Like many fabrication shops, Eez-Wel Pipe Fabrications and Welding Works is the product of a humble origin. A pipe shop that started with four employees in 2011, has now grown to become a specialist pipe fabrication shop processing carbon, stainless steel and steel piping, low and high pressure pipes, chrome, normalised carbon and P235GH piping and piping used in fire systems employing 40 staff. Eez-Wel services clients in the energy, mining, petrochemical, food and beverage and general commercial sectors.

With a big contract won in the energy sector that has hefty penalties incurring for late delivery, Eez-Wel has invested in a new Ercolina CNC mandrel pipe bender that was supplied by PBS Machine Tools.

Eez-Wel Pipe Fabrications and Welding Works have invested in an Ercolina GB100CNC Giga Bender CNC mandrel pipe bending machine supplied by PBS Machine Tools

“Those of us in manufacturing are all too familiar with cost pressure, but in today’s hyper-competitive global economy the squeeze is tighter and the stakes are higher than ever before. For companies doing business in a cutthroat global marketplace that moves at the speed of light, market events ripple through an industry in the blink of an eye, and even the smallest misstep or miscalculation can be catastrophic,” said Alroy Savides from PBS Machine Tools.

“To exacerbate this volatility, market-shifting events that are beyond our control, like natural disasters and political chess moves, are occurring at a dizzying frequency. So how do businesses insulate themselves and stay ahead in a time of inevitable volatility? Low-cost manufacturing is a great place to start, but the market shows no mercy for mistakes perceived to be as a result of corner-cutting,” continued Savides.

“The more sensible option is to invest in your equipment and processes so that you can more than cover a cost-cutting exercise and more importantly, improve product quality and productivity levels with the latest technical systems and machinery at your disposal. An added advantage is you will be well versed with your equipment and ready for a turnaround when it comes.”

The Ercolina GB100CNC Giga Bender CNC mandrel machine is ideal for industrial bending of tube, pipe, square and rectangular profiles to centre line radii as small as 1.5D

“Programmability, speed, accuracy, and of course power, are just some of the many advancements in modern CNC and NC equipment over the last few decades. However, even with extraordinary gains in these areas, the laws of physics as they pertain to metal forming are unchanged,” explained Savides.

“With the countless improvements in today’s bending machines, it seems that many still strive to find that perfect, repeatable setup. However, a common problem is that many fabricators overlook physics. Rather than relying on the tooling set to do its job, many compensate for worn tooling or an improper setup by overusing the machine’s forces or by improperly using the machine’s functions. Trying to substitute force for a proper tooling setup often causes more harm than good.”

“It could be argued that overuse of a machine means underuse of the tooling. This often is the case in many bending situations. In some cases, the application is difficult. It’s as simple as that. However, in many cases, worn and inadequate tooling are the most common causes of setup difficulty, especially with routine bending jobs. Since even the most experienced setup technician struggles without proper tools, this is the main cause of setup challenges. This is no different with rotary draw, mandrel-capable tube bending machines.”

“As the term mandrel bending suggests, a mandrel is vital in tube bending applications where it is required. Because every mandrel is made to fit a specific tube diameter with a specific wall thickness, it must be properly sized and should include the proper number of ball segments to support the tube adequately.”

“Eez-Wel have invested in the new Ercolina CNC mandrel pipe bender because they want to be ahead of the curve. Pressure packed delivery times are a motivating factor but more importantly quality, productivity and capacity had a bigger influence.”

The Ercolina GB100CNC Giga Bender CNC mandrel machine is operated by an interactive PLC touch screen that offers easy access to auto and manual operating modes, system diagnostics and multiple language capabilities, programmable bend angles with independent material springback settings for each bend, standard hydraulic ports accept Ercolina’s patented (KST) clam shell system and a hand-held remote bending control

“The Ercolina GB100CNC Giga Bender CNC mandrel machine is ideal for industrial bending of tube, pipe, square and rectangular profiles to centre line radii as small as 1.5D. The machine’s key features include 120mm x 5.3mm capacity on round, 100mm x 100mm x 3.2mm on square tube, a maximum bending radius of 400mm and a maximum material length of 4 000mm (optional 6 000mm table).”

“The machine is operated by an interactive PLC touch screen that offers easy access to auto and manual operating modes, system diagnostics and multiple language capabilities, programmable bend angles with independent material springback setting for each bend, standard hydraulic ports accept Ercolina’s patented (KST) clam shell system and a hand-held remote bending control.”

“Because the new machine is equipped with CNC, the staff can store and recall difficult programmes, meaning that on reordered parts, the first part is either a good part or very close to it.”

CML International Spa-Ercolina acquires Pedrazzoli
“A little-known fact is that CML International Spa, the owner of the Ercolina brand of tube and pipe bending machines, acquired Pedrazzoli IBP, a well-known Italian manufacturer of bending, cutting and end-forming machines for tubes and profiles,” stated Savides.

“Pedrazzoli has its roots dating back to 1948 with many installations worldwide and has a strong recognition in South Africa. Pedrazzoli had been battling to meet customer expectations with machine delivery and spare parts. Eventually the inevitable happened and CML International Spa had the opportunity to purchase Pedrazzoli and its manufacturing facilities in Italy.”

“CML International Spa began manufacturing the Ercolina brand of portable bending machines in 1973 and has developed the range to include a complete line of cold deformation machines for tube and profiles, mandrel and non-mandrel machines, ring rollers, horizontal presses, flanging machines and notchers (manual, NC and CNC up to 13 axis). CML International Spa has now revived the manufacturing of Pedrazzoli equipment, which includes Bend Master CNC tube benders, tube cutting lines, end forming machines, other sawing and cutting machines and integration systems.”

“This is a relatively new development and in time we will be marketing and servicing this equipment.”

PBS Machine Tools moves address
PBS Machine Tools has also announced that it has moved to a new address in Jet Park, Gauteng.

“We have been a little bit ‘out of the way’ in the Boksburg East premises,” explained Savides.

“We were comfortable and settled in the same location for the past 11 years. We have been very successful operating from Boksburg East over the years. But there comes a point where you realise that if you want to grow the business you have to make changes, whether it be the product mix that the company manufactures or markets, the culture of the company or your operational procedures. There are just too many to mention but in general you should be looking at these facets of a company continuously,” continued Savides.

The Ercolina GB100CNC Giga Bender CNC mandrel machine’s key features include 120mm x 5.3mm capacity on round, 100mm x 100mm x 3.2mm on square tube, a maximum bending radius of 400mm and a maximum material length of 4 000mm (optional 6 000mm table)

“One of the glaring indicators for us to change was the location of the company. Although not too far from the industrial areas we felt we were missing out. Logistically we were just out of the way that, for example, made it a chore for customers to come and visit. It was not a major obstacle but it added to our frustrations of not being able to offer the service that we wanted to.”

“The new building also has space to incorporate a showroom for demos as well as a dedicated area for refurbishing machines, which we also had at the old building. The biggest change for us is the exposure and ease of accessibility as compared to our previous location.”

“The new address is 10 Asset Road, Cnr. Tudor Road, Jet Park. All other details remain the same and that includes our telephone number of 011 914 3360. We moved at the beginning of December 2019.”