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Glastender Raises Bar On CNC Press Braking


It's hard to beat bartending for fast-turn-around processing of random orders - unless you're Glastender, Inc. of Saginaw, MI which makes the specialized underbar equipment that keeps bartenders so efficient. Glastender has evolved into the industry leader by providing a full choice of modular bar equipment that can be configured for a precision fit to each customer's specific requirements. To maintain manufacturing flexibility, the company's metal fabrication department has purchased seven CNC-controlled CINCINNATI press brakes since 1989, including three 90-ton CB models in the last two years.

"We run about a thousand different parts a week in varying quantities and do a die change on pretty much every job," says Matt Hartman, Engineering Coordinator. "That's a lot of changeovers. The CBs with their CNC controls really cut down on changeover time. You just install the proper tooling and load the program."

The operators stage dies for faster turnaround and less setup downtime. Die racks located alongside the press brakes store segmented tooling. "The operator can just go over and grab the segment he needs," says Hartman.

Besides processing flexibility, the CNC controls on the press brakes help Glastender in on-the-job training of new operators, he notes. "New people are able to get familiar with the CNC pretty quick. It's really user-friendly," he adds.

Overall, the sheet metal department processes about 8000 different parts covering Glastender's comprehensive selection of bar equipment: glass washers (the company got its start in 1969 with the industry's first rotary glass washer); coolers (back bar, multi-door, pass through, rear feed, slide top); beverage dispensers; mug frosters; ice bins and ice display units; lettuce crispers; sinks; bottle displays and racks; and bar/counter modules.
 
     
 

To simplify ordering complexity, the company provides downloadable CAD data on all on its products on its web site. "The customer can create the whole bar layout on paper, then send it off to us," says Hartman. "That helps us tremendously in processing the job."

Glastender tries to hold ±0.010" on part dimensions. This recognizes that a number of equipment modules will be assembled into a bar system, and the entire system needs to fit into a particular space. "There's no room for variation," he stresses.

Should the customer have a fit problem with the layout, Glastender can modify or customize pieces of equipment. "Approximately 20% of what we do is custom," explains Hartman. "That really helps customers out when they get into a pinch on a design or building layout."

To handle wide variety in part lengths, Glastender has five 90-ton CINCINNATI press brakes with 6 ft. beds, one 90-ton 8 ft. model, and a 135-ton 10 ft. machine. To prepare material for the press brakes, the sheet metal department utilizes a CINCINNATI hydraulic shear.

Most of the parts produced by Glastender take a box shape, notes Hartman. "We do standard box parts with depths up to 24" and sometimes we handle special orders past 3 feet."

Stainless steel accounts for 70-80% of the material processed, he estimates. Glastender uses galvanized steel for base components that don't require stainless for hygiene. Some parts use a moly-clad material that gives a black exterior.

Glastender gets the tooling for the press brakes from Cincinnati Incorporated. "I'm quite impressed with the way the tooling holds up on the stainless," says Hartman. "We order tooling in cut-to-length segments. We have some special tooling manufactured with ears for doing boxes. CINCINNATI specially cuts the ears to get inside flanges."

The company tries to schedule four 10-hour shifts a week, two shifts a day. "When things get busy, we go to five days a week," says Hartman. That scheduling keeps the CNC press brakes working 20 hours a day. "Between the hours and the stainless, we work the CINCINNATI press brakes pretty hard, but they've held up really well," says Hartman. "We've rarely needed to call for service. When we have, response has been great - same day or next day they're here. Even better is when they help us solve the problem over the phone."

The CINCINNATI shear has also proven to be highly reliable. "In 10 years, the only problem we've had with the shear is wearing the numbers off the control," says Hartman.
 
 
 
       
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