We take our customers to the top

With EuroBLECH fast approaching, I want to share with you all an interview with one of Bystronic's big guys. The interview was conducted by Oliver Hergt. Feel free to comment!

With this promise, the Swiss machine manufacturer Bystronic will present itself at EuroBLECH this year. It is based on the comprehensive "World Class Manufacturing" program. Where this program will lead is explained by Johan Elster, Head of Business Unit Markets at Bystronic.

Mr. Elster, this year Bystronic will welcome its customers to EuroBLECH with the slogan "World Class Manufacturing". What is behind it?

Johan Elster: With "World Class Manufacturing" we provide our customers with the competitive edge. This slogan is based on a comprehensive program of products and services, with which we optimize the manufacturing processes of our customers. So profoundly that we are able to say: With us as a partner, users in the sheet metal processing sector become world class manufacturers.

What in your opinion is a world class manufacturer?

In order to be right at the forefront of competition, users require more than just a fast laser cutting system or pressbrake. Sheet metal processing consists of many individual stages. It begins with the drawing up of an offer, includes programming the cutting and bending processes and ends with the delivery of the finished product. Anyone who has mastered all these stages and simultaneously releases the full potential for optimization at every stage is a world class manufacturer.

Some of your customers will remember "World Class Manufacturing" from last year. Will Bystronic continue to pursue this topic in the long term?

"World Class Manufacturing" will continue to be a topic at Bystronic for quite a while yet. Because when we examine all the processes related to cutting and bending, we still see many possibilities to improve. In addition, our customer's demands are naturally also always changing. Gaps are always opening up anew, which we will continue to close with innovative solutions.

How would you sum up "World Class Manufacturing" in just a few words?

With our program, users reduce their production costs, simplify their processes and increase their efficiency. In addition we provide functions that inform users about their processes and production data, anywhere and at all times. Plus, we are a partner who creates trust.

Let's remain with the keyword "trust". How does Bystronic create trust with its customers?

We are very close at hand to our customers throughout the world and can bring our know-how to bear around the globe. This creates trust. And our customer can pass on this trust to their customers. This creates added value.

How does this work in practice?

For example, in our sales subsidiaries, we have trained experts to broaden the know-how relating to all aspects of software in the local markets. We have also set up an e-learning platform that enables us to provide training for our own people on the latest innovations as quickly as possible, allowing them to immediately pass this on to our customers. This increases our local expertise.

What challenges do users currently face in the field of sheet metal processing?

We are noticing that added value is playing an increasingly important role for our customers. Previously the focus was on time pressure. Everything needed to be faster – quicker bending, faster cutting. This focus has weakened. The pressure is shifting to production costs. Now the objective is to produce parts as profitably as possible.

What do you believe are the reasons for this change in trend?

Sheet metal processors are faced with fluctuations in incoming orders and batch sizes. Every order that comes in must generate a profit. In such an environment production costs are naturally very important.

In addition to machines, Bystronic is now also expanding its portfolio with service products. In what sense do these enable users to be successful in the long term?

Our focus is expanding from the machines to all the services related to cutting and bending. Service products are becoming increasingly important, because using modern machines is no longer the only deciding factor for competitive success.

Can you illustrate the importance of service products using a concrete example?

Used intelligently, services make processes faster, error-free and hence cost-effective. PartID, our most recently developed product, allows the user to achieve seamless transitions between laser cutting and bending.

Is the added value of PartID measurable for the user?

PartID labels laser-cut parts with an identification code, enabling the pressbrake to automatically load the correct bending program for the incoming part. This allows mix-ups to be virtually ruled out, preventing reject parts and saving costs. For the user, this is a tangible added value.

What trends do you currently see in the field of sheet metal processing?

With regard to cutting, there is certainly a clear trend toward the fiber laser. The second-most important trend is increased automation. A further trend is the fast retooling of production systems, because in the light of fluctuating batch sizes flexibility in the field of cutting and bending is important. We have already discussed added value. I also consider this topic to be a trend.

Are service products also a current trend?

I would not, at least for the moment, consider them to be a trend. The traditional services that machine manufacturers offer, such as maintenance, training, and spare parts are in principle not new. In the field of services, new products are only just being developed. From my point of view this offers considerable potential for a coming trend. If we consider the entire process related to cutting and bending, services offer great opportunities to optimize.

Let us talk about the fiber laser. In this area a rapid development has taken place during recent years. What is your assessment of the current situation?

In the foreseeable future the fiber laser will certainly continue its advance into the CO₂ laser's range of applications. Currently the benefits of these technologies are still balanced. But the advantages of the fiber laser are constantly increasing. In this context, particularly the trend toward added value is decisive. I.e. the question about how much a part costs to produce. In this respect the fiber laser has significant advantages over the CO₂ laser, because it enables faster cutting speeds in the thin to medium range of sheet metal thicknesses and is more cost-effective with regard to maintenance and energy consumption.

What does this mean for Bystronic? Is your focus of development shifting?

We recognized the trend toward the fiber laser at an early stage and reallocated our development resources accordingly. Now we can draw on sufficient development potential to set new trends in fiber laser technology as well. But in this regard I cannot reveal too much now – we will lift the veil at EuroBLECH at the end of October. (laughs)

Which fields of application do you believe will remain for the CO₂ laser in the future?

Currently the CO₂ laser still has an extensive range of applications. How this range will change in the coming years remains to be seen. In thick sheet metal, the advantages of the CO₂ laser are still very pronounced. Customers who process the entire range of sheet metal thicknesses, are still very well served with the broad spectrum our CO₂ lasers offer.

What can visitors to EuroBLECH expect from Bystronic this year? What will Bystronic focus on at the exhibition?

Our visitors certainly have something to look forward to. A main focus of our innovations will be services. In this area, we are taking one of the greatest steps I have ever experienced in my 18 years with Bystronic.