At Pentaflex, we’ve always focused on staying ahead of industry demands. With more customers asking for high-strength materials, especially HSLA steel, we knew it was time to upgrade our equipment. That’s why we recently invested in a new CoilTech feeding system for our 1200 Ton Press.
Why We Made the Upgrade
Our old equipment just wasn’t cutting it anymore. As technology advanced and the demand for stronger materials increased, we needed something that could handle the latest high-strength steels. The new CoilTech system allows us to process materials over .500 inches thick, giving us the capability to meet these new industry standards.
Improved Capabilities
This system is designed for heavy-gauge materials, and it’s a huge improvement over what we had before. With seven straighteners and two hydraulic-driven feed rolls, we can now feed with an accuracy of 0.001” per inch. That kind of precision is critical, especially for the industries we serve.
Overcoming Installation Challenges
Fitting this massive system into our facility wasn’t easy. Space was tight, and we had to work closely with engineers overseas to make it all fit. But we got it done, and now the system is fully integrated into our operations.
Boosting Efficiency
What we’re really excited about is how this new system boosts our efficiency. With a feed rate of 80 feet per minute, automatic coil changes, and a self-centering strip system, we’re running much smoother. Less downtime means more productivity, which is always a win.
Prioritizing Safety
Safety is key for us, and the CoilTech system comes with all the features we need: safety fences, light curtains, and interlock gates, all tied into a ProfiSAFE controller. Plus, the hydraulic shear cuts the coil strip automatically, keeping our team out of harm’s way.
Meeting Customer Needs
This upgrade isn’t just about us—it’s about better serving our customers. We’re now able to process heavier-gauge HSLA sheet metal, which is in high demand, especially in the automotive and heavy truck industries. This positions us as a top supplier for these critical materials.
Expanding Our Services
With the new system, we can now offer more services, like blanking, forming, and welding sheet metal up to 0.551 inches thick. This puts us ahead of the competition and opens up new business opportunities.
A Perfect Partnership
We found CoilTech at Fabtech, the biggest trade show dedicated to the metal forming industry, and they were the perfect partner for this project. Their expertise, combined with our deep product knowledge, resulted in a system that’s a perfect fit for our needs.
What’s Next?
We’re excited to see this system in full action—especially the part where a 30,000-pound coil is set up and ready to run in under five minutes. It’s going to be a game changer for us, and we can’t wait to see how it shapes our future.