Broad offerings open door for cross-pollinations

Well begun is half won

Anyone who thinks of Promatt can almost smell the Behringer sawing machines. It all started with this brand for the machine supplier from Haaksbergen (the Netherlands) twenty years ago. But in those years, the range has been constantly supplemented with complementary brands and technology that help get the front end of the process for machining steel and aluminum all the way to the top. "That's what makes our open house days so interesting for visitors," says Managing Director Marco Toebes. "Here they get to see a cross-section of what we do, each time with a specialist at the machine who can explain everything to them down to the smallest detail. And that always results in cross-pollinations."

Promatt likes to show off to customers. "Because we believe in the added value our machines bring. They help reduce the unit cost for our customers because of how sophisticated they are. And you have to be able to show that," Toebes said. In the years when no Technishow is on the schedule, Promatt therefore invites visitors to its open house days at the showroom in Haaksbergen. The latest edition, which brought about 175 visitors to the eastern part of the Netherlands, was long overdue. There was a certain virus for something in between. "It was already from 2019," Toebes recalls. "It was therefore gratifying to be able to welcome everyone back and catch up on the latest developments in technology."

Steering takes operator by the hand

At Behringer, the new controls were in the spotlight. "An intuitive concept that takes the operator by the hand. He only has to enter the parameters of the product in question, the control does the rest," says Behringer project engineer Patrick Rhein. A radical change. Those who were familiar with Behringer will of course recognize the structures in it, but to integrate the new control also required modifications to the hardware. The drivers behind it? "Our customers are finding it increasingly difficult to find technically skilled personnel. The machine now secures that knowledge, so the operator doesn't have to be a seeding expert." Of course, it has not escaped Behringer's notice how important data has become for manufacturing companies. By adding clear dashboards (Behringer's own developments) to the controls, the operator can see at a glance how his machine is performing. "What order is it about? What material is on the machine? How much cutting time was required? Were there any alarms? The idea is to help operators arrive at the optimal sawing times, ensuring longer machine life, without knowledge of the technology." 

Technology always first

Because that's what Promatt is all about. Technology, to help customers get the best possible solution to make their products with the highest possible efficiency. The information sessions on the program are not hollow sales pitches. On the contrary. Specialists from the partner companies and Promatt's own technicians immerse visitors in a specific topic. "The introduction to bandsaw technology, for example, teaches what to look out for when choosing a bandsaw machine. The lecture around circular saws explains exactly how the technology works and what influence it has on the parameters. By giving the floor to specialists who deal with these issues on a daily basis, our visitors learn how to work better with their own machines. We help them get the most out of it," summarizes Toebes.

Continuing to perform reliably

With those circular saws, of course, we are in the world of Eisele. Those treated visitors to two very different machines. The VMS is the smallest in the range. "But a bestseller in the small segment," assures Elliot Ernst. Also on display was the PSU 450 M, an automatic machine where the operator only has to set the material, lengths and angles; she does the rest of the work herself. Visitors were shown what cuts the machines can deliver. "We believe in the quality it can bring. After all, we make all the parts in-house, from the gearboxes to the castings. That makes for high-performance machines that continue to perform reliably even under heavy loads. That's what it's all about, today in the manufacturing industry, where automation is increasingly being chosen."

Impeccable workmanship

Manufacturing companies thus seek higher productivity but also better quality. Anyone looking for an impeccable finish on their profiles and tubes could get to know Spontan's machines during the open house days. From manual to fully automated, the way the customer wants it. "The strengths of our machines? Sawing and deburring are done in one motion. The pieces are thus completely finished, without the need for extra handling between the various steps, and at breakneck speed. Moreover, it is very easy to change between series, so that you can process bundles from 8 to 108 mm one after the other." For now, the machines are not yet experiencing the same success as in Germany. "The market is different there. You have more contract sawmills. But in the meantime, we do have a very nice reference in the Netherlands, where our machine is equipped with a completely automated feed. That's why it's good to work with a local partner like Promatt. Who sees where there are opportunities in his market for our technology."

Storage systems to increase efficiency warehouse

Perfectly finished profiles and tubes, you can't put them on the ground anymore, can you? A smart storage system is therefore also an interesting addition to Promatt's portfolio. It thus ended up with the Spanish manufacturer Upmoviom, which puts pieces of up to 12 m organized away. The cooperation goes back seven years, resulting in a nice list of references in Belgium and the Netherlands. José Galbete: "Previously, 100% of our products went to the Spanish market. Today we are on export for 70%. It goes fast. We have since installed systems in Singapore and in Canada." The key to its success is the modular solution developed by Upmoviom. That makes it a popular solution with both small and large companies. "Each storage system is completely custom built for the customer. In function of the length, weight and amount of materials, but also in function of the available space. In addition, robustness and ease of use stand out. Each location is easily accessible. We are convinced that we can contribute to efficiency and safety. With our system, a warehouse with 700 references can be operated by a single operator."

Safety First

Creating a safe working environment is something they know all about at Ecotax, too. They specialize in filter technology. "The biggest focus is on mist filtration," indicates Davy Wijkmans. Mist is created by machining operations that use coolant or emulsions. These fine oil particles - the diameter of a droplet of mist is about 1 µm - must be dealt with and extracted. During the open house days, it was shown how the Filter Mist can make a difference. "Based on centrifugal forces, the droplets are pushed against the side, collected and filtered. This is done with an efficiency of 92%. Thus, clean air is blown back into the workshop." It is also the first time at the open house days for Ecotax. "We come to the same companies anyway, but with a completely different product. It's nice that we found each other in this, because those common ground between us can also help both our customers further."

Ready for the future

Machining, all that rang the bell at the open house days? Not quite. After all, at the back of the showroom, Behringer also had a first with it. The LPS T - 3D belongs not next to a milling machine or lathe but next to a 3D printer. "This allows us to cut the 3D printed pieces very close to the base plate. After all, that is reused every time." Until now, this was done by wire EDM. However, Behringer's saws can do it cheaper and faster, without sacrificing accuracy. "Depending on the size and weight of the 3D printed piece, there is a choice between a vertical and a horizontal version. Inside, you can count on the same technology you have come to expect from Behringer. With great attention to quality, but also to safety. For example, dust generation is an issue. Extraction is therefore also provided, so that we can guarantee operator safety and the accuracy of our machine."