Bystronic open house demonstrates value in modern machinery

As part of the presentation, the company demonstrated how much more value and functionality drivers get from a modern Vauxhall Astra XRi than a Viva HA from the mid-1960s. Both cars were parked in the showroom with their specifications placed inside the windscreens. The Viva HA reached 60mph in 19.6 seconds, while it takes the Astra XRi just 9.1 seconds. Top speed has risen from 78 to 124mph and fuel efficiency is up from 40 to 72mpg.

The presentation moved to comparative cost and performance figures for Bystronic CO₂ laser cutting machines today and from previous years. Again, the disparity in cost-performance ratio was in favour of modern equipment, with significant increases in machine availability and productivity, reductions in running costs and safety enhancements.

The more than 80 manufacturers over the three days heard how to increase competitiveness and profitability, detailing costings relating to the use of CO₂ lasers and their more recent fibre laser counterparts were shown. The calculations provided an insight into the factors to be taken into account when purchasing laser cutting machines, including running costs, charge out rates and finance payments.

A typical subcontract sheet metal component was nested, eight to a 3m x 1.5m sheet. Calculations were presented on production cost per part for producing them in mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium from one to 20mm thick, using oxygen or nitrogen as the assist gas, on a 4.4kW CO₂ BySpeed machine and a 6kW BySprint fibre laser cutting centre.

The latter machine was shown to provide faster processing, reduced running costs and greater efficiency, especially when processing more reflective stainless steel and aluminium.

Bystronic www.bystronic.com