FEATURE COVER STORY KASTO goes from strength to strength
KASTO specialises in the manufacture of multi-level warehouses for automatic storage and retrieval of material and production of sawing machines for accurate cutting
M
anufacture of multi-level warehouses for storing and
retrieving bar, tube, sheet and other material automatically and production of the world's most extensive range of sawing machines for cutting the material accurately are specialities of the German firm KASTO. Its UK subsidiary which has been supplying these products to the manufacturing and stockholding sectors for more than a decade reports buoyant sales on both sides of its business. Managing director Ernst Wagner makes interesting comments on the choices British industry is making regarding where goods are manufactured: "I have seen a marked change in
sentiment since 2003 when I joined KASTO. Back then offshoring of production was in vogue to save costs and improve margins. In some cases this was successful and has been sustained, particularly for less complex work. "Gradually, however, reshoring of
manufacturing has taken place as wages in the Far East and Eastern Europe have risen and eroded the cost benefit. Difficulties with communication, logistics and quality are accelerating the return of work to the UK. So is the disparity between the need to place large orders for bulk delivery when sourcing from overseas suppliers and the fact that customers are looking for ever smaller batch sizes and JIT delivery to reduce inventory costs and space. These factors leave British manufacturing in a better
S4 MAY/JUNE 2015 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
place than it has been for some time. More production is coming back to these shores to join the work that never left, notably manufacture involving difficult materials as well as safety- and security- critical components. The aerospace, defence, traditional and renewable energy sectors, motorsport and the high quality end of steel and alloy stockholding have all tended to keep their supply chains local." Against this backdrop Wagner considers
how KASTO's sales in the UK have developed and believes they mirror the trends he has noticed across industry generally. He has seen a significant increase in sales of the company's rigid, vibration-managed KASTOtec carbide tooling-designed bandsawing machines which are capable of raising productivity and competitiveness by a factor of three or four using tungsten carbide tipped rather than bimetal blades. Recent deliveries have taken the total of these top-end saws installed in the UK to over 100. In addition, the company’s new range
of fully-automated KASTOwin bandsaws with maximum cutting capacities from 330 to 1,060 mm is taking a large slice of the market for processing a variety of materials, especially steels in stockholding and manufacturing. The various sizes are similarly constructed, components are largely identical and 25% fewer parts are used in each machine compared with their predecessors so KASTO is able to offer
Computer control of the storage means that material can be called up more quickly and reliably, maximising productivity
the saws at considerably lower prices than comparable products. With regard to warehousing of material, KASTO's maxims are 3D and CNC and a vast array of options is available. Three- dimensional, high density storage of bar, tube and other long stock as well as sheet, boxes and pallets takes material off the floor and out of conventional racking, saving space, minimising risk to personnel and reducing the chance of damaging the material. Such towers can be interfaced directly with machine tools. Computer control of storage means that material can be called up more quickly and reliably, maximising productivity. Inventory control is more efficient using built-in functionality in the KASTO controller and easy connectivity with MRP systems. In the area of automated storage KASTO has seen a positive upward trend over the past decade toward adoption of the technology in the UK, albeit from a low base. Importantly, the uptake is accelerating. There have been several large installations within the past few years and new business looks healthy. "Our industrial sector is behind Europe and the rest of the developed world in the number of operational computer controlled storage systems,” continues Wagner. “Of the 1,450 that our group has installed less than 10 are in the UK plus a couple of dozen smaller KASTO storage systems. However, UK industry is starting to realise that its manufacturing sector can compete on the world stage if it invests in the right infrastructure and plant. Management needs the vision, courage and commitment to embrace high technology and move their businesses forward to operate competitively in the global marketplace. There is every reason to think that they can – and not only in the very hi-tech areas in which this country is already successful. "We have been out of recession for
some time now and Government is focusing much more on encouraging manufacturing with initiatives like increasing the capital allowance to £250,000. So now is a good time to review investment strategies and start expanding the UK manufacturing base.”
KASTO T: 01908 571 590
www.kasto.uk.com
Enter 300 / MATERIALSHANDLINGLOGISTICS
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