Laser Cutting Machine with Automated Sheet Metal Storage
Material Automation and Production Process Efficiency
A laser cutting machine with automated sheet metal storage integrates the laser cutting machine with an automated system dedicated to sheet metal management, storage and handling.
This configuration connects raw material availability directly to the cutting process, reducing manual handling and creating a more efficient production flow.
Automated sheet metal storage can be designed according to the characteristics of the facility, available space and production requirements, with the possibility of connecting the storage system directly to the laser cutting machine’s loading systems.
What Is a Laser Cutting Machine with Automated Sheet Metal Storage?
A laser cutting machine with automated sheet metal storage is a system in which the laser cutting machine is integrated with an automated solution for material management.
The storage system organizes sheet metal and makes it available to production when required.
Automated handling can then transfer the material to the laser cutting machine’s loading system, creating a direct connection between storage and production.
Why Automate Sheet Metal Storage?
Sheet metal management can become complex when a company needs to handle large quantities of material, different formats or different thicknesses.
Manual management can require significant time, space and dedicated personnel for material handling operations.
An automated sheet metal storage system, on the other hand, makes it possible to organize material and automate part of the operations required to make it available for production.
The main objectives are:
- optimize storage space;
- reduce manual handling;
- improve material organization;
- reduce sheet metal preparation times;
- increase laser cutting machine autonomy;
- create a more efficient production flow.
How Does Automated Storage Connected to a Laser Cutting Machine Work?
An integrated system can manage several stages of sheet metal handling.
1. Loading Sheet Metal into the Storage System
The sheet metal is placed into the storage system and organized in the designated position.
The storage system is configured according to the formats, thicknesses and quantity of material that the company needs to manage.
2. Material Organization
The system keeps the different sheet metal materials organized within the storage system, allowing available stock to be managed more efficiently.
3. Automated Retrieval
When production requires a specific sheet metal, the system can identify the required material and retrieve it automatically.
4. Transfer to the Laser Cutting Machine
The sheet metal is transferred to the laser cutting machine’s loading system.
5. Machine Feeding
The loading system positions the sheet metal on the laser cutting machine, making it available for the cutting cycle.
Laser Cutting and Automated Storage: One Integrated Production Flow
The main advantage of integration is the ability to connect storage directly to production.
In a traditional system, sheet metal may be moved manually from the storage area to the laser cutting machine.
With an automated system, material can instead be managed through a more organized flow that includes storage, retrieval and automated handling all the way to the machine loader.
The sheet metal is then transferred to the laser cutting machine and introduced into the cutting process, reducing the manual operations required to manage the material.
The storage system thus becomes an integral part of the production process, helping to coordinate sheet metal management and the connection between storage and processing.
Advantages of Laser Cutting with Automated Sheet Metal Storage
Space Optimization
Automated storage systems can make use of the vertical space within the facility, increasing available capacity without necessarily increasing the floor area occupied.
This makes it possible to use the areas dedicated to raw material management more efficiently.
Reduced Manual Handling
Handling large or thick sheet metal can require dedicated equipment and personnel.
Automation reduces manual operations and creates a more organized transfer of material to the laser cutting machine.
Faster Material Preparation
Organized sheet metal availability reduces the time required to locate and prepare the material for cutting.
This can contribute to a smoother production cycle.
Greater Laser Cutting Machine Autonomy
When the storage system is connected to an automated loader, the laser cutting machine can receive material directly from the sheet metal management system.
This reduces operator intervention during feeding operations.
Improved Safety
Reducing the manual handling of heavy or bulky sheet metal can contribute to safer working conditions within the production area.
Automated Storage and Storage Towers
One of the solutions used to automate sheet metal storage is the use of vertical systems.
A storage tower makes it possible to take advantage of the height of the facility and organize material across multiple levels.
The system can be connected to the laser cutting machine through automated handling and loading equipment.
In this way, the tower becomes the starting point of an automated flow that moves sheet metal from storage to the machine.
Connecting the Storage System to the Laser Cutting Machine
To create a truly automated system, it is important to consider the connection between the different components of the installation.
A project may include:
- storage system;
- storage position management;
- handling system;
- automated loader;
- laser cutting machine;
- unloading system;
- optional sorting of processed parts.
The system must be designed according to the production layout and the characteristics of the laser cutting machine.
What Sheet Metal Can an Automated Storage System Handle?
The system configuration must be sized according to the characteristics of the sheet metal used in the production process.
The main parameters to consider include:
- sheet metal format;
- thickness;
- weight;
- quantity of material to be stored;
- handling frequency;
- number of machines to be supplied.
Proper evaluation of these factors makes it possible to design a storage system suited to the company’s actual requirements.
Automated Storage for One or More Laser Cutting Machines
A storage system does not necessarily have to serve a single machine.
Depending on the system configuration, the storage system can be designed to manage larger quantities of material and supply different areas or machines within the production department.
This option is particularly interesting for companies with multiple laser cutting machines that want to centralize raw material management.
Laser Cutting with Automated Storage and Industry 4.0
The integration of automated storage and laser cutting represents an important step toward greater production automation.
Organized material management improves inventory control, while automated handling contributes to a more efficient production flow.
The storage system can therefore become an active part of the industrial process, connected to the machines and other technologies used within the production area.
When Does It Make Sense to Automate Sheet Metal Storage?
Storage automation can be particularly useful when a company needs to manage large quantities of material or wants to increase the autonomy of its laser cutting machines.
An automated system can be particularly interesting when:
- the storage area occupies a large amount of floor space;
- many sheet metal formats need to be managed;
- material handling operations are frequent;
- the laser cutting machine needs to operate with greater autonomy;
- manual work needs to be reduced;
- inventory organization needs to be improved;
- storage needs to be integrated with production.
BEMATIK’s Experience in Sheet Metal Automation
BEMATIK Srl develops robotic systems dedicated to sheet metal handling, transport and storage, designed to be integrated with laser cutting machines.
The company has more than 25 years of specific experience in automation systems for laser cutting machines, with several hundred installations worldwide.
The range of solutions has been developed to meet different requirements in terms of space, storage capacity and level of automation.
BEMATIK also has extensive expertise in developing customized solutions, including integration with existing production systems and layouts.
An Integrated System for Automating Sheet Metal Management
A laser cutting machine with automated sheet metal storage transforms the storage system from a simple storage area into an active component of the production process.
Sheet metal is organized, handled and made available to the laser cutting machine according to production requirements.
Integration with loading and handling systems also makes it possible to extend automation across different stages of the process.
A laser cutting machine with automated sheet metal storage connects raw material management directly to production, reducing manual handling and improving organization within the production area.
Automated storage makes better use of available space, enables more efficient inventory management and ensures that sheet metal is available to the laser cutting machine when required.
When storage, handling and loading are integrated into a single system, the company can achieve a smoother, safer and more autonomous production process.
