FACE TO FACE
SHAPING PROCESS FLOWS
A 20kW Phoenix FL-3015 fibre lasercutting machine at EuroBLECH .
“ LVD displayed a Smart Factory cell as well as its latest laser-cutting ; bending and combination equipment plus software and automation at EuroBLECH 2022 in Hanover , Germany .”
ISMR sat down with Matthew Fowles , Group Marketing Director , LVD , to discuss LVD ’ s latest product launches , new strategic acquisitions and its focus on automation and smart manufacturing .
Matt Fowles , Group Marketing Director , LVD .
As a leading manufacturer of sheetmetalworking , LVD offers sheetmetalworking equipment including Industry 4.0-ready laser-cutting systems , punch presses , press brakes , guillotine shears and automation systems , integrated to and supported by its CADMAN ® software suite . It operates production facilities in Belgium ; U . S .; France ; Italy ; Slovakia and China , with dedicated offices and direct representation in more than 47 countries .
The Belgian manufacturer placed the focus squarely on smart manufacturing , showcasing interconnected sheet-metal fabrication processes at this October ’ s EuroBLECH exhibition in Hanover , Germany . Adopting the theme of ‘ Shaping Flows ’, it displayed a Smart Factory cell as well as its latest lasercutting ; bending and combination equipment plus software and automation . Its aim was to
LVD stand at EuroBLECH 2022 in Hanover . demonstrate flexible machinery and connected processes for better workflow and a smarter , more productive workshop .
Established in 1952 , the third-generation , family-owned company has a dynamic mindset and a longer term , strategic view of markets and future developments . ISMR sat down with Matthew Fowles , Group Marketing Director , LVD , at the exhibition to discuss LVD ’ s latest product launches , new strategic acquisitions and its focus on automation and smart manufacturing .
ISMR : You have a huge , dynamic booth at this year ’ s EuroBLECH exhibition . What are you promoting in Hanover this year ?
Matt Fowles ( MF ): The theme we have adopted at EuroBLECH is ‘ Shaping Flows ’. What does this mean ? All the technologies that we provide aim to help people shape their process flows from our CADMAN software to the art-to-part process , impacting 90 % of the process that is not related to actual machine time . So our new theme , and all the technology that we are showing here at EuroBLECH , is about shaping process flows .
We are showing two automated bending cells ( Dyna-Cell and Ulti-Form ) on our booth . We are also launching the world premiere of a new Strippit Punch-Laser ( PL ) turretbased combination machine . We are the only company that can offer either a turret-based , punch-laser combination machine or a singlehead-based combination machine . It ’ s all about value-added processing and how much value you can put into the part in one process .
We are also showing a 20kW Phoenix FL-3015 fibre laser-cutting machine that can cut thicker materials ( up to 40mm ) around 2.5 times faster than 10kW fibre laser . It pierces and cuts thick materials at rates faster than most plasma-cutting systems . It may not be the highest power laser cutter here at EuroBLECH but , with the high cost of energy these days , customers need to look at the most efficient solution for the process and output versus capital cost to obtain efficient part costs .
At our XXL corner , we are highlighting XXL technology like our Taurus fibre laser-cutting machine , our Synchro-Form bending system for profiles and our TL 8525 XXL Tube Laser ( processing tube of up to 250mm ). On the other side of the stand , we focus on the journey to a smarter future ( Industry 4.0 and the Smart Factory ). It shows users how they can start , and start simply , by showcasing a cost-effective Smart Factory featuring our fibre laser-cutting systems and the Dyna-Cell bending system , as well as software .
CADMAN-SIM ( our automated programming solution for robotised press brakes ) is getting a lot of attention because users cannot even find labour ( let alone skilled labour ) these days . We not only have to make our machines more capable , but also more user friendly ( e . g . icondriven etc .) for all different skill levels .