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Partnership Latest News, Product Novelties, Fairs and much more
JUNE 2013
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index
LANTEK LINK is a Magazine of LANTEK SHEET METAL SOLUTIONS
COVER Photo: “Tsing Ma” Bridge in
03
EDITORIAL
06
SOLUTIONS
10
TECHNOLOGIES
12
NEWS
14
SERVICES
Growin’ up
Hong Kong
04
MAIN TOPIC
08
INTERVIEWS
11
INNOVATION
13
CASE STUDIES
15
EXHIBITIONS
Lantek, universal partner for machine tool manufacturers
LANTEK MARKETING TEAM Jesús Martínez, Marketing Director Beatriz
Prado,
Production,
Publisher, Design and Responsible of this publication Patricia
Ruiz
de
Communications
Sabando,
and
Relations of Lantek SUBSCRIPTIONS Marketing Department
Lantek adapts to any machine
Lantek EMEA Managing Director
Public
Optimize speed of water jet cutter machine
Business Intelligence
marketing@lanteksms.com
Lantek’s latest software includes pioneering nesting solutions and intelligent integration
Lantek Services Lantek Trick: Lantek Expert
Lantek CADCAM heats up coffee making- Fracino
Next Tradeshows
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editorial
I
Growin’ up
n these difficult times, it is essential to find the right companion to overcome the big difficulties from adapting management systems to ever-changing situations. Lantek believes it is their mission to be that companion to the companies with whom we collaborate. For our customers, we offer our global presence and our wide portfolio. We are the technological partner that metal companies are seeking. We help our customers to avoid crisis effects and we aid them to seize and adapt to the opportunities that arise. Growin’ up. For our software resellers, we contribute our know-how and our support so that they are part of the sales and technical structure that serves our customers. Growin’ up. And, in a decisive way, we are the most appropriate partner for machine tool builders, to whom we offer a wide range of services which helps them commercialize their machines. We assure them that they have the best software available worldwide. We also innovate together, incorporating new mechanisms to our software that maximize the profitability of the new resources and enhance their machines. Growin’ up. And so we like to see our partners, customers, resellers and machine tool builders: Growin’ up
Jesús Martínez
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main topic
Lantek, universal partner for machine tool manufacturers Providing software solutions in 18 languages, certified for all types of machinery, and technical support round the clock anywhere in the world. The capacity to adapt to our partners’ profiles, friendly service and versatility - these are the key competitive advantages that Lantek, world leader in the development and distribution of software for the sheet metal industry, is committed to providing for its partners internationally. “Wherever Lantek has a presence it provides really high quality service. Our sales and technical support reaches out to wherever it is needed.
Lantek offers a wide range of services for partners in the OEM channel which enables machine tool manufacturers to install their machines anywhere in the world faster, with lower overall costs and a guarantee of end client satisfaction,” Francisco Pérez, Lantek’s OEM Channel Manager, explains. The Company stands out by providing global services in 18 languages, 24 hour support in any time zone and personal or on-site attention worldwide. In fact, it has 22 dedicated offices in 14 countries and customers in more than 100.
