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New LVD laser profiler brings unique advantages
Unprecedented production levels - 3rd August 2005

Representing an investment of over £300,000, a brand new LVD laser profiler is taking Thompsons tipper bodies into a new manufacturing era by providing unprecedented levels of machining quality, productivity and versatility. Undoubtedly the star Already running over 50 hours a week, the fully programmable LVD is undoubtedly the star of Thompsons extensive bodybuilding facilities in New Addington, Croydon. Currently, the new machine is used to produce heavy duty items such as hinges and tailgate components up to 20mm thick. Dramatically speeds up production "With a continually strong order book across all our factories, we judged that now is the ideal time to make a significant investment in our production capabilities" says Thompsons Sales Director Scott Burton, adding: "The new LVD not only dramatically speeds up the production of key component parts, but also allows us the major advantage of being able to produce bespoke parts to meet individual customer requests almost at the drop of a hat. This way, volume assembly of standard components such as floors and bodysides isn't slowed down by the requirement for one specialised component further along the production process." Design new components virtually immediately An equally significant advantage of the LVD is that it allows Thompsons to design new components virtually immediately. As Works Manager Bernard Mullaney explains: "The new laser lets us produce a new, prototype part completely in-house and almost in minutes; if we then don't like it we can scrap it or amend the design again. Equally, we no longer run the risk of having large stocks of parts from an outside profiler that would be wasted if we decided to introduce a product update". Markedly lower proportion of scrap Making easy work of 20mm thick steel plate, the new LVD profiler is also significantly improving productivity by reducing the amount of scrap. Traditionally, Thompsons bought 2.5 x 1.5m sheet steel, but now this can been raised to 3 x 1.5m - allowing not only more parts to be produced per plate, but also a markedly lower proportion of scrap and off-cut material as well. Speeding up product design As well as providing such immediate economic advantages, Thompsons is finding the versatility of the LVD system is opening up a whole range of 'blue sky' thinking to tipper body design and production possibilities. "In the past" says Bernard Mullaney "if we didn't see the need to laser cut a part, we wouldn't - it would just be a rectangular shape cut on the guillotine. But now we can ask ourselves 'is a rectangular part the best solution'? Maybe that component's performance could be made better by being curved; perhaps it could also be made both stronger and lighter at the same time. In all these ways, we can now think about speeding up product design and production quality as never before." Further expand its reputation for design innovation Highly delighted with this latest improvement in his company's armoury, Scott Burton comments that "the new laser profiler is a resource that's currently unique among tipper bodybuilders to Thompsons. Customers in particular are impressed - simply because they have never seen this level of technology at a tipper bodybuilder before. In all these ways, the LVD provides Thompsons with the key advantage being able to further expand its reputation for design innovation and production quality - thereby keeping our products unique and a clear distance ahead of the competition." View other news articles
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