FEATURE ON PROFILING

Partnership Powered by Innovation: Schuhmacher Metalltechnik

Since 2007, Schuhmacher Metalltechnik and LVD have worked side by side to optimise performance on the shop floor. Beginning with LVD press brakes, the co-operation has evolved into a journey of transformation, including two Taurus 24-m laser cutting machines and an Ulti-Form robotic bending system.

As a trusted name in sheet metal fabrication, Schuhmacher Metalltechnik offers end-to-end expertise, from concept development to full-scale series production. A renowned neighbour and key customer is Liebherr, a global manufacturer of construction machinery, cranes, and industrial equipment.

“We’re a family-owned company, founded in 1953, with over 70 years of experience in sheet metal processing,” says Stefan Zimmermann, managing director of Schuhmacher Metalltechnik. “As a subcontractor processing metal blanks from 1 to 200 mm thick, we combine expert advice, efficient execution and high-tech production.” 

In 2022, Schuhmacher Metalltechnik took a bold step forward with the Taurus FL, a fibre laser cutting system designed for big ambitions. The system features a cutting length of 24 m and processes sheets up to 3.3 m wide and 30 mm thick with ease. No more time-consuming repositioning, just pure efficiency at scale. One of the Taurus’ key advantages is its bevel cutting capability.

“With the Taurus, we can integrate weld seam preparation quickly and precisely during cutting,” states Zimmermann.

This feature delivers a major competitive advantage: secondary steps are eliminated and automation takes over. The impact was so significant that the company ordered a second Taurus shortly after, doubling capacity and unlocking new levels of flexibility.

To tackle the shortage of skilled labour and optimise production, Schuhmacher has also invested in a robotic bending cell. Powered by the CADMAN®-SIM software, Ulti-Form automates programming and opens doors to new possibilities.

More information www.lvdgroup.com

Fabricator Transitions From CO2 To Fibre Laser With BLM

Helping to position Bell Steel Fabrications, Cricklade, for its next phase of growth is an 8 kW BLM LS7 fibre laser profiling centre, replacing a decade-old CO2 laser cutter. The investment supports the fabricator’s diverse customer base, including its specialist production of bespoke stainless steel exhaust systems for classic cars, which accounts for around 40% of turnover.

Established in 1977, Bell Steel Fabrications has grown into a 21-employee business supplying customers in the UK and overseas. Managing director Matthew Bell first encountered BLM Group at the MACH 2010 exhibition, leading to the purchase of an Elect 80 electric tube bender that has delivered reliable performance and strong aftersales support ever since.

“When the time came to replace our flat-bed laser, BLM was the natural choice,” says Bell. “We assessed three suppliers but felt BLM offered the best combination of quality and value.”

Installed in March 2026, the LS7 delivers reductions in operating costs compared with the previous CO2 machine. Bell estimates annual electricity and gas savings of around £20,000, while benefiting from faster processing, lower maintenance requirements and greater energy efficiency.

The machine processes mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium components for applications ranging from classic vehicle parts and architectural metalwork to structural fabrications and industrial equipment. Features including fly-cut technology, active piercing, automatic focus adjustment and automatic nozzle changing improve productivity, particularly for the company’s high mix of small-batch and prototype work.

Although Bell Steel Fabrications has not yet automated material handling, the LS7 can be integrated with BLM storage and handling systems as production demands grow. The investment provides greater productivity, flexibility and future capacity, strengthening the company’s position as a value-focused engineering partner for subcontract manufacturing.

More information www.blmgroup.com

BodorGenius Third-Fen 10 kW-Class Laser Head Unveiled

Bodor Laser has launched its BodorGenius third-generation 10 kW-class laser head, a major in-house development designed to deliver higher precision, greater reliability and improved productivity in high-power laser cutting applications.

As the core component of a laser cutting system, the laser head has a direct impact on cutting quality, machine stability and long-term operating costs. Developed to meet growing demand for high-volume, high-intensity metal processing, the new design addresses many of the limitations associated with conventional laser heads, including contamination, accuracy drift and maintenance requirements.

A key feature is an upgraded sealing system incorporating a dual-layer drawer-style structure and twin protective lens barriers. The design prevents dust, smoke, oil and metal debris from entering the optical path, while improving fault tolerance by protecting critical components even if the outer lens is damaged. The result is longer component life, lower maintenance costs and greater process reliability.

