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A great competitive advantage
Unlike other cases where the choice of the lasertube
was intended to give production a turning
point, at Alpino transition to the laser was simply
to keep up with technology. Today, however,
pieces that required various steps like drilling,
pressing and cutting are now carried out in a
single step and this in itself is a great competitive
advantage.
“Pieces with 8-10 different steps now come
straight out of the laser system” continues Githen,
we have had almost all the machines in
the BLM range. The first was a B38, which is still
operating at the premises of one of our former
employees, who set up his own business; at the
time, it was considered an automatic tube bending
system as it carried out 12 bends in sequence.
When we bought it, my father called it “Sofia” as
a homage to Sofia Loren and since then all our
machines have been given the name of a famous
lady; from “Madonna”, one of the first CNC
3-axis tube bending system (B63CNC) sold in
Brazil to “Cicciolina” (purchased in 1987) - a B63
B6X+PMB with which we managed to make a
63 radius bend on a 63 mm tube – something
that no-one in Brazil was able to do (and which
today only a few can accomplish)”.
“In 1972, we were still making furniture - continues
Giampietri - but at the beginning of the
80s we started in the automotive field, having
developed a bending machine in-house for
large diameter tubes. In fact, at the time it was
difficult to import machines to Brazil as the import
taxes could reach anything up to 100%,
but we managed to start working with top
brands like Scania and Caterpillar, who are still
important references”.
In 1989 the purchase of a B120
and a ST130 (5 passes), which
are still existing, confirmed the
definite turn from furnishing to
entirely focus production on the
automotive industry. “Having
installed a machine like the
B120 allowed us to take competitive
advantage on the market.
We were the first to manufacture
114 mm tubes with an
average radius of 125. This machine
was fundamental to gain
more experience in the bending
technology.
This was then followed by SWING 32, the first
machine with a LH/RH curving direction that
was installed in 2000. With BLM we have always
had a relationship as partners. BLM have never
left us alone when we have had problems and
we have always reached useful and valid solutions
together. Today we have added three DY-
NAM0 machines, two of which were purchased
last year and operate in the “white” industry and
automotive fields. Just to give you an idea: Beyoncé,
a DYNAM0-E with automatic loader, produces
approximately 1,800 pieces/day for FIAT.
10 MAY 2011 NUMBER 14