PRODUCT Choice Signs of success in Aldermaston
Trevor May of Aldermaston Signs alongside the new Zapkut ZM12.
Thriving signmakers Aldermaston Signs have streamlined the all-important sheet cutting stage of their production process with a ZM12 vertical panel saw from wall saw specialist Zapkut Limited. Based in Berkshire, UK, the signmaker has an enviable customer list, including corporate giants such as Motorola, Samsung and LG, government bodies such as the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and a host of local businesses across a broad range of sectors. Established over 30 years ago and acquired by current business
partners Trevor May and Karen Wild in 2005, the company is growing steadily, despite the current challenging economic landscape. A basic requirement of growth is, of course, space, so when
the opportunity arose earlier in 2011 for Aldermaston Signs to move from its existing unit to a larger one on the same industrial estate, Trevor and Karen were quick to accept. The upcoming move brought into sharp focus the need to replace
the firm's ageing Holz-Her panel saw, which had been installed years earlier. "It was an ancient fixed column machine, huge and not remotely up to today's safety standards," Trevor commented. "Moving it to the new unit wouldn't have been practical, and while we have a guillotine for thinner materials, we needed a panel saw for the heavier stuff." Trevor had met Keith Bunker, Managing Director of local panel
saw specialist Zapkut Limited, a couple of years earlier. Recalling some of the details that Keith had given him on Zapkut's saws, he got in contact to get up to date on the range. Having discussed the capabilities of Zapkut's ZK and ZM
ranges Trevor opted for the moving column Zapkut ZM12. Probably the world's most compact and competitively priced
moving column vertical panel saw, the wholly British-made ZM12 caters for sheet sizes of up to 2500mm x 1250mm (8' x 4'). It offers plunge and bevel cutting, quick switching between cross and rip cutting, mid-way supports for smaller workpieces, and an innovative
dimensioning system making the precise positioning of cross cuts quick and easy. Also available is the ZM16, for sheets of up to 3100mm x
1600mm (10' x 5'). The ZM21, for sheets of up to 3100mm x 2100mm will be available soon. An optional floating router head, ideal for v-grooving materials such as Di-bond, is currently under development. "It was the ZM12's moving column and very attractive price tag
that convinced us," said Trevor. "It's much more compact in operation than the Holz-Her was and as far as safety is concerned – well, it's in a different league." Additionally, despite the fact that the ZM12 is designed for
sheets of up to 8' x 4', Trevor has found that the machine's precision is sufficient to allow him to easily cut up to 3m lengths without the blade deviating from its original line. Aldermaston Signs' ZM12 has been in operation since May
2011, cutting Di-bond, 10mm PVC and acrylics. "Being able to cut on site puts us ahead of many of our com-
petitors," Trevor noted. "Before we had the Zapkut, we were buying materials in and having them cut to size by one of the leading trade suppliers, just over the road from us. Many signmakers buy cut-to-size, of course, but it can be expensive, inflexible and slow. With the ZM12 we can buy all our sheet materials in standard sizes – saving money straight away – and then cut the sizes we need for each job as it comes in." Trevor itemised the profound differences this makes to the
business. "We can respond to customers' requirements more rapidly, deliver to tighter lead times, be more competitive on price and improve our profit margins," he said. For more information on what Zapkut's panel cutting solutions
could do for your business, call Zapkut on +44 (0) 118 970 1950 or visit
www.zapkut.co.uk
24 Sign Update ISSUE 132 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
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