Some applications do not require a high-tech machine

For certain applications, a high-tech and high-performance machine is just overkill. Moreover, start-ups and smaller companies, as well as larger ones, keep a close eye on the budget. With its high-quality sheet metal working machines at an acceptable price, Deratech is an ideal partner here. CNC-controlled plate shears, bending benches, punch-cutting machines, fiber laser cutting machines, automation solutions, CAD/CAM software and tools for the various machines - you'll find everything under one roof at Industriepark E17/4 in Lokeren.

From a to z

Deratech is an established player in the sheet metal working machine market. Its range of machines includes the Varia hydraulic guillotine shears with adjustable cutting angle and the oscillating blade beam shears of the Practica series. Customers looking for a bending bench have a choice between the compact Minibend, the modular Ultima, the standard highly complete Technica and the lightning-fast Hybrid with a hybrid drive and energy savings of up to 65%. The Dinamica is a servo-electric CNC punch-cutting machine in 20 or 30 tons, and with Entra, Futura and Supera the manufacturer also offers a full range of high-speed fiber laser machine with extreme precision and up to 3G axis acceleration. There are also automation solutions and CAD/CAM software. 

"We work from a clear vision to offer the market machines at an acceptable price, without compromising on the quality of parts and components. Everything is done in-house. We design and engineer the systems, and are responsible for production and delivery. This is done in our sister company Shanghai Deratech CNC Machine Tool Co. but final assembly, testing and service are done from Belgium. Since we do the design ourselves, we can develop and build customized machines according to the needs and requirements of the customer," says managing director Nico De Vooght. "It doesn't stop after installation and delivery either. After all, we consider service of paramount importance. We support our customers with a telephone helpdesk, but also, for example, with the choice of tools or scheduling a quick intervention on the shop floor. We also continuously invest in the optimization of the product range."

Fiber laser cutting machines

At Deratech, they noticed that many manufacturing companies were faced with the dilemma of whether to cut their own sheet metal or outsource the production process to an external partner. After all, those who do it in-house can respond more flexibly to customer requests. In many cases the cutting quality of plasma technology is not satisfactory, but they do not want to take the step to fiber laser cutting because the investment is too high and the system would not be profitable. If those production companies do not need an extremely high-performance system with 30 kW sources and 6-G axis gears, Deratech's Entra, Futura and Supera fiber laser cutting machines are an option.

"Our Supera is an all-round system, available in sizes 1,500 x 1,500 to 2,500 x 10,000 mm and with cutting power between 1 and 15 kW. A Precitec or Raytools cutting head ensures stable, optimum cutting quality for a wide variety of material types and sheet thicknesses. The IPG fiber laser cutting source is virtually maintenance-free and guarantees constant cutting power for thousands of hours," indicates the managing director. "Optionally, these machines can be supplied with a changeover table, a Precitec ProCutter cutting head with automatic focus point adjustment and a rotary axis for cutting round, square and rectangular tubes. They can also be combined with automation systems for unmanned production. These machines are not the fastest on the market, but this target group is not worried about that, as long as they get a reliable and affordable machine that guarantees them a high degree of finish."

New construction

The machine builder has moved to a new home base along the E17 freeway in Lokeren. This new building with an area of 2,500 m² includes offices, a workshop and warehouse space, as well as an experience center. "In this 1,000 m² showroom, customers will be able to discover the sheet metal working machines in various versions down to the smallest details," De Vooght concludes. "Moreover, it will be possible to demonstrate the operation of the machines, also with workpieces that the customer brings himself, and there will be a one-stop shop for spare parts."