FOCUS ON CAD / CAM
ISMR : What are your views on the current global business climate for sheet metal professionals ?
Alma personnel demonstrate tube nesting software .
EM : There is currently a market slowdown and , in some countries , sheet metal manufacturers no longer receive government subsidies to buy machine-tool technologies which has had an impact on the market . Some large machine builders are losing business and the machine tool market is contracting at the moment .
However , we also believe that there are opportunities for manufacturers to optimise their existing equipment and increase their productivity by using CAD / CAM software . We are an independent company that supplies software to end users , and our software can help manufacturers to optimise production so that they can produce more with less . are completed by a set of modules centred on production management and control ( quotes , planning ) and integration into manufacturers ’ information systems . Its software products link CAD , ERP and workshops in the digital chain for sheet metalworking and machine welding , responding to the challenges of Industry 4.0 .
In parallel with the development of application software , it is also commercialising its cutting optimisation algorithms in the form of software components . ISMR sat down with Emmanuel Monnet , Alma ’ s CAD / CAM software department manager , to find out how these new innovations will benefit sheet metal manufacturers now and in the future .
ISMR : Please outline any recent successes or achievements for Alma .
EM : Despite a difficult economic backdrop , we have recorded significant growth since 2020 and our turnover is almost 20 million euros . Last year , we also reduced our carbon footprint by 9 %.
Over the last few years , we have also seen additional positive indicators such as employee satisfaction ( 90 % of our employees feel happy working at ALMA ). Alma was created as a cooperative company ( SCOP ) in 1979 . It is entirely owned by its employees . The cooperative status of the company has a huge influence on our corporate culture , which is based on values shared by all the employees : empowerment and accountability ; mutual trust and solidarity ; sharing of decisions and results ; the importance of doing a good job ; special attention paid to the quality of our customer relations etc .
Alma is also growing ; we are always innovating and creating new products . We have hired more people in various roles across the company ( R & D ; sales and marketing ; product development ; support ; services etc .) and will continue to do so . We have a leading position
in the shipyard market and continue to grow in this market . We have attracted new sheetmetal customers in North America and Europe and are working on new projects .
We have also signed several new contracts with machine-tool manufacturers for our tube software and see more opportunities and potential new projects in this area .
Cutting sequence with Nest & Cut .
Almacam Weld software .
ISMR : Please explain your strategic / technical focus or vision over the next few years .
EM : We wish to increase the number of resellers / distributors in different countries where we work . Our overarching aim is to make our customers lives easier by ensuring higher productivity , higher quality , time / cost savings and the ability to more efficiently nest parts for 2D / 3D and robotics operations .
We are a major CAD / CAM player in the market . Our vision for the next few years is based on several pillars :
1 . Environmental challenges . There are important ecological challenges to face over the next few years . As a sheet metal specialist , we have a role to play helping our customers to maximise their material usage , re-use offcuts , avoid waste and save material resources . We are
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