“Lantek has the capacity to innovate in partnership with the manufacturer and quickly incorporate new ideas into their machines, thanks to the skills available in our R&D center,” says Lantek’s OEM Channel Manager. The sheet metal processing industry is extremely complex and specialized; but; in a relatively short time, the company has become a worldwide benchmark for the development and marketing of dedicated technological solutions. The Lantek Research Center is currently recognized as one of the most competent and reliable knowledge centres in the international machine tool sector and comprises more than 20% of the company’s entire workforce. Lantek, a versatile ally As a technological partner, Lantek offers a wide range of services for the manufacturers it works with, making it a versatile, effective ally. Lantek’s partners can take advantage of complementary assistance services such as: sales and technical support, co-marketing, joint case studies, joint market assessment, installation, retrofit and update services, training, and remote or in situ technical assistance to the end client or to the manufacturer’s engineers. Lantek is aware that every partner has specific needs and requirements. The multi-national (there is a subject/noun missing here) company keeps this firmly in mind when it implements its services. Thus, Lantek can tailor the most effective package for each particular partner in the OEM channel. “Our competitive advantage lies in the knowledge that Lantek has accumulated throughout the years the specific details of different machines used in the global sheet metal processing market, including plate, tubes and profiles,” says Francisco Pérez. With this in mind, Lantek has developed an outstanding capacity for responding to each type of partner, from the most conservative to the most avant-garde, regardless of location or technological requirements. “We aim to ensure the best results for our manufacturing partners and that, of course, has a positive impact on the satisfaction of their end clients,” adds Lantek’s OEM Channel Manager. Proof of this is the consolidated presence of Lantek software throughout the OEM channel in countries such as: Germany, China, Turkey, Poland, Spain and Korea. International business accounts for more than 80% of Lantek’s turnover. The OEM channel already contributes 10% of this business.
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solutions Lantek adapts to any machine
When working with manufacturers of machine tools from the sheet metal sector, including tubes and profiles, Lantek software offers perfect integration between software and machine. This is vital in order to achieve the best performance from both and to exceed the customer’s expectations. This integration is achieved by means of official approval between Lantek and each of its manufacturing partners. For Lantek, the most important motivation is managing to adapt its software to achieve the perfect performance from machines employing Lantek software and thus get the best results for the manufacturer.
Alliances with the machine tool manufacturers are a great advantage. Such an alliance not only takes advantage of technical and commercial synergies; but, it also creates joint innovation and exceeds limits, which separately would be impossible to achieve. These agreements are designed to form a joint and integral offer that is destined for businesses in the metal sector. One of the characteristics which Lantek has is that it is capable of adapting to any machine, with its peculiarities, in the sector. For this reason, Lantek is the world leader in the development and marketing of solutions for the transformation of the metal sector.
Under the framework of these alliances, both the equipment manufacturer and Lantek are in a position to offer customers a design and production system which is integrated and technologically advanced. The process of official approval marks the beginning of a professional relationship between the two companies, which will help them to consolidate their position in the world market. The process of deep and integrated understanding between machine and software begins with the technical dialogue between the professionals at Lantek and the manufacturer’s technicians. At this stage, Lantek establishes the functional needs of the required software and demonstrates its software. At this time, the professional is able to appreciate what Lantek can offer them, as well as see how Lantek manages machines and how they can be integrated more fully with the manufacturer’s teams. In some cases, the technical team at Lantek will visit the central offices of the manufacturer to explain and to discuss all the technical aspects necessary to cover their needs. Once the functional needs are detected,Lantek creates prototype software for the manufacturer, software which is integrally developed by the Research and Development team at Lantek. A final software version results and is designed to be marketed presented to prospective customers. After completing the entire approval process, Lantek guarantees the best performance of the machinery along with adaptation to the individual needs of the manufacturer. As Lantek is a global business with offices all over the world, it can support customers whenever necessary, from any location around the world. The customers benefit from customer service and technical support in their place of origin, with staff from Lantek coming to wherever necessary in order to resolve any questions with regard to how to incorporate the software into the workplace. Once an agreement for collaboration is signed by both parties, the manufacturer finds that Lantek is a technological partner that allows them to set up their machines at any time, to get great performance from them, and to please external customers with maximum productivity on the shop floor, thus reducing production times, improving efficiency and minimizing the cost of materials.
Lantek offers excellent integration and communication between machine and software. It should be pointed out that, depending upon the market, it is necessary to translate the program to the corresponding language in each case, i.e., Korean, Japanese, Russian, etc. because manufacturers want to work with the software in their own language. This allows the manufacturer to manage the software perfectly and completely and to understand the interface. Lantek has been implementing technological solutions for years in different markets in various countries. In each one, Lantek identifies the concrete needs and the distinct problem areas, guaranteeing the correct operation of the software. Additionally, Lantek lends professional support in many locations, thanks to the 18 languages using its systems and the 22 Lantek offices in 14 countries.
