FEATURE ON PROFILING

Cobots transform laser marking operations

Laser marking and engraving is critical for unique part identification (UID), compliance and branding. However, capacity constraints and labour shortage issues can create serious throughput challenges. To increase output and improve profit per part, forward-thinking manufacturers are transforming their laser marking operations with advanced robotic machine tending. Foba Laser Marking + Engraving now works with Flexxbotics and Universal Robots to help companies achieve high throughput and marking quality.

Laser marking is a critical stage of the product value stream in many manufacturing processes. Bottlenecks can cause serious delivery problems and mistakes can render the product unsellable. By introducing collaborative robot (cobot) automation with lean manufacturing principles, manufacturers can improve laser marking processes to maximise throughput, assure quality and reduce waste. 

“Connecting robotic machine tending with our Foba laser marking solution using Flexxbotics provides even greater ROI,” states Jeffrey Kniptash of Foba. “It enables autonomous process control to remove bottlenecks and deliver continuous operation.”

The solution can increase the machine-to-man ratio to 10:1 or more and run ‘lights out’ safely. Thus, manufacturers will benefit from additional capacity, high precision, optimal marking quality and improved profit margins, reports Foba Laser.

Flexxbotics includes communication with Foba’s integrated camera system for vision-based inspection, providing closed-loop feedback to the robot for autonomous process control. Foba’s three-stage laser marking process HELP (Holistic Enhanced Laser Process) – which includes part inspection prior to marking, automatic mark alignment and subsequent marking validation – co-ordinates with the robot’s actions. Flexxbotics utilises either the Intelligent Mark Positioning (IMP) or Point & Shoot (P&S) capabilities in the Foba equipment for precise alignment of the laser marker on the customer’s product, along with vision-assisted workflows for accuracy.

More information www.fobalaser.com

Custom waterjet for luxury superyacht builder

A global specialist in yacht refit, restoration and custom build required a specialised waterjet cutting machine to bolster its UK production capabilities. Known for exacting quality standards, the company is renowned for ensuring every project is executed with the highest levels of craftsmanship and precision

After extensive market research and site visits to OEMs and end users, the customer chose Water Jet Sweden. With an array of over 100 machine configurations, each Water Jet Sweden machine is built to order. This ensures that the customer could be confident in receiving a machine tailored to its exact specifications.

The customer opted for the NCP40 model, a premium water-jet cutter which is suitable for both 2D and five-axis 3D cutting. Selecting the larger table option extended the working range to 4.2 m. This choice was driven by the redesigned NCP40 and NCP30 models, which now feature extended working ranges to accommodate the growing adoption of BevelJet60 and AlphaJet five-axis technology solutions. The extended range allows full 3 and 4 m working ranges, even at extreme cutting angles.

For the processing of thick plates, the customer opted for the 6000 bar cutting head. According to Water Jet Sweden, this technology package offers the fastest abrasive waterjet cutting in the industry, providing higher throughput while reducing the processing cost per unit length of cut. Despite the higher initial capital cost, this investment promised a short payback period, aligning with the customer’s need for efficient and cost-effective production.

The NCP40 machine will cut custom plates used in the overhaul and repair of yachts. These tasks range from cutting external structural pieces for the hull to creating decks and aesthetic finishing panels.

More information www.waterjetsweden.co.uk

Siemens and Prima Power in collaboration

Siemens and Prima Power, an Italy-headquartered manufacturer of sheet metal working machinery and 3D laser cutting technology, have announced the result of an intensified collaboration that the companies say will redefine standards in the automotive manufacturing industry. The collaboration has led to the integration of Siemens’ leading numerical control system, Sinumerik One, into the latest model of Prima Power’s flagship 3D laser cutter, Laser Next.


