Architectural machinery: Schüco machining centre is a first for the uk

Systems specialist for the building envelope, Schüco International, has supplied for the first time in the UK its high specification PBX AL CNC machining centre to CEP Architectural Facades of Merseyside.

Poised to increase CEP Architectural Facade's productivity by more than 40 per cent, Schüco announces that the PBX AL is capable of simultaneously machining up to eight aluminium or steel profiles within its bed length of 7.2 metres or two profiles of up to 14.4 metres.

The PBX AL is unlike other CNC machining centres currently being used in the UK fenestration market, claims Schüco. It is optimised to the production of profile sizes and lengths that are more relevant to this market. Its design eliminates unnecessary functionality and largely redundant features, concentrating instead on providing enhanced features that are actually of use to the fabricator and that will achieve greater productivity.

With software, or without
Schüco has ensured that the machine is equally attractive to fabricators of alternative systems. However, for those running 'Schücal' calculation software, little or no further inputting is required to produce the profile thus enabling the fabricator to significantly reduce CAD time while macros are drawn. This is a huge advantage to the fabricator working with Schücal software and thus makes the profiling process very quick, allowing the operator to rapidly switch from one profile program to another.

Reasons for purchase
Roy Fewster, Managing Director of CEP Architectural Facades, a specialist in the refurbishment of multi-storey tower blocks, says that the key reasons for the purchase were twofold: 'We are unusual in the aluminium fenestration industry in that alongside offering standard aluminium profiles and curtain walling systems, we also incorporate our own panels into the high specification Schüco profiles – and demand for all three is at an all-time high. For this reason we required a machine to dramatically increase our capability and capacity. Secondly, we also required a machine that came with the very best service and support and with pre-written CNC macros to save us programming time.'

James Keller, Sales Director, Metal Construction, Schüco GB, says: 'Schüco's aluminium and steel fabricator network is technically among the best in the world. To support their businesses and to ensure the very best in aluminium and steel profiling, Schüco offers the latest in machining technology to enable the fabricators to increase productivity and quality. The PBX machine has been a runaway success in the past few years with over 40 machines purchased in Germany in last year alone.'

Schüco is one of Europe's leading suppliers of profile systems for windows, doors, facades and conservatories, with more than 13,000 trained fabricators in over 60 countries. In the UK, the company's extensive network ensures effective customer support. All metal and PVC-U products developed by Schüco have been developed to offer structural reliability.