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interviews
Asier Ortiz Lantek EMEA Managing Director
“Clients do not know how much we can amaze them until they put us to the test!” Asier started his career with Lantek in 2000, so he has been with the company for 13 years now. He started in Research and Development, developing Lantek Expert in his first two years. Later, Asier was named Head of Development of Lantek Flex3d, where his main achievement was the development of graphical bookshops and the updating of technology to adapt to operating systems of that period. He was in this role for one year. Asier spent the next two years directing the team that developed Lantek Expert III. This team implemented a platform for management systems, the first ERP system which was market oriented to the metal sector with iSpace technology. For the next two years, he worked as Research and Development Manager until moving to his current position in 2011. Asier is now responsible for Lantek EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).
Asier, after so many years in Research and Development, you must know first-hand how Lantek solutions work. Could you explain them to us? Before answering your question, I would like to highlight the fact that we were the first people to launch an ERP onto the market, all built at Lantek and specifically targeted at our clients in the metal sector. We could highlight two types of development that we face: 1.Developments that complement existing Lantek systems. It consists of evolving Lantek capacity and the machine and its functions. It’s an evolutionary development, to respond to the expectations of Lantek customers. These are solutions with a high level of quality and competitiveness. 2.More innovative developments. It is about building a new system that resolves problems that have not arisen until now. The result is the development of new platforms, technologies and software systems. With this development capacity, the Lantek response is more complete than any competitors can provide. Our development methodology software is based on Agile and SCRUM methodology:
1.First, teams of workers should be established to find solutions using the talent and experience of our engineers. 2.All the systems that we develop have a “roadmap” that includes all the development planning with the short and long term objectives, including approximate places for achievements in which the new functionality package could be finished. 3.Following from this, we coordinate a way with those in charge of the product, the sequence of activities or the development path that will take us to a future state of solutions. These activities lead us to success through re-iteration, that allows us the flexibility and high capacity for adaptations. 4.With these tools, a solution is developed until we finally reach the desired final product, which is the one that is launched on the market. After your work as the Director of Research and Development, can you tell us, in your opinion, what is the importance of the Research and Development Center? In line with the company’s mission, Lantek has always maintained a strong commitment to research and development as a base for improving the productivity of business customers. The Research and Development area is one of the cornerstones, together with globalization.
We are a technological business and our “Leitmotif� is to assure customers that we have the best tools available. For that reason, we need to keep evolving until we are able to optimize our production, satisfying customer needs and solving current and future problems. Each year we invest around 20% of our Research and Development budget on manufacturing, on improved development, and on consolidating products and launching new systems. What capacity does Lantek have in comparison to the competitors? Lantek is the only company that investigates using technology that is not directly related to our sector in order to get used in our sector. We investigate parallel elements with a view to the future, learning and seeing future changes and leaps forward that are happening. In the last magazine we talked about REPLICA. Can you explain to us exactly what it is and how it could help customers? All companies have different information systems, often managed by a department or area. The interconnecting of those departments, so that information is shared and the flow of information is not interrupted, is one of the weaknesses experienced by many companies; and therefore, is one of the company’s needs. REPLICA is a set of technologies and tools that interconnect Lantek systems with other systems, integrating information flow. What level of acceptance do systems created by Lantek have in the industrial market? In other words, what do customers most value about systems created by Lantek? The thing that customers most value about us is that if they have a new problem, we can provide a fast and effective response. On many occasions, not even the customer knows how far we can go to amaze them until they give us a try. One of the strengths of Lantek is our agility. Despite being a large global brand, we are flexible and able to react to new problems.
