ICT | CASE STUDY
MONICA FUMAGALLI ipcm
®
Increasing the production rate and quality level of springs and small metal parts through cleaning: a challenge that Cappeller won with modified alcohol The more and more stringent surface cleanliness parameters required across all the main manufacturing industries are pushing the suppliers of fundamental components, such as springs, to invest in new cleaning technologies. This was also the case of Cappeller, which has improved the functional and aesthetic quality of its products and optimised its production and logistic flow by installing a new modified alcohol cleaning plant provided by IFP Europe.
A
spring is a mechanical component
Our products are mainly intended for the
able to deform with considerable
automotive industry (70%), whereas the
elasticity even when subjected to
electrical, household appliance, and food
limited force. This peculiarity makes it
sectors account for the remaining 30%. All
suitable for use in a wide range of sectors. In
these industries have made their component
fact, it is regularly exploited not only in the
specifications significantly stricter, requiring
industry, thanks to its ability to accumulate
not only greater wear resistance and,
and release mechanical energy, but also in
therefore, protection, but also an attractive
everyday objects. Cars are a clear example
appearance, a factor that certainly offers an
of this – but is it possible to calculate the
added value, although it has always been little
number of springs used for constructing a
considered until now.” In order to meet such
vehicle?
requirements, in January this year the company
“Given that we are not just talking about
decided to invest in a new cleaning technology
suspension springs, the amount of springs
by installing a modified alcohol system
included in a car is difficult to quantify,
designed and supplied by IFP Europe (Galliera
because they are functional elements
Veneta, Padua, Italy).
present in numerous systems, as is the explains Alberto Barbieri, the R&D manager
Wires and coils processed by Cappeller
of Cappeller (Cartigliano, Vicenza, Italy).
This company’s figures are impressive: its
This well-established company has been
plant covers an area of 19,600 m2, with 180
manufacturing torsion, compression, and
employees and 210 machines, both for
tension springs, formed and moulded parts,
processing about 5000 t of raw material
small precision components, moulds, and
and for producing 600 million workpieces
equipment for various application fields for
per year. With the recent implementation
over fifty years.
of coil processing, the factory was divided
“Our firm, founded in 1969, started its
into two areas: one for it and the other for
business by focussing on wire springs, then
wire processing. These are Cappeller’s core
soon specialised in formed and moulded
business. The production department also
parts as well as small precision components.
manufactures moulds and tools for internal
Coil processing was added more recently.
use. “Our factory is equipped with a wide
case for many other everyday items,”
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N. 18 - 2020 OCTOBER - ipcm Industrial Cleaning Technologies ®
© Cappeller Spa
Thanks to the new modified alcohol cleaning technology, the springs made by Cappeller are more glossy and aesthetically pleasing.