Cutting quotation software slashes customer response times

ipLaser: Cutting quotation software slashes customer response times

New cloud-based laser cutting quotation software from ipLaser typically more than halves the time and manual input required by laser cutting companies to prepare precise estimates for world industries using their services.

The ipLaser cloud-based technology suite – which can automatically process three-dimensional engineering and production graphics provided by customers – not only automates business processes and saves time, but transforms and expands business opportunities for the huge and rapidly growing number of laser service providers. “It does this by enabling laser cutting businesses to respond to customers’ needs more quickly and to reach many more prospective customers than previously in a given time,” says ipLaser Managing Director, Ivan Cooper. “The new process – which we believe is unique in the global market – goes far beyond saving time and costs, to fundamentally change and improve the way a business built around laser cutting can grow. “This technology is a game-changer across multiple industries, because laser cutting is one of the world’s fastest growing industries, with the machine market alone expected to exceed US$7bn (almost AUD9bn) by 2024, as major industries adopt this fast, accurate technology that flexibly responds to the digital revolution of Industry 4.0.” ipLaser’s new technology differs from conventional 2D-based laser quotation technologies in that it can be fed full 3D schematics of a product and sift out precisely all the 2D sheet metal surfaces required to be cut by a laser workshop of any size and complexity. The new automated 3D process eliminates many previous obstacles to the use of 3D packages encountered by laser cutting companies, whose services are delivered in a 2D sheet metal environment, using surfaces that must be extracted from 3D drawings. Cooper says previous challenges in the conversion included high cost and time demands: “3D packages are expensive, trained operators are expensive and finding the time to train people is hard too.” Simplifying the process makes it more accessible for any operator without 3D experience, in both large and small laser shops. This means businesses can scale up to handling 3D models as a customer-quoting source quickly. The new 3D software complements and extends the success of ipLaser’s time-saving and revenue-growing software, developed from practical laser shop production floor and quotation management experience over more than 30 years. The new technology taps into the experience and needs of thousands of ipLaser software users globally, who have contributed their ideas, catering to the needs of laser cutters servicing the world’s major industries, including automotive, aviation, architectural and construction products, engineering electrical, manufacturing, metals, mining and energy, shipbuilding and textiles. Seamless transition

ipLaser’s latest software ties in seamlessly with a job shop customer’s existing 3D drawings and automatically breaks down their complexity into the myriad of simple 2D shapes that require laser cutting. “No job shop customer wants to be asked to provide differently formatted drawings,” says Cooper. “In most cases, they’ll just seek to work with someone who can more easily meet their needs. With the latest ipLaser software, job shops can automatically extract their customer’s parts from a 3D model, effectively breaking down roadblocks to getting the job done most efficiently. “With ipLaser’s product suite, any operator can produce quotes from a 3D drawing, with no 3D experience required, allowing them to meet customer requests efficiently without investing heavily in 3D technology.” The new technology also enhances accuracy and customer service by automatically using rules involved in the job for consistency. Customers get faster, more accurate and more complete quotes. Cooper and his business partner Peter Olle have been involved in profile cutting job shops for more than 30 years. They base their new suite of ipLaser technologies (different parts of which are suitable for different laser shop tasks) on research and practical experience in developing a business management solution to ensure effective control, efficiency and accuracy of the quoting, order processing and reporting aspects of their own laser cutting business and those of their global user base. The result is the ipLaser cloud-based platform, designed to meet the requirements of busy modern laser job shops, by enabling accurate, consistent and timely quotations for complex parts requiring multiple processes. ipLaser seeks to address the following opportunities: • Quote turnaround times, enabling customers to receive instant quotes with the ipLaser online quoting portal. It also enables staff to prepare quotations more efficiently for customers from simple-to-complex parts with quote turnaround times from minutes to hours – not a day or days. • Pricing consistency. The administrator-controlled rules of ipLaser ensure consistent quantity-based pricing to the customer, regardless of which customer service staff member prepared the quote or the location in which it was prepared. • Process improvement. ipLaser promotes business growth by timely delivery of quotes to customers, either via the online store or direct with service staff. The simplicity of the ipLaser system enables a broader selection of company staff to assist with quotes and therefore releases more multi-skilled staff to address wider business opportunities. ipLaser is trusted by job shops in North and South America, the UK and Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. It is expanding into the growing industries of the Asia-Pacific, which are vigorously embracing the laser cutting industry’s role in Industry 4.0.

www.iplaser.com www.tempustools.com

Engineering support for Liverpool Plains growers

Based in rural New South Wales, Spring Ridge Engineering recently invested in a Jekran X-MW Series waterjet cutter from Hare & Forbes.

The Liverpool Plains area of north-west NSW is highly productive agricultural land. There are crops such as wheat, corn, sorghum and cotton crops, sheep graze the hills surrounding Spring Ridge, and the Caroona and Killara cattle feedlots are significant Spring Ridge Engineering apprentice contributors to the local Cody with the Jekran XM-W waterjet. economy. Machinery plays a vital role. Critical tasks must be performed in narrow timeframes and no farmer can afford to have an unproductive machine creating costly downtime. Andrew Holland runs Spring Ridge Engineering with his father Chris, who started the business around 40 years ago, originally manufacturing planting machines. “In recent years growers have adopted new machines with advanced technology,” says Andrew. “The transition to automation has meant Spring Ridge Engineering has moved from manufacturing machines to supplying parts and accessories, fabrication of specialised components, and engineering services to produce replacement parts and make repairs. Harvest time is extremely busy and no one can wait longer than necessary to get a machine back in operation.” The need for specialised fabricated parts has kept Spring Ridge Engineering busy. It needed a solution to quickly manufacture components, specialised implements and high-precision parts. “When it comes to cutting materials, a plasma cutter or oxy acetylene may be fast,” Andrew explains. “However, it’s difficult to get the fine-quality finish needed for many precision components. We found the right solution in a Jekran X-MW series waterjet, which we installed in our factory towards the end of last year. It gives us the flexibility to produce high-precision components.” The Jekran X-MW is a versatile machine capable of cutting virtually any material, including steel up to 100mm thick. The fine finish on machined parts eliminates the need for any secondary finishing. While waterjet cutting may not be the fastest method, is gives the best precision. “The Jekran waterjet is capable of delivering excellent results even for the most challenging jobs,” adds Andrew. “The cold process means there is no molten-edge distortion. When we need to fabricate or replicate a critical part, it’s just a matter copying an existing component or creating a new piece by drawing up the task in SolidWorks and feeding this into the machine’s controller. “The Jekran waterjet provides the critical link between our long experience and resourcefulness and engineering know-how to give us the edge we need. It has enabled us to be creative in delivering the fast turnaround and high-quality solutions our customers demand. The machine is easy to program and can be operated by an apprentice, so our technical support team can spend more time in the field to help producers with their machinery issues. The benefit to our business is a good-quality job that can be charged out at a rate that will deliver us an acceptable profit margin, in a timeframe that makes the customer happy.”

www.machineryhouse.com.au www.springridge.engineering

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