We collaborate widely with our customers to find out firsthand the needs and problems of their production management. Is there any important development in the new software versions this year? Since 2010, intense work has been carried out in the area of geographic and mathematical algorithms, with developments that have allowed us to carry out multiple prototypes with new algorhythmic functions (for example, heuristics, genetic algorithms, recognition of artificial shapes and systems of learning) until we reach the best results possible. In this version, we launched what is the conclusion of all that we have learned, although there are still many things to launch on to the market when we continue developing. In the next few years, new improvements will be introduced in this area. To conclude, what do you think is going to be the tendency over the course of the next few months with regard to systems and market offers? The trend will move more towards the tools giving concrete answers that the customer needs in advance for the decision-making process and that the systems are more focussed on the control and optimization of business resources. Of all the systems out there on the market, very few are capable of presenting information in such a clear and structured way for the adequate management of systems. Even less so, as this information is oriented towards decision making, and there is no need to correct errors, but rather to anticipate problems and flaws that could appear. In the same way, it is really important that this information is accessible and manageable at any moment and using different devices. The future of Lantek is what it is because of our wide collaboration with our customers, growing together and developing the systems that they need. With the help of customers, we can make better products and never let our customers down.
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technologies
Juan Carlos Poza CAD/CAM Systems Architect
Optimize speed of water jet cutter machine The speed of the cutter is one of the most important aspects to consider with respect to water jet cutters. A precise calculation of the speed at each moment will allow a piece to be cut with the precision required in the least time and at the lowest cost. Calculation of the cutter’s speed The speed of the cutter in these machines depends upon the following factors: - material and its thickness. - cutting conditions of the machine: pressure, hole diameter and mixing tube diameter. - abrasive: flow and type of abrasion. In order to determine the speed in each instance, technological tables can be used to define what speed will be most appropriate in line with the conditions in which the cutting will take place. These tables are calculated based on tests in each of the conditions. The speed can also be calculated automatically using empirical formulas which calculate the most appropriate speed in pre-determined conditions, taking into account all the previously mentioned factors. Geometry of the piece
Correction of the conicity and delay of the water jet
The speed calculated in the last point refers to the most efficient speed for cutting in a straight line. In order to achieve a good quality of cut of the head of the piece, it is necessary to reduce the speed on corners and curves.
The conicity and the delay on the jet are two factors that affect the precision of the piece. The conicity is the difference in measurement between the top side of the piece and the lower side; and, it is caused by the reaction between the water jet and the material. On the other hand, marks are caused on the outline of the piece owing to the effects of the water jet on the lower part of the surface. In order to reduce these effects it is advisable to increase the power or decrease the speed of the cutter.
Correct optimization of this process allows the required precision of the piece to function as quickly as possible. It is about cutting at the maximum speed at any given moment, that is to say, finding the best speed and acceleration for each corner and curve of the geometry of the piece. Another aspect to bear in mind is the additional time taken for the perforation of the material. To make the perforations of the piece in the shape, the appropriate length and speed also optimizes the time and cost of the piece.
Another way of correcting them is to make small inclinations on the upper part in the opposite direction to the conicity and the delayed flow. In order to carry out these minor angular adjustments, it is necessary for the head of the machine to have the capacity to support the inclinations. Not sure about that word “inclinations.�
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innovation
José Ignacio Moreno Enterprise Systems Architect
Business Intelligence BI (Business Intelligence) is a discipline which, based on a company's well-defined and clearly quantifiable business goals, aims to help people make decisions that bring the company nearer to achieving these goals. The people involved can be found at every level of the corporate hierarchy: from senior and midlevel managers to equipment operators.
In order to offer this support, the BI tools need to compile the necessary information (generated on a daily basis for the execution of the business processes), prepare it for an effective analysis and show it in an intuitive way, clearly oriented in the contextualized presentation of numerical data that represent the objectives set out. The origin of the data is the information stores used in the daily work: sales, purchases, manufacturing, support, financing and others. The information with which the systems work is stored in related databases, although it can also be found in other media such as Excel, XML and other web services. This data can be divided into two categories: •Master data: Necessary for the process: customers, suppliers, products, employees and many others. •Transactional data: Generated by the daily processes: orders, invoices, purchase orders, store movement, manufacturing orders and many others. If the master data is ‘support information’ to the process, the transactional data is the actual processes and, for that reason, is of the utmost importance. This type of storage system contains OLTP (Online Transactional Processing) data, which has two principal characteristics: its preciseness and the fact that it is highly standardized (in order to be created and rapidly modified). Unfortunately, these characteristics mean that these stores are not ideal for analysis tools that require highly destandardized, transformed, grouped, and aggregated data. Following reasoning, it is supposed that to optimize the analysis tools, they must be supplied with other stored data, which has been specifically prepared.
