CINCINNATI - s4story -- The highly technical and automated automotive industry is undergoing a new revolution - Industry 4.0 and the arrival of smart cars. For this sector and the companies supplying it, technological integration is fundamental for survival. To maintain profitable, dynamic, and flexible production, it's essential to commit to innovation and the adoption of new digital tools.

Digitalization is the perfect moment for a complete change in the production processes of the automotive sector. Lantek and Danobatgroup, through their sheet metal transformation division, have developed leading edge software for processing pre-blanking formats, designed specifically for cutting processes in the automotive sector.

There are two objectives of the collaboration. First, solve the problems inherent to the metal industry to achieve more efficient, competitive, and flexible production which maintains the highest quality levels. Second, Lantek and Danobatgroup reinforce their position in the application environment for specific sectors, like automotive, while helping customers become modern and intelligent companies through their transformation strategy.

Based on this collaboration, Danobatgroup customers will have Lantek software on their coil-fed laser blanking lines and all their machines. Its experience in the metal industry will allow end customers to optimize processes and obtain the greatest return on machinery and software investments.

What is blanking and how does it work?
Blanking, or metal stamping technology, is a machining process where the sheet is cut using presses and specific cutting dies to produce certain metal parts. Lantek and Danobatgroup's blanking system application will be installed on all DANOBAT coil laser cutting lines.  These lines have an unwinder that directs the sheet from the reel to a leveler. It then passes through feeder rollers to a cutting zone where one or more laser cutting heads make the cuts according to the programmed shape. Once cut, the format automatically goes to a stacker.

These lines normally process many shapes and materials (steel/aluminum) and increase in series or runs which need to be adapted to several configurations for the same car model. This means there is a very large number of dies to manage. The plants must have a lot of space for storing the dies.

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This laser blanking system application helps to cut the pieces automatically and continuously, minimizing the costs generated from the investment in the press, the dies, and from adapting the building (pits, storage areas, special foundations, etc.). Costs are significantly improved due to the time it takes to change the format of the pieces. It also reduces energy consumption compared with other alternatives and increases efficiency and flexibility while maintaining the highest quality.

Blanking in the automotive industry
The automotive sector faces new technological trends and challenges which require solutions, like the need for business alliances, the demand for shorter, customized, and sustainable production cycles, optimizing manufacturing tracking, the use of materials such as aluminum, and new cutting and forming technologies. Lantek and Danobatgroup have aligned their business strategy with an innovative vision to find the technical solutions that best suit the automotive industry, incorporating state-of-the-art technology and specialized software.

In addition to the cost benefits mentioned above, the laser cutting machine fed from the DANOBAT coil now offers multiple advantages derived from the use of the metal coil. It's a perfect fit for a sector as demanding as automotive, with significant savings on raw material due to greater use of sheet metal, constant production rates, and a lower cost per piece. This new generation of equipment is a great step forward in parts production and standardizing processes, plus it has the highest degree of flexibility for producing blanks.

"This collaboration agreement is beneficial for all parties. Innovation is added to Lantek's knowledge and experience in software solutions for the metal sector and its ability to integrate with any cutting technology in more than a thousand machine models", explains Asier Sasiain, Managing Director of Danobatgroup's Sheet Metal Transformation Division. "The automotive industry has a great ally in Lantek and Danobatgroup when it comes to producing the hundreds of billions of metal pieces it generates annually and consolidating their transformation after decades of traditional processes."

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"Cost savings, productivity, and flexibility in managing this blanking technology is improved with the use of this state-of-the-art software. Lantek solutions make it possible to integrate pioneering software for managing 2D and 3D cutting machines with the most demanding manufacturing management," adds Francisco Pérez, director of the Lantek OEM channel. "Danobagroup's know-how, always at the forefront of innovation and a benchmark in the sector, has been key in the formula. Together, Lantek and Danobatgroup bring an expert system to the automotive industry that has positively affected their competitiveness in the Industry 4.0 era."

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About Lantek Sheet Metal Solutions
Lantek pioneered Industry 4.0 solutions for the Sheet Metal Fabrication Industry. Their solutions include CAD/CAM Nesting, MES, ERP and they specialize in integrating software for Smart Factories. Lantek is globally headquartered in the Basque Country of Spain. Having over 30 years of experience, Lantek supports more than 20,000 customers in 100 countries. Lantek has offices in 14 countries. Lantek's U.S. Headquarters is in Mason, OH.

Founded in 1986 in the Basque Country (Spain), one of the main European hubs of machine tool development, Lantek enables the integration of sheet metal and metal processing technologies using the most advanced manufacturing management software. The company is currently the outstanding leader in its sector thanks to its capacity for innovation and commitment to internationalization. With more than 20,000 customers in over 100 countries and 20 offices in 14 countries, it has an extensive network of distributors with an international presence. In 2017, its international business contributed to 86% of its revenue.

For more information, visit: www.lanteksms.com/us

About DANOBATGROUP
With 65 years' experience in the field of technologies applied to industrial manufacturing, Danobatgroup has a workforce made up of more than 1,300 highly qualified people. The group is an international benchmark in the machine-tool sector and technologies applied to industrial manufacturing.

For more information, visit: www.danobatgroup.com/es