Celebrating Milestones By Jean-Pierre Lefebvre, Chairman

Transcription

1 LVD s Global Perspective DISCOVERY ISSUE Number INSIDE This Issue Celebrating Milestones By Jean-Pierre Lefebvre, Chairman 2008 marked the ten year anniversary of LVD s acquisition of Strippit, Inc. We reflect on this milestone as we introduce the new Strippit LP-1225 laser/punch combination machine to the Strippit punch press family. The LP-1225 combines punch press technology and LVD s laser technology in one unique cost-effective package. All in One The new Strippit LP laser-punch combination system offers punching, forming, tapping, and laser cutting capabilities in a single cost-effective machine tool. See page 3 > Speed, Accuracy & Now Larger Sheet Processing Axel 4020 adds another dimension to the family of high performance Axel laser cutting systems. The machine combines speed and cutting accuracy with the capacity to process large sheets up to 4 x 2 meter. See page 2 > Since merging its talents with the LVD Group, LVD has focused Strippit s punch press development team on engineering machines for the world market, introducing four new punching machinery product lines, as well as new mid-level automation options. The collaborative efforts of Strippit and LVD engineers have brought a new dimension to product development. Today s Strippit punch press products encompass more features, better value, and are applicable to a broader range of users. The new LP laser/punch combination machine epitomizes this evolution, as it perfectly balances functionality with affordability. It is less expensive than two separate machines, incorporates a unique method to remove individual parts after laser contouring, and is fully compatible with our Pick-Sort automated material handling system and addresses issues previously associated with combination machinery. As we celebrate ten years of Strippit being part of the LVD group, we also look ahead to the next chapter of the LVD Group s future growth and expansion. In late 2008, LVD acquired a substantial shareholding in Hubei Tri-Ring Metalforming Equipment Co., Ltd. (HD) of Hubei, China, LVD s licensee in China since The new joint venture is part of LVD s strategic growth in Asia. The operation in China will offer select LVD products to the Chinese and world markets beginning in early The way ahead brings exciting times for LVD. When it comes to delivering sheet metalworking solutions that are best for you, we plan on history repeating itself. First Part, Good Part Accuracy Jungheinrich, one of the world s leading manufacturers of fork lift trucks, uses LVD s Easy-Form Laser technology to keep production at its peak. See page 4 & 5 > Spotlight on India LVD equipment plays strategic role for Indian jobs shops, United Motors and Mark Enterprises, and world s largest manufacturer of enclosure systems, Rittal. See pages 6 & 7 > LVD s Lean Transformation By Carl Dewulf, President and Managing Director, LVD Company nv LVD has carried out an extremely important change, called the Lean Transformation, having its impact on almost every business function within the organization. The manufacturing processes as well as the organizational structure have been fundamentally affected by the implementation of this Lean Thinking methodology. Machine tool manufacture is a very complex activity facing all the problems typical to the discrete manufacturing. The production of customer specific equipment and make- or engineerto-order products in one and the same production environment lead up to complex logistics and a highly uncontrollable throughput. The application of lean manufacturing techniques is considered to be one of the most effective methods to guarantee manageability of the production system. Why are the Lean Thinking principles so effective? The great virtue of Lean Thinking is not directly to provide state-of-the-art solutions for complex problems, but to change the logic of working so that the problems disappear or at least become transparent and by consequence much easier to cope with. Besides reducing complexity and eliminating waste by transparency, Lean Manufacturing is a technique that by concept reduces or even eliminates the variability in the production system. Variability can be found in a production environment under very different forms and is very harmful as the effect is highly non-linear, especially for production units working close to the limits of capacity. Hence, if variability reduction is feasible and affordable, it offers the best of all results. LVD Products and the Lean Principles LVD customers are confronted with the rapidly-changing industrial environment and are more and more implementing the lean manufacturing methods. It is the machine tool manufacturer s task to provide high-technology products and production methods to enable the customer to respond adequately to the evolution in the economic environment. This must include the efficient integration of production means, supplied to the customer s manufacturing system. Consequently the plate working machines developed by LVD have undergone a considerable change. The reduction of setup times and flexible automation have become major targets for product development. Read the full article online at - News Archive Sheet Metalworking, Our Passion, Your Solution

