Innovative Bystronic laser profiler is basis of new business model

The 3 by 1.5 m machine is to be supplied at one world price in all countries, and that price is low - £185,000 shipped, installed and commissioned, while Bysoft CADCAM software package and basic training are included, as are a two-year warranty and preventive maintenance. Previous price for a 3 by 1.5 m sheet capacity machine was around £310,000. The ByVention is already fitted with features for tropical climates, and is designed to fit a standard container size. If this new approach works, then this single global pricing approach will be rolled out to other machines. The company expects production to ramp up to 200 units per year ultimately. A novelty of the machine is the progressive feeding of sheets through the rear with parts progressively unloaded to the right. The elimination of light guards is one benefit, while it is also unnecessary to process a whole sheet before parts are available for further processing. A patent has been applied for on the sheet feeding mechanism. The machine requires just 6 by 6 m of floor space, too. The ByVention is designed following a survey showed that approximately 80 per cent of all parts cut by laser cutting machines are processed using a sheet thickness of a maximum of 8 mm and in size 500 by 500 mm. The new machine has a cutting area of 1562 by 772 mm and is equipped with a 2.2 kW resonator which allows a maximum sheet thickness of 4 mm for aluminium, 6 mm for stainless steel and 8 mm for mild steel. So, compared with other high quality laser cutting machines, a customer can invest in a machine at around half the investment cost, with which they can process some 80 per cent of the spectrum parts. A new control also features, having pre-defined programs and cutting parameters available via a touch screen such that training is reduced as is required skill level. The first customer is Allsops Precision Sheet Metal, Holmfirth, West Yorks. See 'Product Launches' for more product details.