The OLAP data is of two types: •Facts: Numbers that correspond to the measures of the objectives in question: sales, purchases, debts, number of problems resolved, financial problems and many others. •Dimensions: They allow the facts to be put in context: companies, products, employees, business units, and dates. The facts alone do not usually reveal anything significant; the dimensions are what give them their meaning. It is possible, for example, to analyze and compare sales (facts) in terms of employees, products, business units, or, in determined periods of time such as years, quarters or months (dimensions). In this point the BI pillars have been defined: the OLTP data and the OLAP data. Clearly, it is necessary to include a third component in order to extract the OLTP data, transform it and implement it in OLAP stores: this process is called ETL (Extract, Transform and Load). The ETL processes may be executed manually or periodically so that the OLTP data generated can be incorporated in OLAP stores. In order to close the circle, the analytical tools show the OLAP data on a dashboard interface by means of displaying the data (tables, graphs and indicators) and controls that structure and filter the dimensions. The dashboard interfaces are intuitive, fast, very dynamic and allow you to see, categorize, group, and compare the information from multiple points of view. Additionally, these characteristics are what makes it possible to meet the initially set out objective, helping people to make decisions that allow the company to meet its objectives.
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news Lantek’s latest software includes pioneering nesting solutions and intelligent integration Lantek has launched its new 2013 portfolio with significant innovations. These include ground breaking developments which result in more efficient nesting, punching, machining, and tube profile cutting. In addition, the new version provides solutions for controlling the simplest to the most sophisticated data in a manufacturing plant. The two main innovations that stand out in Lantek’s 2013 portfolio are its nesting solutions and intelligent integration mechanisms. The 2013 version of its CAD/CAM software provides revolutionary advances in the calculation of nests. The new system, based on state-of-the-art artificial intelligence ‘ThinkingMetal’ technology, incorporates powerful algorithms and mathematical morphology strategies which enable sheets to be optimized very easily, avoiding errors in the machining process and producing a significant reduction in wasted material as well as shorter production times.
Optimized work environment with total connectivity Lantek has significantly improved the Lantek Flex3d solution for producing steel contours and pre-fabricated structures. It now incorporates an optimized work environment with total connectivity with all CAD and BIM software in the market. The new version of Lantek Flex3d includes a complete re-engineering of the machining engine, the nesting simulation, and the turret management. Lantek Flex3d solutions are at the forefront of 5-axis machining technology as they now allow the cutting vector to be inclined, the speed on corners for water jet cutters to be reduced, and the technology tables to be configured for the perfect adjustment of cutting parameters for each machine. For profile finishing, Lantek Flex3d now has new milling features and new parameters for checking the automatic drilling and marking process. All of these solutions are complemented by ‘Replica’, an intelligent integration mechanism that connects the nesting and machining processes to a company’s systems management environment. Capacity for connection and integration with all kinds of software management systems The new ‘Replica’ integration mechanisms, in the latest version of the software, increase the options
available for connecting the management, design and production processes of sheet metal companies and multiply the current and future capacity of these systems. ‘Replica’ offers several machine integration solutions, including ‘Masterlink’. This mechanism connects the CAD/CAM systems with the company management system through the exchange of XML, DWG/DXF, SAT, IGES and STEP files. In addition to ‘Masterlink’, the latest version provides new XML importers for holes in tubes and drilled holes in profiles, as well as a new technology table importer. Improved touchscreen interface In this version, Lantek has also improved the optimization of the data capturing processes in the manufacturing plant. Included is a new, easy-to-use touchscreen interface for the Lantek Wos validation and control system, which allows for better flexibility and adaptation, providing interactive communication with managers or between operators. Thanks to the powerful ‘AvantiaServices’ API, an operator can validate a complete order, a specific manufacturing order, or perform partial validations, for one or several operations. With ‘AvantiaServices’, the company can synchronize data in real time, even on mobile devices.
