DenCol Supply slashes training and programming time with ProNest

Company overview

DenCol Supply is the largest locally owned general-line steel service center in the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. DenCol serves the mining, energy, transportation, tower, road, and bridge industries and provides drilling, punching, shearing, oxyfuel, laser, and plasma cutting using the best plate processing equipment in the country. The company’s goal is to take time and cost out of their customers’ projects by utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, nesting techniques, professional packaging, and piece marking, and offering on-time delivery.

Challenge: Multiple software programs are required to manage cutting, increasing costs

DenCol prides itself on outstanding service. To provide the best possible service to customers, DenCol features some of the most advanced profiling equipment available today, including an Amada^® laser, two Peddinghaus FDB 2500 Plate machines, a Whitney punch plasma, and ESAB^® plasma and oxyfuel machines.

With all those machine brands and cutting processes, the company found itself using numerous software programs supplied by the various machine producers – a situation that was far from ideal. Operators had to learn multiple programs, increasing time spent training.

DeWayne Deck, DenCol President, explains, “The training and maintenance issues involved were just going to create long-term costs that would negatively impact our ability to be competitive. We knew we had to find a single-source independent software solution that would work if we were going to be successful.”

Solution: Hypertherm’s ProNest nesting software consolidates programming

After researching the options, DenCol decided to implement Hypertherm’s ProNest^® nesting software. As a programming solution capable of using most of DenCol’s previously created nests and creating CNC code for all of DenCol’s cutting processes and machine brands, ProNest presented the most versatile and cost-effective long-term option.

CAD/CAM nesting software

CAD (computer aided design) software is used to design and edit parts. It uses computer programs to draw the exact part or object that is needed and usually results in a detailed 2D or 3D model.

CAM (computer aided manufacturing) software prepares the CAD file for cutting and machining. For example, CAM software may check the geometry for errors, apply kerf compensation, set the cut sequence, add leads, and apply other advanced cutting parameters. CAM software converts the information found in the CAD file into a numerical control (NC) code. It outputs NC code that can be read and understood by the CNC control, where it is converted into electrical signals that control the entire cutting process. CAM software helps drive the manufacturing process.

Nesting is the efficient placement of multiple part geometries onto a given surface area. It is part of the CAM process. With automatic nesting, nesting software takes all the different parts that need to be cut and arranges them – or nests them – in the most efficient way possible. The software uses advanced algorithms to quickly rotate and position the parts to maximize plate utilization and minimize scrap.

CAD/CAM nesting software is typically used for programming mechanized flat plate cutting, offering fabricators and manufacturers a single software solution for all their profile cutting needs. This combination solution provides all the necessary functionality to complete the job from CAD concept to part preparation, to nesting, to numeric code output.

ProNest CAD/CAM nesting software

ProNest is an industry-leading CAD/CAM part nesting software designed for advanced mechanized cutting. It provides a single solution for all of a company’s profile cutting needs – including plasma, laser, waterjet, and oxyfuel – allowing users to consolidate all their mechanized cutting programming into a single software solution.  

ProNest’s powerful, high-yield nesting offers the highest level of cutting expertise. It supercharges cutting operations, enabling fabricators and manufacturers to increase material utilization, boost productivity, lower operating costs, and improve part quality.  

Intuitive screens and a wide variety of helpful features make ProNest easy to learn and use. Its faster, fully automated interface can reduce programming time from hours to minutes, while specialized cutting techniques can reduce total cut time by up to 50%.

ProNest also supports enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing resource planning (MRP), and manufacturing execution system (MES) integrations. With nesting work connected to all other areas of the business, companies can eliminate manual and redundant tasks that exist in the workflow. Jobs can be managed, tracked, and combined more easily, and inventory is better managed for faster turnover – increasing profitability.

Unlimited access to technical support, training, and software updates is included with ProNest, ensuring users can take advantage of all the features of their ProNest software.

Business impact: Programming time and operator training significantly reduced

Since the successful implementation of ProNest, DeWayne Deck has been pleased with the positive impact on the company’s ability to serve its customers – and on the bottom line. With ProNest, DenCol operators no longer use multiple software programs to manage cutting processes, so the company only has to train operators to use one program. DenCol spends less time training operators, and operators spend less time shifting from program to program to do their jobs.

Learn how ProNest nesting software can help your business increase material utilization, decrease labor costs, and improve productivity. Click the button below, fill out the form, and a Hypertherm product expert will contact you.