FACE TO FACE
The V342 new entry-level laser cutting machine, with classic shuttle-bed system, on Voortman’ s stand at Blechexpo / Schweisstec.
L-R: Thomas Krone( Voortman’ s business development and marketing director) and Stef Rohaan( Voortman’ s product manager for plate) at Blechexpo / Schweisstec.
A STEEL EVOLUTION
Thomas Krone( Voortman’ s business development and marketing director) and Stef Rohaan( Voortman’ s product manager for plate) discussed the company’ s latest innovations, global market strategy and view of the future with ISMR at the Blechexpo / Schweisstec trade show.
“ Voortman is transforming into a solutions partner, with an increased focus on software, machinery and service for its customers in steel processing industries.”
Voortman manufactures CNC steelprocessing machinery with integrated business software solutions that automate and optimise production processes. From a humble chicken shed in the Netherlands in 1968, the family company has evolved into a global manufacturer of CNC steel processing machinery and software solutions, catering to diverse industry sectors.
At FABTECH( North America’ s largest event for metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing) in Chicago( September 2025), Voortman demonstrated its V353( high-speed plate laser for flexible cutting), V807( for robotic profile cutting) and its MO Compact( for pipe cutting). At Schweißen & Schneiden( Essen, Germany) in September, Voortman presented a full suite of automation solutions. It also held live demonstrations of its Fabricator( an automated system for fitting and full welding), LogicSteel XR( an extended reality tool for visualising and verifying welds during quality control) and the V310( its most complete plateprocessing machine for cutting and drilling).
In October 2025, Voortman stormed into the Blechexpo / Schweisstec trade show in Germany to showcase its latest machinery, software and service solutions, including the intriguing use of AI to increase its customers’ productivity. Thomas Krone( Voortman’ s business development and marketing director) and Stef Rohaan( Voortman’ s product manager for plate) shared the company’ s latest innovations, global market strategy and view of the future with ISMR at the trade show.
Voortman’ s stand at Blechexpo / Schweisstec.
Strategic investments
Voortman has made some significant technology, engineering and facility investments over the past few years.
“ We have grown hugely over the last five years that I have been with the company. We built a new Engineering Centre building in May 2023, at our headquarters at Rijssen( the Netherlands) for 300 engineers. We also expanded our R & D facility there. Our engineering workforce has therefore substantially increased and we have introduced a lot of new products into the market as a result,” Stef Rohaan, Voortman’ s product manager for plate, told ISMR.
“ We launched the V353 laser-cutting machine last year to process large-format metal sheet. Our customers are typically processing thicker and larger plates. Laser has moved into fabricators’ material specifications.
Our R & D Centre can support customers by test cutting their materials and offering services like parameter optimisation etc. We have already installed the first V353 machines,
20 | ismr. net | ISMR December 2025 / January 2026