Voortman focuses on manless steel processing and total solutions

Unique machines, Experience Center and acquisitions

For more than fifty years, Voortman Steel Machinery has focused on the development and construction of steel processing machines. With a constant drive for improvement and innovation, the company has made great strides in recent years in the areas of software and digitalization, with the ultimate goal of manless production and offering customers a total solution. 

Voortman Steel Machinery has a simple mission: to develop solutions that enable its customers to perform better. For example, realizing larger quantities in a shorter time, or increasing quality, accuracy or speed. But also to perform better in areas such as logistics. Voortman thinks and develops along with its customers on all fronts of steel processing. 

Machinery portfolio addition

Broadly speaking, Voortman's business activities can be divided into the design and construction of steel working machines on the one hand, and the development of software and automation solutions on the other. 

Machinery

The machinery portfolio includes high-tech machines for profile, plate and tube machining, strip and angle profile machining and surface treatments. A recent addition is the Fabricator: a welding system that can produce the most common steel construction profiles, including plates, angle irons, tubes, U-profiles and crane track consoles. What makes this welding robot unique is the fact that it is the first welding robot in the world that can both assemble and weld. The compact and space-saving system thus offers the possibility for fully automated production of welding work, and additionally a solution to the shortage of welders. Because the welding process is not interrupted, better planning is also possible and consistent quality can be achieved. 

To further optimize production, the software solution DIGI-WELD was also introduced. This also allows the preparation process to be fully automated, saving time and enabling a continuous welding process (24/7). 

Müller Charging

In addition to developing its own machines, Voortman has also expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Müller Opladen GmbH. This leading German manufacturer develops and builds pipe processing machines for steel pipes, pressure vessels and structural steel. The 3D tube machines are intended for small, medium and large tubes, and thus form a good addition to Voortman's extensive product range. Moreover, the acquisition allows Voortman to take advantage of a distribution network that covers about seventy countries. Müller Opladen, which itself remains operational in Germany, in turn benefits from Voortman's international network where customer service and spare parts are concerned.

Automation and software

The fact that Voortman really goes further than simply supplying machines is evident from the extensive service offerings for customers. For example, an Experience Center has been set up at the headquarters in Rijssen, where customers can try out machines but where training sessions for engineers and operators also take place. Both live and online machine demonstrations can also be requested where internal and external cameras reveal all the secrets of the machines in detail.

With a focus on digitization and software, the service portfolio has also expanded toward performing data analysis. With this, both the production process and the layout as well as the product can be examined more closely, which increases insight and provides opportunities for improvements and optimizations. Production data can also be linked to a virtual reality simulation, with which the functionality of an intended solution can be checked in a virtual world. A good tool when a focus is on manless production. 

All-purpose
One of the showpieces in the program is the V310. A multifunctional sheet metal working machine that can fully automatic plasma and oxyfuel cutting, carbide drilling, 3D bevel cutting, and full contour milling. Performing all steps of the production process at a single station simplifies the manufacturing process and saves on logistics costs. The software packages VACAM Scheduling and Buffering make it possible to run all processes unmanned.