From ovens to boilers and from mixing machines to grinders, producing industrial food processing equipment requires a high volume of welding operations. As in any industry, increasing productivity is a chief concern but food and beverage equipment manufacturers must also prioritise hygiene to ensure welds are food grade.

To remain competitive, manufacturers must seek solutions that increase production speeds and minimise the risk of contamination. Handheld laser welding, using laser devices like LightWELD®, has emerged as the ideal solution for many in the food industry as an easy-to-use technology that enables faster, more consistent welds and enables new equipment design possibilities.

Handheld Laser Welding Keeps Things Clean

Industrial food and beverage equipment relies on more than just welds to join part features – manufacturers also make use of fasteners such as nuts, bolts, washers, and rivets. Unlike in other industries, the use of fasteners, as well as threaded holes, must be considered in relation to food contact areas.

Incorrect use of fasteners creates difficult-to-clean geometry that form microcosms for bacterial growth. This risk imposes limitations on how equipment is designed, not to mention increased fabrication costs.

The number of fasteners required in a piece of equipment can only be reduced somewhat by traditional welding methods like Metal Inert Gas (MIG) and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), which introduce significant heat input that can damage or distort sensitive features. Laser welding, by comparison, generates considerably less heat during the welding process and is used extensively across industries for thinner metal parts.

This reduction in heat input compared to MIG and TIG opens more fabrication options to designers to help minimise fastener use and reduce material costs. Handheld laser welding also produces very high-quality welds with excellent and hygienic finishes.

The laser welding process is resistant to defects like microcracking, a concern when welding thinner joints using traditional methods, minimising the risk of bacterial growth. Handheld laser welding devices can also be used to spot weld with no part contact required, eliminating common resistance spot welding concerns like bacteria-friendly indentations and asymmetrical welds caused by issues like tip pressure and alignment.

Read more here at page 30

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The post Handheld Laser Welding & Cleaning Technology Addresses Food Industry Challenges appeared first on Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News | Manufacturing | Automation | Quality Control.

Innovative features, excellent service

Bystronic is one of IPG’s most important customers in the field of materials processing. What started as a simple supplier-customer relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership: In 2018, the two companies initiated joint development projects within the framework of a collaboration agreement. “This offers us the opportunity to adapt the laser sources to our specific needs and to develop innovative features for our customers,” says Christoph Rüttimann.

One such collaboration includes for example, Bystronic technicians being qualified to replace defective transport fibers at the laser source or to exchange laser modules. “We can thus set ourselves apart by offering comprehensive services from a single source. Our customers appreciate having a single point of contact for all their concerns,” Christoph Rüttimann emphasises.

Leader in the race for higher output

The output of fiber laser cutting machines has increased rapidly over the past few years. Two years ago Bystronic launched a 12-kilowatt system on the market, and this October with 15 kilowatts, the next power level will be launched. Christoph Rüttimann is convinced that the race for power will continue. And Bystronic is at the forefront – also thanks to its partnership with IPG.

Pioneering work for the smart factory

For Bystronic’s customers, the performance increases achieved over the past few years have translated into higher productivity and above all greater flexibility. This tangible customer benefit can be enhanced even further thanks to innovative features. The exchange of ideas and know-how with IPG is fertile ground that generates valuable ideas to drive forward the development of the systems.

Strong partnership for a dynamic and evolving market

The joint innovations show that with IPG, Bystronic has found an ideal partner to drive development of next generation fiber laser solutions. Christoph Rüttimann observes: “Within a rapidly evolving market, our partnership provides technology leadership, delivering leading-edge productivity and superior cost of ownership to our customers, and strengthening the future prospects of Bystronic.”

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The post Bystronic And IPG Partner To Generate Innovations appeared first on Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News | Manufacturing | Automation | Quality Control.

ILT manufactures high-precision laser-based systems that mainly cater to the medical device industry. With the acquisition, its systems will be produced for other industries as well. The company’s portfolio includes customised machine engineering, laser application design, integration services as well as post-integration support. The systems incorporate user-friendly control software which enables data collection and transfer between customers’ manufacturing execution systems and their laser solutions.

IPG Photonics produces high-power optical fibre-based lasers and amplifiers for use in diverse applications, primarily materials processing.

“Over the last several years, IPG Photonics developed and offered custom and standard laser-based systems for high-precision welding, cutting, marking, drilling, cladding, and other processing of metal, ceramic, semiconductor and thin films for customers in automotive, aerospace, railway, energy, electronics, consumer and other industries,” said Dr Valentin Gapontsev, chief executive officer, IPG Photonics.

Dr Gapontsev went on to say ILT’s automation and application knowledge will allow IPG to further expand into the many non-medical device applications requiring precision laser solutions.

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