After 15 years, the SBM group of companies wanted to use a waterjet cutting system again for the production of flying equipment as well as food waste dewatering systems. For the two managing directors, Michael Steinbeck and Joachim Steinbeck, it was clear that “it should definitely be another plant from MicroStep”. Precision, performance and service were convincing. Without an extensive survey of the entire market, the two invested in the WaterCut series.
© MicroStep Europe
In the Unterallgäu region between mountain peaks and green meadows, the SBM Group has its headquarters in Görisried. More than 20 years ago, the family-owned company moved here to further dedicate its approximately 25 employees to the development and production of helicopters, turbines, gyrocopters and bio-residue systems.
Since 2003, the main focus of SBM Maschinen GmbH has been on the production of food waste dewatering systems, which help to separate the solids from the liquids in the food waste produced. The business group is therefore predominantly present where large quantities of food waste are generated and need to be treated. In particular, large hotels, cruise ships, oil rigs, clinics and, in some cases, well-known furniture manufacturers, such as Ikea, are among the customers of the family business.
In contrast, the associated Rotortec GmbH, which has existed since 2010, is primarily dedicated to the development and production of helicopters, turbines and gyrocopters. In order to achieve the highest precision in manufacturing in both areas without heat input, the company invested in a new waterjet cutting system from MicroStep.
The previous AquaCut series plant was replaced by a new WaterCut series model in early 2019 after 15 successful years in operation. A 2D waterjet cutting head was integrated on the gantry of the system with a 3,000 x 1,500 mm working area, which can process a wide variety of materials such as rubber, marble, Styrofoam, tiles and so on without thermal exposure. Mainly sheet metal (0.8 to 3 mm), aluminum (up to 35 mm) or stainless steel (up to 8 mm) are cut on the line at SBM. “Waterjet was very clear because of the flying. We don’t break the surface of the materials with it,” says Michael Steinbeck.
© MicroStep Europe
Ideas can be implemented quickly and precisely without long lead times immediately
“My father is a tinkerer, an ideas man. For this reason, we have again decided in favor of a waterjet cutting system, because then simply such an idea that has just arisen can be implemented and tested immediately,” explains the managing director of the SBM Group. Several prototypes and samples hang on a sideboard near the plant and document the diversity of the application area. Since the application range of the system is identical to the previous system and the table size was also completely adequate, the company decided to invest in the WaterCut series. The new plant, which has been in operation since the beginning of 2019, is a fundamental part of the production. “At 90 percent, that’s where it starts,” Steinbeck said, adding, “The quality of the cutting pattern is even better and more precise now with the new system!”
“So after 15 years, why look for something else?”
Michael Steinbeck reports that they didn’t even look at other facilities. “Why look for something else after 15 years when the service and the facility have been a perfect fit and you know what the facility has already brought to the table in the past?”
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