Dealing with change and adapting to it is a survival skill most shops are learning whether they want to or not, especially when traditional machined parts markets dry up as others open up.
When I last visited Staman Automatic about 18 years ago the company business was based on the high-volume “easy work” manufactured on the Swiss-type lathe – multi-spindle automatics of various configurations and capacities to crank out large volumes of relatively uncomplicated parts.
Staman Automatic was started in 1979 by Günther Stark and partner Dieter Mann. Fed up with working for bosses the friends set up shop in a prospective client’s facility and within a week received their first order to make shower hinges worth R 40 000.00, a sizeable amount in those days.
Soon the company had business from their landlords manufacturing cable components such as ends, glands and other fittings. Today the company still has 40 multi-spindle automatics working continuously but the emphasis of the business has changed somewhat.
An assortment of components that Staman Automatic is capable of manufacturing
“Fortunately our multi-spindles are kept busy but it is nowhere near the level they used to be at,” said Brad Stark, son of Günther, who retired two years ago.
“The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly some years back we fortunately took a decision to increase our exposure to CNC machining equipment in the form of drilling, turning and milling machines. This opened up new markets and services that the company could offer.”
“Moreover the CNC equipment can turn to tighter tolerances than the multi spindles that we have. In fact there is no comparison because one is CNC and the other is manual.”
Brothers Brad and Sean Stark run the production and manufacturing side of Staman Automatic
Sister Charmaine looks after the purse strings
“We could have taken the route of CNC for the Swiss-type multi spindles but that is very expensive and it would have limited our options in terms of what we could offer new clients. For example we can now do a multitude of bar work on the lathes by just adding the barfeeder and most of our lathes are equipped with a barfeeder.”
“However, the CNC lathes do not compete with our conventional Swiss-type machines for single-setup repetitive work. The two machine types excel at different classes of parts. Instead, the CNC Swiss-type competes with multiple-setup processes, where turned blanks for complex parts may be machined on a simple CNC lathe or a multispindle automatic, then sent to a machining center, drilling machine, or some other subsequent station for critical follow-up operations.”
“Typically a ‘done-in-one’ machine, a CNC Swiss-type, generally offers live tools, a subspindle, and a tool turret for back-face operations. Some conventional CNC lathes also offer all of these features.”
“Overall we can automatically turn bar diameters from 2 mm up to 60 mm, and up to 300 mm diameter chucking.”
The latest CNC machine to arrive on the floor at Staman Automatic is a Samsung PL25/25MC heavy duty turning centre. The machine has live tooling, a maximum swing diameter 650 mm, a turned diameter of 350 mm and a maximum turned length of 1020 mm. The bar capacity is 76 mm. The machine was supplied by Samsung South Africa
“Our workshop is equipped with a wide range of machining centres, from high speed drilling and tapping machines to heavy duty milling machines. Our largest machine is capable of machining components, which are 1200 mm long by 650 mm wide and we are able to machine up to 4-axis simultaneously.”
“The second reason has been the invasion of the ‘geel gevaar’ – the Chinese.”
Family business
Brad is the younger of the two sons that now run the family business with their sister. He started working for his father 22 years ago with elder brother Sean and sister Charmaine preceding him by one year. Brad and Sean run the production and manufacturing side and Charmaine looks after the purse strings.
“The first CNC machine that we took delivery of was a Fanuc Drill-Mate supplied by Edwin Roth (Pty) Ltd. That machine still works today and we have added a further three of the same machine,” said Sean.
Last year the company also purchased a Doosan Puma 400 horizontal CNC lathe, supplied by Puma Machine Tools. It has a cutting diameter of 550 mm, cutting length of 1000 mm and a bar capacity of 116 mm
“We now have 23 CNC machines on the floor. These include five Takisawa lathes, a Victor lathe, a number of Doosan lathes and machining centres, and the latest machine to arrive is a Samsung PL25/25MC heavy duty turning centre.”
