Case study
The integration of laser cutting and bending to close the production loop
Story courtesy of A. Ariu and G. Mazzola/Lamiera
Starting from painting and assembly, VLM has invested in cutting and bending technologies to complete their in-house production cycle. The installation of Salvagnini solutions marks the company’s transition from an evolved subcontractor to a more structured and autonomous supplier.
The integration of laser cutting and bending to close the production loop
Highlights
- VLM
Founded in Mondovì in 2021, VLM is a metalworking company with around 12 employees and approximately 2,000 m² of indoor production space. It serves mainly the Italian market across earth-moving equipment, agricultural machinery, industrial, naval and ecological sectors, processing more than 300 tons of sheet metal per year. - The challenge
VLM outsourced laser cutting and bending, limiting control over lead times, costs and production planning. Bringing both processes in-house meant introducing unfamiliar technologies, building skills from scratch and reorganizing workflows. “Before, we outsourced cutting and bending operations with indirect costs and less operational flexibility,” says the owner, Thomas La Mantia. - The solution
VLM installed an 8 kW L3-4020 fiber laser with ACUT, TRADJUST and APC2, and a 400 t B3 400/4250 press brake with S-Crowning and TFC2.0. STREAM programs both technologies within the same software ecosystem, while OPS connects the machines to the ERP for integrated production management. - The results
The investment closed VLM’s production loop, bringing cutting and bending in-house and creating a fully traceable flow from order to machine. Production data became measurable from the first months, enabling precise investment evaluation, while integrated control opened opportunities for orders previously difficult to manage and supported new customer acquisition.
