FACE TO FACE
LVD ’ s new Phoenix FL-6525 laser cutting system .
The bevel cutting head on the new Phoenix Fl-6525 machine .
Phoenix laser-cut parts on display at Blechexpo /
Schweisstec 2023 in Germany . was a distinct market for users with a slightly smaller footprint machine . The Phoenix FL-6525 machine therefore has a 6.5m long sheet size capacity , with a 2.5m width capacity with bevel cutting ( 2.1m ) feature . It means that manufacturers can buy a bevelling machine at a lower price point . Bevelling on the machine saves a secondary process , adding value to the part ,” explained Matt Fowles .
CADMAN-FLOW is a single point of entry to LVD ’ s complete software suite : software for Smart Drawing Importing ; laser cutting ; punching ; bending ; robotic bending and Manufacturing Execution Systems ( MES ). Via one entry , users can import and verify parts and assemblies ; create smarter CAM programs ; import production orders ; reduce tooling set-ups and retrieve production information from the touch controls . This improves the speed and flexibility of the process flow from a 3D file to machine code to final product .
“ At the core of CADMAN-FLOW is the new CADMAN-B v9 , the next generation of our CAM software . CADMAN-B v9 calculates bending solutions faster and more efficiently than ever before , even optimising and reducing tool changes to maximize throughput ,” said Matt Fowles . “ CADMAN-FLOW is the ‘ mission control ’ portal for all our CADMAN software products . Process flow , or ‘ art to part ’, is the big picture for manufacturers . Software underpins all our sheet metal processes , particularly in an environment of skills shortages . We are investing heavily in new software solutions as we see this as pivotal to what we do ,” he added .
New global initiatives
Sébastian van Neste , Michèle Dewulf and Sylvain Lefebvre , LVD ’ s third generation of owners .
“ LVD is a familyowned business managed by the second and third generations of the founding families , Lefebvre , Van Neste and Dewulf . We operate independently and can dynamically adapt our strategic direction , which gives us the agility to change and evolve rapidly . This is fundamental to our company culture and our future ,” Matt Fowles told ISMR .
This progressive culture has sparked various new initiatives at LVD which have helped to increase the Group ’ s international reach .
“ Post-COVID , we are very proud that , this year , we have got back to doing a lot more of our live events at our facility in Belgium . We are also exhibiting at more trade shows such as FABTECH Chicago ; MTA Hanoi ; LAMIERA and Blechexpo / Schweisstec . Our Experience Centres around the world are also doing well ,” said Matt Fowles .
“ We are very happy with the success of our Innovation Tour ( a 40-ft truck toured the United States over two years , bringing LVD technology directly to customers ). We received valuable feedback from customers who were pleased that staff in their shops could interact directly with our technology , rather than just managers seeing it at trade shows . We used social media marketing to promote the tour . It ' s about being flexible and adapting to local market characteristics .
So , for example , we have also run meetings such as ‘ Tech Events ’ hosted by our customers who are using LVD technology ,” he continued .
This also includes live events . In February , LVD ’ s XXL two-day event saw over 60 customers take a customer visit tour through Belgium and The Netherlands , showcasing the capabilities of LVD XXL technology in live action . From 20-22 June 2023 , LVD also hosted a new edition of its International Tech days , bringing together representatives of over 100 companies from 19 countries to its Experience Centre in Wevelgem , Belgium . With training sessions , machine demonstrations and customer visits , it was a celebration of innovation and collaboration .
The Group also ramped up its digital marketing presence in response to COVID-19 lockdowns . It ran 109 webinars over 18 months in 13 topics and three languages . This resulted in over 5000 new registrations and 2700 attendees .
High-mix production and increasing part complexity mean smarter software
Markets and trends
“ Business has been good this year , although we have , of course , been affected by global events such as interest rate hikes ; inflation ; the crisis in Ukraine etc . Luckily , manufacturing business confidence is still high and order intake has been very healthy for us . Emerging new markets , such as Vietnam , are doing very well and we have been at exhibitions there this year ( in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi ). We also ran a customer Tech Day in Vietnam ,” highlighted Matt Fowles .
22 | ismr . net | ISMR November 2023