2 2 ISSUE Number Axel 4020: Dynamic Processing of 4 x 2 Meter Sheets Axel 4020 features a modular construction and is designed for easy of use. Axel Features: Dynamic processing of sheets up to 4 x 2 meters Laser source, CNC, PLC and motors are integrated and interfaced as a complete system to optimize machine performance, offering high speed and reliability, low operating and maintenance costs High speed cutting of thin materials up to 40 meters/min.; thick materials up to 25mm mild steel with high quality surface finish Standard integrated shuttle tables for continuous, uninterrupted part processing Optional automated load/unload system Axel 4020 is the latest addition to the LVD family of high performance Axel laser cutting systems with the ability to process materials up to 4 x 2 meters and featuring integrated automation and optional load/unload. Axel 4020 offers maximum performance when processing thin sheets and thick materials, and is available with 2.5, 4, 5 and 6 kw laser sources.the high pressure (clean cut) cutting head can hold a 5, 7.5 or 10 cutting lens. The high-pressure cutting head produces exceptionally clean cuts and is equipped with a safety system that protects the head from collision with the workpiece. The high quality of the laser beam allows processing of thin material at high speeds up to 40 meters/minute and thick material up to 25mm mild steel with high quality surface finishes. Integrated Laser & CNC Control The laser source, CNC, PLC and motors are integrated and interfaced as a complete system to optimize machine performance, offering high speed and reliability, low operating and maintenance costs. The integrated control provides perfect reproduction of programmed contours, producing acute angles at high speed. All parameters, diagnostic and start-up procedures are conveniently displayed on a color screen. The powerful 32-bit control features an extensive material library. High Processing Speed with Superior Quality The frame design incorporates high precision hardened guideways and optimal drive systems to achieve high-speed acceleration and positioning speeds. The rigid frame construction minimizes deformation caused by high acceleration, improving overall machine accuracy. Axel 4020 features a constant beam length system that keeps the diameter of the laser beam constant, maintaining a fixed focal point position. The result is higher cutting speeds and superior cut quality maintained over the entire working area. Integrated Automation & Optional Load/Unload Axel 4020 is designed with a modular construction. The machine is standard with integrated shuttle tables for continuous, uninterrupted part processing. The shuttle table design allows one table to be loaded while the machine is cutting on the other table, maximizing uptime with a changeover time of only 24 seconds. The Axel 4020 is available with an automated load/unload system or can also be retrofitted with a load/unload system at a later date. Axel 4020 brochure now available, visit

3 3 LVD Discovery Strippit LP-1225: Punching Productivity Laser Flexibility The STRIPPIT LP-1225 machine redefines laser-punch combination technology with an efficient, economical design from the company that introduced combination technology to the marketplace in Why Combination Technology? In today s manufacturing environment the need to produce piece parts more efficiently is a constant demand. Laser cutting reduces secondary finishing, cuts exotic materials and processes intricate shapes. Combination technology is ideal for components that require holes, forms and profiles. While combination technology provides all-in-one processing, it often requires a substantial investment, forcing users to produce complex, higher value parts in order to achieve a return on investment. The LP-1225 redefines combination technology with the perfect balance of functionality and economy, combining field proven LVD - Fanuc GE laser technology and LVD Strippit punch press technology in a price sensitive integrated machine. The LP-1225 is available standalone or as part of an integrated Pick-Sort material handling system for unmanned automated piece part processing with minimal operator intervention. The Laser Fanuc GE CO2 laser resonator generates up to 2500 Watts of cutting power to cut intricate shapes in metals and non-metals Complete integration of the Fanuc GE laser source, CNC control, AC digital motors and amplifiers offers a high degree of reliability and superior processing speed Fanuc GE resonator is equipped with long-life discharge tubes, a cyclone cleaner unit, and photo catalytic elements to maximize resonator performance and longevity Laser power is matched to the axis speed to achieve a constant width of cut with a small heat-affected zone Large 300 mm x 450 mm programmable parts chute allows finished laser-cut parts to be directed through a drop door, eliminating the need to tab or micro-joint laser-cut parts for manual removal from a nested sheet The Punch Press Stress relieved, single piece bridge frame and widespread axis bearing system provide rugged performance Precision servo controlled hydraulic system delivers high punching and forming rates Direct drive axis reliably maintains close part tolerances Accuracy of ± 0.10 mm with a repeatability of ± 0.05 mm over the entire table is consistently achieved Compactly designed 33-station thick tool style turret lends large capacity Three 50.8 mm direct-drive auto index stations accept standard, tapping or wheel style tooling Quick change die bases in the 12.7 mm and 31.7 mm stations reduce tool change time and increase uptime Smart Clamp feature automatically determines exact clamp locations to provide the smallest possible no-punch zone A brush table minimizes noise and part scratching. The Automation Component Pick-Sort unit creates a lights-out sheet metal fabrication cell Automatically loads, picks and sorts punched or laser cut parts and offloads skeleton sheets Maximizes machine throughput Automatically processes sheets up to 1250 mm x 2500 mm Handles parts as small as 320 x 160 mm Provides complete integration and control of process data Provides a flexible, configurable material handling option The Strippit LP-1225 features a 33-station turret and 2.5 kw laser. A programmable parts chute allows laser cut parts to be quickly and easily evacuated, minimizing material handling.

