Straight and narrow

If you’re in need of tall metal poles for lighting or other support structures, Spina’s Steel Workers Co. Ltd. in Brampton, ON, is your best bet.

The family-owned business specializes in metal lighting poles for commercial, industrial, residential and traffic applications, as well as billboards, overhead sign support structures and toll gantries for highways.

To keep up with demand, the company made a major investment last year in a new band saw, the H 6.1 AF-NC miter automatic band saw from Italian manufacturer IMET, distributed exclusively in Canada by Neiman Machinery Sales, Newmarket, ON.

The company already had two manual saws—one from Hyd-Mech of Woodstock, ON, and another from DoALL, based in Illinois. Spina’s shop is also equipped with a 24 ft brake press, a 24 ft shear, a 140 ton iron worker, an 85 ton iron worker, a 20 ton boom truck, two automatic sub-arc welding machines and more than 12 semi-automatic welding machines.

Existing saws at Spina’s Steel just weren’t up to snuff, however.

“We needed a bigger saw. We had a Hyd-Mech but it wasn’t big enough,” recalls operations manager Tony Spina, son of president John Spina who founded in the company in 1976.

In 2009, the company decided to purchase a new band saw. Spina contacted Rick Gross, a sales representative with Neiman Machinery. The Spinas had done business in the past with Gross. Gross listened to the family as they explained their needs then suggested an automatic band saw from IMET.

“Spina’s Steel is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and productivity in their plant in order to keep their competitive edge in the light pole industry,” says Gross. “In previous discussions with Tony Spina, he told me that every year they focus on an area to modernize. In 2010, he felt it was time to automate their sawing process. They had been using an old DoALL bandsaw which had long served its purpose. It was time to get an automatic band saw which would have the capacity to do 20 in. diameter and miter cuts. The model H 6.1 AF-NC Miter IMET automatic bandsaw was the perfect solution.”

Ironically, Tony Spina admits he was completely unfamiliar with the saw manufacturer suggested by Gross.

“Until Rick sold me on them, I had never heard of them,” he says, of IMET.

The family trusted Gross’ judgement, however, and a deal was struck.  The company ordered a the IMET automatic bandsaw, an investment of close to $40,000.

The band saw was shipped from Italy then installed at Spina’s Steel in mid-September, 2010.

“After electrical hook-up, the installation and training were done in one day. [The IMET bandsaw] was soon up and running,” says Gross.

Since installation, the new six by ten foot automatic band saw has “worked like a charm,” reports Tony Spina.

“The best features of this band saw and what sets it apart from its competitors is that it has a double column structure on two linear guides with re-circulating ball screws, which assures much better cutting precision as opposed to a pivoting system which can develop a large amount of vibration and noise during the cutting cycle,” says Gross. The IMET saw uses a 5° canted arch, which is considered to be the best cutting solution for cutting beams and flat profiles. This feature allows an operator to choose a lowering speed which can be maintained during the complete cutting cycle. “The canted arch allows for the constant cutting of the same quantity of material throughout the cutting process, thus increasing blade life, providing rapid cutting and a much more consistent cut. The pivoting style band saws finish the cut straight, without inclination,” continues Gross.

He adds the new band saw uses a “fast approach cutting system” that automatically detects the start cut point. The new saw is also equipped with a micro-switch on the mobile blade, able to automatically detect end cut points.

“This rapid approach to the workpiece and automatic detection of the starting and ending points saves setting time, especially on individual cuts. Another distinct feature is the moveable console which is separate from the saw itself, allowing for ease of use,” explains Gross.

The fully automatic machine offers CNC control and can do miter cutting from zero to 60°. Options include loading/unloading tables, a minimal lubrication spray system, laser ray (a device that traces a red laser line in order to reproduce cutting lines), pressure reducer for the fixed vice, a hydraulic device for bundle cutting and an angle digital display.

The IMET has already made Spina’s more efficient and productive: “The IMET saw is faster [than our manual saws] ... it saves time on repetitive cuts. The quality of cutting has improved. We use the saw for all kinds of material. The best part about the saw is its versatility,” says Spina.

The company operates eight hours a day, with slightly longer shifts in the busier summer months.

Asked if they’ve had any problems with the automatic bandsaw yet, and Spina says no. The company has had no service issues with the bandsaw at all.

“Tony and his operators have told me numerous times how happy and impressed they are by the performance of the saw. It has been a very good investment for them,” echoes Gross. CM

Nate Hendley is a regular contributor and freelance writer based in Toronto.

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