Case Study: Westcoast Cylinders achieves reduced setup time and boosted productivity with 3D Systems' GibbsCAM

GibbsCAM Improves Investments and Boosts Productivity

Westcoast Cylinders, a Canadian manufacturer of heavy‑duty hydraulic and air cylinders for resource industries, faced a tighter market and the need to shorten lead times while cutting setup costs and work‑in‑progress for many small, custom runs. The shop needed to reduce operator intervention and improve throughput across a mix of multi‑sided and complex parts without sacrificing quality.

They implemented GibbsCAM Tombstone Management and machine simulation with SolidWorks integration and a custom post processor, designed in‑house tombstones/fixtures, and added a Haas UMC‑750 5‑axis with Renishaw probing plus a Royal Rota‑Rack accumulator. The changes slashed setup times and operator touchpoints, enabled many components to run with little or no intervention, reduced WIP, sped delivery, and materially boosted shop productivity and competitiveness.

Westcoast Cylinders

Brad Remillard

Automation Team Leader