4 4 ISSUE Number Press Brake Accuracy Boosts Productivity at Jungheinrich Accurately formed parts produced on an LVD Easy-Form Laser press brake are helping one of the world s leading manufacturers of fork lift trucks to cut scrap and increase productivity. At its production plant in Moosburg, Bavaria, Jungheinrich not only produces around conventional counterweight fork lift trucks a year, it also produces more specialized order picking and stacking trucks that are integrated into its high-bay, narrow aisle warehouse systems. The LVD Easy-Form 320/30 Series press brake, together with LVD CADMAN B 3D software, was installed last year to form the larger and thicker parts required for a new range of bigger warehouse trucks with a higher lifting capacity. It was not just a question of putting in more forming power though, the existing press brake installation suffered from serious accuracy issues that often required time-consuming remedial action or even the scrapping of components....major benefits of the LVD Easy-Form Laser system is that the bend geometry is guaranteed to be totally accurate. As Bernhard Petermaier, technical engineer in Jungheinrich s warehouse truck production facility, explains, in contrast to the volume production methods used on the conventional fork lift trucks, these high rack stackers are much more of a bespoke product. Each truck is produced to order for a specific customer s installation, and although they are built to a modular design there is a vast number of different configurations possible. The reach height, the lifting capacity and the width can all vary, as can factors such as the position of the cab and how many axes the stacker forks can operate in. It all depends on the configuration of the individual warehouse system. The high rack stackers are predominantly manufactured from plate parts that are formed and then welded together to produce fabricated assemblies such as the cab, lifting gear, and so on. Jungheinrich works to a weekly production schedule based on current orders and delivery schedules. Blanks are developed from 3D CATIA 5 IGES files using the CADMAN B 3D software and nested onto structural steel plate generally from 2mm to 10mm thick. They are then cut out on a laser, plasma or oxy-gas profiling machine before progressing to the press brake. The formed components are first of all assembled in jigs, together with any Jungheinrich uses an LVD Easy-Form 320/30 press brake and CADMAN-B 3D programming software to form parts for warehouse trucks. Jungheinrich is a leading manufacturer of fork lift trucks, producing approximately conventional counter-weight fork lift trucks a year. subcontracted parts that need to be incorporated, and manually tack welded before progressing to final welding in a robot cell. Tack welding gives a rigid structure that is easy to manipulate and fixture in the robot cell and gives the robot head easy access to all the weld seams. The accuracy of the formed parts is vital to ensure that all the components fit together correctly, says Bernhard Petermaier. We had accuracy issues with our existing production installation and this was one of the key selection criteria when it came to choosing a machine for the new trucks. The welds are safetycritical and depend on an accurate fit-up to ensure their strength and integrity. In the past we had to do a lot of remedial work and sometimes even had to scrap components. One of the major benefits of the LVD Easy-Form Laser system is that the bend geometry is guaranteed to be totally accurate. This is particularly important where small batches are concerned, as there is no margin for error or opportunity to do a test component. We are producing a lot of different parts in small volumes so it needs to be a very flexible system, says Mr Petermaier. We can be making one-offs, but generally batches are in the region of around 60-off and don t often exceed 100 for larger parts. The combination of small batches and the need for precise fit-up meant that it was important to have a system such as the LVD Easy-Form Laser that guaranteed that every part was right first time. The LVD Easy-Form Laser measures the bend angle in real time during the forming process and makes continuous adjustments to ensure that the correct bend angle is achieved. This is particularly important when there is a high degree of variability possible in the material and in the case of the hot rolled plate used here that is a very real problem. The Easy-Form Laser adaptive bending device measures the bend angle in real time and delivers first part, good part accuracy consistently. Variation in the forming behaviour of the steel, and hence potential problems with bend repeatability, arise from a number of factors. These include thickness variations from the start to the end of the coil, the rolling direction, and variations in material properties from differential cooling rates across the width of the coil. The outside edge of the coil cools more quickly than the center, making it harder and less ductile and when the parts are nested onto a plate the orientation of the part with respect to the rolling direction can vary from one part to the next, affecting the bend angle and radius. If you make a part today and make it again in three weeks time you have no idea how that material is going to respond. The nesting could be completely different and so could the

