Meet the TUBE Scarf Chopper Crew
Sweed’s process for providing customers with custom machines that meet their needs comes in many steps and involves a variety of different team members, and the tube scarf chopper is no exception. From initial design and quote all the way through delivery and support, we have a dedicated crew of people working hard every step of the way to ensure that every tube scarf chopper that goes out our door works well, lasts long, and integrates easily into the customer’s system.
The process begins with our Chopper sales team. “The first question we get is how does a Sweed tube scarf chopper solve our problem,” says Kevin Watson, Chopper Sales Representative at Sweed. “We designed it to put an end to the dangerous business of repeatedly handling the O.D. Bead Scarf.” Sweed’s TS450 tube scarf chopper handles this by continuously feeding and chopping tube scarf while keeping pace with the line, replacing the awkward scarf winders and reducing the number of times an operator has to handle the scarf. “This addresses most of our customers’ main concern, which is safety,” explains Al Bentley, a Customer Service Representative. “With the tube scarf chopper’s continual feeding ability and removing the need to stop production to change out scarf winders, the TS450 decreases the chance for risk while increasing line efficiency.”
When the customer expresses interest in a tube scarf chopper, they work closely with Sweed to outline their needs and their line’s specificities so that we can design a machine that integrates perfectly with what they want. “We send prospective customers a design sheet where they tell us the size of their O.D. scarf, how fast their line runs, and any other specifications,” Bentley explains. With this information, Sweed engineers are able to build a machine that integrates well into each customer’s specific system. “The standard tube scarf chopper continuously feeds scarf as long as it stays in contact with the scarf knife, which cuts it into 2-3” long pieces that are then conveyed out onto the hopper,” explains Eric Schmidt, an engineer at Sweed. “We also include a quick-change platform to allow for easy removal when service is needed, and we can add other custom features as requested.” Another Sweed engineer, Henry Rueda, who designed the tube scarf chopper’s latest upgrades added, “The main reason behind every feature and update to our tube scarf chopper is our customers. Our goal is to build the best scarf chopper possible while maintaining a compact footprint and not compromising the chopper’s longevity and durability in extreme environments.”
After working closely with the sales and engineering teams, the customer should be all set up with their new Sweed TS450, but their interactions with our team don’t end there. “Like all machines, the tube scarf chopper needs regular maintenance such as replacing worn parts, knife rotation, and blowing out grit buildup” says Bentley. “It also comes with a 1-year warranty that covers defective parts and workmanship.” All of that maintenance can be handled by the customer themselves, but our team is available for technical support if other issues arise. “We are quick to respond to customers’ needs and pride ourselves in providing excellent service. We will expedite parts through our shop when possible and ship them overnight so our customers experience minimal lapse in their production capability,” Bentley says.
Regardless of whether it’s the initial inquiry or a parts request long after the machine has been installed, our tube scarf chopper team is there to assist you every step of the way. “I feel the Sweed tube scarf chopper is the best solution on the market today to dispose of dangerous tube scarf in a safe and efficient manner, and we just want to help make the whole process of getting and maintaining one as easy as possible,” Bentley says.
