Page 52 - MetalForming May 2015

Servo-Electric Press Brakes
A manufacturer of high-quality tool boxes reduces setup times to a mere 5 min., while dramatically increasing quality, thanks to state-of-the-art press-brake technology.
Garin Buckles began his career in fabrication as an apprentice at the age of 15. In 2006 he real- ized his dream of starting his own prod- uct line when he launched Champion Tool Storage out of a garage in Ore- gon. Buckles retained his full-time job to cover expenses and worked after- hours and weekends to launch his fledgling company.
In 2007 Champion obtained its first large order from a division of Snap- On’s military group. Buckles subcon- tracted the manufacturing while he managed all of the engineering and financing. In 2008 Buckles left his full- time job, moved Champion into a 2000-sq.-ft. facility, and began to hire employees and acquire fabricating equipment.
“I would do all the design and devel- op the flat patterns, and then have local fabricators perform the laser cut- ting and forming,” Buckles recalls. “I then would have the parts shipped back to Champion and I would per- form the welding, finishing and pack- aging operations.
“Soon after we moved into our new building,” Buckles continues, “we
Champion Tool Storage finds its servo-electric press brakes (Prima Power eP-1030 models) fast, accurate and versatile, and able to reduce power consumption and maintenance compared to its hydraulic brakes. For nearly a year it ran its first servo-electric press brake two shifts per day, 10 hr./shift, five days per week. To ease its growing pains, the firm added a second eP-1030 in December 2013.
50 MetalForming/May 2015 www.metalformingmagazine.com