Ivars Verktyg AB in Forsheda, a family company in the moulding tools industry, stands firm on its two legs – design and manufacture. These are primarily focused on tools for the die casting of components in aluminium, zinc and brass. However, the company’s work also includes tools for the injection moulding of plastic components.
Highly efficient five-axis milling machine with Delphin on its table.
Customers are predominantly die casters who, in their turn, supply large Swedish companies. Examples are Volvo and Scania in the automotive industry, Ericsson in telecommunications, Bofors in the defence sector and IRO in the textile industry.
Experience and enthusiasm – a golden combination
After half a working life as a toolmaker, Ivar Forslander started his own company, Ivars Verktyg AB, in 1983 in a machinery hall at his parent’s farm.
Sören, his son, joined the company on completing his studies at the end of the 1990’s. He brought a thorough knowledge of CAD/CAM with him. Combined with Ivar’s experience, this created an insightfulness that was ready for new challenges.
...and the component – a “stretcher” for one of IRO’s looms.
Sören Forslander reveals: “We have always embraced the principle that it is better to have close collaborations with a small number of customers rather than sporadic contacts with a large number of customers. The earlier we come into the process, the greater chance we have of influencing, for example, parting lines and other parameters that can affect a tool’s performance and the quality of the end product.”
Not least as regards the work environment, the entire business bears the stamp of a long-term perspective. Chopping and changing is avoided as much as possible. Here, it is the famous Småland carefulness and doggedness that hold sway. The building constructed in Forsheda is an example. It was only some years ago that, entirely as planned, all the space was finally used up in the amply proportioned premises that had been moved into in 1997.
Another example is the 5-axis DMC 105V Linear installed last year. The machine still has manual loading of workpieces onto the machine table, which is equipped with 14 Delphin chucks. However, right from the very beginning, it was configured for future upgrading to a fully automatic production cell with robotised pallet changing.
Lead times down a third
At Ivars Verktyg, there is optimism about the future of tool production in Sweden. “It’s absolutely clear that more moulding tools are now being produced in Sweden than was the case five or six years ago. Things looked really black then. They have brightened considerably. One reason for this is that, in addition to quality, lead times have become one of the most important elements in competitiveness. So much time is lost in sending a tool weighing several tonnes half way around the world – not to mention how negative it is for the environment,” explains Ivar.
Ivar Forslander: “It’s easy to buy machines, but far harder to find skilled workers. Getting young people interested is the great challenge facing the industry.”
The investment in shorter set-up times for the milling machines (from Correa, Hermle and Röder) began several years ago when all of them had hydraulic Delphin chucks installed on their tables.
“Reduced set-up times mean more spindle hours and faster deliveries. It’s as simple as that. The shorter a series then, obviously, the more important the set-up times. Our business can be considered as essentially one-off production,” emphasises Sören.
Throughout the years, System 3R’s reference systems (Mini, 3Refix and MacroCombi) have been basic elements in electrode manufacture and die-sinking EDM at Ivars Verktyg. Now that investment is also being made in stock removal machining, it was once again natural to work with System 3R.
A typical tool from Ivars Verktyg AB.
Thus, when Delphin, the cost-efficient zero-point system, was presented, there was immediate interest. “Reasonable investment level, fast and precise setting up, simple to install in existing machines and accessories – an easy decision,” remarks Sören. He continues: “Compared with several years ago, we have shortened the lead time for a ‘normal tool’ by one third, that is, eight weeks instead of twelve. Furthermore, we are convinced that more gains can be made.”
Over the past few years, Ivars Verktyg has doubled its workforce. The future is seen as rosy. Sören concludes: “We are increasingly taking on pure milling jobs. Mostly prototypes so far but, with our latest investments, we will also be able to offer rapid delivery of short series of precision components.”
printer friendly version
Related links:
Delphin
MacroCombi
Mini
3Refix