Business is buoyant, according to Timet UK, with major aerospace OEMs sourcing their entire supply of fan blade plate from the Waunarlwydd facility. Sawing needs to keep pace, hence the installation of the new bandsaw.

Trimming of plate from the mill, as well as cutting plate to size to satisfy specific customer orders, is performed over two shifts, with the new saw capable of handling double-size mother plates measuring 4 m x 1 m, which are more economial to roll. More usually it handles 2m x 1m, 2.5m x 1m and 3m x 1m plates, the latter supplied from the firm's sister operation in the USA.

Productivity is increased by the ease of set-up to fulfil a new order, which can now be done automatically in a matter of seconds. This helps with smaller orders and the just-in-time deliveries that customers are demanding to reduce the cost of holding large material stocks.