As well as taking “a major step forward” with technology geared towards helping sheet-metal manufacturers implement Industry 4.0 in its latest version, Radan will now be issuing two new releases a year. “We’re aiming to get the very latest developments to customers as quickly as possible,” says Radan’s product manager Olaf Körner. “Starting with Radan 2018 R1, customers needn’t ever be working with software that is more than six months old.”

The latest release includes a number of new and enhanced functionality items which focus specifically on the “engineering of parts” processes. To explain further, developers are now working on separating Radan into two distinct aspects: traditionally creating NC code to drive CNC machines, and “engineering of parts”.
“Radan isn’t just a CAM system anymore; it plays an important role in ensuring sheet metal manufacturers are best placed to run with Industry 4.0,” says Körner.
An example of this can be seen with Radmanager. The system now accepts feedback from the shop floor regarding the cutting progress. “This improved connection between the shop floor and logistics operations means the stock management and order processing functions can immediately update inventory control.”
Also enhanced is Radquote, which now looks at all factors that impact on how much it costs to bend a part, such as how many bends are required, how many turns or flips the operation needs, and whether it requires a second operator. In addition, Radquote calculates the cost of an entire 3D assembly, rather than just individual parts.
For further information www.radan.com

Alpha Manufacturing, one of the UK’s largest precision sheet metal fabricators, has ordered a TruPunch 5000 CNC punching centre from Trumpf, which complements the acquisition last year of a Trumpf TruLaser 3030 CNC fibre laser profiling centre, and helps keep the company on track to achieve its ‘2020 Vision’ – a five-year plan to double turnover by 2020.

Last year, Alpha installed a STOPA automated materials handling and storage system, to which the company linked its new Trumpf TruLaser 3030. In the coming 18-months, the company intends to extend the STOPA by 5-10 bays, when it will be possible to fully integrate the TruPunch 5000.
“The TruPunch 5000 replaces an automated machine from another supplier and gives us far greater capacity – I estimate that it is 100% quicker,” says operations director Paul Clews.
Trumpf‘s TruPunch 5000 features backlash-free drives for high axis acceleration, while the high rotational speed of the C axis enables fast tapping, as well as the productive processing of complex contours. Thanks to the hydraulic drive it is possible to punch at up to 1600 strokes per minute and mark parts at 2800 strokes per minute.
“This investment is a clear indication of the direction in which the company will be heading in the coming years,” concludes Clews. “In fact, we have taken on three really big customers in the past few months, bringing orders that represent around £3 million per annum. Together with the greater efficiency and capacity afforded by our new Trumpf machines, we remain on track to double turnover by 2020.”
For further information www.uk.trumpf.com

Amada has launched the ENSIS-3015 AJ fibre CNC laser cutting machine featuring a 3 kW source, already selling two into the UK market. The first has been bought by Bristol-based LW Jenkins Ltd, a specialist in fine-detail sheet metal solutions for the electronics industry.

At 3 kW, the machine offers the industry’s largest single-diode module size. Unlike other machines, there is no diode module beam combiner, thus improving reliability and increasing machine uptime.
Aside from the large, single-diode module, there are many more advancements in the 3 kW ENSIS. Firstly, Amada’s patented ENSIS technology is capable of changing the laser beam mode, not just the focal spot size and focus position. This results in the optimum beam control for both thin and thick sheet processing. The machine also offers single-lens processing for all materials and thicknesses, and features a large-capacity nozzle changer to cover the full range automatically.
Importantly, the machine is capable of cutting up to 25 mm thick mild steel, which is equivalent to the performance levels of a standard 6 kW fibre laser, but uses just half the power to do the same job. With energy prices proving a major overhead for profiling and fabrication shops, this presents the opportunity to make significant savings.
Among further new features is a development of ENSIS technology that provides a high-speed pierce in 20 mm mild steel, and faster cutting than a 4 kW fibre laser. This performance is achieved by instantaneously changing the beam mode between pierce and cut. For piercing materials at the thicker end of the material spectrum, oil-shot functionality is available for added reliability.
For further information www.amada.co.uk