SHM sheeter specialist

M&D Consulting Engineers, formerly known as MJC Engineering, was established by Mike Constable in 1994, to supply used machinery and provide technical support to the paper and paperboard converting industry. In 1999, the company broadened its scope to include service and spare parts for the SHM range of sheet cutters, as well as developing the used machinery side of the business.

As all employees were ex SHM trained, the company then decided to specialize in the SHM range of sheet cutters. The workforce has a combined service record of over 60 years’ experience.

M&D says its aim is to restore each sheet cutter to its original specification using only original parts, “ensuring the same quality and reliability expected from this excellent product”. Mike Constable's technical knowledge also enables the company to further improve all refurbished SHM sheet cutters, allowing customers to convert a wide variety of substrates.

Each machine is removed from site and loaded for transportation by M&D's own engineers and brought to its Bristol, UK, workshop, where it is hooked up to electrical and compressed air supplies. The machine is then run through its varying speeds and an extensive check carried out. All faults are recorded and a spares list compiled.

On completion of these initial tests, each machine is stripped down to the main frame, cleaned, all bearings checked together with roller journals, and any faulty components either replaced or repaired. The machine is then painted in the original colour, or any paint specification the customer requires.

Upon completion of the rebuild, a programme of testing is initiated, checking for sheet to sheet accuracy, product handling and production rate.

M&D says that, unlike many used machine dealers, it can offer a three month warranty on all refurbished SHM sheet cutters, together with a full after sales service.

Mike Constable notes: “Many of our customers have a requirement to convert specialist substrates such as non wovens, polyester and NCR paper. We have the knowledge and expertise to customize these machines, enabling materials to be converted successfully - which can be demonstrated in our workshop prior to dispatch to the customer.

“A typical example is a recent machine we have in our workshop. This particular model has been fully refurbished and we have also made the necessary customization to allow the customer to cut a specialized product. They were able to see this demonstrated prior to purchase, which gave them greater confidence.”

Another interesting conversion M&D has offered to converters is cut size sheeting - A4, A3 and sheets cut up to 2,000mm long - allowing the user companies to extend their customer base with a greater format range.

One particular customer is SF Williams (Foils), of Southend on Sea, a leading UK converter of holographic register substrates. This company purchased its first two machines - SHM 40in Compacts - in 2001. Both were primarily for converting plain white board.

With the market for holographic material growing, managing director David Watson came back to M&D, looking for a cut to register sheet cutter to enable his company to handle this type of work, as well as plain sheeted material. This proved so successful that SF Williams (Foils) purchased a second used SHM 1400 cut to register model from M&D that was installed last month.

David Watson says he used M&D “because of their knowledge and reputation with SHM sheet cutters”. With the acquisition of these machines, he has been able to make three older machines redundant.