From plasma to fiber laser provides huge time savings

Anyone walking around Machineering could not ignore Bodor's presence. With Astratec as an official dealer, the Chinese manufacturer of laser cutting machines now also couples a hefty dose of service to its competitive prices. A golden combination. FB Construct from Kortemark already experienced this, which has been cutting its pieces with it since August, to great satisfaction. 

When father Filip started FB Construct in 2001, the focus was on conveyors and machinery for the vegetable processing industry. Not surprisingly, Kortemark is in the midst of large agricultural areas whose harvests are processed into frozen vegetables. "From this experience, we have always broadened our activities. Today we supply machines and installations, complete with automation, for numerous sectors, but still mainly in stainless steel. Some 95% of the material we process here is stainless steel in thicknesses from 1 to 12 mm," explains Mathias Boysen, who himself joined the company in 2010.  

Customization from expert knowledge

With that material and the accumulated knowledge and experience, they set to work building a wide variety of machines for customers. "As long as it has a conveyor belt," Boysen laughs. 

Everything is done in-house as much as possible. Only for the more complex automation work does the company work with a regular partner. "It invariably involves customization," he explains. "We start from the customer's need and the available space, to make a 3D drawing. Here we really try to distinguish ourselves, by thinking about what is the best possible solution for the customer's concrete application at a good value for money. After the approval, we convert it into a functional machine, which we complete here in our workshop. Within the shortest possible time, because by keeping everything in-house, you can also achieve very competitive delivery times. Something customers certainly know how to appreciate. And if anything ever needs to be repaired, thanks to our machinery we can also provide fast service." 

Laser for nicer finish

Until recently, the bulk of cutting was done with a plasma cutting table. However, the plasma jet left an oxidation layer on the surface, which invariably required post-processing. "To get a more accurate and beautiful finish, we therefore started looking into a laser cutting machine," Boysen clarified. A search that a few years ago came to nothing. The top brands had more bells and whistles than FB Construct needed, and thus also a sky-high price tag. "Bodor was also under review at the time, but the fact that there was no service equipment behind it put us off too much." 

Until Astratec put its loins behind it and became a supplier of the Chinese brand. A well-considered decision, according to business manager Joost Levrouw. "We, too, had to wait and see. But today Bodor's machines are not inferior in terms of cutting quality. Many of the components used are also the same. The price difference is mainly due to less extensive automation. And, of course, flawless installation and support are also important for proper operation."

Service and price convince

FB Construct, however, did not hesitate a second longer. The shop floor in Kortemark was supplemented in August with a 3 kW fiber laser. "For us, this is more than enough. After all, most of the work involves thin sheets, and the machine doesn't have to work here all day. The competitive price combined with Astratec's strong service were decisive. We have known Astratec for a long time and know that we are always helped very quickly with problems. We haven't regretted our decision for a second. Everything works as it should, with a control system that is robust and user-friendly," Boysen adds. 

Since then, the pieces, which are cut with nitrogen, come off the machine at FB Construct almost perfectly. "Only when we go above 6 mm is some light finishing required. This saves us an enormous amount of time and allows us to work much more precisely. For example, we can now opt for pin-hole joints that are easier and cleaner to assemble."

Everything correct at once

To be on the safe side, FB Construct had already requested an additional cutting head. "So that we have it in stock ourselves, should a breakdown occur. But if you program with enough sense and use enough micro joints, nothing actually gets stuck in the skeleton. Thanks to the Bodor laser machine, we can work efficiently and precisely and produce everything right the first time." ■