INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bystronic wins the Swiss Technology Award

With its new ‘Intelligent Cutting Process’ (ICP) autonomy kit, Bystronic has won the Swiss Technology Award in the ‘Industry Innovation’ category. Numerous projects entered the competition but Bystronic came out on top with its autonomous laser cutting machine.

The Swiss Technology Award is Switzerland’s highest recognition for innovation and technology. Bystronic says that its innovative prowess is behind the award, where the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) has been recognised to solve customer problems.

The aim is to optimise and automate the cutting process and thus address key challenges in the metalworking market. These challenges include high personnel costs. Automating the programming, set-up and monitoring of the laser cutting machine significantly reduces personnel costs, as the parts no longer require reworking. 

Another challenge is high production costs. Here, the laser cutting machine minimises raw material consumption, waste and post-processing steps, all of which support cost savings. With regard to the shortage of skilled workers, automation of the cutting process reduces the need for highly qualified workers.

With this solution, Bystronic says it helps customers to produce more sustainably, efficiently and cost-effectively. They also benefit ecologically and economically thanks to a short amortisation period for the investment.

“With our new ICP feature we offer a semi-autonomous machine and have successfully established the first applications in the market,” says Andreas Lüdi, deputy head of pre-development. “To increase further the machine’s degree of autonomy, we’re working on controlling other process parameters in addition to speed. In the near future, we’ll make the product ready for series production.”

The Swiss Technology Award supports and promotes this culture of innovation. Every year, outstanding technology-based innovations and developments from start-ups, universities and established companies are honoured in three categories.

More information www.bystronic.com

Trumpf machine helps transform Bernabéu

Real Madrid is one of the world’s most successful football teams – and a visit to the club’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is a dream come true for many fans. The spectacular facade of the revamped Bernabéu contains thousands of stainless steel louvres, over half of which were fabricated by Lasercor with millimetre precision using a Trumpf TruLaser 5030 Fiber laser cutter. What made the task particularly challenging was that every louvre is different.

Lasercor’s 16,000 m² production site is home to 23 Trumpf machines, from a TruBend 5130 press brake and TruLaser 5030 Fiber laser cutter to a TruLaser Weld 5000 automated laser welding cell and TruMark Station 7000 laser marking system. The company employs 170 people and generate annual turnover in the region of €30m.

Using Trumpf machines, Lasercor has cut, bent, engraved and welded parts of all shapes and sizes for some 8000 customers. And now that list includes the world-famous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where the new roof alone required 8880 metal louvres, with a whole lot more needed for the facade.

The initial specifications stated that all – or at least many – of the louvres would be identical. But during the cutting process, it emerged that each louvre was slightly different, often by a matter of millimetres. And each one had to slot into position perfectly. There were also six different surfaces that were designed to reflect light in different ways.

Lasercor used a TruLaser 5030 Fiber laser cutter with a 12 kW power to precision-cut 4400 louvres, as well as parts for the north and east facades. The company spent 18 months working on the project. However, Lasercor worked so fast it was even able to support some other fabricators involved in the project.

“If one machine isn’t up to the job, then we look for another one; if the material isn’t good enough, we find a better option,” says Lasercor CEO Julián Jiménez Barroso. “None of our machines are more than four years old and we never stop investing.”

More information www.trumpf.com

Seco transforms used carbide recycling

Seco says it is transforming carbide tool recycling with a new self-service recycling portlet, making the process simple, transparent and efficient. The digitalised buy-back programme enables customers to return used carbide tools and contribute to a circular economy while benefiting from a rewarding recycling experience. This new web-based service, accessible through customers’ My Pages accounts, offers a streamlined approach where users can request quotes for their used carbide tools, order free recycling containers, book shipments, track orders, monitor CO₂ savings and receive a sustainability certificate.

More information www.secotools.com

ITC Tooling System Partner Rebrands

As a global specialist in precision tooling systems, Big Daishowa is accelerating innovation
and operational efficiency via a strategic reorganisation across its European operations.
With products available in the UK through technical partner Industrial Tooling Corporation
(ITC), the initiative includes a rebranding to Big Daishowa Europe (previously Big Kaiser). The
R&D centre in Ruemlang, Switzerland, will become the global centre of excellence for the
Big Daishowa Group, while boring tool production will transfer to Japan. By 2026, a new
European headquarters and logistics centre will open in Germany.
More information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

JPB Système Opens Poland Plant

Aerospace manufacturer JPB Système is marking 30 years of business as it opens a 4000 m²
manufacturing facility in Poland. The new facility will increase the company’s manufacturing
capacity by over 60%, allowing it to meeting growing aircraft industry demand from the
region while paving the way for future diversification and innovation.
Located near Rzeszow Airport, close to major aircraft suppliers and JPB Système partners
like Pratt & Whitney and MTU Aero Engines, the new facility is equipped with advanced
milling machines to enhance production efficiency, along with state-of-the-art inspection
and marking technology to ensure stringent quality control. In addition, JPB Système is
intensifying efforts to digitalise its operations as part of a broader sustainability strategy.
More information www.jpb-systeme.com