5 5 LVD Discovery RECENT Installations LVD equipment is installed in manufacturing facilities across the globe, including some of the best-known manufacturing companies in the world. Recent installations include the following: The LVD press brake allows Jungheinrich to produce a new range of larger warehouse trucks with higher lifting capacity. material, but with the Easy-Form Laser system it doesn t matter, you don t need to know about the material you are processing. And you can use it on every bend with no time penalty as the measurement is carried out during the bending process, says Mr Petermaier. He says that when Jungheinrich decided to invest in the new machine it compared the offerings from various suppliers before deciding on the LVD press brake. The quality of the parts we are producing is much higher... We did a matrix comparison and certainly the price and specification were good. But the most important factor in the decision was that LVD was the only company that managed to produce a surprise test piece. We gave them the blank and the program and they got the part right first time the only ones that could do so. And on the software we gave them three sample parts and they made all the developments from the 3D model using CADMAN B 3D and got all the blanks right with all the right bend allowances. We are very happy with our LVD Easy-Form Laser press brake, it does everything we hoped for. The quality of the parts we are producing is much higher, giving us higher productivity in assembly and welding because the fitup is much more accurate. With a press brake alone you can t take any time out of the bending process, you can only reduce the non-productive times measurement, inspection and time taken to recover from defects. I would be happy to recommend LVD press brakes to others. High rack stackers are manufactured from plate parts that are formed and then welded together to produce fabricated assemblies such as the cab, lifting gear, etc. Malaysia Supreme Steel Makers Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, a leading stainless steel products supplier, has added a PPEB-EFL 170/40 Easy Form press brake and an MVS 40/6 touch screen guillotine shear to complement its existing three LVD laser cutting systems and to enhance valueadded services to a growing customer base. Norway TI Industri AS, Honefoss. Since its inception in 1982, leading Norwegian subcontractor TI Industri AS has continued to invest in LVD shearing and bending technology. This year TI Industri, which specializes in producing formed components for the truck trailer industry, added an Easy-Form 220 ton 3 meter press brake, providing the additional capacity of LVD s patented Easy-Form in process angle monitoring and correction bending technology. Poland PP Polkon, Trzcianka, a leading producer of transport vehicles in Poland, has installed an LVD Impuls 6020 laser cutting system and tandem PPEB-H 400/40 press brakes. The company produces an average of 500 vehicles annually and will use the new equipment to add capacity, increase productivity and streamline manufacturing operations. Germany CLAAS, Harsewinckel, a world leading manufacturer of farming machinery, has fully integrated LVD equipment into its metal fabrication operation. The company recently added an Easy-Form 220/40 press brake to its existing four LVD press brakes, three automated and one stand-alone model. CLAAS is still expecting delivery of an additional Easy-Form press brake for training purposes. Turkey Inoksan, Nilufer/ Bursa, one of the largest industrial kitchen equipment manufacturers in Turkey, recently installed three Easy-Form press brakes, a Strippit P-Series CNC turret punch press, and MVS shear. Nova, Kocaeli, has added two Easy-Form 135/30 press brakes in tandem, a Strippit V CNC turret punch press, and MVS 60/13 shear to its existing line of metal fabrication equipment. The company produces brand image items, including fascias, signs, furniture, etc. for a variety of industries, including automotive, telecommunications, retail and others. Australia Laser Dynamics Australia Pty Ltd., Brisbane, has installed two Impuls 12 meter 5 kw laser cutting systems and an Easy-Form 320/30 press brake for precision processing of laser cut components for the mining and defense industries. United States Ultra Machine & Fabrication, Shelby, NC, has installed a custom 1700-ton PPEB press brake for precision forming of armor parts and weldments for military vehicles. The installation is a turnkey system comprised of the press brake, automation and evacuation and forming tools. France AMCO-SYSTEMES, Péronne, has installed an Orion 3015 Plus laser cutting system with automatic load/unload unit. This investment has allowed AMCO- SYSTEMES to re-integrate laser cutting linked to its production.

