ROAD TO
Smooth, tough: Laser welding
REPLIKA MANUFACTURING:
A KIWI LEADER IN
TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION
What Penrose-based Replika
Manufacturing does as a company is
pretty obvious to all, bold yet succinctly
emblazoned across its business exterior: “Design.
Laser. Punch. Fold. Weld. Finish. Replika.”
But when you get inside the engineering and manufacturing
facility, those words garner hugely greater
power. The kit that Replika has within its walls to
do the designing, the lasering, punching, folding,
welding and the finishing is impressive. It’s latest
technology – high-end – and it’s been borne from a
philosophy of being early adopters.
“It’s fair to say that the company has gone through
some changes, but one thing it’s always been
renowned for is getting on board technology at
the foundation stage,” says John Mckay, manager.
“Replika was first to buy a fibre laser machine, first
to buy a CO2 laser machine, and now first to buy a
laser welder.”
In the late 90’s, Replika was the first production
jobbing shop in New Zealand to purchase a
high-power CO2 Laser cutting machine, the 4kW
L3030 Trumpf, then again more recently in 2011;
Replika was the first production jobbing shop in
Australasia to purchase the 3kW L5030 Trumpf
Fibre Laser.
John speaks while opening the doors on the
company’s latest piece if high-tech gear, the Trumpf
TruLaser Robot 5020.
“It’s unique to Australasia as far as I’m aware.”
John explains that the new machine is part of a
process of re-inventing Replika. New structure. New
technologies. Even better machines,” he says.
The TruLaser Robot 5020 offers huge flexibility for
Replika as even small batches can be produced
cost effectively.
The system comprises several components
including laser devices with laser light cables,
robots, processing optics, safety enclosure and
component positioner, all ensuring the highest
quality, speed, and accuracy.
The laser beam welds by penetrating from above
using heat conduction and eliminates accessibility
problems even in very tight spots and small or
narrow spaces. The visible seam does not have to
be reworked and has reproducible end seam quality.
It’s this sort of technology that has John and the
rest of the team at Replika excited and amped up
for work each day.
“There’s nothing like working with the very latest and
greatest,” says John. “It means you get to produce
a better result for happier clients.”
He says that this hasn’t been about buying a
machine and sticking it in a corner and producing
something. Instead, Replika has had a culture shift
in the way it thinks and subsequently operates.
“Laser welding is just the end result of the product.
So, for us it’s been about taking that end product
and offering the design, cut, fold and then the laser
welding. One-stop shop, and that’s something we’re
now very proud to say that we are.”
Flexibility in day-to-day operations is key at Replika,
manufacturing for a client-base that means the 15
machine operators on the floor often face the added
challenge of having to make “anything for anyone,
WWW.REPLIKA.CO.NZ PHONE: 09 636 0155 E-MAIL: sales@replika.co.nz
32 March 2018
/WWW.REPLIKA.CO.NZ
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