Metal plate processing specialist Otto Klostermann GmbH (Castrop-Rauxel, Germany) processes exceptionally large or thick plates (XXL lengths, widths, and material thicknesses) for use in building vehicles and wagons, bridge construction, shipbuilding, crane manufacturing, and making sluice gates. When it comes to thermal cutting, the company relies on modern, high-performance cutting systems—its newest investment is a LaserMat CO2 laser cutter from Messer Cutting Systems (Gross-Umstadt, Germany).
Philipp Klostermann says, “Our old laser cutting system was getting on in years. It was no longer state-of-the-art and there were also no spare parts available for it any longer. As the laser machine is totally loaded all year round with us, it was clear to us that we needed a new one. We mainly process very large plates, and the Messer machines can process these XXL sizes.”
The LaserMat was conceived for large plate processing and combines precision with speed, even when processing large steel sheets weighing several tons. Messer Cutting Systems can meet the customer’s requirements in working widths and lengths, and with different additional options for the most versatile demands. Klostermann can, for example, cut components out of mild steel up to 25 mm thick or from stainless steel up to 20 mm thick. The on-board laser beam source (resonator) enables cutting plates up to 4500 mm wide and up to 30 m long.
An optical beam path length compensation keeps the length of the laser beam constant during transverse axis movements and ensures high laser beam and cut quality over the entire cutting area. The high positioning and repetitive accuracy of the system is achieved by track construction, robust linear guidance, precision accelerations up to 0.5g, and a simultaneous positioning speed of up to over 100 m/min with real-time control that generates extremely short piercing times, allowing fine micro-stitches. An infinitely rotating bevel head enables continuous bevels from -45° to 45°.
In addition to the new LaserMat, there are three OmniMat machines in Otto Klostermann’s production hall. These are the ideal solution for large working areas and tough production conditions, thanks to their high load capacity and productivity. They permit oxyfuel and plasma cutting as well as demanding vertical and bevel cutting. Their high load bearing gantry design and twin-sided longitudinal drive with precisely machined guide offers high cutting accuracy and contour faithfulness. Positioning speeds of up to 30 m/min, high acceleration, and fast torch lifters (16 m/min) ensure reduced unproductive time.
The largest OmniMat at Klostermann cuts plates with widths up to 6800 mm and lengths up to 56,000 mm with a maximum material thickness of 300 mm (oxyfuel) or up to 50 mm (plasma). This machine is equipped with a vertical plasma cutting torch and two oxyfuel heads. Two Skew Rotator plasma bevel cutting units make it possible to add precise bevels to the parts with a torch setting angle from -45° to 45°.