6 6 ISSUE Number SPOTLIGHT: India High Performance Equipment Plays Strategic Role LVD rings in total self reliance at Mark Enterprises From a time when most production jobs were either outsourced or done manually, Mark Enterprises, in the last 8 months, rapidly scaled up to become a one-stop-solution-shop. The key factor behind such an unprecedented growth was a strategic business decision to invest in LVD cutting and shearing machines. Established in 1999 by Mr. Bandewar, Mark Enterprises boasts a fully equipped metal fabrication shop in Pune, India with a capacity to produce high quality industrial fabrication work catering to the automobile, machine tools, power and automation industries. We started as a small unit with only 3-4 people. And most of the work was done manually. When we sensed that the need of the hour was speed and quantity, we quickly switched to outsourcing nearly 85% of our jobs to various vendors, says Bandewar, the founder of Mark Enterprises. Business flourished as a result of this shift to meet growing customer and market demands. But with the burgeoning market, Bandewar soon realized the huge difficulties of outsourcing in a market scenario where there is an ever-increasing demand for quality consistency, customization, bulk quantities and exacting timelines. He says, Mulling with the automation idea for sometime, we finally, in late 2007, took a big capital investment decision towards self reliance and zeroed-in on LVD s laser cutting and shearing machines to become the first enterprise in the private manufacturing sector in Pune to install LVD machinery. Mark Enterprises is primarily engaged in the manufacture of aluminum tanks for Radiators and various aluminum components for the Automobile industry, Heatsink and battery stand for the power industry, SS Structural fabrication for machine tool industry and aluminum panel boxes for special purpose applications. Inconsistency in quality and accurate performance setting between two production schedules were the two big problems that Mark Enterprises had to cope with earlier while outsourcing jobs to various vendors....we can now promise clients high quality products and faster deliveries. Consistently high quality components from one setting to the other without any loss of time. We can now promise clients high quality products and faster deliveries. With LVD our business is totally self reliant and is all set to grow in leap and bounds, exclaims Bandewar. Squarely impressed with the turnaround brought in by LVD; through their distinct culture of manufacture, R&D and application engineering, Mark Enterprises have recently purchased a 200 ton press brake from LVD. An Orion 3015 laser cutting system has helped Mark Enterprises increase productivity and improve quality with reliable, accurate processing of precision fabricated components. But now, with an LVD Orion 3015 laser cutting system, where the performance can be easily preset and programmed accurately to deliver and maintain a high level of consistency in quality, there is increased productivity and no room for quality and performance concerns. Bandewar s decision to go ahead with LVD machines purely on the basis of its high quality and technology credentials has paid rich dividends reduced operational and running costs, increased productivity and low down time. We are saving a lot on energy bills. There is minimum wastage. Operation costs have since reduced 90%. We are able to shift First Bend is the Right Bend First bend is the right bend says Mr. K V Srinivas, referring to LVD s bending machines at Rittal s massive facility in Bangalore, India. Srinivas is the Vice President-Operations at Rittal India P Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary company of Rittal GmbH & Co KG Germany. Rittal, a group company of Friedhelm Loh Germany, is the world s largest manufacturer of enclosure systems since Worldwide, with about employees, 19 production plants, 70 agencies, 150 sales and logistics centres and a prominent presence in 64 countries, Rittal is today the world s number one enclosure manufacturer. Rittal commenced its Indian operations in Manufacturing, however, started only in 1997 with the setting up of its first facility in JV with an Indian partner. Soon, Rittal India P Ltd was wholly acquired by Rittal GmbH & Co KG Germany....their precise bending angles make LVD machines the most preferred... Rittal manufactures top-of-the-line enclosures for the industrial, electrical and IT markets, ranging from small and large modular enclosure systems to electronic systems enclosures to climate controlled enclosures to power distribution panel enclosures and data and telecommunication system enclosures; aesthetically built using the latest technology and possessing