Over decades of work and experience, KHS Ostroróg in Poland has become a leading manufacturer specialising in the assembly and renovation of production lines, machines, and equipment for the agricultural, food, and wood processing industries.
KHS primarily fabricates low-carbon and stainless steel structures in thicknesses ranging from 1 to 25 mm. Before venturing into the world of fiber lasers, they relied on a plasma cutter. However, the cutting quality and precision left much to be desired, especially when dealing with hole cutting.
As Tadeusz Hańczyk, the owner of KHS, recalls, “Prior to purchasing the fiber laser, we were cutting with plasma, but we could only use it for jobs where achieving high quality and exact dimensions wasn’t critical. Plasma is simply inaccurate.”
KHS Ostroróg had to subcontract all jobs requiring precision, and the increasing costs of these services became the main reason behind their decision to purchase their own fiber laser cutter.
“The costs of third-party services were rising, and the parts we ordered didn’t always arrive on time, which slowed down our production. We calculated that it would be cheaper and more profitable to buy a machine than to continue relying on subcontractors,” added Hańczyk.
In Pursuit of the Highest Quality and Precision
When the search for the right machine began, KHS had their priorities straight: quality, quality, and more quality.
“For us, the most important thing was the quality of the cut holes and the capacity to process sheets up to 25 mm,” said Łukasz Pospieszny, Specialist in Cost Estimation and Optimization at KHS.
KHS began their research by consulting other fiber laser machine owners and users, as well as testing several laser cutters. “The opinions about Eagle were very positive, both in terms of machine construction, output quality, and service, which was crucial to us,” added Pospieszny.
The next step was a visit to Eagle’s headquarters in Wałcz, where KHS could test the machine with their own materials and observe its performance firsthand. Regarding the test results, Eagle passed with flying colors. In the words of Tadeusz Hańczyk: “The quality of the parts cut on the Eagle, compared to the other machines we tested, turned out to be the best. The edge quality, cutting quality, and lack of dross were all excellent.”
The decision was clear, and KHS opted for an eVision 1530 6kW to meet their quality and thickness needs.
Autonomy and Control Leading to Growth
Eagle’s eVision significantly accelerated the production process at KHS Ostroróg, as they no longer depended on external sources for project completion.
“Production efficiency has increased, we’ve sped up the process, and we no longer have to wait for materials from subcontractors,” said Łukasz Pospieszny. The versatile eVision has allowed for faster delivery times, which translates into customer satisfaction and an increase in orders.
Thanks to Eagle’s intuitive software, operators quickly learned how to control the machine, which reduced training time and allowed the company to start production shortly after installation. Seweryn Sawiński, a laser cutter operator at KHS, stated: “The learning process was simple; the interface is very user-friendly, responsive, and fast. If the machine is regularly checked and all beam head parameters are monitored, it works flawlessly.”
Grzegorz Nowak, chief technologist at KHS, highlighted Eagle technology and its impact on efficiency: “A very important function we received with the machine’s software was automatic nesting. It reduces waste after producing specific parts and allows for maximum utilization of available material, decreasing production costs and increasing market competitiveness.”
Reliability for Peace of Mind
Reliable service was a key factor in the purchase decision-making process. KHS needed assurance that they would receive timely support and that the equipment they were acquiring was reliable, with minimal downtime due to malfunctions.
“Some inquiries were easily resolved over the phone. After some time, with more experience, our operators and programmer visited Eagle’s headquarters to address every other question and doubt,” said Tadeusz Hańczyk, emphasizing Eagle’s flexible approach and responsiveness.
Regarding reliability, Eagle exceeded their expectations: “After nearly two years of using the Eagle laser, we haven’t had a single breakdown. After a year, we performed the annual service, replacing filters and necessary parts, and we’re still cutting without any problems,” added Hańczyk.
Purchasing the Eagle eVision has proven to be a worthy investment for KHS Ostroróg. Not only did it allow them to become independent from third parties, taking full control of the production process, but it also significantly reduced costs and allowed them to take on more jobs. Most importantly, with their major focus on quality, the increased precision translated into excellent part quality, enabling the company to produce at the highest global standards, an invaluable asset for their clients.
Contact: Camillo Brena