The Laser Next 1530/2130 is the first Prima Power 3D laser cutter to feature Sinumerik One. This collaboration leverages Siemens’ control and digitalisation systems and over 40 years of Prima Power expertise in laser technology for automotive applications. The new version of the Laser Next five-axis laser cutter incorporates technologies that improve dynamic performance and productivity thanks to the flexible and high-performance multi-core architecture of Sinumerik One in combination with Prima Power’s proprietary algorithms.


The digital twin of Sinumerik One – Create My Virtual Machine – was a key element in Prima Power’s digital transformation, helping the company’s R&D department to simulate and test workflows in a completely virtual environment. This technology made it possible to engineer and optimise the machine even before the real-life prototype was made available, with significant shortening of machine’s time to market.


The digital twin of the Laser Next enables the creation of an accurate digital replica: the entire process eliminates the need for physical machining on the shop floor for certain activities. Furthermore, in Sinumerik One, it is possible to enable collision avoidance functionalities even in complex scenarios, involving cutting machines integrated with robotic solution.

The machine’s compatibility and integration capability have also seen significant enhancement.

More information www.primapower.com

Amada hosts event for customer apprentices

Amada recently held a hugely successful exhibition for the apprentices of its customers in a showcase dedicated to the education of future engineers. Believed to be the first event of its type in the sheet metal sector, the exhibition took place at the company’s UK Technical Centre in Kidderminster. Hosting the event were Amada’s own apprentices, engaging on an equal level with the apprentices of customers to help them learn about the latest advances in sheet metal component manufacturing.

The informative, educational exhibition proved a roaring success, with a total of 85 visiting apprentices in attendance. One company brought all 10 of its apprentices, three of which only started two days before the event. The structure of the exhibition provided visitors with the opportunity to attend technical presentations, watch eye-catching machine demonstrations and participate in a Q&A session – all in an apprentice-led environment.

Laser cutters, press brakes, punching machines, laser-punch combination machines, automation, software and machine monitoring featured heavily, highlighting the complete Amada solution. Apprentices also received a tour of the company’s UK Technical Centre.

“The idea behind this innovative exhibition was to introduce young engineers to our technology as part of an educational and entertaining event,” says Amada UK’s managing director Paul Mansfield. “We felt that using our own apprentices as hosts would help their visiting peers feel more comfortable and promote better engagement. In turn, the event provided our apprentices with experience in speaking to customers, building confidence and pride in the brand they represent.”

Fun was high on the agenda. Visitors were able to ‘have a go’ at making a model biplane from mild steel on a state-of-the-art Amada laser cutting machine. They could also take part in a Batak machine competition.

More information www.amada.eu

New BLM laser cutter offers 20 kW power

EuroBlech 2024 in Hanover last month saw Italy-headquartered BLM Group present its LS7 sheet metal laser cutting system with a 20 kW power source and automatic warehouse for 24/7 continuous production. The new 20 kW LS7 retains all the features of the company’s lower power versions.

According to BLM, the LS7 is a compact, high-performance laser machine with a fast pallet-change time of just 9 seconds. Laser cutting head sensors and specific active tools serve to optimise the automatic cutting process and maximise energy efficiency. Thanks to its fibre source, the machine can process a wide variety of metals, including aluminium, brass, stainless steel, copper and mild steel.

The LS7’s gantry structure combines aluminium and polymer concrete elements to give strength and lightness to the machine, aiding acceleration beyond 2 g. BLM paid special

attention to ergonomics and ease-of-use, with the HMI and windowed door located next to the operator console, which allows access to the work area (with the machine off) for cleaning or maintenance operations.

At EuroBlech, the machine featured a gas mixer system that blends gases automatically to improve cutting quality and speed further. The system requires no special maintenance procedures or extra space for installation as it is fully integrated into the machine.

BLM’s LS7 not only occupies minimal floor space but can also feature various systems for sheet metal automation, such as loading/unloading or compact tower storage.

Other solutions on display at the show include the Lasertube LT7 for tube cutting and a five-axis 3D laser cutting cell for processing 3D metal profiles.

More information www.blmgroup.com