FACE TO FACE
FEEDING THE FLOW
Michael Kron , Sales Director EMEA & Senior Vice President Market Division Northern Europe , Bystronic , outlined his views on sheet metal markets , automation technologies and Smart Factory trends to ISMR .
“ Bystronic ’ s focus is on automation of the complete material and data flow of the cutting and bending process chain .”
Bystronic is a leading global technology company in sheet metal processing . It has over 3,000 employees worldwide at over 40 sites and generated a net revenue of CHF 801 million in 2020 . Its wide portfolio includes laser cutting , tube processing , bending and automation products and services , as well as a range of software and Smart Factory solutions for the networked manufacturing environment . Its focus is on automation of the complete material and data flow of the cutting and bending process chain .
Bystronic ’ s operational headquarters are at Niederönz , Switzerland . Additional development and production locations are in Sulgen ( Switzerland ); Gotha ( Germany ); Cazzago San Martino and San Giuliano Milanese ( Italy ); Tianjin and Shenzhen ( China ); and Hoffman Estates ( USA ). It is represented by its own sales and service subsidiaries in more than 30 countries and by agents in numerous other countries .
Michael Kron , Sales Director EMEA & Senior Vice President Market Division Northern Europe , Bystronic , outlined his views on sheet metal markets , technologies and trends to ISMR .
ISMR : What are your views on the current global business climate for sheet metal professionals ? What about the climate in 2022 ?
MK : The market will clearly move towards digitalisation in our industry . Increased efficiency and quality , increased production speed and precision can only be achieved by automating manufacturing . In laser cutting machines , there is a trend towards more laser power which is why our R & D initiatives are also moving in this direction . Customers also want automation in the bending process . For all this , we need powerful software solutions that coordinate and optimise these processes . Digitalisation is , therefore , a powerful force in our industry .
Bystronic ’ s operational headquarters in Niederönz , Switzerland .
ISMR : How has the COVID-19 crisis affected your operations and which steps have you taken in response ?
MK : The pandemic also did not spare Bystronic . Luckily , we made the decision to keep all our employees and continued to work on all customer projects . The COVID-19 virus helped us to further drive digitalisation within our organisation ; we increased digital meetings and training in response . Our colleagues displayed admirable flexibility and commitment throughout this period .
Michael Kron .
ISMR : What is your strategic and technical focus for the company ?
MK : We are transitioning from a machine builder to a software company . Networking of individual production cells through to entire production leads to optimisation of the flow
The ByStar Fiber 3015 laser cutting system with the ByTower Compact .
22 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR December 2021 / January 2022