FACE TO FACE
Mazak ’ s iConnect service for customers .
Market trends and opportunities
“ There have been a lot of changes in recent years in laser cutting . I am seeing continuous innovations in fibre laser technology . I think the greatest opportunities lie in continuously improving our laser processing technologies and increasing their power , which leads to expanded applications for this technology . I can see fibre laser increasingly cutting thicker materials and replacing other cutting technologies , such as plasma cutting . There will always be a place for machining centres , but I also see laser sitting alongside some of these machines in the future ,” outlined Gaetano Lo Guzzo .
“ High speeds will always be required in this very competitive industry , so we continue to work on improvements in our laser cutting heads , nozzles , cutting strategies etc . We are also researching laser cutting with different assist gases and different gas mixes to improve machine performance , gas consumption and cut quality . The gas mix also offers other possibilities such as a wider
Machine control at EuroBLECH 2024 . range of applications . For high-power cutting of medium-thickness mild steel materials , I see the use of more and more mixed-gas technology for greater machine performance and speed . Software underpins all of this , of course . Our CNC software has become more interactive , over the years , with more flexible programming options ,” he added .
He highlighted the increasing competition that he is seeing from Asian manufacturers of fibre-laser cutting systems .
“ If we compare today ’ s market for lasercutting to markets ten years ago , the market is now perhaps three to four times larger . That indicates significant growth and the market has attracted a lot of new players . Fibre laser technology has really been a game-changer in the laser market over the last ten years ; it is now a mature technology with a huge range of applications ,” he explained .
“ The general economy in Europe is not great , but we expect to see a market rebound in early 2025 . We are hoping that European markets will stabilise at the end of the year and start improving at the beginning of next year ,” he continued .
In 2022 , Mazak opened its European Technology Centre for Laser in Milan , Italy . The facility features a large showroom where a selection of the company ’ s laser-cutting machines are in operation ; a Clean Room , for maintenance operations on optical components such as cutting heads ; and other technological solutions for laser cutting . The showroom also includes a nitrogen generator that , with a gas mixer , allows Mazak ’ s engineers to develop new cutting technologies and processes . A CAD \ CAM corner demonstrates Mazak software technology .
“ It showcases a range of laser cutting systems , including automation and software technologies around the laser . It also offers
service , maintenance and support to our customers , with engineering , sales and marketing teams . It hosts a lot of visitors every week from around Europe and runs lots of private events . Customers bring their engineering teams to see our latest technologies there ,” confirmed Lo Guzzo .
An eye on sustainability
Mazak has two key environmental objectives : to reduce its own carbon footprint by 50 % and to make its machines four times more efficient than their 2010 machine equivalents by 2030 .
E-saving dashboards and digital services on its machines help owners to measure energy usage and reduce their CO₂ impact .
“ In terms of sustainability , Mazak started this process in 2007 under the slogan ‘ Go Green ’. Customers are beginning to ask us to provide carbon footprint information on our machines , and I expect these requests to increase in the future ,” highlighted Lo Guzzo . Approximately 80 % of the CO₂ emitted during a machine ’ s product life cycle is from its usage . Supporting its customers towards reducing their scope-two emissions is an impactful way for Mazak to play its part in the global race to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
“ The need for sustainability is well recognised in Europe . Italy has been offering Industry-4.0 incentives to manufacturers for the last 4-5 years . Its new round of incentives , which started this July , is for Industry-5.0 technologies . These mainly relate to reducing emissions and being more environmentally conscious ,” concluded Lo Guzzo . n
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