Valenta Metall GmbH has upgraded its ByStar Fiber from 6 kW to 10 kW. The extra power allows the Tyrolean company to produce more efficiently, increase capacity and improve quality at the same time.
The laser cutting machine at Valenta Metall GmbH had been running at full capacity for some time. The Tyrolean contract manufacturer with a broad customer base from trade and industry was reaching the limits of its capacity. But the time for a major investment was not yet ripe for owner Stefan Valenta.
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A defect in the laser source in the summer of 2024 proved to be an opportunity in this situation: instead of simply having the fibre laser cutting head replaced, Stefan Valenta decided to take the next step: he upgraded his ByStar Fiber from 6 kW to 10 kW. ‘This gave us a cutting system that is state of the art again for a moderate investment,’ he says.
One step ahead of the competition
The economic conditions are currently challenging, even for Stefan Valenta. ‘That's why I'm sticking to the maxim: invest in challenging times so that you're already one step ahead of the competition when better times arrive.’ The power upgrade was carried out in September 2024. The downtime was limited, with the machine only having to be shut down for a few days to replace the centrepiece.
With a moderate investment, we received a cutting system that is state of the art again.
Fast processing, better quality
The upgrade has a whole range of advantages for Valenta Metall, as Heinz Bimingstorfer, Aftersales Manager at Bystronic Austria, explains: ‘Switching from 6 to 10 kilowatts more than doubles productivity.’ 10 mm thick sheet steel, for example, can be processed a good 60 per cent faster. In addition, the use of MixGas is possible from an output of 10 kW. ‘The mixture of oxygen and nitrogen further accelerates the cutting process and delivers even better results,’ says Bimingstorfer. As part of the upgrade, Valenta also opted for the automatic nozzle centring feature. This means that less manual intervention is required, which reduces errors, increases process reliability and improves quality.
We are more efficient and much more competitive - even compared to other cutting technologies.
Speed as a competitive advantage
Stefan Valenta is satisfied with the result: ‘Speed makes a big difference, especially with thicker sheets,’ he emphasises. ‘It makes us more efficient and therefore more competitive - even compared to other cutting technologies.’ The upgrade pays off for visible parts in particular. "The cut edges are cleaner and scale-free. This significantly reduces post-processing - which also makes us faster and cheaper," says the owner.
The entrepreneur also sees a major benefit for the machine operator team: ‘The automatic nozzle centring ensures that less tedious adjustment work is required - we save a lot of time, especially when there are many material changes.’ And the quality of the parts remains the same, regardless of who is operating the ByStar Fiber.
The automatic nozzle centring is a real relief for the employees.
Positive feedback from employees and customers
The feedback from employees has been consistently positive: ‘The automatic nozzle centring is a real relief for them - without having to accept any fundamental changes to the work process,’ says Stefan Valenta. The customers of Valenta Metall GmbH are also pleased with the increase in capacity and efficiency: "Our prices are extremely competitive. Our customers find that we are among the best in the region."
Power Upgrade
The power upgrade is available for the BySprint Fiber (up to 6 kW), the BySmart Fiber (up to 12 kW) and the ByStar Fiber (up to 15 kW) - provided the new SSCV2.2 cutting head, which is designed for the corresponding power, is installed. During the upgrade, the laser source and cooling unit are replaced following a technical inspection. In some cases, it is also recommended to replace the extraction unit with a more powerful one. After an upgrade to 10 kW, productivity increases by 50 to 79 per cent for stainless steel and by up to 65 per cent for mild steel with MixGas. The fibre warranty is valid again for five years with a valid service agreement.
