Netherlands-based Zantech, a metal and sheet-metal coating and treatment specialist, has partnered with Mazak since the 1980s, contributing to the development of each generation of FABRI GEAR tube lasers (now superseded by Mazak’s new range of 3D tube cutting machines).
Bart van der Zande likes to be at the forefront when it comes to new machines. “I never buy from the brochure,” says the metal entrepreneur. Indeed, he is right at home with the major machine manufacturers in the sheet metal industry, even liaising with them in thinking up new solutions.
Bart van der Zande from Zantech bought his first fiber laser-cutting machine in 2009 – long before this type of laser became popular with sheet-metal workers.
In terms of technology, he wants to lead the way. In this, Bart takes after his father Jan van der Zande, who already had laser technology in the late 1980s. In the 1990s, he boarded a plane to Japan to encourage Mazak to develop a tube laser for large profiles. That technology did not even exist, but he saw an opportunity in the market.
Unique position
In 2001, the world’s first FABRI GEAR 300 tube laser was installed in Oss. The successor, the FABRI GEAR 400 II that can handle lengths of up to 15 metres, also premiered at Zantech, followed by the third generation of this tube laser, the Mazak FABRI GEAR 400 III. Once more, Bart van der Zande flew to Japan to work with Mazak engineers in a top-secret assembly.
This time, however, he was forced to miss out on the exclusive access. “I already wanted one in 2017 but I needed space for the machine, which is 40 metres long and 10 metres wide.” He only managed to build a new workshop space of 900 square metres when his neighbour agreed to relocate.
Zantech’s business model is based on technology leadership, as Van der Zande himself explains. “We had something unique with the first FABRI GEAR — nobody could cut large tubes at the time. That way, you create a position for yourself on the market, through which you connect customers. The demand for laser-cutting of large pipes and profiles of up to 400 mm is high.”
Enhanced capacity
The newer tube lasers have an automatic focus so that the optimum cutting parameter is utilised for both piercing and cutting. “The previous machine used one common parameter, which means that piercing takes extra time.” The laser source is the same, a 4 kW CO2 laser.
The second major difference between the second and third generation of this tube laser is material feeding. With the FABRI GEAR 400 II, a maximum of five beams can be placed in the V-shaped holders. Once these five tubes or profiles are cut, the operator must load new material. With the new Mazak FABRI GEAR 400 III, the material is fed via a chain conveyor that features adjustable fingers.
Depending on their diameter, five to twenty tubes can be loaded. “The machine can therefore operate longer before the worker is needed. The machine can cut for at least one hour with twenty tubes. During that time, the operator can prepare the next order or do other jobs,” Van der Zande explains.
The machine can cut for at least one hour with twenty tubes. During that time, the operator can prepare the next order or do other jobs
Bart van der Zande, CEO
Machine builders are still unaware
After all these years, Van der Zande has noticed that there is still much ignorance about the laser-cutting of large H-, I-, and L-shaped beams, as well as large tube and tube profiles. “The tube laser is generally known in the smaller range but not in the larger range. Many machine builders still have an old-fashioned approach to their profiles: sawing beams, drilling, and milling slots, tapping wire, and completing welded edges. We perform all operations on our tube lasers in one go,” he concludes.
