At the end of 2023, an Adige LT Fiber tube laser from the Italian BLM Group was taken into use at ITAB Group’s Vaajakoski factory. The machine replaced work phases that were previously carried out by circular sawing and punching, while also enabling the manufacture of entirely new product components in in-house production. Special features of the tube laser include, among others, automatic positioning of holes in pre-perforated tubes using a sensor-based solution, as well as part unloading to the rear side of the machine in line with the production flow.
Results-driven store solutions
ITAB helps its customers transform the consumer’s brand experience into a physical reality through its expertise, solutions and partners. This is achieved by making stores attractive, efficient and seamless environments that deliver new measurable results, such as improved customer experience, sales, efficiency, service and operating costs.
“The new tube laser investment contributes to more efficient and flexible local production for these implementations,” says Production Director Samuli Saastamoinen, and continues: “Through thorough suitability and part-time analyses, as well as comparisons, BLM Group’s Adige LT Fiber EVO model was selected as the most suitable tube laser option. We already had good user experience with the machine at our Lithuanian unit.”
Adige LT Fiber EVO fiber laser
The latest development version of BLM Group’s most delivered tube laser model, the Adige LT Fiber EVO, includes several unique features brought to the market through the continuous product development of a pioneering tube processing manufacturer. From the Active product family, ITAB uses, among other features, Active Scan, which uses scanning technology integrated into the cutting head to convert, for example, the geometry of a square tube into vector graphics. By comparing this with the original product drawing, the positioning of holes can be corrected despite possible deviations in the tube blank. With the Active Weld feature, camera technology is likewise used to position the blank to be cut as desired in relation to the weld seam. The 2 kW IPG fiber laser resonator and the cutting head manufactured by Precitec and developed by BLM Group for Adige TubeCutter are controlled automatically using the standard Active Focus and Active Speed features.
Digital manufacturing
The tube laser is programmed directly from a 3D model in Solidworks format using the Artube software package, which includes, among other things, a library module for Cut and Bend macros. These make it possible to parametrically cut reliefs, through-holes and positioning solutions, for example, enabling a square tube to be folded without bending technology. With the PartViewer module, cutting simulation can be carried out to determine suitability or cutting time already before manufacturing. ProTube Express nests the tube blanks optimally according to production orders, while ProTube Enterprise reports actual production runs and lead times. With this software package, ITAB has also created a digital production environment for its tube processing operations at the Vaajakoski factory.
Local customer service support
“Our FredBest customer service is responsible for local preventive and corrective maintenance together with BLM Group’s remote customer service center,” says Pasi Pitkänen, Managing Director of Fredko Group, and adds: “Our service technicians always also take part in the installation and commissioning phase at the customer’s premises together with the factory’s commissioning engineers, and we carry out periodic inspections and maintenance in accordance with our FredCare maintenance program and the manufacturer’s instructions. In addition, Adige tube lasers include an intuitive maintenance and service manual for recurring maintenance tasks, as well as monitoring of their execution.”