“The machine has live tooling, a maximum swing diameter 650 mm, a turned diameter of 350 mm and a maximum turned length of 1020 mm. The bar capacity is 76 mm.”
“This is the second machine that we have purchased this year. The other one was a Doosan Puma 400 horizontal CNC lathe supplied by Puma Machine Tools. The machine has a cutting diameter of 550 mm, cutting length of 1000 mm and a bar capacity of 116 mm.”
Staman’s advanced facility and technical capabilities enables them to tackle complex components such as castings in abnormal shapes in various materials, which include steels, stainless steel, brass, copper, bronzes and aluminium. Also included in the mix of materials is nylon.
The first CNC machine that the company took delivery of was a Fanuc Drill-Mate supplied by Edwin Roth (Pty) Ltd. That machine still works today and Staman Automatic have subsequently purchased a further three of the same machine
Clients include the automotive, mining, electronic, furniture, appliance and construction industries with mining accounting for about 60 % of turnover. The mix of components is varied and includes pump assemblies, safety components and nozzles.
Bright polishing and finishing
“It is important that we offer more than just machining services. Besides the normal add on services such as welding and assembly, the company also offers external services such as laser cutting, pipe bending and general fabrication, some of which we are seriously looking at bringing inhouse.”
Overall the company can automatically turn bar diameters from 2 mm up to 60 mm, and up to 300 mm diameter chucking. The company was started in 1979 by Günther Stark and partner Dieter Mann, manufacturing cable components such as ends, glands and other fittings. Today the company still has 40 multi-spindle automatics working continuously but the emphasis of the business has changed somewhat
“For a number of years we have offered bright finishing and polishing services. We have three vibratory mass finishing systems, which deburr and polish various castings, pressings and machined parts to client requirements. It is extremely useful for finishing of stainless steel, especially if they are consumer products.”
Software
The company is using MasterCAM as their machining software. They do not have their own design department but rather shop it out to a contractor who uses SolidWorks.
Range of bathroom accessories
A second company, Stark Products, was formed in 2008 to market a range of bathroom accessories manufactured in grade 304 solid stainless steel. The products are available in polished or satin finishes.
“We chose stainless steel because it is recognised as an eco-friendly material because it is fully non-toxic and is 100% recyclable. Stainless steel is also the preferred metal of choice because it is corrosion resistant, it has mechanical strength, it has aesthetic appeal, it is hygienic and it is easily cleaned.”
Staman’s advanced facility and technical capabilities enables them to tackle complex components such as castings in abnormal shapes in various materials, which include steels, stainless steel, brass, copper, bronzes and aluminium. Also included in the mix of materials is nylon
Clients include the automotive, mining, electronic, furniture, appliance and construction industries with mining accounting for about 60% of turnover. The mix of components is varied and includes pump assemblies, safety components and nozzles
Besides the normal add on services such as welding and assembly, the company also offers external services such as laser cutting, pipe bending and general fabrication. For a number of years they have offered bright finishing and polishing services. The company now has three vibratory mass finishing systems, which deburr and polish various castings, pressings and machined parts to client requirements. It is extremely useful for finishing of stainless steel, especially if they are consumer products
A second company, Stark Products, was formed in 2008 to market a range of bathroom accessories manufactured in grade 304 solid stainless steel. The products are available in polished or satin finishes
A second company, Stark Products, was formed in 2008 to market a range of bathroom accessories manufactured in grade 304 solid stainless steel. The products are available in polished or satin finishes
Some of the products manufactured include aerosol spray holders, toilet brush holders, soap dishes, glass float shelves, vanity shelves, toilet roll holders, robe hooks, towel rings and door-stops. The products are marketed both locally and internationally and manufactured by Staman Automatic.
Currently the company employs 35 staff with some of them having already completed 25 years of service.
For further details contact Staman Automatic on TEL: +27 (11) 902 8878 or visit www.staman.co.za
