Mill Finish Industries, a metal fabricator in Brampton, Ont., has pivoted its operations to produce sneeze guards, social distancing signs and medical-grade stainless-steel tanks.
Company president JR Sehmbi said the company started manufacturing sneeze guards in March after a local hospital requested them and is currently making about 80 sneeze guards weekly for U.S. and Canadian retailers, restaurants, and medical offices.
These new products are the culmination of a commitment to investing that saw Mill Finish Industries (MFI) purchase a Mitsubishi SR-F fiber laser, which is used for components of all his medical supplies and ppe parts, such as the guard’s steel legs.
The social distancing signs, made from aluminum and stainless steel and cut using the fiber laser, have been so popular with grocery stores and medical offices that the 100-per-week it is producing barely meet demand.
The company has made 18 stainless steel tanks for Canadian pharmaceutical companies since mid-March, using the fibre laser to cut the complete tank assembly.
Sehmbi purchased the new Mitsubishi fiber laser in February and, before the lockdown, planned on using it to fabricate metal components for automotive, aerospace, and elevator companies, among others.
“Mitsubishi’s commitment to us over those years is priceless and their continued support was a big selling feature,” Sehmbi said. “The laser itself is a work horse. It is consistent—I never have to worry about condition adjustments. I can jump from 20-gauge stainless all the way to half-inch stainless and the machine cuts flawlessly. I have been a CO2 laser owner for 10 years; this was my first fiber and smallest laser. The 3Kw fiber proved to be a perfect match for our company. It was very easy to pick up on and learn. I feel as though the machine is so well set up from the factory, it leaves nothing for the operator to do other than hit the start button.”
