Supporting its new Cut Line cutting-and-shaping plant in Dubai, UAE, the Macchine Elettronich Piegatrici (MEP) group will once again exhibit at the Big 5 this year, showcasing a line of machines designed to meet the fast-paced construction industry’s requirements for speed and efficiency.

The new electronically-programmable automatic plant for cut-to-length bars, which was recently commissioned is designed to optimise management of the cutting and transfer of bars and increase productivity.
“The automation of the intermediate transfer and storage phases – between the cutting and shaping/bending processes – permits optimal use of the cutting capacity, as the work cycle remains uninterrupted,” says a spokesman for the Italian leader in the coil-fed machine sector.
“In this process, the operator needs only to feed the machine and the time dedicated to other operations is reduced, so that the percentage of plant usage time is twice of that where a traditional shear line is used. One or two CS 40 automatic shaping/bending units or simple manual bending units coupled with work benches may be integrated with the plant, creating a complete centre for bar processing,” he adds.
According to the spokesman, there are many advantages associated with this cutting-and-shaping plant including:
• High productivity as the system has much reduced dead times;
• Reduced space requirements, which means more space for the cut bars;
• Maximum working flexibility, which makes the plant ideal for both public or civil works;
• Drastic reduction of off-cuts and wastage attained by the use of the optimisation programmes;
• Reduced requirements for specialised personnel for the operation of the plant, because material movement is completely automatic; and
• Offering the possibility of adding an automatic bundling system.
“With this plant, MEP once again demonstrates its ability to offer the market machines that cater to all the requirements of its clients,” he says.
Comprising eight dynamic companies, the MEP Group produces stirrup benders, straightening machines, bending and cutting machines, cage and pre-cage assemblers, mesh plants and lattice girder plants, cold rolling plants, all of which are characterised by exclusive patented and technologically-advanced solutions, says the spokesman
MEP also has a worldwide network of exclusive agents and importers who guarantee after-sales service for every client requirement. In order to ensure a satisfactory after-sales support in the Middle East, the company intends to set up depots for spare parts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia by the end of this year.
“Clients will now be able to avail of the services of an MEP technician dedicated to only the Gulf countries, who will have the local experience to deal with problems that might crop up and lead to work stoppages,” he adds.
Established in Udine, Italy, in 1967, MEP gained a reputation for developing the first-ever automatic stirrup bender fed from coil, which allowed the shaping and cutting of the steel wire in a continuous cycle, thus revolutionising the industry at the time.
MEP is still a frontrunner in the industry today, thanks to its constant investments in research and development for more advanced solutions for the steel wire industry.
“Buying a product from the MEP Group means buying a rebar processing machine that is far more technologically advanced than other competitive systems on the market today,” the spokesman concludes.
MEP will be present at stand F249 at the Big 5 show.