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case studies Lantek CAD/CAM heats up coffee making Coffee has an image of style and sophistication which is reinforced by the cool design of coffee machines. Birmingham Company, Fracino, has been making coffee machines since 1963 and, with the help of Lantek’s sheet metal CAD/CAM software, has implemented the latest laser cutting technology.
Fracino has a range of over 40 different machines and its success has been recognized at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards, where it won the Outstanding Exporter of the Year award and the National Winner of Winners award. While at the Essential Cafe Trade Awards, it won the Manufacturer of the Year award. Fracino even exports coffee machines to Italy! The company decided it wanted to move its sheet metal manufacture inhouse and purchased an Amada Alpha III 3 kw laser. Paul Gurevitch-Beacock, Sheet Metal Manager, says, “Although this machine was pre-owned, it was a major investment for our company. I have had around nine years of experience with Lantek working for a previous employer; and, in my experience, Lantek Expert is both easy to use and efficient. Additionally, the company’s staff is very helpful. So, it was the obvious choice for Fracino.” The company uses Lantek Expert and Lantek Flex3d. Paul Gurevitch-Beacock adds, We use SolidWorks and AutoCAD for our designs, which are continually evolving, and Lantek Flex3d works great with Solidworks, enabling us to get to a flat pattern with the touch of a button. For simple parts, we can design directly in Lantek Expert which further increases our flexibility. With distributors in many countries around the world, including Poland and Australia, Fracino manufactures around 3000 machines each year.
Its customers demand innovative and stylish designs, delivered on time and to a high standard of quality, which makes the new sheet metal production facility a very important part of its business. Lantek has been able to enhance the performance of the Amada to help the company achieve its aims. Paul Gurevitch-Beacock says, “We cut a lot of plastic coated stainless and Lantek has provided us with a special routine, which was not available on the machine, to pre-pierce the sheet, which stops the plastic blowing up during cutting. Lantek also developed a capability which enables us to stop the machine between components for checking first offs and extra functions to allow us to skip over problem parts.” As the company makes its own products, it nests multiple parts of the same type on each sheet, achieving 8090% material utilization rates. Furthermore, it uses offcuts for sampling and prototype applications, further reducing material wastage. Paul Gurevitch-Beacock was pleased with the implementation of the Lantek software. “Once we had the laser installed, Lantek provided the postprocessor, connected the cables for communication to the machine, set the parameters and carried out test cuts. After we had been using the laser for a little while, they returned to customize the postprocessor for us to provide the special functionality we needed. Their understanding of both the Amada and their own software made it a trouble free process.”
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services Check the QR code for more information!
UPGRADE
Lantek Trick Optimum Nestings Do you know how to find the best nesting for high quantity pieces? When there are high quantity pieces, the best way to nest them is to use modules that optimize space and therefore waste as little space as possible between them. Then, the nesting comprises the regular nesting option. This is activated automatically with ‘level 2’ of automatic nesting. This option, together with the option to look for special rotations, achieves the best nestings for this type of piece.
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exhibitions • Every year, Lantek is committed to being present at the sector’s most important fairs, both at a national and international level. • Request your invitation by scanning the QR code.
FABTECH MEXICO 2013 MONTERREY- Mexico
ITM POLSKA 2013 POZNAN - POLAND
07 - 09 MAY
04 - 07 JUNE
Next Tradeshows EMO 2013
TOLEXPO 2013
FABTECH 2013
SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER 19/22
NOVEMBER 18/21
HANNOVER- GERMANY
PARIS - FRANCE
CHICAGO - USA
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