Above: BMSI uses the Precision Jet 612 waterjet cutting system, equipped with a Hypertherm HyPrecision 50 pump in its fabrication shop.

November 2018 - Burnsville, Mississippi, is rooted in the railroad and dates back to the early 1800s. Although transportation remains central to its identity, other industries have taken advantage of the growing population and picturesque location. One of these industries is Byrd Maintenance Services Inc. (BMSI). This industrial contractor, which was founded in 1988 by the late Gary Byrd, opened a new facility in Burnsville about two years ago, moving into a 20,000-square-foot facility and installing a fabrication shop.

At the beginning of his venture, Byrd made a promise: “Your plant is our priority.” He and others worked until the organization became a frontrunner in its field: providing expert services to plants through personalized solutions. Quality, service and expertise build the foundations for each long-term relationship that BMSI is committed to creating.   

BMSI relies on Hyertherm HyPrecision waterjet for custom-cut parts requiring tight tolerances.

BMSI’s two primary areas of expertise are plant contracting and maintenance projects, performing process piping, welding, structural fabrication, manufacturing pressure vessels and more. Experienced ASME certified personnel provide complete industrial contracting solutions both in Burnsville and Decatur, Alabama.

BMSI Defense, the sector of BMSI contracted by the Defense Department, is housed at Burnsville. To fit the shop with what was needed to meet higher demand without compromising quality or safety, BMSI consulted with Advanced Cutting Systems in Pelham, Alabama. The machinery builder recommended BMSI invest in several solutions, including a Precision Jet 612 waterjet cutting system, equipped with a Hypertherm HyPrecision 50 pump, Edge Connect CNC and ProNest software. In addition, at Advanced Cutting’s recommendation, BMSI purchased a high-definition plasma system, a Fabmaster Plate Pro Extreme with a HyPerformance HPR260XD.

Consistent quality

The company uses the two systems to mainly cut mild steel and aluminum. It schedules all parts that require precise cutting of heavier plate—anything thicker than 4 inches—along with parts requiring super tight tolerances, upon the waterjet system. Everything else is cut using the high-definition plasma process.

“One of the reasons we purchased this equipment, this waterjet and this plasma table, is for precision,” says Dennis Shay, general manager for the Mississippi BMSI facility. “We’ve successfully completed several jobs since acquiring the equipment and we’re proud to say that when the inspections were done, we didn’t have any problems at all.”

The HyPrecision system is also increasing productivity in the fabrication shop, which responds to high demand for custom-cut parts requiring tight tolerances. Before, customers had to go to machine shops for these parts. But with the new waterjet, “we can do them a whole lot more efficiently and a whole lot cheaper. It’s really helped our business immensely here,” Shay says.

BMSI takes full advantage of Hypertherm Edge Connect CNC and ProNest software to operate its waterjet cutting system.

Jake Wood, fabrication shop foreman, has worked closely with the new machines over the course of the past year and a half. “It’s been really good at getting the parts out, being precise,” he says.

He also views the CAM nesting software that helps guide the waterjet cuts favorably. “The ProNest is very easy to use on it. It utilizes the full efficiency of the plate, there’s very little scrap, and it’s also user friendly to set up and use, you just follow the steps through,” Wood says.

Maintainable reliability

BMSI’s decision to purchase the Hypertherm HyPrecision waterjet included its experience with past Hypertherm products. BMSI’s operators say they have always had a good experience with Hypertherm, because the systems work well, providing the company with reliable, cost effective and quality performance. As a result, Hypertherm became the obvious choice for both the new plasma and waterjet.

Reliable customer service and repair and maintenance were also factors. Hypertherm’s line of waterjets incorporate proprietary Advanced Intensifier Technology (AIT) that helps system operators to cut down maintenance intervals, reduce maintenance time, and maximize overall system performance. For example, the systems have plunger bearings that are longer than normal, with a spiral groove that immerses the plunger in a bath of oil to protect it. The waterjet piston is designed with a hydraulic T seal that contains wear rings that help it last six times longer than typical intensifier waterjets. A screwless low-pressure poppet is used, which means no loctite thread locker is required and customers do not need to worry about a failed, loose or dropped screw damaging the plunger. A final difference is the use of threadless high pressure cylinders that eliminate the issue of cracked, struck, misaligned, or stripped threads.

BMSI moved into a 20,000-square-foot building two years ago in Burnsville, Mississippi. It is one of two facilities for the industrial general contractor.

“There’s very little maintenance that you have to do on the machine, and if you do have trouble the tech service at Hypertherm will help you any way they can,” Wood says. “It’s a very nice machine.”

Bollinger Shipyards, another Hypertherm customer, has 13 shipyards and 40 drydocks in Louisiana and Texas, and also uses a HyPrecision waterjet. Bollinger’s Andy Falgout, who manages the company’s cutting area, agrees the system is easy to maintain. He says the shipbuilder uses the waterjet to cut parts for watertight doors for U.S. Coast Guard vessels. "When we start a job, we have confidence that it’s going to run without any problems,” says Falgout.

Hypertherm’s HyPrecision waterjets systems can handle the wide variety of materials that come through each customer’s facilities. Thickness and detail are easy to handle, and the fine-feature cut qualities ensure customer satisfaction.

“Bang for the buck, it was the best deal out there and we’re extremely proud of the decision that we made,” BMSI’s Shay concludes. MM

Bart Rijken is the Hypertherm Global Marketing Manager-Waterjet.