Requests for thick parts had to be rejected by VMZ until now. Thanks to the power upgrade of the ByStar Fiber from 10 to 15 kilowatts, the Vorarlberg family business can now also process up to 30 millimeter thick sheet metal in the usual quality.
"We produce for everyone," says Bernhard Laggner. "From custom-made products for private customers to small series for craft businesses to large series for industry." For everyone, yes, but not quite everything: "Our capabilities were previously limited with thicker sheets," explains the managing director of VMZ Maschinenbau und Laserbearbeitung GmbH.
To expand the processing spectrum, the contract manufacturer invested in a ByStar Fiber 10 kW in 2022. Thanks to the new machine, more and more requests for processing thicker sheets came in. VMZ was able to fulfill many orders. "But with materials over 20 mm, even the new machine reached its limits in terms of performance," reports Laggner.
More Parts at Lower Costs
"Almost in passing, Bernhard Laggner asked me during a visit if his ByStar Fiber could be equipped with more power," says Heinz Bimingstorfer, Aftersales Manager at Bystronic Austria. "I knew that another customer just needed a 10 kW laser source. And since VMZ's was only two years old, we were able to make a cost-effective exchange." VMZ upgraded from 10 to 15 kW in return.
Requests that we previously had to reject or refer can now be executed by ourselves.
This exchange was a first test run for Bystronic. The good experiences with VMZ contributed to the fact that the power upgrade is now available as a package for all customers with the corresponding machines. Bimingstorfer primarily recommends it to companies with very high machine utilization – especially contract manufacturers. "With the upgrade, they increase their productivity. They produce more parts at lower costs and are therefore significantly more competitive."
The Test Run as a Door Opener
For VMZ, the test run proved to be a door opener: "Requests that we previously had to reject or refer can now be executed by ourselves with 15 kW," says the managing director of the family business. These include, for example, orders for mounting plates on construction sites, substructures, or frame elements for mechanical engineering. "Everywhere where more massive material thicknesses are needed," says Bernhard Laggner.
We have significantly more output across the entire product range.
He is also more than satisfied with the cutting quality: "The quality has increased significantly. With the additional power and MixGas, we also cut 30 mm thick sheets burr-free – this saves us time-consuming post-processing and is gentler on the machine." And finally, the performance is also right: VMZ cuts faster – with thick, but also with thinner sheets. Bernhard Laggner: "We have significantly more output across the entire product range."
New Software, Established Processes
VMZ used the power upgrade to simultaneously switch to the latest generation of Bystronic software. "The user interface is very understandable and logically structured," praises Laggner. "And little has changed for the operator." After a short familiarization phase, all processes at VMZ have also been perfectly established under new conditions.
Power Upgrade
The power upgrade is available for the BySprint Fiber (up to 6 kW), the BySmart Fiber (up to 12 kW), and the ByStar Fiber (up to 15 kW) – provided the new cutting head SSCV2.2 is installed, which is designed for the corresponding performances. During the upgrade, the laser source and the cooling device are replaced after a technical inspection. In some cases, it is also recommended to replace the extraction system with a stronger one. After an upgrade to 10 kW, productivity increases by 50 to 79 percent for stainless steel and up to 65 percent for construction steel with MixGas. The Fiber Warranty is valid again for five years with a valid service agreement.
