Cut to Measure

Company president, Günther Knupfer, says proudly that his firm can handle the entire spectrum of sheet metal processing – from CAD design, cutting, forming, milling, welding and assembly to the coating, and varnishing of steel, stainless steel and aluminum. The firm's latest acquisition is a TRUMATIC L 3050.

Cutting Thick Sheets Even Faster

When sheet metal is cut at Knupfer, the company relies entirely on TRUMPF laser cutting centers like two TRUMATIC L3030.
In October 2001 Knupfer started operations with the TRUMATIC L 3050 with the new TLF 5000 laser.

Mr. Knupfer is especially impressed by the higher cutting speed: "With a sheet thickness of 15 mm, thermal influence is very high for a 6 mm hole. Thanks to the 5 kW laser we've been able to work at a much higher speed than before, and to reduce heat influence sharply at the same time."

Machining times are not only shorter – the machine also has a far greater processing spectrum thanks to its high-powered laser. It can cut large format sheets with thicknesses of between 0.5 and 25 mm. This is a convincing advantage, since the machine frames consist of numerous different sheet metal thicknesses.

The laser also guarantees reliable part quality: "Some of the machine frames we manufacture have several doors or hoods of the same size. We guarantee our customers that they can change these around as much as they like", says Peter Knupfer, shopfloor manager.

Knupfer has not only invested in laser cutting machines: "When we're using the very latest technology during cutting, we need to upscale production in other areas too", he continues. A welding robot from Reis Robotics that can process bodies weighing up to five tons is just as much a part of the equipment as a STOPA sheet storage and retrieval system with 285 storage bins.

The two TRUMATIC L 3030 are already connected to this magazine, and the new L 3050 is soon to follow.

While high cutting speeds are generally a priority to mass producers, the most important option for Knupfer is to be able to machine all thicknesses and materials. The complex sheet-metal constructions at the company require flexible and powerful laser cutting centers – and, in that respect, the TRUMATIC L 3050 with its 5 kW laser is just ideal.