World first for Lesjöfors and Wafios
Largest-ever Wafios wire coiling machine installed at Lesjöfors’ heavy springs factory in Sweden
THE Lesjöfors Heavy Springs group has recently installed the world’s largest Wafios wire coiling machine. In a first for Wafios, a globally recognized leader of wire-working manufacturing technology, their huge FUL 226 model made its debut at the Lesjöfors Fjadrar AB site, in Sweden.
Lesjöfors say the €1.75 million investment is part of an ongoing, future focused-growth plan in the expanding heavy springs market.
Michael Gibbs, managing director of the company’s UK factories and chair of the Heavy Springs group, said: ‘This exciting new investment cements the Lesjöfors group expansion intentions in the heavy springs sector and fuels our teams to continue to thrive being leaders in spring manufacturing.’
Weighing 40 tonnes and measuring almost 10m in length, the FUL 226 can cold coil wire up to 30mm diameter, and pre-tempered wire up to 22mm diameter, with a tensile strength of 2,000MPa.
Capabilities have been further enhanced with a new motorized wire pay-off, specifically developed by Wafios to manage the safety requirements of large wire dimension coiling.
Jan Carlson, managing director of Lesjöfors Fjadrar, said: ‘As leaders in heavy springs, we strive to lead from the front, securing the very latest technology to ensure we stay ahead of the game to deliver competitively to our customer base across the multiple sectors we serve.
‘This latest investment not only enables us to expand our product range, but it also creates a new flexibility in material grade opportunities, increasing quality options, which in turn enables us to pass on cost efficiencies to our customers.
‘Securing this significant investment through our parent company further supports the recognition of growth in the heavy springs sector, and we’re delighted to be able to expand our level of delivery to existing and new customers.’
David Stople, project lead at Lesjöfors, said: ‘Installing such a large and heavy piece of machinery was certainly challenging for both us and Wafios, but world firsts are meant to be difficult, aren’t they? Our engineers ensured the installation went smoothly and, after a period of intense training, we are now eager to optimize the potential of this new equipment.’
Meanwhile, Lesjöfors’ two factories in Cornwall, formerly called European Springs & Pressings, have formed a new company called Lesjöfors Heavy Springs UK, who will be making their debut appearance at Hillhead from 21–23 June.
