The recent IMTS 2026 exhibition in Chicago provided TYKMA Electrox with an opportunity to showcase four new laser marking systems, an updated large-format workstation and live automation demonstrations, highlighting the latest developments across its product portfolio. 

Making their show debuts were the Zetalase CK, Minilase Max, updated Minilase LBL and LaseNGo handheld mobile laser marking system. 

The Zetalase CK is a large-format workstation designed for flexible production and automation. Its spacious enclosure and pass-through openings accommodate long components, extrusions and conveyor systems. Optimised for Cerakote laser imaging, it comes with preconfigured laser settings and can be specified with fibre, MOPA, CO2, UV or picosecond laser sources. 

The compact Minilase Max offers an enlarged standard work area, with an optional 300 x 300 mm marking field through the MFSS configuration. Available with 30 and 60 W fibre lasers, it provides additional capacity for larger components and multi-part fixtures without requiring a full-size workstation. 

The updated Minilase LBL now features a standard 30 W MOPA fibre laser, offering greater marking and engraving flexibility. Relocated external connections also simplify cable management, while its compact footprint makes it suitable for production environments and mobile customisation applications. 

LaseNGo introduces handheld mobile laser marking, combining a cart-mounted MOPA laser platform with a portable scanning head. A contact-based marking nozzle and monitoring system maintain sealed surface contact, while integrated controls and status lighting give operators direct control. The system is designed for large components, assemblies and applications where moving the workpiece is impractical. 

TYKMA Electrox also presented an updated Zetalase XL, featuring redesigned cabinetry and larger side access doors. Equipped with a 100 W CO2 laser, the system featured in a live robotic automation demonstration at IMTS. 

More information www.permanentmarking.com

Lantek, a global specialist in software solutions for the sheet metal industry, has revealed a partnership with machinery manufacturer Tecoi to deliver a new robotic unloading and palletising system to improve manufacturing efficiency.

The new system is built on Tecoi’s CF modular cutting architecture for multi-head cutting processes and large-scale operations. Following cutting, a servo-automated crane equipped with liftable magnets transfers cut material to an intermediate zone, where robotic systems with adaptive gripping technology automatically collect and palletise parts according to Lantek’s CADCAM instructions.

The intelligence behind this operation is managed through Lantek Expert, which organises parts based on geometry and orientation to ensure only identical parts with matching angles are stacked together. This capability ensures stability and full traceability throughout downstream logistics.

This solution enables palletising to take place while cutting operations continue uninterrupted. Lantek says this reduces downtime and improves overall productivity compared with other systems where part handling requires pauses in production.

Thanks to its collaborative robot-based architecture, additional units can be added to work in synchronisation, accelerating the unloading and palletising process without compromising precision or traceability. Such flexibility allows the same technology to be adapted to both lower-demand facilities and high-throughput, large-scale operations.

For Lantek, this type of integration represents a step forward in the development of connected, automated manufacturing environments and workshops, supporting the industry’s transition towards smarter manufacturing.

Francisco Pérez, OEM channel director at Lantek, says: “The key factor here is that we don’t just connect machines, we connect intelligence. This collaboration with TECOI enables the software to act as the brain of the process, instructing each robot on what to do at any given moment. It clearly demonstrates how digitalisation can optimise workshop performance without adding complexity.”

More information www.lantek.com

Water Jet Sweden continues to demonstrate how advanced waterjet technology can help manufacturers respond to increasingly varied production demands. A Grand Twin system is soon to be delivered to a customer in the Nordics, showcasing a machine concept designed to offer high levels of flexibility, efficiency and reliability.

Featuring two separate X-beams with individual control systems, the Grand Twin configuration gives manufacturers the ability to manage different production requirements on the same machine platform.

One of the key advantages of the Grand Twin concept is the flexibility it offers in day-to-day production. Operators can cut and load at the same time, helping to improve workflow efficiency and reduce non-productive time. Alternatively, the full table area can be used when producing extra-large parts, allowing manufacturers to maximise the available cutting space when required.

For companies working with a wide range of materials, part sizes and batch requirements, this type of adaptability is increasingly important. Production schedules are rarely static, and manufacturers often need equipment that can switch between different priorities without compromising performance or machine utilisation.

The Grand Twin concept supports this by giving users more ways to configure production around their specific workload. Where throughput is the priority, simultaneous cutting and loading can help keep jobs moving. Where component size is the challenge, the entire table area can be used to accommodate larger parts.

This combination of workspace utilisation and process flexibility makes the concept particularly relevant for manufacturers producing large-format components, managing varied customer requirements, or looking to improve overall cutting efficiency.

For manufacturers considering how to increase capacity, improve production flexibility, or handle larger and more varied cutting requirements, the Grand Twin concept is a useful example of what is achievable with a tailored waterjet system.

More information www.waterjetsweden.com