Synova, in particular, but not only, thanks to its strong
aerospace industry and the collaboration with the MTC
will allow the company to “gain visibility in UK’s industry
in general”.
“The LMJ process is certainly having increased
recognition in the manufacturing sector, as a production
machine,” he notes. “In this, it bene ts also from
partnerships such as the one with MTC in the UK.”
Synova chief executive Bernold Richerzhagen also
explains that the company looks forward to participating
in joint research projects, learning about new industrial
applications and “bene ting from the organisation’s
vast know-how and network”.
He adds: “Together with our expertise
in wet laser machining we believe we can
be a competent partner for the MTC to
advance manufacturing solutions for
aeronautics and other sectors, among
others on super-alloys, ceramics and CMC.”
The MTC includes some of the UK’s
major global manufacturers and is also part
of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult,
supported by Innovate UK, so the
collaboration provides Synova with good
exposure in the UK manufacturing industry.
PROVING GROUND
The Synova LCS305 installed by the MTC is the rst of
its kind to be operational in the UK and is set to lead to
more use of waterjet guided laser processing in UK
manufacturing.
The state-of-the-art waterjet guided laser machine is
operated in the US and is quite widespread in Asia, but
its high price tag is a major barrier to more widespread
use across the UK manufacturing industry.
“Synova has also joined the MTC as a Tier 2
member and we can work with them to bring the latest
machine developments and innovations for this
technology to our customers,” says Smith.
“Our aim here is if you can demonstrate the
business case clearly for the new technology, then I am
sure it will become more widespread across the UK as
industries will understand the bene ts of operating it.
“I think the bene ts of the MTC of investing in this
tech is that we can be a proving ground for different
companies to come in and trial, so they do not have to
take a signi cant risk in terms of investment in the
machine until they know it can do what they need it to.
“I see the use of laser processing in manufacturing
processes increasing over the next few years as the
price of lasers is already coming down. The general
trend is lasers are reducing in price, and this opens up
many more opportunities for industries to exploit the
technology, and the MTC wants to be at the forefront of
enabling this.”
LEAD FEATURE LASER SHARP
Niche market
The waterjet laser technology market to date is a niche sector and use of the
machines in global manufacturing is still relatively limited.
Another rising supplier of waterjet laser technology to have on the radar is
Switzerland-based Avonisys, that is currently preparing new product releases for
2021 and is expanding its distribution network. Avonisys develops, builds and
sells laser systems based on its proprietary waterjet laser technology.
Avonisys laser systems are designed to deliver robust performance for
demanding applications, while keeping operation simple and maintenance
procedures fast and cost effective. Around its core technology Avonisys holds
over 20 patents and patents pending, which include unique features such as a
high-power laser coupling method, an air-jet protection
system and an easy-maintenance laser coupling unit design.
The commercialisation of these developments has led to
a new generation of robust waterjet guided laser technology
that enables use of modern high power IR bre laser
sources, such as from UK based Trumpf Laser UK Ltd.
Avonisys applies this highly robust and powerful t-andforget
bre laser technology, enabling them to couple
and-
signi cant laser power into very small water jets of just
0.05mm or 0.03 mm diameter. The materials machined
are metals such as aluminium, stainless steel and
nickel alloys, as well as technical ceramics like Boron
Carbide, Silicon and Silicon Carbide among others.
In the opinion of the company’s managing director
Avonisys is currently
preparing new product
releases for 2021
and chief strategy of er Jeroen Hribar, waterjet laser
technology “was and still is kind of an odd duck” in laser
manufacturing. He believes the number of machines
installed globally is still quite low, compared to regular laser cutting machines
and mechanical CNC processes and feels there appears to have been no
signi cant growth in the market in the past two decades.
“Part of this can be explained with the rise of ultra-short pulse lasers for
machining thin materials,” Hribar explains. “On the other hand, large industrial
players typically apply redundant sourcing strategies and there can be
apprehension to invest in more monopolistic machine solutions. Waterjet laser is
very much a niche market.”
He adds: “In the past two years, Avonisys is becoming very visible and
recognised in the market and we are dealing with a great amount of projects and
new requests worldwide, also from existing Laser Microjet users that are keen
on exploring other solutions available. Thus, we sense, that companies have
been looking for and waiting for a viable alternative solution for various reasons.”
Avonisys has supplied equipment to a range of industries, including
manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive, semiconductor and generalpurpose
contract manufacturing, but how it is interesting to know how the
technology is making a difference to manufacturers.
“In market sectors where there are different ways to manufacture the same
part, waterjet laser can offer overall lower COO (cost of ownership) by reducing
the amount of process steps required to achieve a clean and in tolerance part,”
Hribar explains.
He adds: “In other sectors such as specialty moulding and some
semiconductor applications the waterjet laser is a true enabling technology for
speci c high-aspect features.”
Hribar says Avonisys puts a great emphasis on designing an “extremely easy
to use and robust product” and the rm’s ‘audience’ can look at how the
technology works when visiting or through videos the company releases.
14 January 2021 | www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets
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