The universal sbz 140 and the sbz 141 from Elumatec. 'The perfect all-rounders for the window, door and facade industry'

They are used for versatile machining of aluminum, PVC and thin-walled steel. According to elumatec Managing Director Bas Ladestein, the 4-axis machines in the delivery program are the best-selling profile machining centers within the window, door and facade industry.

Because the 4-axis machines are so tremendously all-round, they offer great advantages. "The universal SBZ 140 and the SBZ 141 from elumatec enable comfortable, safe, efficient and economical machining of aluminum and thin-walled steel profiles," Ladestein explains. "Many of the machining operations, such as milling, drilling and tapping, can be performed on various profiles." 

Elumatec developed the SBZ 140 some 15 years ago. In the meantime, the machine has had several upgrades and a lot has also changed in terms of controls. Therefore, a completely new machine has now been developed. It is the SBZ 141, with an additional steered axle. The existing SBZ 140 has undergone an overall upgrade. 

"For many firms, the 4-axle is the main machine, but even the companies that have grown large and mostly work with the 5-axle or walk-through machines like to make the combination with the 4-axle machines," Ladestein observes. "On the one hand to increase production capacity, on the other hand to remain flexible." 

"All operations take place on a stationary clamped profile. In the SBZ 140 and 141, this fixture has been moved forward and the working height improved, so that profiles can be inserted easily and ergonomically. With profile lengths ranging from 6 to a maximum of 16.5 m, this offers great advantages. The travelling tool magazine also ensures short tool change times and thus optimum machining cycles." 

Maintenance has also improved a lot for the operator of the machine. "Where maintenance - such as refilling oil - used to have to be done at the rear, today we've made it accessible at the front," he said.

The SBZ 141 features - with the additional controlled axis - an autonomous clamp adjustment with absolute measuring system. The material clamps are thus adjusted automatically, even during machining and independently of the rest of the machine's function. The SBZ 140 has automatic clamp adjustment by index pin. 

"We're talking about much more than a facelift here," says Ladestein. "There really has been a big improvement step with these new machines. With each new generation of controller, the machine becomes faster than the previous one. Compared to the first machine from 15 years ago, the speed has almost doubled." 

In addition to speed, security has also been improved. About the front security zone, Ladestein says: "The latest development in the field of access monitoring is the SICK laser scanner Microscan3. Whereas previously a walk-in guard was used by means of light barriers and mechanical guards, we now use a laser scanner for optimal zone protection. Thanks to this laser scanner, the process automatically resumes when the situation is safe again. This revolutionary, intelligent method of access monitoring results in even faster machine handling and prevents unnecessary downtime," concludes Ladestein.