Both saws are used to size a variety of plastic sheet materials including foam PVC, a range of composites, including aluminium, and acrylics that arrive in sheets of up to 3m x 2m in size and in thickness from 3 to 10mm, before being converted to the sizes specified by customers.

The Swiss-made Striebig Evolution features various automated functions. The model 5224 model chosen by Pyramid is one of nine different sized versions in the Evolution series. It has a maximum cutting size of 4300 x 2240mm and maximum depth of cut of 80mm. Featured as standard is Striebig’s user-friendly 'touch and saw' operating system which delivers easy and convenient machine control through a touch screen panel that operates all of the machine’s functions.

Other features include a digital measuring system accurate to 0.1mm, and an adjustable precision display that can be set to an accuracy of 1.0, 0.5 or 0.1mm, according to the thickness of the panels being sized. 

The Evolution has a fully automatic roller locking function, an auxiliary stop section with its own tape measure, three additional auxiliary stops for repeat cuts and small work piece support, and automatic moving backing support. Striebig’s TRK extraction keeps users well ahead of all European legislation, with the panel support system offering support for the thinnest of panels.  

Said Pyramid’s group logistics manager Peter Richardson: “Because we were totally satisfied with the Striebig saw we had been using in Manchester for the last 10 years we had no hesitation in replacing it with the latest version, as well buying one for our new Castleford operation.

“It’s been a totally reliable saw which always gives us a perfect quality of cut, which is why we didn’t see the need to look for an alternative. When you know something’s good, why change it?” 

Striebig’s supplier T.M. Machinery provided full operating training at both sites as well as supplying a stand-alone Al-Ko dust extraction unit for use with the Evolution at Castleford.