New machines with automation increase flexibility, speed and accuracy

As an all-round supplier of components and products in stainless steel, aluminum and steel, and as a manufacturer of technical street furniture, BeNed has stood for quality in product, finish and service for almost fifteen years. The experienced team of employees and modern machinery with linked automation are the cornerstones of its success. The company has been a regular customer of Bystronic for many years. For example, its machinery includes an Xpert 150 bending machine and a ByStar Fiber 3015 fiber laser machine with ByTrans Cross automation. Soon the new bending bench type Xpert Pro Extended with Tool Changer will be installed by Bystronic.

Flexibility, speed and accuracy are very important in today's manufacturing industry. After all, customers want to be served faster and faster, without sacrificing product quality and accuracy. 

For BeNed in Oudsbergen, quality in product, workmanship and service has been a priority since its inception in 2009. "We are an all-round supply company for parts and products in stainless steel, aluminum and steel. These can be single pieces or prototypes, but also serial work. At the customer's request, we can laser cut, set/fold, weld and assemble. We also provide advice or support during product development, and always guarantee flawless service. Customers expect the highest quality in terms of accuracy and finish. This is what they ultimately pay for," says Managing Director Reno Verhappen. "BeNed also develops and manufactures technical street furniture for integration in public spaces, such as the underground cabinet used for control technology, electrical supplies and water connections, among other things. These are often complex products that have to meet strict requirements and for which we have to have the necessary inspections carried out."

BeNed can count on a team of driven employees, who know their jobs inside out, and also continues to invest continuously in new, better machines. In recent years, the management bought, among other things, a CNC-controlled fiber laser cutting machine, a welding robot, a milling machine, a system for pickling welds, and a long belt sander. For the laser cutting machines and bending benches, the company cooperates with Bystronic. 

"Our relationship with this machine builder goes way back, to when we bought our first Xpert bending bench. That machine has served us well for many years, and we could also always count on excellent support and service from the people at Bystronic," Verstappen explains. "When about five years ago we wanted to replace the CO2 laser cutting machine with a more advanced type with fiber laser technology, we contacted Bystronic again and invested in a 6kW ByStar Fiber 3015, coupled with a ByTrans Cross automation solution."

Erik Goven, area manager Benelux at Bystronic, explains, "This laser cutting machine allows BeNed to respond even faster and more flexibly to its customers' needs. Thanks to its 6 kW source, it cuts sheets of 3000 by 1500 mm with a thickness of 20 mm in stainless steel and aluminum, and even 25 mm in steel, with the highest precision and speed. They work from a customer's digital drawing or make the necessary 3D designs themselves to control the machine. After all, at BeNed they have not only mastered the hardware, but also the software. This system is linked to a ByTrans Cross loading and unloading system, which allows plates to be handled automatically in an extremely limited space. The processed parts are automatically unloaded and the remainder of the sheet is also neatly sorted."

Managing director Reno Verhappen is not sitting still and continues to invest in the expansion and optimization of his machinery. Soon a new bending machine type Xpert Pro Extended 250 tons, 4300 mm by Bystronic will be installed. This will be equipped with a Tool Changer, which means that here, too, a conscious choice has been made for further automation in order to work even faster and more efficiently. ■