Standardising Accuracy From Drafting to Welding in Production – Case Study

Alex - KOWT
December 30th, 2025
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Improving Production Consistency and Quality Across Engineering Operations.

CUSTOMER:

Phillip from Harbro Engineering Pty. Ltd. – Quoiba, Tasmania, Australia

Established in 1988 as a family-owned engineering business, Harbro Engineering has grown into a precision manufacturing and fabrication provider serving local, national and international clients across multiple industries.
The company offers a wide range of services, including CNC and manual machining, precision fabricating, pipe bending, welding (MMA, MIG, TIG, low hydrogen, silver soldering) and component testing, supported by modern CNC machines, waterjet cutting, brake press and bending equipment.
Harbro works with customers in sectors such as agriculture, mining, transportation, food processing, mechanical and marine, delivering small to medium precision components as well as specialist bent tube work.

THE CHALLENGE:

In a production welding environment, accuracy and repeatability are critical. Associated Welding & Profile Harbro Engineering identified the need to significantly improve production accuracy and quality control across multiple stages of their operation, including drafting, bending, welding, and jigging.

While their existing methods were functional, they lacked the accuracy and consistency required to support tighter quality assurance and compliance requirements. In their industry, non-compliance represents a major cost risk, making accuracy and repeatability critical across the entire workflow.

THE CONSTRAINT:

Any solution needed to:

Improve accuracy across multiple departments
Maintain consistency from drawing through to welding and bending
Deliver a clear return on investment

Upgrading individual workstations in isolation would not solve the broader process control problem.

THE SOLUTION:

After reviewing return on investment and exploring available options, Harbro Engineering selected both K16 and K28 KO Welding Tables as a modular solution capable of supporting templating, measuring, bending, welding, and jigging work with higher accuracy.

To maintain consistency across their workflow, multiple tables were installed across different areas of the business.

Supplied equipment:

K16 1.0m x 1.0m paired with a K16 Basics Kit used as measuring table for drafting and programming
K16 1.5m x 1.0m paired with a K16 Essentials Kit used as a bending table for checking offsets and bend dimensions
K28 2.0m x 1.0m | 50mm Hole Grid welding table paired with a K28 Essentials Kit for fixturing, welding, and jig manufacturing
As well as some extra C-Klamps for fast jigging.

Each table was configured to suit its specific role while maintaining common accuracy standards.

INSTALLATION AND SETUP:

The welding tables were fit-for-purpose straight out of the box.

Installation was straightforward, and the team adopted the tables quickly across departments, including apprentices, tradesmen, and office staff.

The measuring table is used in the drawing and programming office for:

Interpreting plans
Measuring components prior to drawing

The bending table is used to:

Check offsets
Verify bend dimensions for mandrel bent components against bend data

The welding table is used to:

Clamp tubes and flanges for welding
Manufacture jigs for repeat production parts

THE RESULT:

Since upgrading:

Accuracy has improved across all departments
Consistency has been achieved from drafting through to fabrication
Quality assurance is more controlled
The risk of non-compliance has been reduced

Harbro Engineering calculated a return on investment of approximately 15 months, reinforcing the decision to standardise their workflow around modular welding tables.

PHILLIP’S FEEDBACK:

“Two years ago we identified the need to significantly improve our production and quality within our operation.”

“Our existing methods were good, but they needed to be next level. We needed a solution that could handle templating, welding, jigging and bending work with far greater accuracy.”

“Speaking to existing KO Welding Tables clients gave us confidence that we were choosing the right product for our needs.”

“To us it’s about maintaining consistency across the entire workflow. It’s critical.”

“The biggest benefit is that KO Welding Tables reduce the likelihood of non-compliance, which is a major cost risk in our industry.”

“We calculated our return on investment at around 15 months, which made the decision easier.”

“KO Welding Tables have played a big part in tightening up our manufacturing process and giving us confidence in the quality we’re delivering every day.”

— Phillip Harris, Director

Harbro Engineering, Tasmania

PHILLIP’S SUBMITTED PICS:

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