccut LP series coil fed 3kW fiber laser cutting line was supplied by TRM Supplies

Coil fed LASER ISSE fiber laser cutting machine“We confirmed the purchase of the coil fed LASER ISSE fiber laser cutting machine after visiting the company’s manufacturing facility in Turkey during March 2023 with the local agents TRM Supplies. The machine arrived in early July and the engineering team spent two weeks setting up and commissioning. The machine cuts material directly from the coil helping with optimisation and decreasing wastage. The machine uses advanced programming software technology from Metalix, which combines design, manual and automatic processing, automatic nesting, generation of efficient NC, graphic simulation and communication with the machine.”

“What impressed us is that the ‘working’ components of the machine are all well-known suppliers in the sheet metal and plate industry. These include a Precitec laser cutting head, the 3kW laser source is the Trumpf Trufiber and it is equipped with a Fanuc control system. The auto feeding cutting table size is 2 000mm by 1 500mm, it has a 12 000kg hydraulic de-coiler, a 12 000kg coil loading car, a 2m extended loading car track, a servo feeder with straightener working thickness of between 0.4mm and 1.2mm and an unloading table.”

“Our material range, which includes mild steel, stainless steel and Chromadek, used on our fridges and freezers ranges between 0.5mm and 2mm.”

The Laser ISSE fiber laser coil fed cutting line has an auto feeding cutting table size is 2 000mm by 1 500mm, it has a 12 000kg hydraulic de-coiler, a 12 000kg coil loading car, a 2m extended loading car track, a servo feeder with straightener working thickness of between 0.4mm and 1.2mm and an unloading table

New Hugong hand-held fiber laser welder“In addition, we have also purchased a Hugong hand-held fiber laser welder from TRM Supplies. There are some great features of the Hugong that attracted our attention. Fiber laser welding allows for the joining of thick, thin, reflective and dissimilar metals. Welding of thick, thin, reflective, and dissimilar metal, which is difficult or even impossible with traditional arc welding methods, can now be done with the fiber laser.”

“Additionally, the flexibility of the hand-held system allows us the option to use the 3in1 functions without having to change the torch. We can weld, clean and cut all in one operation. The system is not a fringe process, utilised for select jobs. It has changed our welding department thinking and processing time completely.”

The assembly section at Staycold International

Further investment in other processing equipment“The company’s philosophy is to manufacture with local content. We are proud to say that this is in the region of 70% and we do not outsource any of our production requirements. To do this we have three Amada press brakes, four Trumpf CNC punching machines, notching machines, spot welders for shelving requirements and a whole wiring department.”

“As has been the case with investing in equipment that has taken our sheet metal production and efficiencies to a very respectable level, we will also be investing in new technology and equipment in the other processing departments. We are currently doing our research and hope to make decisions soon because we can’t evolve into a situation where we create bottlenecks in the flow or new equipment is standing still because it is more efficient and flexible.”

“We are a manufacturer of self-contained commercial fridges and freezers primarily for the beverage and hospitality industries. The use of the best copper and aluminium heat exchangers in the condenser and evaporator ensure the performance and efficiency of our units. Staycold cabinets are built using extensive anti corrosion measures throughout and easily fitted, strong and height adjustable shelves are standard on all cabinets. Double door models have independent adjustment on both sides. Be it the simple gravity system on our sliding doors or the durable torsion bar system on our hinge door models, reliability is assured.”

Display refrigerators in the assembly process

“Staycold has earned a reputation for engineering excellence and durable build quality. We achieve this by using the best brand name components such as Cubigel compressors, EBM fan motors and Danfoss digital controllers. Adding to this, we don’t skimp on our product specifications either.”

“Our range of products are designed to cope with hot and often humid environments and are able to work in a scorching ambient of up to 40°C so we can assure you your favourite beverage will be chilled to your satisfaction. We have 17 variants in the beverage range, seven in the display range and five in the under bar range.”

“Staycold units have been found to use over 33% less electricity than other brands in a recent energy test at an operational restaurant business in Johannesburg. With most supermarkets, restaurants and bars having multiple refrigeration units, these savings can often amount to thousands of rands per month and tens of thousands of rands per annum.”

The new Cannon injection foaming machine to assist with the foaming division’s capacity and flexibility to insulate the cabinets

Staycold International have just added a wine cooler, the Rhino Cold 390TW to their range of coolers produced for the commercial refrigeration market. This is a product variant to their Rhino Cold 390T slimline cooler which now has the variation of wine shelves. The wine cooler is targeted at distributors and wine merchants for their trade marketing needs

“The reasons why these local units are more energy efficient, is that each Staycold model utilise many, or all of the following technologies and designs: Hydrocarbon refrigerants, high energy fan motors, digital energy management devices (EMD) and low emissivity glass doors. Operators and owners should thus look for these amongst other things, when comparing product specifications to fully take advantage of efficiency gains.”

“With the electricity costs in South Africa going up year on year, our market will no doubt be calculating the total cost of ownership of their equipment over their lifespan. Staycold has been manufacturing self-contained commercial fridges and freezers from our factory in Parys, in South Africa for over 40 years.”

“We are owned by Universal Industries International, a holding company that includes various companies in the refrigeration, bakery, catering and kitchen equipment industries. Among them are Colcab, Colcoil, Scientific Engineering, Insulated Structures, Glacier Door Systems, Macadams International, Marsden Bakeware, FoodServ Solutions and Uni Industrial Asia.”

For more information on Staycold, contact them on TEL: 056 819 8097 or visit https://www.staycold.co.za or their LinkedIn page on https://www.linkedin.com/company/staycold-international-pty-ltd/