Reliable On-Site Service for Schuler’s Laser Blanking Lines

In the Americas, for example, there are sites in the USA, Mexico, and Brazil, ready to support one of the company’s latest innovations: the Laser Blanking Line (LBL). Schuler will be in Booth D46935.

Laser blanking makes it possible to manufacture blanks completely without dies. Instead of using presses or shears, the geometries are cut by two or three high-precision laser heads. This has several advantages: no dies, die change, die storage or die maintenance, but also no costly press foundation and no loop pit. The technological development of laser performance, combined with intelligent line automation, enables Schuler to achieve cutting speeds of up to 100 meters per minute (approx. 328 ft/min).

The design of a Laser Blanking Line is very similar to a conventional press cutting line. “Simply said, the press is only replaced by a laser cell,” explained Oswald Schoenberger, product manager for Laser Blanking Lines. “Operators who already have experience with conventional blanking lines can learn to handle the system very quickly, but even the ones without blanking experience, the system can be operated intuitively and reliably after completing our training program,” he continued.

Programming the lasers also requires no process know-how thanks to LBL Studio. The offline program is so intelligent that cutting contours for new parts are automatically created based on CAD files. The optimal cutting distribution of the lasers is taken into account and reliable predictions about the output can be calculated in advance. Of course, changes can be made manually at any time.

With several lines around the world and production experience since 2012, Schuler is by far the leader in terms of laser blanking lines. “This is also related to our strong local service,” explained Telvi Zanin, vice president of service. In addition to Europe and Asia, Schuler also has long established service and manufacturing locations in North America. Schuler Inc. was founded in 1978 in Columbus, Ohio, and now has its headquarters close to Detroit in Canton, Mich.

“With our team of 80 qualified service employees we are ready to provide high quality technical support to all our customers in North America,” Zanin said. A team from the United States has been sent to the product centers in Europe to join the in-house assembly where they can learn firsthand the laser blanking technology. “Our trained employees can thus react quickly and provide optimal on-site service,” Zanin said. “In addition, remote service like with Schuler Connect offers the possibility of immediate assistance from our headquarters in Canton, Mich. or from our experts in Germany if required — for established products as well as for innovations such as the Laser Blanking Line.”

The Schuler Group offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming — from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, our products include automation and software solutions, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry.

www.schulergroup.com/laserblanking