Design Freeze: The final system concept for the first series system for high-speed laser blanking has been approved. This was announced by the Bilstein Group in Hagen-Hohenlimburg, represented by its subsidiary Bilcut GmbH, and Automatic-Systeme Dreher GmbH from Sulz a. N.. Construction of the plant can therefore begin.
The aim of the two partners is to raise the production of shaped blanks in the field of laser blanking to a new level of performance with the new system concept. Based on the agile laser cutting technology from Automatic-Systeme Dreher GmbH, which was developed jointly with the Bilstein Group, the Fraunhofer ILT and the Karlsruhe KIT, a decisive step has been taken towards a more resource-efficient and at the same time highly flexible series production of molded blanks. The technology combines the advantages of conventional blanking using a punching press and laser blanking.
The innovative system technology is characterized by a special feature that enables the two laser heads to work in overlapping cutting areas. On the one hand, this enables tight tolerances on the shaped blanks cut by the coil high-speed laser and, on the other, high efficiency of the system technology. The reduction in material usage and CO2 emissions is significant.
“The proof of concept has shown that our system concept meets the requirements of series production,” says Hasan Sarac, Managing Partner of Automatic-Systeme Dreher GmbH. “Together with our partner Bilcut, we are now bringing the technology to industrial application. We are very grateful for the trust placed in us.”
Jörg von Prondzinski, Managing Director of Bilcut GmbH, adds: “Especially in economically challenging times, we are consciously focusing on innovations that combine sustainability, efficiency and flexibility. High-speed laser blanking offers us enormous potential.”
Bilcut GmbH had already secured the exclusive right to the first series system at an early stage. The project was funded by the Environmental Innovation Program of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and will be built at the Hagen site by the end of 2026. Both partners are thus sustainably strengthening Germany as a research and production location.
Premiere at the Dreher Automation Days 2026
Automatic-Systeme Dreher GmbH and Bilcut GmbH are currently carrying out cutting time calculations and cutting tests for interested parties on the prototype laser cell that has already been built. In the fall of 2026, the entire production process from coil to blank stack will be presented for the first time to a selected specialist audience at the next Dreher Automation Days.
What is high-speed laser blanking?
Bilcut stands for “Bilstein High Speed Laser Blanking” – an advanced manufacturing process in which sheet material is continuously cut from a coil into customer-specific shapes (so-called shaped blanks) using laser technology. Compared to the conventional punching process, Bilcut technology enables tool-free, flexible and efficient production of shaped blanks from small to large quantities and, according to Dreher, is faster than laser processes already established on the market.
