2011.08. 1 
Articles During recent years we have repeatedly heard words such as securities guaranteed by debt funds, frozen credit markets or credit risk coverage, among many others, each one different to the other, but all of them related to the economic and financial crisis
During recent years we have repeatedly heard words such as securities guaranteed by debt funds, frozen credit markets or credit risk coverage, among many others, each one different to the other, but all of them related to the economic and financial crisis that has hit the world markets at all levels like a tsunami, from governments to ordinary citizens, without forgetting companies.
And the fact is that no sector is unaffected by the complicated economic situation we are going through, and the metal and sheet metal transformation industry is no exception either. In most countries we are witnessing the devastation caused in relation to the difficulties that many companies have to access credit in order to activate their business, renew their infrastructures and machinery in order to be more competitive, to encourage innovation, etc. However, there are currently some exceptions such as the Chinese market.
If we add the intrinsic characteristics of the metal sector in each country to the peculiarities of the crisis, the result we obtain is a reduction of investment in new technologies, in R&D&i, and in the renewal of business processes, which further burdens the productivity and competitiveness of companies.
On the other hand, it is important to bear in mind the characteristics of companies in the metal sector, and of those indirectly linked to it, as we can see that there is a high percentage of small and medium-sized companies. They are precisely the ones that are suffering the most with the crisis, and as a result they are losing competitiveness due to difficulties accessing credit to renew their machine inventory and IT infrastructures, and to implement new strategies and policies related to innovation, training, etc.
Therefore, we are facing a new paradigm where the metal and sheet metal transformation industry has to adopt a series of expenditure control measures, while it also needs to reorient its strategy towards the development and inclusion of technological innovation, both in processes and in products and services, which provide greater added value for customers of its value chain.
Cutting-edge innovation and technology favour the competitiveness of companies, making them capable of responding to the market’s demands within a shorter period of time, speeding up processes and making them more versatile and precise when programming production with the aid of powerful and advanced technology systems.
Those of us who manufacture technology are obliged to listen to the market, to collaborate and combine knowledge to provide IT alternatives and solutions that allow us to cover the specific needs of each company so that they can reach their goals. We must therefore be sensitive to these problems and try to offer them feasible IT solutions that contribute towards increasing the return on investment (ROI), and with which they can obtain top quality results, not to forget the resulting savings in terms of time, costs, material, etc.
Today, the market demands solutions that are easy to handle, flexible and that allow the integration of different processes.
Machines and punching processes: a constant evolution
When we talk about punching processes they are considered a relatively simple mechanical task, with little technology involved and scarce added value. But far from this idea, in reality it is quite different, because these processes are influenced by very diverse factors that are related to the machine, the tools, the material, the geometric characteristics of the part, the actual environment of the process, or the software used, among others.
In this respect, and with over 25 years of experience in research, period during which it has collaborated closely with both manufacturers and users of punching machines, Lantek, present in China since 2006 and where it currently has three offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, and a commercial presence in other locations throughout the country, has sought to perfectly combine machine technology with the customer’s programming and management needs.
Cutting-edge technology and collaboration agreements, the keys to success
This is how it has developed a broad and carefully developed range of solutions that adapt to the needs of each company and which are compatible with most punching machines in the market, thanks, among other things, to the fact that we are talking about a corporation that has agreements with global manufacturers of punching machines, such as Euromac, LVD-Strippit-Pullmax, Baykal, Ermaksan o Goiti-Danobat, with whom it cooperates openly to develop new functionalities for both the punching machines and for Lantek’s software solutions. These relations mean Lantek is in possession of a broad and deep knowledge regarding state of the art technology in this field.
Thus, Lantek offers a powerful and robust application for this segment, called Lantek Expert Punch, which has extensive functionality and is capable of working with all existing punching technologies, regardless of the manufacturer, providing intelligent solutions for machining, evacuation, micro-cutting, “lift”, etc. that offer unique benefits.
Having a solution of these characteristics for punching offers the user much better performance of the machine in comparison to other types of software in the market, saving time and money, choosing the most efficient die for each case, taking care of the effect produced in the metal that is being punched to avoid deformations and deterioration to the quality of the result, and extending the useful lifetime of both the machine and the dies to take full advantage and maximise the profitability of the important investments made to purchase machines such as these. Similarly, this solution includes a faster and more functional gallery of dies thus facilitating the management of different colours for punching depending on the type of die, shape or work area, offering full management of turrets and drill bits, and providing virtual 3D simulation of the CNC.
All this is possible thanks to the powerful core provided by the Lantek Expert technological platform, and to the backing given by counting on one of the sector’s largest R&D&i centres and an organisation of the service that is one of the world’s broadest and most well-prepared.
Lantek’s technology has thus become the “heart” of many punching machines, allowing their users to maximise the manufacturing processes and to cleanly and effectively manage each operation. Now, the user can adapt the program to their particular way of working, with the possibility of customising the system down to the smallest detail with the most productive and profitable solution for programming punching machines.
In addition to these functions there are important improvements regarding speed, the use of nestings and usability, among others. In this respect, it is worth mentioning:
All these possibilities make Lantek Expert Punch the perfect technology to improve productive processes related to punching, which translates into greater and better use of the machines and notable increases in productivity. Likewise, the broad range of these types of solutions makes it possible to greatly reduce the need for reinvestment, positively affecting the financial situation of the company.
Author:Joseba Pagaldai
Commercial Director
For further information visit: www.lantek.com/uk/ marketing@lanteksms.com