The 470-class yacht sail manufactured by North Sails Japan is used by leading teams around the world, with an approximately 80% of the global market. These sails contributed to the success of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal winning yacht teams at both the Paris and Tokyo Olympics.

Shima Seiki’s P-CAM computerised cutting machine now plays a key role in the production of these sails and has led to improvements in both quality and production efficiency for North Sails Japan. The company previously used a laser plotter in conjunction with its production in order to improve accuracy and product quality, but experienced difficulty in obtaining parts and PC boards with a previous generation of machines, resulting in interrupted production

North Sails Japan consequently chose Shima Seiki’s P-CAM160C cutting machine with a maximum expansion option, featuring a cutting table over ten metres long and compatible with both a fixed knife and an ultrasonic cutter, which has greatly improved cutting accuracy.

The performance of a yacht sail depends greatly on its shape, and the accuracy of the cut can be the difference between winning and losing a race. P-CAM enables precise cuts to the nearest tenth of a millimetre and its ability to reproduce complex curves and panel structures with a high degree of repeatability is a significant advantage in the manufacture of competition sails.

In addition, by acquiring In-House Certification (IHC), North Sails Japan is entrusted to deliver high quality products that conform to international standards every time. This consistency has made the sails exempt from inspection before each race.

Fast and highly accurate cuts have reduced production time for North Sails Japan and problems have been virtually eliminated, with maintenance time reduced to almost zero. This has resulted in a 30-40% increase in overall production efficiency.

“Our sails are highly regarded by yacht teams because we reproduce medal-winning designs faithfully,” says Yuzo Yamashita, head of design and IT at North Sails Japan. “Sails can also be customised to match the conditions of each competition. Another big advantage is that almost all of our employees have sailing experience which allows us to use feedback from the races to fine-tune the designs.”

In addition to sails, the P-CAM is used for a wide range of related products – from stickers and decorations for sails, such as flags and numbers, to trapeze harnesses used in sailing, and even bags made from recycled sail material. P-CAM makes it possible to precisely match cutting with the print design, dramatically improving finish quality.

In bag manufacturing in particular, the company utilises pattern data that takes into account the characteristics of the material to create products with superior durability and functionality, while also promoting sustainable initiatives by using surplus fabric from the production floor.

www.shimaseiki.com