The immediate impact of Covid was the need for staff to work from home if possible, which meant that tasks like programming the cutting machines and preparing quotations needed to be quickly made operational from home offices. About 40% of our customers had an immediate need for this capability as soon as lockdown started. ...
The arrival of the IoT on the market was a watershed moment in terms of how we relate to technology. It revolutionized everything, from smart homes to connected cars, to systems for smart cities, 5G innovations and, of course, industrial advancements made with the industrial internet of things (IIoT). ...
Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) has become a trending topic in the industry due to the implementation of numerous algorithms by groups dedicated to academic research on artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years. AutoML is a tool for streamlining the development of AI solutions in the industry by providing explainable and reproducible results ...
There is significant competition in the market between different cutting technologies, whether they are intended for sheet metal, tubes or profiles. There are those that use methods of mechanical cutting by abrasion, such as waterjet and punch machines, and others that prefer thermal methods, such as oxycut, plasma or laser. ...
The industrial sector is the powerhouse behind a country’s growth due to its ability to enhance the competitiveness and internationalization of an economy. The driving effect that it has over other activities, the quality of the work that it generates, the constant innovation and the speed and flexibility with which it adapts to different situation ...
We hear it daily from manufacturers: “I would love to become more digital, but I am just too busy.” While being busy is great for your business, and carving time to implement new technologies can be difficult, it is becoming more and more essential. Not only can it be difficult to find the time to implement, it can be particularly difficult to unde ...
If we look back in time, we will see that the machines of the future will follow the same paradigm as previous industrial revolutions, producing more at a lower cost. ...
This Industry 4.0 technology enabler is real, so real that if you want to be competitive in the new digital ecosystem, there is no other option than to use the Cloud in your business strategy. ...
In today’s world, one of the few sectors which cloud computing has not penetrated on a large scale is in industrial plants. Many companies are still wary of a remote platform which operates from outside their facilities, despite its undeniable success in other economic sectors and the tremendous advantages it offers. ...
Juan Ignacio Castro, a technology enthusiast with more than a decade of experience in aeronautical manufacturing, has been leading the digital transformation at Airbus’ Military Aircraft division. He has made it clear that the digital transformation implies an effort on everyone’s part: the company, the employees, and the suppliers. In order to ada ...
The prototype’s days are numbered. Yes, I know, it’s a hackneyed phrase, but this is the reality facing us thanks to the new possibilities Industry 4.0 has on offer. Nowadays there are software solutions able to generate a virtual design of a product or process we wish to test, thereby reducing labor hours and investment substantially. ...
Over the last several years, automotive companies have seen the need to drastically reduce the weight of vehicles and have therefore introduced materials such as aluminum, as well as new cutting and shaping technology. ...
Many manufacturers agree: it is extremely difficult to produce an accurate quote in a timely manner. Regardless of your industry experience or how extensive the Excel sheet is that you use, you need to account for many variables to generate the most accurate quote. ...
The competitiveness of our quotes in a world as demanding and global as today’s is a critical success factor. It can be the difference between the customer choosing our option or not. Being able to choose which quotes we want to prioritize and win and which are of little interest is what will contribute to ensure the profitability and survival of o ...
It is very common among manufacturing subcontractors to prepare multiple quotes for a single production. This makes the process expensive and complicated. ...
All companies must be prepared for the return of products for whatever reason. And a production plant is no different. Both the number and the reasons for returns or defects detected in production must be controlled if your company wishes to improve its reject ratio. ...
The digital transformation has led us to review and reapproach our business, applying technology as a facilitator of change, but with the particular focus on the people in our organization, so that they can help us manage this transformation. ...
We’re told that the digital transformation consists of connecting the world of OT to that of IT, of sensorizing the machines in our factories and creating a hyper-connected environment to allow data to flow automatically, autonomously and allowing us to take more accurate decisions on the basis thereof. ...
In order for a plant to operate with the highest efficiency regarding deadlines and costs, and with total optimization of raw materials and processes, it requires advanced manufacturing management. Intelligent production that offers you, in real time, a global view of all the manufacturing processes and their automated planning. This is already pos ...
One of the biggest obstacles that the metal industry faces is cutting bevels or chamfers on corners. After months working on how to overcome the loop that is generated, we’ve developed Progressive Corners Beveling (PCB), an algorithm based on dynamic control of the 5 axes, which means that the head is progressively oriented with the angle of the ne ...
We live in a global world dominated by information. Modern factories face new challenges related to this context and the metal sector is no different. The environment is increasingly competitive and complex: a multitude of clients, smaller batches and in higher numbers, more reduced margins, more demanding delivery deadlines... ...
In its effort to boost new technologies and as the leader in the international CAD/CAM market, Lantek has developed “Touch&Play” a Lantek Inside module encompassing more than 35 years of experience from Lantek in the sheet metal processing industry and new augmented reality technologies. ...
Companies in our industry are more conscious everyday about their need to digitally transform. However, they are facing the challenge of how it is to be adopted in their organization. ...
It was born out the emergence of bitcoin, to carry out monetary transactions within a closed community, not in an elitist sense, but in terms of security. Blockchain technology guarantees an impassable, hacker-proof system, which works because of the utmost trust between its users. ...
Data on operations, processes, logistics, personal data, financial data... Data, data and more data. Too much data. So much data, in terms of quantity and variety, that it can be overwhelming. What is the best way to collect and organize them so that they make sense? To know what to do with them, so that they boost the productivity and efficiency o ...
Tubular structures are becoming increasingly present in different industries, partly due to the slight lowering of the price of metals, but mainly due to the reduction in the costs associated with manufacturing (mainly due to the emergence of new and cheaper manufacturing machinery). Today many more companies have laser and plasma machines capable ...
The metal industry finds itself immersed in a phase of transformation. Digital technologies are at the epicenter of this change, allowing companies to connect their factories throughout the world. Although this brings clear benefits with it such as improvements in communications and greater efficiency in processes, it must also be said that this wi ...
Many manufacturers are struggling to transition their companies to Industry 4.0. The new era of manufacturing is focused on technology and data. This requires wholesale changes in the employees’ skill sets and processes. ...
We keep reading about digitization in manufacturing. But are we there yet? We might be closer than you think. Success now relies on efficiency and productivity to drive down operational costs. Companies that will be successful now, and in the future, understand the role digitization plays in optimizing efficiency and are transforming their business ...
No fewer than 90% of companies lack a digital strategy. According to a report by the renowned German strategic consulting firm, Roland Berger. Today however, these barriers can and should be saved, especially now that the fourth industrial revolution is here. It is unstoppable and there is no turning back. If you resist change you will be out of th ...
In recent years we have talked a lot about how technology and digital transformation have become an unstoppable
reality and how this is impacting business and industrial processes. ...
Members 
USA
Sheet Metal Solutions
