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The company and products
The Chapin & Bangs Company in Bridgeport, CT is a steel service center doing business mostly in and around the New England area since 1888. Working with state-of-the-art equipment, the company is known for its high quality steel cutting at competitive prices.The problem
The majority of carbon steel cut at Chapin & Bangs is from gauge material to 1 inch thick. The company’s challenge is to continually improve their cutting operation with high quality cutting at a reduced cost. Their cutting methods include plasma and laser, each with their own niche and accompanying concerns.Conventional plasma is fast, but an increased
angle of bevel is a problem for many
customers. Also, there can be some part
clean-up required with certain processes.
Laser produces a high quality cut edge with a
very low degree of angle. With slower
operating speeds than plasma, and a cost of
operation that’s higher, customers must pay
more for this service. It is perceived by many
customers as what they “think they need”.
As a result, the biggest problem for the laser
system facing Chapin & Bangs is capacity; it
is over-booked.
The solution
The local Hypertherm distributor and retrofit partner has a good working relationship with Chapin & Bangs. Calling on Chapin & Bangs each week, they have also developed an understanding of the company’s thermal cutting needs. It was only after the distributor attended a Hypertherm training class on the new HyPerformance Plasma HPR130, that they realized it would be a perfect solution for the steel service center. Armed with HyPerformance Plasma HPR130 information and cut samples, the distributor made its case to Chapin & Bangs.Upon seeing the cut samples, and understanding the system’s capabilities, Chapin & Bangs decided to purchase 2 HPR130s.
HyPerformance Plasma reduces over capacity issues on steel service center’s laser system
Chapin & Bangs is holding
2 degrees or less of
bevel angle.
The Connecticut based
company has virtually
eliminated secondary
clean-up that was
approaching 20% of
the job.
Chapin & Bangs Vice-
President Brian Williams,
“HyPerformace is the
perfect supplement to our
laser system”.
Benefits
Richard Hoyt, “Right from the start the Hypertherm HyPerformance HPR130s made a difference.” The HPR is producing great cut quality with a notable improvement to cut angle, holding 2 degrees or less of bevel. Secondary clean-up operations that had approached 20% of the job cost were now virtually eliminated, drastically reducing their costs.Vice-President Brian Williams adds, “We were looking for equipment to supplement our laser system; Hyperformance Plasma was the perfect choice”.
“We’re getting the word out to our Customers about HyPerformance Plasma”, says Mr. Hoyt. “Many of our customers don’t want their parts cut with plasma because of their perception of the bevel it leaves. This is not so with HyPerformace Plasma; it’s improved consistent cut quality and reduced angularity will leave those old perceptions behind”.
