The Renault F1 team were the first in the world to take delivery of some new CNC technology – and Power Plastics were the second.
The latest machine, from Swiss manufacturers Zund, cost £150,000, but is a significant step-up from previous models. The reason: an in-built printer, replacing the older pen-holding technology, which provides fast, highly-accurate printing of everything from instructions and positioning for components for later assembly to batch numbers and serial numbers to aid traceability.
Precision cutting on material up to 3.2 metres wide and 5mm thick is rapid, and with every cutting pattern optimised, waste is kept to an absolute minimum.
Because meticulous measuring is so important, the machine is given a daily calibration check, and runs a program to check the depth of its cutting blade before every project.
