Vaski Group, a Finnish manufacturer of flat bar processing and sheet metal handling, punching and bending machinery, has acquired Ursviken Technology, a Swedish manufacturer specialising in press brake and shear solutions. The acquisition follows Vaski Group’s 2024 purchase of Pivatic Oy, a manufacturer of automatic sheet metal fabrication systems.

The purchase brings together two industrial companies with a shared vision for innovation and excellence. After the fusion, the companies will share a combined revenue of nearly €50m and a workforce of over 200 professionals. Vaski Group is renowned for its heavy investment in R&D, pushing the boundaries of technology to create innovative solutions. The group’s presence in Seinäjoki and Hyvinkää, Finland, and Ursviken Technology’s operations in Skellefteå, Sweden, will form a robust network leveraging the strengths of the Nordic region’s industrial base.

This year marks a significant milestone for Vaski Group, as the businesses celebrate a combined 200 years of excellence. Ursviken Technology commemorates 140 years of innovation, Pivatic marks 50 years of delivering sheet metal punching and bending solutions, and Vaski celebrates a decade of pushing the boundaries of industrial technology.

Michael Mansour, CEO of Vaski Group, says: “The acquisition represents a significant step forward in our mission to drive industrial innovation and support sustainable growth across the Nordic region and beyond. Together, we will unlock new opportunities and deliver even greater value to our customers.”

Nicklas Jakobsson, CEO of Ursviken Technology AB, adds: “Becoming part of Vaski Group marks an important milestone for Ursviken. Our shared values and complementary strengths will enable us to reach new goals and continue to deliver solutions to our customers worldwide.”

More information www.ursviken.com

In 2024, Bystronic says it delivered its 300^thMobile Bending Cell:German company Josef Wiegand GmbH ordered the landmark automated system. Wiegand, a business based in Rasdorf,  is known for its toboggan runs, slides for children and special events, as well as water slides, which it supplies all around the world.

Around 350 employees produce leisure equipment in Rasdorf, partly by hand. The products find use in the mountains of China, at European amusement parks, at American ski resorts, in shopping malls, on playgrounds, and even on cruise ships. Now the company has decided to automate certain manufacturing processes so it can react to customer requests better and faster.

“We were always satisfied with Bystronic press brakes and laser cutters, and the software was also impressive,” says CEO Hendrik Wiegand. “So it was clear that we had to go with another Bystronic. We’re particularly pleased to be the 300^th recipient of this machine.” 

Bystronic duly delivered the milestone Bystronic Mobile Bending Cell – along with a ByBend Star 80 and a Mobile Bending Robot – to Wiegand. The machine was presented in a small ceremony, specially finished in Wiegand’s colours.

“The delivery of the 300^thMobile Bending Cell shows that Bystronic is meeting a clear need in the sheet metal processing industry,” says Marcel Fiedler, global product line manager for automation at Bystronic. “We’re happy to support our customers with their plans for growth.” 

More information www.bystronic.com

At the EuroBLECH exhibition in Germany towards the end of last year, Belgium-based LVD opted to highlight productivity solutions for smart manufacturing on its stand, where new products included a high-tonnage Easy-Form press brake, an Easy-Cell robotic bending cell and a fully-automatic panel bender.

The Easy-Form 9 400/40 press brake was the largest high-tonnage press brake LVD has ever exhibited at EuroBLECH. The 400-ton machine is floor mounted, meaning no foundation is necessary. It features a six-axis modular back-gauge for high application versatility and a total of 10 axes for the precise bending of large and long parts. A built-in Easy-Form Laser adaptive bending system guarantees repeatable accuracy for quality assurance.

Also at the show, visitors could see how LVD’s Easy-Cell 80/25 combines an Easy-Form 80-ton press brake with a Kuka industrial robot to automate the bending of parts from 100 x 100 mm up to 1600 x 1200 mm – weighing up to 25 kg. The press brake offers a 2500 mm bend length, five-axis back-gauge and 2500 mm crowning table, providing the flexibility to accommodate a wide scope of applications. Easy-Cell features an adaptive bending system which ensures bend angle accuracy from the first part. LVD CADMAN software provides fast, simple offline programming of both press brake and robot.

Elsewhere on the stand, LVD’s Multifold 2111 panel bender demonstrated the fully automatic loading, folding and stacking of workpieces up to a maximum bend length of 2100 mm in thicknesses up to 2 mm cold rolled steel with bend heights up to 110 mm. A flexible and time-efficient alternative to die bending for many applications, Multifold requires only one set of tooling – a universal set of servo-operated up-and-down folding blades – to produce numerous profiles and various types of bends.

More information www.lvdgroup.com

Amada has introduced a hybrid line-up of servo-electric and hydraulic press brakes. The servo-electric EGB series is a premium product designed to meet high customer requirements. It aims to be highly productive and accurate while remaining user-friendly, even for less experienced operators. The new EGB-ARse bending cell is fully automatic, only requiring the operator to load workpiece materials and unload bent components.Such ahigh level of machine output increases company profits and simplifies the operator’s work.

Amada achieved this desirable outcome through various devices that support the operator during all work phases, from automatic offline programming to technological solutions that overcome traditional bending limitations.

The EGB-4010e is a compact machine, designed to produce small and complex components. The chair, front table, side shelves and new Amada Tool Setup Assistantprovide the operator with optimal support, ensuring that all necessary items are within reach.

Also new to Europe is Amada LIVLOTS software, which the company says empowers businesses to embrace a digitally transformed future.At the core of LIVLOTS is its ability to integrate and manage the entire production workflow, from order intake to final product delivery. This digitalisation streamlines operations, reduces inefficiencies and optimises resource allocation, paving the way for productivity gains and cost savings.

According to Amada, LIVLOTS represents a paradigm shift in sheet metal fabrication. By embracing Industry 4.0 principles, the company says this new software empowers customers to achieve operational excellence and redefine their competitive edge.

More information www.amada.eu