LVD shows full-featured tube laser

LVD showcased its TL 8525, the most advanced tube laser cutting machine in its TL series, at the recent Tube 2022 exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany. The company says that its TL 8525 opens the door to a world of versatile tube and profile processing with optimised features, including 45° 3D tilt-axis cutting head, six-position front loader, wide X-axis cutting range, and the ability to cut tubes up to 8500 mm long (up to 3000 mm long and 250 mm diameter).

Built for high productivity, the TL 8525 can accommodate a broad range of applications, including complex, large and heavy tubes. The 400 mm Z axis efficiently handles the processing of larger profiles. Notably, the machine maintains the compact footprint of other TL models and offers the advantage of accessibility on all sides. AS loading and unloading is handled on one side, the machine can fit into a small space or against a wall.

LVD’s 45° 3D tilt-cutting head delivers high-precision bevel cutting and is suitable for weld-preparation cuts in thick-walled tubes, while the front loader loads up to six tubes and offers six positions for up to 250 mm tubes. The 1190 mm X-axis cutting-head range permits processing along a greater length of the tube, wasting less material to make tube cutting more productive and profitable.

Automatic tube loading, automatic tube centring, and automatic set up and adjustment of the chuck and steady rest, offer highly automated, reliable operation.

The TL 8525 comes equipped with a 2 kW fibre laser source, although a 4 kW laser is available as an option.
For further information www.lvdgroup.com

Stepping up tube-cutting capabilities

Yamazaki Mazak says it is taking laser-cutting capabilities to the maximum with the launch of its compact 3D fibre laser cutting machine, the FG-220. The FG-220 is suitable for the precision 3D cutting of long tubes (with round, square, rectangular and triangular cross-sections) and structural materials (such as I and H beams, angle iron and additional user-defined shapes).

Use of the new machine’s improves the productivity of cutting thin-to-medium thickness pipe and other structural materials, thanks largely to the fibre-laser technology having a shorter wavelength than a CO2 laser for the high-speed cutting of medium steel with nitrogen assist gas. Higher productivity translates into significant energy savings due to the 100% elimination of laser gas and a 50% reduction in electrical consumption.

Furthermore, the FG-220 is an all-in-one machine that can perform multiple processes including cutting, drilling, tapping and clamping, which leads to significantly reduced in-process times.

Mazak has engineered a proprietary 3D laser cutting head with an extended range of movement in the A and B axes, which expands on the array of possible applications. The FG-220 enables machining at any desired angle and from various directions, thus achieving even complex shapes, as well as tight joint fits. As a result, it is possible to construct rigid space frames far quicker (with reduced welding) in comparison with conventional construction processes. The machine is suitable for use on a broader spectrum of workpieces, including highly-reflective materials such as copper and brass.

Several features enable high-precision cutting of long materials, such as auto-centring and workpiece clamping, as well as various support units to prevent sagging during cut. Four chucks simultaneously travel on and rotate around the axis to avoid material swaying.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

HACO and HSG confirm strategic partnership

HACO and HSG have confirmed their strategic partnership with an agreement for the exclusive distribution of HACO-HSG fibre lasers in the French and Benelux markets.

Metal profiling is developing rapidly, resulting in a global shift in the industry towards fibre laser-cutting technology.

“The use of fibre lasers for profiling metal results in a spectacular reduction in overall cycle time for industrial companies,” says Andy Raedt, product manager at HACO. “Fibre-laser technology is developing at a fast pace, with newly developed machines being introduced to the market many times a year.”

HSG, with headquarters in Foshan, China, is a pioneer in the development and production of high-quality fibre laser cutting machines. Since its foundation in 2006, the company has grown globally and now has more than 1500 employees. HSG has multiple dedicated R&D centres in China and Japan focusing on bringing the latest technology to the market and meeting demand for more flexibility, speed and power. Today, HSG offers a complete series of fibre-laser machines, from flat-bed lasers and combination machines, up to a range of tube lasers with bevel-cutting head and integrated automation.

“The synergy in this partnership lays in the combination of HSG’s high-quality fibre lasers and the extensive sales and service network of HACO in the French and Benelux markets,” says Angelo Steen, commercial director at HACO. “With over 15,000 metalworking machines installed over the years in these countries, we’ve developed a solid network of local teams.”

In the past few years, HACO has installed dozens of fibre laser cutting machines with HSG technology under the HACO brand. With this partnership, newly installed fibre-laser cutters will be delivered under the joint brand of HACO-HSG.
For further information www.haco.com

Duggan build success with Prima Power

US-based Duggan Manufacturing was formed by friends Rodney Westich and Tony Pinho in Almont, Michigan 22 years ago. The company owes its success to hard work, smart investments and great customer service, with Prima Power at its side. Today the company has 90 employees working in a main facility of 72,000 sq ft and a satellite building of 28,000 sq ft.

“We devised a plan to get business rolling, and from that point on, it’s been a steady reinvestment plan for the latest machine technology,” explains Westich. “We put as much money back in the company as possible.”

A large part of that investment plan has been dedicated to Prima Power 3D fibre lasers.

“When we began our search for lasers, Prima Power was one of several options,” says Westich. “The company was very helpful and open. They arranged for us to visit other customers who were doing laser-tube cutting and knew we were looking at something special. Their lasers are versatile and robust, with high uptime – but if there is a problem, Prima Power’s service department responds quickly and with excellent telephone support.”

Duggan purchased a 2 kW Prima Power Rapido fibre laser in 2010 and another in 2011. The company purchased a Prima Power 4 kW Laser Next in 2016.

“We’re not a huge company, but our three Prima Power lasers allow us to punch above our weight, meaning we have much more influence than we anticipated because they give us the same attention that you would expect for a large customer with multiple machines,” states Westich. “This type of key investment definitely helped us to grow.”
For further information www.primapower.com

First ByStar Fiber 8025 15 kW in Asia

Bystronic Malaysia has installed the first large-format, high-performance laser-cutting system at Leon Fuat Metal, which earns the company the distinction of having the first 15 kW ByStar Fiber 8025 in Asia.

Chinhan Ooi, general manager of Bystronic Malaysia and sales director for SEA, says: “This is a significant milestone for the APAC region that also demonstrates the potential for the sale of reliable Bystronic high-power solutions in Malaysia.”

With more than 38 years of experience in various sectors, Leon Fuat specialises in the processing of steel products.

Says Calvin Ooi, executive director of Leon Fuat: “Prior to this new machine, we already had a 4020 10 kW ByStar Fiber in the factory. We were impressed with its cutting speed, which is significantly higher than that of a CO2 laser cutting system. The new machine, with its even higher cutting performance, will further increase our production output and enable even shorter delivery times.”

In its early days, the Leon Fuat Group owned 11 CO2 machines from a different manufacturer. With the upgrade to its first Bystronic ByStar Fiber 4020 in 2018, the company eliminated previously existing production restrictions and high operating costs. And even with only five CO2 machines in operation, the company was able to increase productivity and revenue with the Bystronic fibre-laser system.

Due to its excellent experiences and trust in Bystronic, the Leon Fuat Group invested in an additional Bystronic machine – a ByStar Fiber 3015 6 kW. This machine was installed at the company’s affiliate Supreme Steel Makers for processing applications in thinner sheet metal materials.

Looking to the future, Leon Fuat is convinced that its new ByStar Fiber 8025 will overcome the limitations of its existing laser-cutting systems; now the company can load raw materials with bigger dimensions.
For further information www.bystronic.co.uk