JMA Head Office Visit
During July, myself (Aaron White, Technical Manager JMA UK) and the UK Sales Manager, Ian Elverson visited our Head Office in Mondragon, northern Spain.
We went there for training on the JMA EXPERT cloning solution and the JMA SUPRACODE, which is the latest electronic key cutting machine which also engraves the head of most security keys without the need for additional clamps.
On the first day we had extensive training on the SUPRACODE using the new JMAKEYPRO APP 2.0 learning how to layout the template for engraving, cutting keys to code and by tracing the original key. It is a faster machine that also has the option of having a vacuum cleaner attached. The clever part of this attachment is after the XVAC is fitted the vacuum starts when the cutting starts and also shuts off automatically when the process is complete.
As Ian is newer to the company, he was given training and more information on the other machines that are assembled on site in Mondragon. He was soon cutting the more complicated keys on the JMA CAPRI which can be quite hard for the newer key cutter/locksmith.
On day two we had a tour of the factory and machine assembly areas; here we learnt that each day on average, JMA are producing 1.2 million key blanks. I was very surprised to see how much raw material is consumed and was amazed to see how much space was needed to hold 3 months stock of that raw material. We were shown the process that most of the keys go through before being sent out to our customer; from the initial stamping out and milling of the profile to the finishing and plating process, before being taken to either the shipping area or the main carousel unit which had over 25 million key blanks on the shelves. We were taken aback at the sheer size of this storage facility at over 18 metres tall. This was where most of the outer orders were picked in boxes of 1500. On the smaller rotary unit was another 8 million blanks for the smaller orders of 50’s.
We also saw the process of coining keys and as you can imagine this storage alone was vast to keep all of the current customer dies, which are all made in house.
My stand out moment was watching an OEM key, which had been made, was now being cut to code with the code engraved on the head. It then moved on to the next station for a buff up before being put onto a ring with 4 other keys that had already been cut. This whole process was all done without an operator in situ in about 30 seconds per key.
Part of the tour showed us some of the more secure OEM keys having special notches or holes being machined before entering the final processes. There were machines manufacturing the plastic heads of car keys 4 at a time which were then bagged automatically.
Over the road in the key machine assembly plant we saw parts being tested and manufactured before being assembled in to fully functioning machines. I saw at least 5 MULTICODES being assembled as well as a long line of NOMAD’s and BERNA’s all being done at the same time.
In the afternoon I was taken for some more advanced training with my Spanish counterparts whilst Ian went to meet with some colleagues at IFAM to discuss new products and sales opportunities.
All too soon it was time to leave a very hot Spain and come home to put what we had learnt in to practice in front of the sales team back at the UK head office.
Aaron White
Technical Manager JMA UK
