Contax Ensures Caravanning Quality

Contax Ltd - UK

16 July 2007

Production automation system supplier, Contax Ltd, has just installed a range of Komax cable preparation equipment at BCA Leisure, a market leading producer of wiring and electrical components to the caravan industry.

The systems include the UK’s first Zeta 633 transverse automatic harness making machine, a Kappa 235 automatic cut and strip machine, three BT722 benchtop crimping presses and a Telsonic splice machine. These will all be used to ensure high quality standards for the caravanning electrical specialist.

“Our products need to be automotive quality,” stressed Wim Batist, Managing Director at BCA Leisure. “Caravanning has become more popular, and hence demand has risen substantially. However, when we came to look at systems we needed to consider two areas, one of quality and the other of increased production”.

The first system purchased was the Kappa 235 cut and strip machine. After installation, BCA was so impressed with its performance that they were keen to review other Komax systems. Contax arranged a facility visit to Komax’s Swiss headquarters, following which BCA placed orders for additional equipment.

A single BT722 crimping press was purchased, and proved so successful that an order for a further two followed swiftly. Most latterly, a Telsonic splice machine was ordered to provide additional capacity. The Telesonic solution was chosen in preference to the existing machine, that was purchased earlier in the year.

The Zeta 633 was purchased because of its extreme flexibility. “The Zeta 633 is a ‘transfer’ machine and sets itself apart from a ‘swivel’ system, which can only handle a single wire,” explained Wim Batist.

“We can now do a complete harness. Using the multiple wire input we can have 18 different single wires and the machine will sequence the wires and different crimps, as well as doing the sealing and sleeving. So we can now produce complete sub-assembly bundles. Previously, we used a ‘swivel’ machine that needed a great deal of operator intervention, but the Zeta now does everything automatically”.

Quality was the main driver for the improvement in production, explained Wim. “The new Komax equipment has changed the way we do production,” he said. “The BT722 and Zeta have on-board diagnostics, so if there is a fault they will chop the terminal and we will not be able to use the faulty wire.

“All this ensures that we consistently produce an excellent quality product that meets the automotive industry’s extremely high standards. And, it has the added benefit that our processes have become more efficient and streamlined and our production has improved.

“Contax has been a key player in our progress,” he said. “They are very professional, very helpful, and we would recommend them to anyone”.