PUNCH, PROFILE, BEND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING & TUBE CUTTING TECH REVEALED
designed for an 8 m loading length. The
LoadMaster Tube system separates and
measures the tubes parallel to production
and transfers them to the machine. To
ensure top-quality parts, step rollers support
the tubes and guide them to the machining
station. These rollers can be adjusted to the
current tube diameter in one simple action.
The machine also features guide rollers on
the unloading side which provide more
support to long tubes during processing.
The TruLaser Tube 3000 ber ejects nished
parts onto a rack. Set to the correct
ergonomic height, this allows the operator to
remove them comfortably while the machine
continues working. Shorter parts can be
ejected straight into a box. The TruLaser
Tube 3000 ber automatically separates
cutting slugs and scrap metal from the
nished parts and disposes of them in
containers.
Trumpf’s Covid-19 response to the end of June & looking ahead
During the June press event, Trumpf UK managing director Lee
Moakes explained the company’s actions, which were initiated
before pandemic status was reached, in fact. “In mid-February we
launched our internal Business Resilience Plan and de ned core
members, holding bi-weekly meetings but moving to almost daily
at the end of the month. Planning for a worst-case scenario and
highlighting our critical needs were undertaken, although the
worst case at that point in time seemed very unlikely,
melodramatic and a major distraction from our business focus.
In retrospect, it was time well spent, enabling us to follow the
plan to the letter, while we saw each trigger point being actioned
earlier and earlier. The safety of internal and external employees
was critical, so we had de ned external visitor’s health
assessments to attend demonstrations, while service visits
required the completion of Covid-free customer declarations.
“By the end of week one in March, we had 50% of our internal
employees working remotely, with the of ce calls routed to
homeworkers, with great success. The Business Resilience team
had actioned the PPE orders in the rst meeting, so while already
becoming in short supply around the globe, we had enough face
masks and hand sanitisers to provide to service personnel
working in the eld, enough to see us through the period without
the ability to restock.
“Weekly updates were provided though our Bluenet, internal
communication page and we saw it necessary for a bi-monthly
‘state of the nation’ address to come from myself to avoid
misinformation, as can happen in any fast-moving crisis,
especially where health and safety are concerned.
“By the third week of March, in advance of the lockdown, we
had switched fully to homeworking for all employees and closed
our showroom. Throughout the crisis, we have maintained full
support for our customers, while at this time we could see so
many businesses unsure in how to operate safely and closing.
The decline in demand occurred a week in advance of the of cial
lockdown, our samples showed at the end of March that 80% of
customers were closed.
“In June, we still operated remotely and have seen our
customers return to business, albeit more slowly than we had
planned during February and, as we see today, in comparison to
many of our European neighbours.”
Remote support is, of course, available to Trumpf users via
the MyTrumpf portal. Unsurprisingly, increased usage has been
noted during the pandemic, with that prompted by Social Media
messaging. MyTrumpf registrations were up more than 50%
versus 2019, while E Shop usage was up 22%, the company
reports, with punching tool orders for medical use expedited.
The Service App saw 265 more cases logged in Q1 2020 versus
2019. The latest app addition, Easy Order, allows users to
identify parts via smart buttons or QR codes, but will in future
recognise them via smartphone cameras.
Moakes continued: “I think it’s clear that so many industries
have been hit hard and we as Trumpf must stand by our
customers and support them in every way that we can while
everyone takes stock and recovers.” The company has had to
rapidly adjust to the changes that have been imposed, he added,
observing that sales activity has changed from direct visits to
increased communication digitally. “We have run many
demonstrations of our showroom and held business conferences
through digital media. We see that this will be the way forward in
the future, as the convenience and time saved by reducing travel
to our showroom will gain traction. Therefore, we have invested in
remote £4K High de nition video equipment for Virtual machine
and software demonstrations with the ability to seamlessly
transfer to reference customer sites.”
But he stressed that one of the company’s greatest assets is
its Luton showroom, so “we have completed the Risk
Assessment and requirement to enable customers to visit the
showroom in person again. I can declare that we are open for
business in the traditional or the new normal way.”
Trumpf technology was involved in the Covid-19 response, in the
UK and elsewhere:
In the UK, WEC Group, who in the last year added three
additional TruLaser 5 Series 10 KW units to its capacity, won a
contract with Ventilator Challenge UK consortium. The company
processed 8,000 sheet metal parts with its Trumpf laser and
press brake equipment. In addition, in providing hand sanitiser to
its own employees, an in-house developed product has gone on
to be marketed generally.
Also in the UK, New eld this year invested heavily in
automation, installing a TruBend Cell 5000 plus a TruLaser 5000
and TruStore. The company has existing Trumpf equipment, too.
During the peak of the crisis, the company was able to produce
3,000 bed frames while operating under social distancing
conditions, realising major productivity increases.
Trumpf US employed its showroom to manufacture visors,
using TruMicro and TruLaser Cell 7040. Over 2,000 were
produced and despatched.
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | September 2020 23
/www.machinery.co.uk