To work efficiently, laser cutting

To work efficiently, laser cutting systems need a swift supply of material and subsequent sorting. ASTES4 SA (Balerna, Switzerland) specializes in the development of automated sorting systems for sheet metal laser processing machines. They developed LASORTING, the first fully integrated system for the cutting, sorting and storage of sheet metal to streamline processes, speed up production and reduce labor costs. Recently acquired by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), an established automation solution partner for Mitsubishi Electric, MC Machinery Systems, Inc. (Elk Grove Village, IL), ASTES4 now provides MC Machinery with direct access to LASORTING and other premium sorting systems for laser automation. “The entire industry is trying to move in the direction of part sorting, and we’ve seen a lot of excitement surrounding the capabilities of this system,” said Jason LeGrand, an automation specialist at MC Machinery. “This is essentially a smart robot, it knows what the part is, the right measurements and where it belongs. With unmanned operations human error is eliminated, and it is a safer system because parts no longer have to be detached from the skeleton and sorted by hand. This dramatically reduces accident risks from the handling of heavy loads.”