an inimitable quality of superior German engineering. Evolving every year, Rittal has steadily moved from a purely mechanical manufacturing process now to a highly automated Computer Integrated production process deploying the latest and most sophisticated machines; including over a dozen robots. Four state-of-the-art LVD bending machines occupy a key and strategic position in the huge production process lines at Rittal s Bangalore facility. With the latest two machines being LVD Easy-Form Laser Series press brakes fitted with LVD s patented Easy-Form Laser in process adaptive forming system and T Axis programmable sheet support for the efficient processing of large sheets. Whatever the material (Aluminium, Mild Steel, Stainless Steel, etc), across the grain or against the grain, the Easy-Form Laser system in the Easy-Form Series machines uses the dual intelligent laser sensors and techniques such as 3-point measurement, to constantly check bend angles in process ensuring consistent and precise bend angles. The T-Axis programmable CNC sheet follower system supports and follows perfectly the sheet during the bending process and bring down the sheet when the The Easy-Form Laser system constantly checks bend angles in process, ensuring consistent and precise bends every time.

7 7 LVD Discovery LVD s highly intelligent precision machines are vital in a 100% EOU environment Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons, Dubai is a large conglomerate of companies engaged in construction, manufacture of trucks and heavy earth moving equipment, real estate, hospitality, Finance & Investments and IT. United Motors & Heavy Equipments Co (UMHECO), a subsidiary of DBA & Sons, was originally set up in 2001 to source Heavy Earth moving machinery spares and components for the Group s Construction and Heavy Earth moving equipment & Trucks division in the middle-east. The idea was to become channel partners with as many world-renowned component manufacturers and aim at streamlining the entire supply chain of products, so that the group delivers best value to customers. Mr. Vinod Kumar, General Manager of UMHECO, delivers high precision products to an international market using equipment such as LVD s PPEB With the opening of operations in Bangalore, India in 2003, there was a definitive focus shift from sourcing to manufacture. Mr. Vinod Kumar, General Manager of UMHECO, Bangalore India says During this time, the steep increase in the cost of manufacture forced most component and parts makers in Europe to shut their production facilities and look towards India and other South Asian countries as a viable outsourcing hub. United Motors was quick to adapt to the changed world scenario. Their imposing 5-acre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hoskote near Bangalore has, in less than a year, developed tremendous capabilities to fabricate and manufacture heavy machining structures. Thanks to some world-class, highly reliable, intelligent machinery like LVD, among others, we are able to deliver high precision products to a demanding international market, declares Vinod. Conventional machines couldn t be relied on for performance consistency in giving 100% accurate results. Moreover, precise specification and quality repeatability could not be achieved with these machines. We wanted a highly accurate, reliable, 100% CNC controlled, easily programmable, and user-friendly but fully system dependent machine with a precise repeatability feature. LVD was the automatic and ideal choice that matched our highly demanding application requirement, maintains Vinod. United Motors employs a 320/4000mm PPEB-5 LVD Bending machine for all its precision bending operations. The highly flexible 320T comes with an intuitive and intelligent CADMAN CNC PC based control ensures precise and excellent bending results. Press brakes up to 320 Tons can be designed and built utilizing a welded one-piece frame, machined without repositioning and stress relieved by vibration, guaranteeing machine precision. For optimum part production, 2D & 3D color graphics simulate part creation and display material handling sequencing. A fully offline integration and programming via CADMAN B-3D software too is possible with the LVD 320T. UMHECO uses a 320/4000mm PPEB-5 press brake to realize accurate bending results when producing parts for heavy earth moving equipment. Being a 100% Export Oriented Unit and catering to some of the big names in heavy earth moving and construction industries, United Motors realizes the immense significance of intelligent precision machinery to consistently achieve exacting international standards. Many a time the achievability of the end result in manufacture is decided on the machine deployed. Vinod explains, There