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The THERMACUT HD-125® plasma cutting inverter is ideal for demanding applications.
Thembinkosi Matyeka and Wessel Papenfus working on the SAIW’s new THERMACUT HD-125® plasma CNC cutting system. ent plasma machines, though. The smallest is the 45 HD, which can accommodate a 25 mm plate, while the 65 HD, 85 HD, and 105 HD can produce a quality cut through material 38 mm, 45 mm, and 50 mm thick, respectively. In addition, the SAIW’s system is also fitted with an oxy-fuel cutting system that can be used to cut through much thicker plate, if necessary. Installation, training and ongoing sup- port for all Abicor Group products are now also managed directly by Abicor SA in Kempton Park. “As we did with the SAIW THERMACUT system, after installation and commissioning, we organise training ses- sions for our customers before handover, making sure onsite teams are fully able to operate their systems successfully,” Wessel Papenfus tells African Fusion . THERMACUT plasma consumables Well-known for the quality of its torches and torch consumables, THERMACUT plasma cutting torches feature a conven- tional design, with the plasma torch sized to match the maximum capacity of the plasma power source being used. “The consumables are all torch- and capacity- specific, so we offer torches for each of the four different power sources. As well as the HD range for those cutting continuously, we also offer a standard SD range of plasma cutters for those with less arduous needs, each of which comes with its own set of matching torch consumables,” Papenfus points out. From an aftermarket perspective, he notes that THERMACUT has leveraged its expertise in torch development to produce aftermarket torch consumables for many of the plasma cutting brands operating in South Africa. “We can supply plasma torch consumables for about 80% of the plasma cutting torches currently being used. And these consumables are manufactured us-
As well as offering significant savings, the Abicor Binzel EWR 2 Gas-Management-System takes the guesswork out of optimising the gas flow rate and prevents operators from adjusting gas regulators or flow meters. normal gas consumption was 59,45 ℓ per session at an average pressure of 2.97 bar. When the Binzel EWR 2 was in use, con- sumption per session decreased to 42.87 ℓ at 3.05 bar, resulting in 28% savings. “So you can imagine the savings that will ac- crue across all 31 welding stations,” he says. The system is easily installed and cali- brated to continuously regulate and moni- tor gas flow and pressure. The gas flow is activated by a Hall-effect current probe on the welding cable and adjusted to match the welding current as closely as possible. It is equally effective for automatic or manual welding processes and can be retrofitted to any existing system. The Binzel EWR 2 is suitable for all shielding gases and is designed to accom- modate inlet pressures ranging from 1.0 to 6.0 bar and flow rates from 2.0 to 30 ℓ/min. “The system takes the guesswork out of optimising the gas flow rate and prevents operators from adjusting gas regulators or flow meters. It also detects gas leaks, giving an early warning as soon as a hose or connection is compromised,” notes Thembinkosi Matyeka. The refocused Abicor SA “Both locally and globally, Abicor is now in a better position to support our customers directly,” says Gelderblom. “We are well known across the globe for our welding torch capability, especially the MB40 GMA welding torches, but we have now signifi- cantly expanded our welding and cutting offerings, particularly in the automation space. “We have re-established our presence and are refocused on supporting all of the Abicor Group’s brands,” he concludes. www.binzel-abicor.com/ZA/eng sales@binzel.co.za
ing similar materials and processes as our THERMACUT OEM consumables, so they are competitive in terms of quality and life with OEM equivalents, but more cost-effective,” he notes, adding that local supply ensures availability of stock, and that customers with issues have technical support to iden- tify corrective measures. Developed to align with Industry 4.0, the Abicor Binzel EWR 2 system utilises a high- speed solenoid valve to regulate shield- ing gas flow in real time, synchronising it with the welding current. The system can compensate for external factors, such as changes in ambient temperature, a chang- ing gas inlet, or counterpressure from the connected cable assembly, guaranteeing gas consumption savings by controlling gas flow more precisely than traditional systems. The Abicor Binzel EWR 2 Gas- Management-System “Savings potential with the EWR 2 can be amazingly high,” notes Thembinkosi Matyeka, Application Development Man- ager at Abicor Binzel SA. He says the system comes with an easy-to-use calculator for shielding gas cost savings, enabling the system’s investment payback to be deter- mined in advance. Recounting a recent success at a local vehicle component OEM in the Eastern Cape, he says: “We came across some older and relatively simple gas economiser units on the manufacturer’s automated weld- ing cells, which, according to the OEM’s representative, realised a three-month investment payback in gas savings when they were first installed. “So we presented our EWR 2 solution to another component manufacturer and tested it on one of the 31 robotic stations at the assembly plant,” Matyeka tells AF . When tested in normal bypass mode without the Binzel EWR 2 intervention, the
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November-December 2025
AFRICAN FUSION
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