FACE TO FACE
AMB Picot ’ s rolling technology .
The EASYFLAT Rapide straightener . accuracy and simplicity of maintenance . It is equipped with a touch-screen industrial PC controller and the latest version ( V4 ) of the Easyroll © rolling assistance software .
Easyroll software
The EasyRoll package contains five main modules that help the user learn to use the machine very quickly via an ergonomic interface .
■ Touchscreen console , with CNC electronic control and a roller control interface developed by Picot .
■ Manual mode with display of rollbending diameter .
■ Automatic / program mode .
■ Material calibration mode for precise calculation of bending dimensions .
■ Program generation .
■ Capacity checking module .
■ Module to calculate roll inclination / cone forming .
■ Maintenance ( online option ).
The consoles are designed for plug & play operation so that no action is required on the machine .
The CNC rolling assistant , EasyRoll , includes five major modules that enable the user to become very easily familiar with the Picot three-roll bending machine through an ergonomic interface . This means intuitive and efficient rolling that will accommodate both experienced and unexperienced users . Our new range handles 1-5mm material which ensures up to 80 % savings in energy consumption .
Version 4 of this patented software , launched in June 2022 , uses artificial intelligence to provide powerful assistance to the user by calculating any necessary corrections of the rolling program . This feature , based on the effectively measured rolled profile entered by the operator , automatically updates the program and fine-tunes the dedicated material database .
Easyroll is now fully integrated into all our machines ( from smallest to largest ). We are now working on the V4 model with AI ( which will be ready by the end of this year ). The new version V5 ( with more ergonomy and new program technology ) will be ready in the second quarter of next year .
At the FABTECH exhibition in Atlanta , USA , this year , we will showcase our digitalisation capabilities by operating a roll-bending machine , based at our dealer ’ s showroom , from our booth at FABTECH .
ISMR : What other recent investments have you made ? What is your strategy for the future ?
GC : We strengthened the team recently with a new technical manager , a young engineer , who has now come on board . We have also increased our office space and invested around 800,000 euros in new machine tools for our own production ( turning , punching and straightening machines ).
The machine software can be controlled through a tablet .
This investment is also linked to an exciting new cooperative initiative for us . We formed a Joint Venture with Lisse to develop ‘ EASYFLAT ’ straightening machines . It is bringing its experience in straightening and flattening machines , while we contribute our experience in software development ; standards ; machine design , assembly and distribution .
In the next couple of years , we aim to own our own factory for EASYFLAT production . We believe that the straightening market will grow and has a lot of potential . There are two technologies : levelling ( the Advantage machine ) and straightening ( the Rapide machine ) from coil to address material deformations after laser cutting and before polishing etc . Large companies will increasingly need straighteners and levellers in a market where there are only a handful of major players .
We have resized the machines and used electric-drive technology to make them more energy-efficient . The straighteners can handle material thicknesses of 1-15mm ( 1.5m machine as standard ) and there are three machine sizes . They follow the same principle as the roll-bending machines , using lots of smaller rollers to flatten the
Grégory Conraud demonstrates the software at EuroBLECH 2022 .