have been many instances where our clients have concluded that if you have a LVD machine, then we know you can easily achieve the desired result. LVD was the automatic and ideal choice that matched our highly demanding application requirement. Ambitious future plans are afoot at United Motors to engineer unique products that would largely cater to the Aviation and Oil & Gas industries. With LVD helping United Motors achieve nearly 40% productivity increase, there s a strong likelihood of more LVD machines lining up their shop floor if and when their plans take wings. bend is accomplished. Fully synchronized with the bending speed of the press brake, the trajectory is calculated automatically depending on the size of the V-die. T-Axis system is a first-of-its-kind new feature available only on LVD PPEB and Easy-Form series press brakes, ensures 100% bending accuracy and quality from the very first bend, every time, all the time. In fact, all complex bends are invariably put on a LVD machine, confides Srinivas. LVD s forte lies in its outstanding application engineering capabilities, incomparable with Rittal employs four LVD Easy-Form Series press brakes with T-axis programmable sheet supports to accurately bend aluminum, mild steel and stainless steel in large sheet sizes. any brand in the market. Machines are engineered and developed with a strong understanding of user requirements, making the production process simpler and highly productive. Features like controllers, 2D and 3D graphics, repeatability, flexibility, easy programmability, offline integration and a facility to feed and store a database of more than 40,000 different materials and their precise bending angles make LVD machines the most preferred, says Srinivas. He continues, Two press brakes, as old as 25 years and still performing efficiently, clearly exemplify the reliability and ruggedness of LVD machines. Reliability and cost are important factors that influence any procurement decision. So is service support. Unlike a cell process of manufacture, machine down time is extremely critical in a line process set up. Having the best, highly sophisticated, feature-rich machines is just not Mr. K V Srinivas is the Vice President-Operations at Rittal India P Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary company of Rittal GmbH & Co KG Germany, the world s largest manufacturer of enclosure systems. good enough, if it is not backed by an equally good and efficient service support network. LVD, working very closely with their partners in India, have ensured an exceptionally high quality of service support to back their worldclass machines, Srinivas concludes.

8 LVD s Global Perspective DISCOVERY Trade Show Schedule Steelfab Sharjah, UAE - January Fabtec Coimbatore, India - January Intec Leipzig, Germany - February Tatef Istanbul, Turkey - March31 - April 5 CIMT Bejing, China - April 6-11 Austech Melbourne, Australia - May Metalworking Moscow, Russia - May Mach Tool ITM Poznan, Poland - June MSV Brno Brno, Czech Republic - September Fabtech International & AWS Welding Show Chicago, Illinois, USA - November Blechexpo Stuttgart, Germany - December 1-4 HEADQUARTERS LVD Company nv Nijverheidslaan 2 B-8560 GULLEGEM BELGIUM Tel Fax info@lvd.be Strippit Inc Clarence Center Rd. USA-AKRON NY UNITED STATES Tel Fax info@strippit.com SUBSIDIARIES* LVD BeNeLux nv Gullegem, Belgium LVD GmbH Lahr, Germany LVD s.a. Raismes, France LVD Ltd. Oxfordshire, United Kingdom LVD Italia s.r.l. Parma, Italy LVD SWE-NOR A/S Oslo, Norway LVD GR E.P.E. Volos, Greece LVD-Polska Sp. z.o.o. Kedzierzyn-Kozle, Poland LVD SIT d.o.o. Ajdovscina, Slovenia LVD S 2 Tornala, Slovakia LVD Napomar s.a. Cluj, Romania LVD do Brasil Ltda Joinville, Brazil P.T. LVD Center Jakarta, Indonesia Magal LVD India Pvt Ltd. Bangalore, India LVD (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd Shah Alam, Malaysia LVD Company Ltd. Bangkok, Thailand LVD-Strippit (Shanghai) Co., Ltd Shanghai, China Tell us about your application Have a unique or interesting application for your LVD equipment? Tell us all about it and you could be featured in the next issue of Discovery. Send your information to info@lvd.be *For full address details of your local subsidiary or agent, or to download the latest literature, please visit our website: Sheet metalworking solutions perfect solutions Flexible and productive manufacturing environments demand an integrated process solution. At LVD we have THE solution. We look at the whole process from laser cutting, to punching, to bending, ensuring that all our machines work together to form an integrated process solution. What ever your requirements are we have the perfect solution for you. To help your workshop on the way to perfection call us on Perfect.