BL Lasertechnik turns a catastrophic fire into a success story

Stronger than ever.

BL Lasertechnik turns a catastrophic fire into a success story.

The scene is desperate: Violent flames destroy production halls with valuable machines in a short period of time. Nothing is left but ashes and scrap. Is this the end of BL Lasertechnik GmbH in Bavaria’s Neuschönau?

The company is a specialist in laser cutting, bending, and welding work. It qualifies as an exemplary company in the Bavarian Forest, and according to a report in the Passau New Press, it managed to win a large contract with the German Rail Corporation, Deutsche Bahn.

Like a phoenix from the ashes.

“There was brief hesitation, about whether it was worth it to risk a new start,” explains Max Bauer, the company’s managing director. But just one day later, the decision was made: “Let’s keep going!”

With the speedy and uncomplicated help of allied companies, this was also made possible. This also includes HEDELIUS, from Germany’s Emsland region, who proved to be a reliable partner in their hour of need. In just a short time, machines were delivered so that production could be started again quickly at the second, new location of the company.

HEDELIUS hall with six machines.

Today, six HEDELIUS machines are ready for all of the machining tasks, including two 5-axis machining centres from the ACURA series with a rotating/swivelling table. Moritz Sammer is an operator of an ACURA 65 MARATHON. He’s impressed by the uncomplicated operation of the machining centre and how “the components are entered into the machine area from multiple pallets. Clamp once, ACURA 65 basically does the rest automatically.”

“Flexibility is a major factor,” explains technical director Maximilian Scharringer. “We are set up very well with regard to whether our customers need individual parts or serial production. Besides milling, bending, and welding, powder coating is also offered as a service.”

Automated production solutions from a single source.

The ACURA 65, which features travel paths of 700 x 650/465 x 600 mm, is connected to a MARATHON pallet automation system of type PL406, which is also provided by HEDELIUS. This makes the machine and automation a perfect match: The automated loading of the machining centre with the pallets takes place via a lateral opening, whereby the work area remains accessible from the front and from above at all times for individual production during the day shift. The continuous Heidenhain operation concept ensures comfortable, simple operation of the machine and automation. The zero point clamping systems from Schunk Vero NSA, which are integrated at the factory, save valuable tooling time for every part.

15 minutes of saved time per workpiece.

This efficiency is omnipresent in the HEDELIUS hall. A few meters away from the ACURA 65, a large component is being machined for a digger shovel. “For tasks such as these, we acquired a TILTENTA 11-4600 2R with two rotary tables. This gains us a time advantage of 15 minutes per workpiece, which is brilliant.”

The large TILTENTA stands out as a genuine all-rounder in the machine park at BL Lasertechnik GmbH. Equipped with an extra-large Y-travel path of 1,100 mm, a collision area diameter of 1,450 mm, a liquid-cooled CELOX motor spindle and two integrated heavy-duty rotary tables, the swivelling spindle machining centre is especially useful for powerful and precise production of large, heavy, and complex workpieces. Besides the large machine, there are also two smaller 5-axis machining centres from the TILTENTA swivelling head series, as well as a vertical 3-axis machining centre of the type FORTE 85 Single 1620 for a high degree of versatility available to machining tasks.

Reliable technology – satisfied employees.

Scharringer knows his employees; it’s important to him that they’re satisfied. This includes the complete working environment. “And if the machine and the operation work smoothly, then that’s already half the battle.”

BL Lasertechnik GmbH now has 120 employees at its two sites in Neuschönau and Philippsreut, meaning its workforce is already bigger than before the fire. Many of the employees know Meppen in Emsland, where HEDELIUS Maschinenfabrik is located, from their CNC training. That’s also how trust is formed. Only the HEDELIUS emergency service remains unfamiliar in Bavaria, explains Scharringer: “We just haven’t had any negative experiences.”

Today, they are very happy that they rolled up their sleeves after the fire of 2021. The “exemplary company” status has really been earned, especially after that major setback. The Bavarians are proud of this, and the HEDELIUS team in Emsland can also be rather proud of itself.