Winpro to Exhibit at GlassBuild America 2021

After a difficult year, GlassBuild America is back and so is Winpro. Here's what you need to know about this exciting event and how to connect with us once you're there.

The Winpro Exhibit:

A long time supporter of GlassBuild America, Winpro provides innovative and dependable manufacturing equipment for the fenestration industry. Winpro solutions reduce manufacturing costs while simultaneously increasing productivity and overall product quality. Winpro offers both standard machines, as well as custom-designed and built manufacturing systems including semi-automated screen assembly and high-speed roll formers for muntins, screen frames, stiffeners, and caming. The Winpro booth at GlassBuild America 2021 will feature demonstrations of two (2) industry-leading machines for screen assembly.

Winpro Screen Express^® Screen Assembly Machines

It's no longer a question that automation has become a necessary part of the fenestration industry. Winpro Screen Express Screen Assembly Machines automate the previously inefficient and manual process of spline insertion on window screens to help your operation increase production with higher-quality screens. Additionally, the Screen Express reduces repetitive motion injuries often experienced by workers in the window fabrication industry and requires minimal operator training. The Screen Express raises the bar productivity, efficiency, and cost savings for any fenestration operation to increase your profitability and provide you with a distinct competitive advantage over your competition.

Key Benefits

• Maximize Profits: The Screen Express’ semi-automatic process eliminates costly labor-intensive manual processes by inserting spline into grooves on windows.
• Increase Productivity: The Winpro Screen Express is designed to batch directly through a network download for automatic data input. Batching is a process used to set up for the shift to run sizes scheduled by production planners. To meet large order needs, the Screen Express has been designed to accept up to 100 size and style setups in a single batch.
• Superior Screen Quality: One key advantage of the Screen Express is the elimination of hourglass effects. With the use of toe-in and toe-out of the spline insertion head assembly, the Screen Express provides the ability to program radius on any of the four sides of the frame, virtually eliminating the hourglass effect. Additionally, a separate foot assembly that is also controlled on a given side, helps control the screen cloth to maximize job quality. Crossbars are common in the window screen industry and the Screen Express has been designed to take cross bars into consideration when operating by raising and lowering the foot to protect the screen cloth from tearing or marring.
• Reduce Employee Injuries: Using the Screen Express automatic process can also help to reduce the harmful repetitive motion injuries and reduce overall operator fatigue which translates to higher productivity, reduced man-made errors, and lower employee downtime.
• Minimal Operator Training: This machine can be operated after receiving minimal operator training and allows workers with lower skill levels the ability to produce top-notch window screens. After delivery of the Screen Express, Formtek will schedule training for your selected employees. Through proper training and technical assistance, newly trained operators will gain the knowledge and skills to significantly enhance the productivity of your business. Setup of the machine and training typically takes up to three days.
• Optimize Work Flow: The Screen Express offers completely automatic frame fixturing. This feature is activated by 2D or 1D barcode scanning or FTP download.
• Safety First: All Winpro fabrication machinery is built with the highest safety standards in mind and the Screen Express is no exception. Many safety considerations are found throughout the Screen Express equipment, most importantly the light curtains and the barrier guards. The light curtain is mounted on the operator side of the Screen Express along the entire length of the machine. When the light curtain field of observation is interrupted, the machine automatically goes into stop mode for safety. Only after a manual command is given does the Screen Express resume its operation.
• Programs: Winpro’s Screen Express is controlled by Formtek’s exclusive design, taking into consideration all the variables the window screen industry has to work with. The programs are easily adaptable to any modifications required. Many of the data and required settings are password protected that can be changed by the supervisor override when necessary.
• Easy Removal: The Winpro Screen Express makes removal of the finished window screen product easy. The screen cloth is cut just behind the finished screen for easy removal and the whole screening process is ready to begin again. The operator has time to trim the screen and prepare a new frame before the end of the insertion cycle.
• Optional Swing Arm: Winpro is mindful valuable floor space and the footprints of necessary equipment for manufacturers. With that in mind, Winpro has developed the option of a swing arm mounted operator station on the Screen Express. The Winpro Screen Express are machines that automate the process of spline insertion on window and door screen. The swing arm operator station is positioned so the operator has access to it while performing the required screen frame loading and unloading procedures. This swing arm operator station offers all the functionality of the pedestal unit, but eliminates the need for the additional floor space. With the addition of the swing arm, the interconnect cable strung between the pedestal and the Screen Express machine was also eliminated. If the bar code scanning option is required, the Winpro Screen Express have been upgraded from the previous wired unit to a wireless unit capable of both 1d and 2D scanning.
• Customization Available: Winpro understands there are several different frame styles in the industry, and has made the Screen Express customizable to your particular needs. Two (2) machines with varying capacities:
  • Screen Express^® Screen Assembly Machine:  the original Screen Express can handle screen assemblies up to 38” x 80”
    • Minimum Screen Size: 10" x 12"
    • Maximum Screen Size: 38" x 80"
  • Screen Express^® SS Screen Assembly Machine: a larger version of the original Screen Express for larger projects like doors. The expanded model Screen Express SS can handle screen assemblies up to 48” x 96”, enabling manufacturers to incorporate patio door sizes into high production assembly process. Additionally, the SS includes a dual drive design, for consistent processing of the larger screen sizes.
    • Minimum Screen Size: 10" x 12"
    • Maximum Screen Size: 38" x 80"

Winpro has recently reintroduced the Screen Express with several new updates that can give your operation a distinct competitive advantage:

• Redesigned pneumatic control systems provides an increased machine response time
• The more rigid carriage design is now driven on both sides by the belt-driven actuators
• Carriage and spline head belt-driven actuators ensure smooth travel replacing the rack and pinion systems
• Enhanced z-axis positioning with hand wheel and counter for better height control and faster changeovers
• Inclusion of the most current electrical control technology from B&R Industrial Automation ensures first-class build
• Rigid design utilizing 3” steel tubing as frame members which help to ensure precise axis positioning
• Automatic frame fixture positioning activated by 2D or 1D barcode scanning or FTP download
• Updated controls and safety circuitry

Make plans to visit Winpro at GlassBuild America 2021 (Booth 1631) to catch a demonstration of the Screen Express and learn more about how it can enable your business to operate more efficiently.