Spain-based Lantek (www.lantek.com), a multi-national developer of CAD-CAM/MES/ERP solutions, which is leading the digital transformation of companies in the sheet metal industry and turning them into ‘Smart Factories’, has unveiled the latest version of its software — Lantek Global Release 2020.

In total, there are over 100 enhancements and updates in the new version, the most significant being collision prevention on the cutting machine and a new algorithm for destroying scrap metal efficiently on tube cutting machines.

One aspect of the latest version, which is very relevant amid the Covid-19 crisis, is the ability to use the software remotely.

Lantek CTO Carlos Garcia said: “In a time of great uncertainty, and without a clear understanding of what will happen later this year or next year, many clients have demanded a solution suitable for remote working.

“The 2020 version of Lantek software includes a huge advance in the support, installation and configuration of the software and machine without requiring visits from our technicians and allows different configurations so that technical teams for machining, production planning or budgeting can work from their homes.”

The update to Lantek Expert, the suite of programs for cutting and punching sheet metal, focuses on providing clients with functions that maximise the productivity and efficiency of their machines. In the new version of its accredited CAD-CAM 2-D software, Lantek has added a total of 34 new features.

Collision prevention
The main development is the capability of running an algorithm to prevent collisions during the cutting or punching process. This works by automatically adding fasteners (or micro-joints) to the holes or parts that, once they have been cut, could cause a collision between themselves and the cutting head.

Lantek has also improved the usability of all functions related to fasteners (or micro-joints) focusing on two areas: the improvement in precision of the final width of these elements and accurate simulation when they are added manually in real time; for shapes that the user does not want to fasten into the sheet with micro-joints, Lantek offers the possibility of scrapping them using a new zig-zag technique ensuring that the waste material discharges safely.

Lantek Expert now includes functions to help with production management in the workshop. Waste or leftover sheet material can be automatically marked on cutting machines so that it is easy to identify. The material can be marked with the company’s identifier code as well as its measurements and weight.

Tube cutting
The tube cutting market is growing exponentially thanks to the fact that new machinery manufacturers are beginning to develop this technology and, that existing machinery is evolving with new devices and systems to allow for automaton and improved efficiency when cutting tubes.

To assist the market, the new V40 version of Lantek Flex3d incorporates a new algorithm that allows the user to destroy scrap generated from cutting holes in tubes. Without this new capability, hole cutting can cause numerous collisions with the machine head as well as possible damage when scrap falls onto supports.

Furthermore, a new head management algorithm allows contours that have previously been cut to be avoided to minimise collisions and machining time is reduced as unnecessary raising and lowering of the head is avoided.

The combination of these two new features eliminating over 80% of current machine downtime caused by collision, is a highlight of this version of the software.

For new devices that automate the loading and unloading of parts, Lantek Flex3d V40 incorporates automated management of supports and unloading trays allowing the machine to work fully autonomously.

This new support management function, as well as avoiding collisions with the supports, allows for optimal use of material that would previously have been considered scrap, obtaining improvements in the utilisation of tubes of over 5%.

Significant improvements
Mr Garcia said: "The many new features incorporated into the new version of Lantek Flex3d have been designed to satisfy the tube, pipe, and structural steel market’s search for "intelligent" solutions that allow for the automation of large production cycles by avoiding unnecessary downtime while, keeping track of production and reducing costs.”

The new 2020 version of Lantek Integra incorporates significant improvements in its interface to adapt it to the current design standards in applications.

The new graphics offers better use of space on the screen and an improved visual experience that includes changes to the colour palette, icons, font sizes and some navigation mechanisms. This results in greater efficiency in the users' daily tasks.

In addition, the advanced visualisation dashboards of the commercial function, customer analytics has been enabled. For Lantek MES, the improvements aim to continue equipping production managers with control mechanisms for carrying out workshop operations.

Lantek MES manager now has a new extension, MES Monitoring, which displays, graphically and in real-time, the sequence of operations on each work centre.

It offers different Gantt display modes, as well as different mechanisms that allow you to visually search and skip through the operations according to different criteria. Furthermore, this version enables the advanced manufacturing visualisation dashboards, Manufacturing Analytics.

With more than 23,700 customers in over 100 countries and 20 offices in 14 countries, Lantek has an extensive network of distributors with an international presence. In 2019, its international business contributed to 86% of its revenue.