FACE TO FACE
Above and below : Examples of Produtech products .
( punching or laser cutting ), where the main forming and cutting process takes place .
During this working mode , the processed sheets must be moved from one operating machine to another to perform all required operations . Furthermore , the final product obtained from these forming operations must be manually discharged from the machines that produce it , separating it from the sheet metal scrap generated from forming the useful workpieces . Various human interventions are required , mainly to handle the sheet metal during the various work phases and during the picking up and unloading of finished parts and scrap . Alternatively , complex , expensive and bulky automated systems can replace manual labour .
All of this results in long processing times , high energy consumption , the use of considerable production space and expensive logistic interventions with numerous machines used for the different processes and consequently a strong financial commitment to purchase various machines and equipment . These are important industry challenges that we are confronting with new production methods that are designed to eliminate these hurdles .
By evaluating the factors related to the production process with sheet feeding , we have been designing and manufacturing machines for sheet metal processing
( punching and laser cutting ) that feed directly from coil for a long time , proposing a new production method that eliminates all activities relating to the preparation of sheet which are ancillary to the production of metal components . Our EffiCOIL coil-fed combined machine ( punching machine and laser ) is Produtech ’ s response to these challenges , which enables significant savings in labour ; space ; time ; raw materials and harmful emissions .
ISMR : Are there any products / technologies / services that you have released or are releasing this year that you would like to discuss ?
FM : Our technical team is working on a new project that will give even greater added value to current production . Aware of the numerous and important benefits of producing with coil-fed systems ,
we decided to analyse the main problem that hinders this production method , namely the difficulty of changing the material being processed by replacing a coil with another made of a different material . It is therefore a question of studying and designing systems that make coil changing fast , easy and automated , with the insertion of the material head directly in the production machines , all through an automatic CNC cycle .
We are examining not just low-thickness , but also high-thickness , coils to enable processing across the entire range of thicknesses normally used by this production sector and the ability to interchange them with automated cycles . In this way , we can overcome the current limit to producing components made of different materials , without complicated operations and without supervision . The goal is to produce the same conditions as sheet feeding in the material change to be processed , while maintaining all the advantages of coil . This project will make it advantageous , in every respect , to use Produtech systems that produce metal components directly from coil , with material thicknesses of up to 8mm , while maintaining the cost / energy savings and better environmental impact offered by coil-fed systems .
ISMR : How have you positioned Produtech with respect to Industry 4.0 ?
FM : Produtech S . r . l . has chosen to pursue a growth path as part of its Industry 4.0 plan by applying digital technologies to the design , production and distribution of its products to bring the goal of total automation and interconnection closer . Through analysis of our current production , we have defined and developed a project that has modelled ( in an advanced way ) the management process of all the activities which make up the Produtech system . This includes the ability to process the analysis of procedures adopted ; data collection and parameters to be shared ; information on the processes in place to monitor them ; functional programming for the activities to be carried out and the generation of data that determine the objectives to be achieved in defined times and costs . It brings together the centralised and continuously monitored management of our production process to ensure the absence of duplication , interference , energy waste , resources and time .
We have therefore completed the digitisation of our business processes through a reorganization and innovation project examining the management processes and IT systems used in Produtech . These are the objectives achieved and introduced into our company organisation , in line with the aims of Industry 4.0
ISMR : Thank you for your time . n
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