Lantek has launched its latest-generation V45 software suite, introducing a series of AI-driven tools designed to support smarter, more connected production within the sheet‑metal industry. The new release marks a significant step in the company’s ongoing effort to improve workflow automation, reduce programming time and strengthen end‑to‑end data integration across fabrication environments.
Central to the V45 update is KAI, Lantek’s new transversal digital assistant. Integrated throughout multiple applications, KAI is designed to simplify routine tasks for technicians, improve decision‑making and increase consistency across production processes. Lantek says the assistant represents a shift toward more intuitive, intelligence‑supported workflows for operators on the shop floor.
The new version also strengthens the company’s commitment to seamless connectivity by extending links between Lantek Bend and its cutting, MES and ERP platforms. This unified environment allows data to flow continuously from design through to final manufacture, helping to reduce communication errors, enhance traceability and improve coordination between departments. The result is faster delivery times and more predictable production planning for workshops.
Updates to Lantek’s programming tools include developments to Stackmaster and Lantek Expert. These improvements broaden compatibility with an increasing number of lift devices and enhance integration with external systems. The refinements contribute to shorter programming times and more cost-effective manufacturing, particularly for customers handling varied materials and batch requirements.
Extended machine connectivityThe V45 release also brings improvements to the company’s MES system, providing greater visibility of resource allocation and delivery schedules. Its modern web interface enables managers to monitor production performance and identify bottlenecks more effectively. Developments in intermediate warehouse management, along with extended machine connectivity, mean the platform can now integrate with virtually any machine, offering increased transparency and operational responsiveness.
Building on updates first introduced in 2024, Lantek has advanced its Assembly to Nesting (A2N) workflow, focusing on improved usability and greater unfolding accuracy. By leveraging bending tool data, the system helps manufacturers move more quickly from 3-D assembly to cutting, reducing errors and increasing reliability.
Within the V45 suite, Lantek Flex3D now features a native connector to StruMIS and integration with TELKA, supporting structural fabrication workflows. A major update to the nesting engine offers stronger material optimisation and tighter process control, with users benefiting from reduced waste and improved yield.
Lantek has also refined iQuoting to reflect the growing strategic importance of accurate estimating. By connecting the quoting system with CAD/CAM and MES/ERP data sources, manufacturers can produce faster, more precise quotes based on real-time production insights. This approach strengthens margin control and improves communication between departments at the bidding stage.
Adam Ball, UK commercial director at Lantek, said: “We are excited about what this new V45 means for the sheet metal industry. Demand is high for software that helps workshops to work smarter, reduce errors and simplify production processes. By introducing AI functionality into its tools, V45 can offer even more advanced support to operators, as well as strengthening integration and improving transparency, we’re enabling customers to achieve faster deliveries, better margins and greater material optimisation.”