New capabilities in quoting, CAD/CAM, bending and machine connectivity bring greater manufacturing intelligence, flexibility and continuity across production

Lantek, a global leader in software solutions for the sheet metal, tube and structural steel industries, will present Lantek v46 at MetalMadrid 2026. Visitors will be able to discover the company’s latest developments at Booth 4E14.

Lantek v46 introduces major advances in quoting, engineering, programming and manufacturing execution. The new version extends automation to more technologies, connects more processes across the shop floor and improves the flow of information between the different solutions within the Lantek ecosystem.

Together, these developments help manufacturers manage increasingly complex production environments with greater efficiency, flexibility and consistency.

A new generation of advanced quoting

Lantek introduces a major evolution of its iQuoting solution, with significant developments across every stage of the quoting process.

The new part import assistant supports both individual 3D parts and complete assemblies, with tools to detect and manage geometries, handle layers and prepare imported information for quotation. From there, new feasibility rules assess whether each geometry can be manufactured using the available technologies and production capabilities.

Combined with more detailed and configurable calculation methods and predefined routing plans, these capabilities bring manufacturing knowledge into the earliest stages of the quoting process. Manufacturers can therefore represent their own production logic, manufacturing routes, resources and costing criteria more accurately when calculating increasingly complex projects.

Many of these capabilities are supported by KAI, Lantek’s artificial intelligence technology, which assists users by analysing manufacturing information, interpreting design data and supporting complex decisions throughout the quoting process. Rather than replacing engineering expertise, KAI helps users prepare more accurate quotations in less time, reducing manual work and improving consistency.

Integration with the rest of Lantek’s software portfolio has also been strengthened, supporting a much smoother transition from quotation acceptance to the manufacturing processes that follow.

Advanced punching programming and optimization with NOS

Lantek Expert v46 takes programming for punching machines and combined punching and cutting technologies to a new level.

The new features simplify and automate the programming of both individual parts and complete nests, while supporting advanced machining strategies and complex combinations of operations.

One of the main developments is the extension of NOS (Nesting Optimization Service) to punching machines. Previously available only for cutting technologies, Lantek’s most advanced nesting engine now brings its material optimization capabilities to punching environments, extending advanced nesting to a broader range of sheet metal manufacturing technologies.

More automation throughout the production process

As automatic loading, unloading and storage systems play an increasingly important role in sheet metal production, Lantek continues to develop new technologies to address the growing number and complexity of these projects.

The redesigned Stackmaster application provides a much more visual and user-friendly approach to stack programming, directly connected to Lantek Expert. At the same time, Lantek is expanding its capabilities for automated storage systems with technologies that connect and coordinate cutting machines and warehouses, managing MES flows, production processes and material inventory within a complete automation workflow.

New possibilities for tube and structural steel manufacturing

Lantek Flex3D v46 introduces a new module for designing tube-to-tube connections directly within 3D assemblies.

Users can create and adapt these connections using an extensive library of parametric joints commonly used across the industry. By bringing these capabilities into Lantek Flex3D, repetitive design-for-manufacturing tasks can be completed without returning to an external CAD application.

The solution also introduces automatic unfolding of bent tubes during the import of 3D files, automatically generating the developed geometry required for cutting and manufacturing preparation.

For structural steel and profile manufacturers, Lantek v46 adds a new integration with Tekla PowerFab, connecting its MES-MRP environment with Lantek programming solutions. Together with the established connector for StruMIS, this expands Lantek’s connectivity ecosystem and gives manufacturers greater freedom to work with the specialized production management platforms that best fit their operations.

Greater flexibility in bending decisions

Lantek v46 introduces a more advanced connection between Lantek Bend and the manufacturing workflow managed through MES.

The system can calculate and retain different bending alternatives for the same part across different press brakes. For each option, manufacturers can validate the technical feasibility of the operation in advance, together with the specific tooling, setup and process information required for production.

This allows the final press brake to be selected much closer to the production stage, taking into account actual machine availability, workload or tooling status. Production teams therefore have greater flexibility to respond to changes on the shop floor without losing previously validated technical information.

Greater machine connectivity across the shop floor

Lantek continues to expand its Machine Connectivity capabilities beyond cutting machines, adding support for press brakes and other types of CNC equipment.

At the same time, Control Panel introduces a completely redesigned interface that improves the organization, clarity and readability of machine information, together with smoother and more responsive visualization of events as they occur in real time.

By enabling more production equipment to provide consistent information to Lantek MES, Control Panel and Lantek Analytics, this expansion reinforces Lantek’s multivendor approach, improves real-time visibility across the shop floor and supports more accurate calculation of OEE and other key production indicators.

Taking connected manufacturing one step further

The developments introduced in Lantek v46 share a common objective: expanding automation, strengthening integration and connecting more technologies throughout the manufacturing process.

From preparing a quotation to the final decisions made on the shop floor, including engineering and programming, v46 brings more manufacturing intelligence and continuity to every stage of the process. Complex parts and assemblies can be prepared more efficiently, advanced machining and nesting strategies are extended to more technologies, and production teams gain greater flexibility to respond to changes in machine availability, tooling or operational priorities.

By making this information available within a more connected workflow, these developments also strengthen production planning capabilities. Teams gain a more complete view of manufacturing requirements, available resources and actual shop-floor conditions, helping them adjust plans more effectively, make better use of resources and maintain greater control over increasingly complex production environments.

“Connected manufacturing is not simply about connecting machines or applications. It is about having the right information available when decisions need to be made,” says Raúl Chopitea, Head of Product at Lantek. “With v46, we are building a more continuous manufacturing environment where automation, planning and execution work together in a much more coordinated way.”

During MetalMadrid 2026, Lantek will present these developments through its connected portfolio of solutions for quoting, CAD/CAM, ERP, MES, machine connectivity and production monitoring.

With four decades of experience, Lantek develops software solutions for sheet metal, tube and structural steel manufacturers worldwide. The company serves more than 40,000 customers in over 100 countries and supports more than 4,500 machine models through an open, multivendor software portfolio.