More efficiency, more precision, no bend marks.
FiMAB manufactures electrical enclosure cabinets with the RAS UpDownCenter 2 at a new level of quality
With the RAS UpDownCenter 2, FiMAB has taken the production of electrical enclosure cabinets to a new level. A 66% reduction in bending time, 22% faster welding processes, and bend mark-free visible surfaces clearly demonstrate the benefits. Manufacturing enclosure cabinets from a single blank enables economical batch size 1 production while maintaining exceptional quality.
FiMAB is a second-generation family business with around 30 employees and remains committed to training skilled young professionals. “Preserving what works while embracing new ideas perfectly reflects who we are,” says Markus Fiedler, Managing Director of FiMAB. Investing in the RAS UpDownCenter 2 was the logical next step in bringing this philosophy to the shop floor.
Electrical enclosure cabinets
Around one quarter of FiMAB’s annual turnover is generated in the electrical enclosure business. The company manufactures steel and stainless steel enclosure cabinets for the special-purpose machinery and mechanical engineering industries, where dimensional accuracy and repeatability are critical. Orders from an online configurator are transferred directly to production, and CNC programs for laser cutting and metal folding are created automatically.
Previously, enclosure cabinets were produced on a press brake. This required multiple parts, extensive setup work, manual turning of the sheet metal and numerous weld seams. Press brake bending also left visible bend marks, a significant disadvantage for high-quality visible surfaces.
Made from a single piece
FiMAB selected the RAS UpDownCenter 2 because it produces deep electrical enclosure cabinets from a single sheet blank. “Our key requirement was the ability to manufacture deep cabinets from a single blank. This reduces weld seams and eliminates potential sources of error,” explains Thomas Ohngemach, Production Manager at FiMAB.
With bending lengths up to 4,060 mm, box heights up to 600 mm and a capacity of 4 mm mild steel, the machine is ideally suited to FiMAB’s production of sheet thicknesses from 0.5 to 3.0 mm. UpDown bending keeps the blank on one side throughout the process, simplifying the handling of large-format parts.
Automatic setup and measurable gains
While the operator loads the next part, the machine changes tooling automatically, keeping production flowing even for individually configured cabinets. For the past three years, the UpDownCenter 2 has delivered measurable productivity gains at FiMAB. Material cutting requirements have dropped by 17% and bending time by 66%. Welding is 22% faster, as side panels no longer need to be attached and aligned separately.
Software that simply works
Programs can be created at the machine or in the office, and the intuitive RAS Bendex software enables quick adaptation to different enclosure sizes. Compared with alternative solutions, Bendex proved considerably easier to use. Another advantage was the 500 mm upper beam tooling, which lets FiMAB form enclosure bodies up to 500 mm high in one operation. Comparable systems rarely offer this tool height. Close proximity to RAS, personal support and the opportunity to test sample parts further reinforced FiMAB’s investment decision.
A future-proof investment
“Choosing the UpDownCenter 2 was the right decision for us. We work more efficiently, achieve greater precision, and consistently deliver higher quality to our customers,” concludes Markus Fiedler.