Bodor has also redesigned the laser head’s internal architecture by separating the clean optical chamber from the transmission structure, reducing wear, contamination and accuracy loss. Following more than 1000 hours of extreme-condition testing, the design maintained stable cutting performance with no internal debris generation.

To improve reliability, the laser head undergoes extensive dynamic vibration testing, simulating thousands of kilometres of transportation and more than 15,000 high-frequency vibration cycles before shipment. An integrated intelligent safety system continuously monitors operating conditions, providing early warnings to help prevent abnormal machine operation.

The new laser head also benefits from an industrial ultrasonic three-stage cleaning process during manufacture, ensuring maximum optical cleanliness from the outset.

The launch reflects Bodor Laser’s continued investment in proprietary laser technology and reinforces its commitment to advancing the performance, precision and reliability of high-power laser cutting systems.More information www.bodor.com

Trumpf to show most productive and flexible tube laser

The Tube 2026 trade show in Düsseldorf (13-17 April) will see Trumpf present its most productive and flexible laser tube cutting machine to date. Delivering 9 kW of laser power and using nitrogen as its cutting gas, the new TruLaser Tube 7000 processes tubes from 12 to 290 mm in diameter, supported by an extended outer circle.

For 8 mm thick mild steel, Trumpf reports productivity increases of up to 30% and feed rate gains of up to 150%, enabling higher throughput and lower cost per part. The machine also delivers greater flexibility, accommodating larger diameters and increased wall thicknesses.

“Flexibility and productivity are paramount in today’s laser tube processing,” says Trumpfproduct manager Lucas Stix. “Users demand maximum speed and precision for small diameters, while also requiring the ability to process large tubes with thick walls. The TruLaser Tube 7000 brings these capabilities together in a single system.”

With an outer circle of 290 mm, the machine can process square tubes up to 203.2 x 203.2 mm, round tubes up to 273 mm in diameter and rectangular profiles up to 254 mm. Smaller tubes from 12 mm are cut quickly and precisely.

Notably, Trumpf has enhanced its ScanLine function with the new Quality Pilot, which automatically determines when and how often material measurements are required. This reduces unnecessary cycles and saves time. In addition, ObserveLine Comfort checks whether scrap has been fully removed, improving process reliability and reducing manual rework, while ObserveLine Edge enables efficient processing of pre-punched tubes.

Integrated digital services, including condition monitoring, provide real-time analysis and early fault detection. With automated loading via the LoadMaster Tube and seamless smart factory integration, the TruLaser Tube 7000 supports efficient, future-ready production.

More information www.trumpf.com

Plasma Cutters Feature Novel Arc-Starting Mechanism

Thermal Dynamics, an ESAB brand, has unveiled its Cutmaster X 90 and Cutmaster X 110, the first two units in its next-generation of heavy-industrial manual plasma cutting systems. A new arc-starting mechanism, which has no moving parts, initiates the arc within a few thousandths of a second after establishing airflow.

An all-new consumables design also allows users to replace only components that are wearing out, further improving the functionality, reliability and arc-starting capability of the consumable set. Furthermore, the new 1TorchFLEX features an articulating head that can flex from 30° to 90°(and then lock in place) to improve joint access for cutting and gouging (consumables for cutting and gouging are included). 

“The Cutmaster X arc-starting mechanism represents the biggest innovation in plasma cutting in decades,” says Kris Scherm, global product manager at ESAB. “Starting the arc in a few thousandths of a second improves cutting performance, and users rank fast arc starts and steady cutting power among their most requested features. Consumables life is also high on their list, and our new cutting tip, cup and cap design will allow users to keep more money in their pockets.” 

The Cutmaster X 90 (90 A at >50% duty cycle) has a rated pierce and cut capacity of 22.2 mm and a 44.5 mm sever capability, whilethe Cutmaster X 110 (110 A at >50% duty cycle) has a rated pierce and cut capacity of 25.4 mm and a 50.8 mm sever capability. The units weigh approximately 27.2 kg and automatically connect to 200-600V single- or three-phase primary power without manual linking. A new industrial housing protects the unit in rugged environments, and a large, crystal-clear digital display with intuitive menus makes operation and training easy.

More information www.easb.com