Nidec Press & Automation (NP&A) entities Nidec Automatic Feed Company(AFC) and Nidec CHS are merging to provide a single comprehensive coil line supplier, offering the metal forming market exciting new turnkey solutions integrated with the entire NP&A suite of products.

As a result of the merger, all production and operations will be gradually transitioned to the AFC facility in Napoleon, Ohio with the CHS facility in Macomb, MI expected to close by March 31, 2026. The complete CHS line of coil handling products will continue to be offered from AFC.

Founded in 1949, AFC currently manufacturers large coil processing machinery and systems, including state-of-the-art laser blanking solutions. The company has primarily been recognized for providing automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers with automated, high-speed blanking, cut-to-length, and laser blanking lines for surface-critical applications.

In conjunction with the merger, AFC is introducing a new industry-changing coil line. The “E-Series” is a new innovative coil-handling solution designed for a wide range of automotive and contract applications. After more than a year in the development stage with input from NP&A engineers at AFC, CHS and Minster, the E-Series is ready to shake up the market.

The E-Series Feed Line features an all-electric system (no hydraulics), resulting in quieter and lower cost operation and less maintenance. The shorter design, with key components closer to the ground, make a more ergonomic and safer load for operators. And the E-Series will save valuable production space with a smaller left-to-right footprint than traditional U-Loop lines without giving up performance. The line will be fully integrated with NP&A presses for ease of HMI operation.

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Designed to accommodate a variety of material strengths and thicknesses using different cassettes, this XLC leveler will include two cassettes, each with different work roll diameters. The AFCO XLC can process a broad range of materials including surface critical steel and aluminum, HSS, AHSS, and UHSS.

This system also comes with an auto dual cassette change table, which holds up to two cassettes for change out in less than four minutes. An independent cassette style pinch roll is located at the exit end of the leveler. The pinch roll unit consists of two full width chromed rolls in a modular assembly for rapid and easy cassette replacement.

The leveler housing has a 140-ton capacity for work roll penetration of material at the leveler entry and exit. It is designed for a line running at max speed up to 90 mpm. AFCO’s Leveler Calculator is also included, assisting operators in making the necessary leveler setting changes based on coil correction needed, helping speed setup and improved quality.

In addition to the equipment, the project scope also includes project management, installation supervision, customer plant startup (commissioning), launch/production support, and operator and maintenance training.

This is the third XLC leveler order Automatic Feed has received from this company.

For more information on Automatic Feed’s XLC Leveler family, visit Cassette Levelers Solutions – Automatic Feed or call 419-592-0050.

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Thermal imaging is used to produce images of the infrared energy being emitted from components, helping to detect properly energized areas as well as hot spots – areas indicating overly-high temperatures. An elevated temperature can be indicative of an internal defect, an airflow blockage, faulty coolant flow, coolant leakage or overheated water/coolant, as well as an under-performing or incorrectly performing component.

Real-World Example:  During a recent preventive maintenance trip, AFCO utilized thermal imaging to evaluate equipment functionality on a blanking line. This helped the service team to identify that several stations within the current controllers were running hotter than normal, which they were able to attribute to non-functioning cooling fans. With this knowledge, the fans were replaced, thereby saving money and reducing downtime in the future. A problem like this would be difficult to identify or likely go undetected without thermal imaging.

The AFCO service department, with over 25+ years of operation, has several on-staff service technicians and engineers who are Level One Certified in Thermal Imaging technology. In addition to preventive maintenance offerings, the company offers leveler calibrations and rebuilds, pneumatic and hydraulic lubrication repairs, remote diagnostics, preventative maintenance, repair upgrades for both equipment and controls, supply of spare parts, operator and maintenance training and many others.

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This national certification program is a distinction reserved for sales engineers with a proven level of competence in manufacturing technology sales through experience, education, and testing. The CMTSE designation represents the culmination of months of study, years of practical experience, and successful completion of a comprehensive, standardized examination.

The CMTSE credential is an industry acknowledgement that one understands the technical and administrative sales processes necessary to solve the unique challenges of their manufacturing customers.

Vocke is a sales engineer Automatic Feed, where he has been employed since 2018. His first experience in manufacturing began in 2003 at a machine shop, and he has worked in every aspect of the industry since then, including site maintenance and organization, machining, design, sales and project management.

The CMTSE program, developed in 1992, and launched in 1993, is supported by the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), the Precision Metalforming Association (NTMA), the Machinery Dealers’ National Association (MDNA) and the Canadian Machine Tool Distributor’s Association (CMTDA).

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Bundle turnovers automate the process of flipping over an entire stack of blanks 180-degrees bottom over top. This eliminates the difficult task and safety risk of flipping over metal blanks by hand or by crane while reducing the potential of damage to the blanks. Flipping blanks also allows the same blanking die to be used for making exact left-hand and right-hand mirror image parts.

In addition to the equipment, AFCO will provide project management, installation supervision, installation and Customer Plant Startup (CPS), ensuring the equipment functions at optimal performance.

For more information on Automatic Bundle Turnovers, visit Bundle Turnover Solutions or call 419-592-0050.

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The XLC Leveler is designed for flexibility, accommodating a variety of materials utilizing multiple cassettes. Each cassette contains unique work roll sizes. This allows for processing a large range of material types, thicknesses, and yield strengths. Adjustable backups enable ultimate shape correction across the width of the strip. Quick change capability, automatic hydraulic clamping of the cassette, and a cassette change table, help maximize machine uptime.

An independently driven exit pinch roll assists with the material leveling process and improves utilization of the leveler work rolls.

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The integration of this new automated equipment will provide an effective method for guiding the material effectively through the line.

The new AFCO design features three programmable stock guides per side for guiding the material while the feeder pulls the material up from the looping pit across the radius of the exit catenary table. Each set of side guides is independently powered. The side guides are equipped with independent micro edge sensing to allow variable coil width and off-center set up capability. Additionally, a small microprocessor allows for programmable positioning with feedback from the new material guide system, enabling precise adjustment to exact coil width.

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“The service department plays a critical role in our company,” said President Nathan Weaks. “This team contributes significantly to developing and maintaining client relationships, as well as to our revenue. We know that Eric will do a great job in leading this department.”

Prior to this appointment, Sonnenberg had been the project management coordinator. His original tenure with Automatic Feed began in 1997. During his time with AFCO he has worked as a mechanical design engineer, a service department engineer and project manager. He has also been instrumental for several successful AFCO equipment installations.

Sonnenberg has an associate degree in Mechanical Design/Drafting from Owens Community College (Toledo) as well as continuing his education at The University of Toledo and Northwest State Community College, an AFCO partner in the Northwest Ohio Learning Center for Manufacturing Sciences.

In its 25+ years of operations, the AFCO service department has performed over 15,000 services and repairs. These services include leveler calibrations and rebuilds, pneumatic and hydraulic lubrication repairs, remote diagnostics, preventative maintenance, repair upgrades for both equipment and controls, supply of spare parts, operator and maintenance training and many others.

The Automatic Feed Field Service team collectively has over 200 years of experience with additional support provided by its electrical and mechanical engineers.

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