BLM GROUP Blog

There is often talk about the difficulty of finding skilled operators, a challenge across many industrial sectors and especially in the tube bending industry.

The performance of a sheet metal laser cutting system is the result of careful optimization of the component design and machine features.

This article will help you better understand the technological choices made by the designers of 2D laser cutting machines with linear motors and guide you more consciously when considering the purchase of this type of system.

In today’s competitive industrial landscape, the automation of production processes has become a key strategic lever for companies aiming to innovate and respond swiftly to market challenges. 

By integrating advanced technologies such as industrial robotics, artificial intelligence, and automated control systems, it is possible to radically transform the way production operations are managed.

In robotic laser welding, reducing setup times is essential for efficient production, especially for subcontractors or those producing small, highly variable batches.

Tube benders for large diameter tubes and bars are systems capable of applying the considerable thrust forces and bending torque required to bend large pipes and are also able to optimally control the force exerted on the tube and the deformation of the material through the interpolated movement of the core, slide and clamping.

Companies that work as job shops, especially within sectors for agricultural machinery frame production and the construction of light structures, commonly work with a very wide variety of tubes and profiles in terms of diameter, thickness and material that often requires creative solutions.

Typically, the choice is limited to two types of systems: large-diameter tube and profile laser cutting systems capable of handling very heavy tubes, beams and profiles, or specific systems for smaller-diameter tubes and profiles where maximizing performance and productivity is what matters.

When the size and weight of the bars processed vary greatly, such as in the production of agricultural machinery or light structures, the optimal solution may be a laser cutting machine that offers high performance even on a range of medium-large tubes, paving the way to increased competitiveness in these sectors.

In the world of production planning and monitoring software, the integration of the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) with the machines on the shop floor is one of the most important aspects that can significantly impact production efficiency.

In aerospace and aeronautical manufacturing, fiber lasers have revolutionized cutting techniques and now standing toe-to-toe with non-thermal methods, offering high quality cuts with minimal Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). In fact, modern fiber lasers drastically reduce material embrittlement and process components at speeds that far exceed machining and other non-thermal technologies.

What are the benefits of a multi-technology production management MES? Why use Prometheus?

Those who are already familiar with the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) software of BLM GROUP "ProTube Enterprise" in the management of the processing of tubular parts with laser cutting and bending, will find its evolution "Prometheus" very interesting. Prometheus allows unified management of the wide range of technologies within the Group, such as Lasertube, sheet metal laser cutting, tube bending and 3D part laser cutting.