SmartFlow System with MAZAK cutting machine

ALASER is a French company based near Bordeaux, specializing in laser cutting of stainless steel, aluminum and steel. Established in 1995, it started operations with one 2kW laser and two employees. It currently operates in a modern 1600 m² facility  in Canéjan. The company has high-power CO₂ lasers and an automated press brake, m.in. It serves customers in the sheet metal processing, locksmithing and welding industries, offering fast lead times, full traceability of materials and high precision. It belongs to a group that also offers water, plasma and oxygen cutting.

• Limited space in the plant – a key challenge was to find an extremely compact solution that, despite its small size, would ensure an optimal flow of material and sufficient capacity of the storage system.
• Increasing production capacity in the field of High-Mix Low-Volume orders.
• Reduction in the number of operators involved in operating laser cutters.

ALASER already has experience in the automation of laser cutting machines, so it knew well what to look for when evaluating and choosing a supplier for such a system. It consciously decided to work with an independent automation supplier, which gives it full freedom in the future selection of laser cutting brands without being dependent on one manufacturer.

At ALASER,  we have launched an advanced line automating the sheet metal cutting process, based on our SmartFlow system. The key element of the installation is  the TransferTower warehouse  with a capacity of 73 shelves with a total capacity of 219 tonnes, perfectly suited to the very limited production space – installed literally “at the edge” between the transport aisle and the corner of the hall.

The system has been integrated into the Mazak Optiplex 15 kW cutting machine, and  the two-level access point and MultiLoader ensure smooth material handling both now and in the future – with the possible addition of a second laser.

Thanks to the intelligent management of the order queue by the Planner Lite system  (acting as a Master to the laser), integrated with the CAD/CAM software, the customer has gained full control over production planning and task execution.

As ALASER emphasizes, the installation brought immediate results – it made it possible to achieve a new level of speed, precision and automation in production. Our solution significantly reduced waiting times, increased productivity and allowed you to get the most out of your laser cutting machine.

• Multiplication of the efficiency of the cutting process (maximum loading 40 sheets/h).
• Reduced access time to 3 minutes for each plate assortment and the ability to load laser tables every 1.5 minutes (40 cycles per hour).
• Ability to work at night and on weekends, without the constant presence of an operator.
• Effective and efficient planning and management of the order queue.