FACE TO FACE
An eye on bending
LVD ’ s Ulti-Form robotic bending system handles small batch and long production runs , designed for high productivity and consistent bending accuracy . Ulti-Form offers a fast “ art-topart ” process .
“ CADMAN-B software automatically calculates the bend program and imports bending data to the robot software , CADMAN-SIM – no robot teaching is required . SIM automatically calculates gripper positions , generating a collision-free path for the robot , and relays the information back to B , enabling the operator to work with a single program ,” said LVD .
“ Our auto-adapting gripper accommodates various part geometries , automatically adjusting to the workpiece size . Its smart design saves investment in different grippers and gripper changeover time ,” it added .
The new Dyna-Press 60 / 20 electric drive press brake offers 60 tons of pressing force and two metres of bending length for the most capacity of any Dyna-Press machine . It bends small to medium-sized parts at high bending speeds of 25mm / s , producing more parts per hour at a lower cost per part . This model closes the gap between LVD ’ s electric-drive and hydraulic press brakes , which start at 80 tons .
Above : The new Dyna-Press 60 / 20 electric-drive press brake with 60 tons of pressing force and 2m bending length .
ISMR : There has been an increased move towards sustainability in manufacturing . How would you characterise your sustainability strategy ?
Bent sheet-metal parts .
of parts and lower power consumption , that means more sustainable solutions . It ’ s not just about energy usage but using energy only when it is needed .
Throughput efficiency is also key in this equation . Over the last few years , the actual efficiency gain that you can make with power consumption on a fibre laser is better than previously thought . It brings us back to environmental awareness . There are many different elements to the sustainability equation .
Sustainability is our priority . Through advanced , digitally connected machinery , we help support economic sustainability for our customers . Programmes like our NexGen upgrade extend the useful life of our LVD press brakes , delivering as much as a 50 percent increase in machine productivity . In our production facilities , we promote the reduction of waste and encourage environmentallysound practices which include the use of solar panels ; the application of water-based paint and the reduction of electricity , water and heating oil by 30-50 per cent .
ISMR : What are your views on the business climate for sheetmetal professionals today ? What about next year ?
Asian markets . Australia , New Zealand and India have also been strong markets for us . Business has been very good in general . Everyone has been selling a lot of machines . However , the availability of parts and supplychain issues have also been a challenge for everyone . Our purchasing and engineering teams have done a great job in finding alternatives and staying dynamic , so that we can still deliver products .
In terms of the future outlook , we need to assess overall response at exhibitions like EuroBLECH . The footfall and enthusiasm levels have been very good for the first half-day of this show . Looking forward , we can see a positive outlook for the New Year . However , what will happen on energy costs , the Ukraine crisis and inflation is more difficult to gauge . All the national banks are trying to apply brakes to keep inflation under control . Despite these headwinds , however , the manufacturing industry in general has remained quite levelheaded .
MF : Companies must adapt and move with the times as things happen and respond to market forces . People are very focused on energy efficiency these days . If a user can see a higher machine throughput , with a wider mix
MF : Business has been very good for us this year . We have seen excellent growth from western European and American markets ; not so much from
Robotic bending with Ulti-Form .