Sought and found

The decisive criterion for Ferro in choosing the laser cutting system was the possibility of 3D cutting. The new laser rotator can be used to apply simple V and X seams, as well as complex Y or K seams with a bar pattern to different materials. A Highyag Bimo FSC was integrated as the laser cutting head. © Ferro Service Sp z o.o
The decisive criterion for Ferro in choosing the laser cutting system was the possibility of 3D cutting. The new laser rotator can be used to produce simple V and X seams as well as complex Y- or K-seams with bar course can be applied to different materials. A Highyag Bimo FSC was integrated as the laser cutting head. © Ferro Service Sp z o.o

The company Ferro Service Sp z o.o in Gubin (Poland) was launched in 2020: its core service is the series production of laser parts with and without chamfer. For this purpose, the newly founded steel specialist went in search of state-of-the-art laser systems with bevel cutting heads. After an intensive search, they found what they were looking for at MicroStep and the MSF series. Two fiber laser systems with a processing area of 3,000 x 1,500 mm produce in multi-shift operation right from the start.

On the border with Lusatia in Gubin is the headquarters of Ferro Service Sp z o.o. The company, which currently has 2,000 square meters of production space, was newly founded as a subcontracting company for the metal sector. © Ferro Service Sp z o.o
On the border with Lusatia in Gubin is the headquarters of Ferro Service Sp z o.o. The company, which currently has 2,000 square meters of production space, was newly founded as a subcontracting company for the metal sector.
© Ferro Service Sp z o.o

Crane booms, aerial work platforms, vehicles: the parts that Ferro Service Sp z o.o produces are used in a wide variety of industries and often perform heavy-duty work. The Gubin-based metalworking specialist was established to support the participating companies – such as Ferro Umformtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, which operates in the steel processing sector, and the component manufacturer TEKRA Sp. z o.o. – with customized components and free up more capacity for other tasks.

Hall one in production, two further halls in the planning stage

Production of the newly founded company started in March 2020, in a new hall on 2,200 sqm. Two additional halls were planned at the same time. The second hall with more than 2,600 sqm is currently under construction and will be completed at the end of June 2022. The focus here is on automated production. At the end of the project, a total of around 8,000 square meters of production space will be available. There were 44 employees at the start, and two years later there are already more than 75. “Our strength is that we can offer complete mechanical processing,” says Managing Director Matthias Bijkerk. After all, shareholder Ferro Umformtechnik is one of the technology leaders in the design, machining and processing of sheet metal, components and assemblies.

Laser parts with chamfers in great demand

The heart of Ferro Service Sp z o.o production is MicroStep laser technology. “Our main focus is on laser parts with chamfers. We also offer plasma and oxyfuel cutting, bending of parts and machining. For example, we supply 80 to 90 percent for crane booms,” Bijkerk says. With this combination of different technologies and a wide range of processing, Ferro Service can realize many wishes under one roof. “This has given us a truly unique position in the market for the production of small parts, which customers appreciate,” explains Matthias Bijkerk.

Ferro Service Sp z o.o invested in two fiber laser systems for flexible chamfers on different sheet thicknesses for the rapid production of precisely reproducible series parts. These each have a shuttle table with a machining area of 3,000 x 1,500 mm. © MicroStep Europe
Ferro Service Sp z o.o invested in two fiber laser systems for flexible chamfers on different sheet thicknesses for the rapid production of precisely reproducible series parts. These each have a shuttle table with a machining area of 3,000 x 1,500 mm.
© MicroStep Europe

When it comes to 3D laser cutting, the GmbH relies on two congruent compact 3D laser cutting systems from the MSF series with a working area of 3,000 x 1,500 mm. “We were looking for an effective, state-of-the-art laser system with a 3D head to set up automated production,” Bijkerk looks back. The decision-makers searched for suitable solutions via several channels and dealt with different manufacturers. Two remained in the race at the end. “Just when it comes to providers in the laser space with bevel heads, a lot of them fall away,” Bijkerk knows. Many meetings, a visit to MicroStep in Bratislava, live demonstrations, creation of sample parts and a price analysis of the two manufacturers under consideration finally led to a decision for MicroStep and two fiber laser systems with laser rotator. These are to be supplemented by a handling and storage system in a later project and thus further automated.

The two CNC fiber lasers are mainly used to process series orders in three-shift operation. Fine-grain structural steel, high-strength and wear-resistant materials are applied. The processed sheet thicknesses mainly range from 1.5 mm to 15 mm. 20 mm have also been successfully tested, but above these material thicknesses Ferro Service prefers to use a plasma oxyfuel cutting system – and that for thicknesses up to 100 mm.

The start has been successful, and the two fiber laser systems have been operating successfully for almost two years. “The bottom line is we’re very, very pleased. It’s a really good fit.”

Web:
www.microstep.com

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