Leading figures in the UK foundry sector gathered in Peterborough in April for the inauguration of a sand processing pilot plant at Omega Sinto Foundry Machinery Ltd. The day also enabled attendees to tour the company’s facilities and view the wide range of no-bake equipment and technology available from this world leading supply company.
Opening proceedings, managing director Gareth Allwright spoke of the “long standing relationships” Omega Sinto has built with foundries in all parts of the world but he noted the significance of manufacturing in the UK. “We are very proud of the equipment we build here and the relationships we have developed,” he said. “We are delighted to welcome you all today to share in this special occasion and we thank you for your ongoing support.”
For many years Omega Sinto has offered the most extensive range of chemically bonded sand equipment available to the foundry industry. Chairman Mark Fenyes FICME is quick to note: “This is not an idle claim; it reflects our understanding that no single solution fits every application.
“That is why we offer two distinct mixer blade designs to maximise both binder performance and base sand utilisation and is why we provide carousel as well as fast loop systems for mould production, and finally why we offer state-of-the-art mechanical reclamation alongside thermal reclamation.
“In short, we aim to provide solutions that suit a foundry’s specific operation and deliver the best possible results for the foundry and its application.”
With this ethos, the company has continued to innovate and push boundaries, hence the investment in the new pilot plant.
The chairman’s and his colleagues’ extensive foundry background is pivotal to the company’s success. Fenyes explained to attendees: “We understand the importance of appreciating the nuances of each customer’s sand system. Every application is different, whether in terms of base sand, resin type, sand-to-metal ratio or the metal being cast.
“The only effective way to deliver exactly what the customer requires is to trial it here first. This allows us to fine-tune the equipment, achieve the best results, and then replicate the setup in the foundry, saving time on site and ensuring the most appropriate reclamation method has been selected from the outset.”
GREEN CREDENTIALS
To meet this demand, the pilot plant includes primary reclamation, secondary reclamation (through Omega Sinto’s patented USR system), and thermal reclamation – originally based on the Richards Engineering design and now enhanced to make it the most reliable and maintenance friendly system on the market, and the most energy efficient, thanks to the company’s new waste air heat recovery system; OmegaRegenã.
Fenyes proudly explained: “We remain to this day the only company manufacturing thermal reclamation units where plant sizing is based on loss on ignition and required throughput, ensuring stack emissions comply even in the strictest regulatory environments.”
INNOVATION AND AMBITION
Speaking on behalf of attendees and with the distinction of cutting the ribbon to open the plant, guest of honour, chairman of Westley Group, Tom Westley DL BSc FIMMM CEng FICME explained how he felt “very much at home” at the facility. “Castings are critical for defence with extremely high demand internationally. We have to team up collectively to ensure survival for our industry. There are more castings being made globally than ever,” he enthused. “Omega Sinto’s drive and ambition to sell products globally is a great success story.” He pinpointed the company’s strategic planning and calibre of employees as key to ensuring Omega Sinto is a “proper market leader”. He continued: “We are now as green as we can possibly be. The Omega Sinto team should be proud of their innovation and ambition. I applaud this well organised, strategic supply partner.”
In addition to foundry personnel from several UK foundries, Omega Sinto employees and their families, other attendees included representatives from trade organisations and the Worshipful Company of Founders.
Contact: Omega Sinto Foundry Machinery Ltd, Morley Way, Woodston, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 7BW, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1733 232231, email: [email protected] web: www.ofml.net