Perfection in sheet metal work

We process thin sheet with a fiber laser (Trumpf TruLaser 3040, 4 kW), press brake and in-house finishing. From stainless steel visible work to aluminium enclosures — dimensionally stable and reproducible.

Sheet metal work at Assink & Schipholt goes further than cutting and bending. From the first drawing to the finished part we guide the whole process: material advice, engineering, production and surface finishing — all under one roof in Hengelo.

Whether it is a single prototype or an annual series: custom sheet metal calls for precision that stays reproducible. Our servo-electric press brakes and laser cutting machines ensure consistent dimensions, even for larger series.

Which sheet thickness is feasible depends on the material. On the Trumpf TruLaser 3040 — a 4 kW fibre laser — we cut steel from 0.5 to 25 mm, stainless steel from 0.5 to 20 mm, aluminium from 0.5 to 15 mm and galvanised steel from 0.5 to 10 mm. If your request falls outside that range, put it to us: within our group more is often possible than on our own machine.

A sheet metal part usually follows the same route with us: laser cutting, deburring, press braking and, where required, welding and finishing. Deburring is done by machine on a Timesavers 42 Series RB, so that edges are burr-free and safe before anyone handles them. Press braking is done on a servo-electric Safan Darley E-Brake 150-3100 T3 with 150 tonnes of press force and a working length of up to 3100 mm.

One-offs and series call for different preparation. For a prototype the emphasis is on thinking along about manufacturability: moving a bend line or repositioning a cut-out often saves an entire operation. For series it is about repeatability — the same fixturing, the same sequence and the same inspection points, so that the hundredth part matches the first. We do both, on the same machines.

Surface finishing is part of the job in most cases. For aluminium and stainless steel we have our own blasting cabin of 8 × 4 × 3 metres, in which we blast an even matt surface with glass beads of 100–200 μm at 3.0 bar. Stainless steel is passivated after welding, so that the protective oxide layer around the seam is restored. We also arrange powder coating and anodising, so you receive a finished part rather than a semi-finished product.

In sheet metal work, quality is mainly a matter of process control. We work under ISO 9001, for welding under ISO 3834-2 and for load-bearing structures under EN 1090-1. In practice that means a fixed incoming inspection on material, documented welding parameters and a dimensional inspection before dispatch — not only on the first part.

Looking to have sheet metal made? Send a drawing or 3D model together with the material grade and sheet thickness, the quantity, and whether it concerns visible surfaces and the finishing that requires. With that information we assess manufacturability and prepare a substantiated quotation. If you are unsure about material choice or sheet thickness, we are glad to think along before the drawing is final.