CABLE FIRST AUTOMATES PROCESSING OF SMALLEST CABLES

Contax Ltd - UK

14 March 2005

Cable First Ltd, a major cable processing subcontractor, is now able to automatically process the smallest of wires following the purchase of the new Komax Gamma 255 from production automation specialist, Contax Ltd. This will enable Cable First to eliminate manual and semi-automatic processes, so saving time and ensuring consistency of manufacture.

Explained Cable First Managing Director, Allen Lodge, "We have had a massive demand for very small cables, and as a subcontractor need to produce these fast and to a very high quality standard. Typically we could be looking at 15 mm cables, cut and stripped then terminated or tinned.

"Previously, we had to do this manually as we could not find a machine able to cater for our requirements. However, this is very time consuming and, as humans are fallible, the quality was not always consistent. As demand increased, so we needed to identify a suitable automated system."

Cable First have been dealing with Contax for around 20 years and have always enjoyed a good working relationship. Allen therefore contacted them and asked for their advice.

Contax immediately recommended the new Gamma 255 with lead free tinning modules. It can handle wire sizes from 0.0123 mm2 (36 AWG) up to 2.5 mm2 (14 AWG).

The system has crimping presses and Komax ioc785 tinning modules so both wire ends can either be tinned or crimped with a simple software command. Other features include the PC based Top-Win user interface, integrated quality tools and the ability to interface with the latest Komax mci722 crimping press with programmable height.

"This purchase completes our range of Komax machines," explains Allen. "We have 10 fully automatic systems already that can process wires of any length - now we have added a machine for the smallest cables.

"This now offers us massive time savings over the old manual methods and the quality is exceptional. Contax has, as always, provided us with excellent advice and support. We always deal with them as I do not believe that anyone could better their service levels. In fact, based on my experience, they are probably the best Kmoax supplier in the country", he said.