Yard
A new fabrication shop in Mbombela needed a reliable way to prepare steel and aluminium sheet for CNC work, aiming for less waste and faster setups in the main workshop.
This new workshop in Mbombela handles everything from light steel brackets to basic panel work, serving signmakers and small fabricators in the Lowveld. Most material arrives as full-size sheets from steel merchants in Mbombela or Joburg, often stacked on bakkies or flatbeds. Previously, the team would cut sheets down by hand or with a grinder, leading to waste, rough edges and unpredictable blank sizes.
Their main CNC router and mill were spending too much time adjusting for uneven blanks, with operators forced to reset work zeros and run extra air cuts. The owner wanted a faster, safer way to get repeatable blanks for the machine bays, with fewer surprises during the cutting shift.
We supplied a Feature Sheet Shear with a square fence for accurate blanking. This guillotine-style shear is sturdy enough for regular mild steel and aluminium use, with easy manual adjustment and a marked fence for quick setup. We installed it near the entry roller door, close to offload, and linked it to a new racking area with clear label slots and PPE signs.
Our installer made sure the shear was electrically compliant for the local 400 V three-phase supply, and arranged a Certificate of Compliance through a registered local electrician. We trained the workshop team on safe use, blade checks and how to keep the working area clear of offcuts and obstructions.
Within weeks, the team saw a clear drop in rework and lost time. CNC operators now collect consistent blanks from the racking, so toolpaths match nests as planned and setups are faster. Sorting and labelling at the shear prevents mix-ups, and the area stays cleaner, with less tripping hazard from stray offcuts.
The shear’s square fence ensures every blank is parallel and ready for CNC, reducing tool wear and edge burring compared to grinder cuts. The team now spends more time machining and less time correcting mistakes, and the owner noticed lower material wastage on monthly stock takes.
Any workshop handling bulk steel or aluminium can benefit from a proper shear stage, especially when repeatable blanks feed into CNC routers or mills. The main steps are keeping a tidy, labelled racking system, maintaining sharp blades and always guarding the machine as per the OHS Act.
In humid places like Mbombela, keep shear blades oiled and check for rust on exposed steel surfaces. Plan power needs upfront: have a registered electrician handle new connections and always get a Certificate of Compliance. Proper PPE and clear marking around the shear help keep the area safe for staff and visitors.
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