Machinery : Emmedue Astra bridge saw

Background: Emmedue have continually developed their range for more than 30 years and the marque is these days found in many UK and Irish workshops. Whether you buy a small portable bench saw or one of the larger saws in the range, the same high standard components are used. There is something for everyone in the Emmedue range, with prices starting at below £1,000 for portable on-site saws perfect for tiles. The range progresses all the way up to the sophisticated Discovery, a 4-axes CNC bridge saw with CAD/CAM, automatic 360º rotation and 0-90º manual tilting head. The Astra featured here is a monolithic / monobloc machine. It has the option of PLC programming if required and has UK back-up and servicing from the Waters Group.

General: Waters Group have found the Astra saw a popular choice with their customers. It delivers versatility, is not overly complex and offers good value for money. It is not the cheapest nor the most expensive, but does offer a sensible solution for most workshops.

Capabilities: A particular advantage of the Emmedue range is the weight and strength of the equipment. The construction throughout the range of bridge saws is 15mm thick steel. The additional cross members give added rigidity and long life without sagging and dropping of the bridge. The Astra comes with an hydraulic tilting and manually rotating table with a guage showing the angle. The head of the machine can rotate manually or can be operated automatically as an optional extra. It tilts from 0º to 90Ëš. It can accommodate a 500mm blade as standard but can be adapted to accept larger blades.

Control: The PLC option allows you to program up to 99 cuts, automatically transferring from one to the next. Any width can be cut using single pass or step cutting. Profiling work can also be performed.

Physical configuration: The dimensions of the saw are 5600 x 2600 x 2300. It can work stone slabs up to 3500 x 1900 x 270mm. The Astra weighs in at 3,200kg, making it a solid workhorse and the monolithic / monobloc design gives further assurance of quality and long life.

Worksurface: Marine plywood, easily maintained and replaced when necessary.

Motor: The saw head is run by a 7.5kW, three-phase motor.

Price: Waters Group can currently supply this machine delivered, fitted and installed for £33,950 net and say all other sawing machines from this range are also competitively priced.

Further information: The Waters Group. Tel: 0845 658 5758. Email: [email protected]

www.watersgroupltd.co.uk