The UK construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint – generating around 100 million tones of waste every year. In supplying guttering for specifiers and contractors, Aluminium Roofline Products (ARP) Ltd is committed to using 99% recyclable aluminium and reducing waste wherever possible in its manufacturing processes. The introduction of Radan software in 2001 has been key to an increase in productivity of around 30% – while the automatic remnant usage feature ensures wastage is minimised.
ARP is a specialist manufacturer of architectural aluminium roofline products. The sectional division involves rainwater and eaves products manufactured from aluminium with an extensive range of components to enable easy assembly and installation. The success and experience gained over 20 years in the industry has enabled the company to build an extensive product range.
ARP offers a combination of extruded, pressed and die cast aluminium, as well as a cast iron guttering range – offering both specifier and installer the highest standards of performance, visual appeal and durability.
The product range includes rainwater goods: aluminium standard, aluminium bespoke to numerous profiles, cast aluminium, cast iron to suit contemporary, new build, traditional and refurbishment markets; and aluminium roofline products: cappings, coping, bullnose, fascia, soffit in mill finish or polyester powder coated to customer specification.
With such an extensive range of roofline products that include many complex shapes, ARP recognised the need to invest in advanced design to manufacture technology, first installing Radan products in 2001 for the improved efficiency it offers on punching machines.
Radview DNC is linked to the company’s Amada Europa 250 punch press, handling sheet sizes of 1250 and 3000mm.
“We are using Radan from initial concept / layout drawings to production and punch programming,” explains administration manager Sally Sturgess. “Before installing Radan, everything was punched manually so improvements in efficiency and productivity have been tremendous. “
Having no previous experience with CAD, the company has seen significant improvement in productivity and efficiency in terms of generating drawings. On a simple like for like drawing issue, says Sturgess, there is possibly a saving in time of up to 40% – however, long term benefits include the fact that previous drawings are easily accessible and modifying drawings is much simpler, enabling ARP to machine more complex parts with total confidence.
“Although our guttering products are based on standard profiles and components, every building is different so we have to design specifically for each one,” says Sturgess. “Radan makes our job a lot easier though – once we have the drawing we can produce the same part over and over again. All we have to do is retrieve the appropriate machining programme – confident that the new parts will be identical to those being replaced.”
Additional elements specified by clients or their architects to the standard products can be created in Radan 3D, then unfolded on screen using company-standard bend allowances to produce flat profiles that can then be programmed in the usual way.
“With all our projects we benefit from being able to initially relate parts to actual building positions,” continues Sturgess. “Then we can use those profiles to first create production drawings and then the punch programs. Interaction between parts/profiles and the building can be easily checked and altered accordingly with little effort.”
ARP plans to extend its use of Radan 3D within the business in order to maximise the benefits and see an even greater return on investment.
