CAD/CAM Tailored Work in Metal and Steel Precisely Digitized

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Metall Aigeldinger GmbH in Zimmern ob Rottweil (Germany) uses CAD/CAM software from Lantek as a building block on its path to digitization.

None of their complex and custom welding constructions are the same: Metall Aigeldinger GmbH specializes in custom metal and steel construction. Previously, there was a lot of running and searching on their premises in Zimmern ob Rottweil. Then came the CAD/CAM software Lantek Expert. It brought structure, clarity, and increased efficiency and product quality.

The bar is set high: "Not just meeting but exceeding our customers' expectations" is the goal with which Metall Aigeldinger approaches its work. To achieve this, the company manufactures high-quality metal and steel constructions on its 3,000-square-meter premises for private end customers, municipalities, and industries.

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The company refers to itself as a "manufactory." This evokes traditional craftsmanship, yet Metall Aigeldinger is by no means closed off to modernity. Regine Aigeldinger runs the company with her husband Martin and is convinced: "Digitizing craftsmanship is not a trend but a necessity. While entering into digitalization requires significant investments, they are investments in the future—more efficient processes reduce costs in the long term and enhance our competitiveness." To achieve this, the company carefully selects the digital tools that suit its needs and improve its efficiency—whether for employee recruitment, accounting, or project management.

The Running and Searching Has Come to an End

For organizing sheet metal production, Metall Aigeldinger relies on the CAD/CAM software Lantek Expert. Its implementation brought a notable calm to the technical office. "Previously, one of the welders would constantly come in asking, 'Has this or that part already been cut?' And then wander through the halls searching for it," recalls Nicole Helbig from technical product design. "We constantly had to measure, search, and, in the worst case, recut parts since many looked similar, but our products are highly customized, especially when, for example, adapting them to a slanted house wall."

As a result, we had many parts, and no one knew where they belonged. Our plasma cutting system ran daily because we cut everything as needed." Even Nicole Helbig herself used to be frequently on-site: carrying manually maintained lists that had to be handed over to colleagues in the workshop on paper, as many processes were manual.

Since the beginning of 2024, searching and wandering have come to an end at Metall Aigeldinger, as the entire sheet metal production, including the sheet storage, is now digitized. The centerpiece is the cross-order workflow of the Lantek Expert software: "It views production from the perspective of the sheet. Orders are mixed, cut, and the parts are then sorted for further processing," explains Lantek sales representative Jens Schamberger.

Nicole Helbig adds: "When we receive sheets, they are recorded in the system with a number and batch number and then nested until they are fully utilized. This means that, unlike before, there is hardly any leftover material." And if there are any, they are entered into the system. "This gives us complete oversight of sheets and remnants—the system shows us what is where in the storage, and we no longer have to walk over and check manually."

Colors Help in Assigning the Respective Parts

The plasma cutting system from Microstep at Metall Aigeldinger now runs only one or two days a week. During this time, all the parts required for production are cut. Nesting plans and reports are created digitally. To help employees stay organized, each order is assigned its own color, with the corresponding parts displayed in the same color on a tablet. At a glance, the report and nesting plan show where the parts of an order are located and which box or compartment they belong to for further processing.

Once the parts are cut or further processed, the respective employee checks them off digitally, and the welders get an overview via the system feedback of which parts of an order have already been completed. Nicole Helbig says: "In the past, it often happened that the welders started working on an assembly only to realize that some parts were still missing. So they had to wait until everything was cut and processed. Today, they finish faster because we cut in advance, and they can check in the system whether everything is available before starting."

Software Adapted to Workflow

The improved oversight and material utilization are not the only advantages of the collaboration with Lantek. "For the Aigeldinger company, we pushed the capabilities of our nesting software to its limits," says Schamberger. To achieve this, he first studied the company's workflow, adapted the software to its needs in close consultation, trained the employees, and supported them during the initial application phase—even via remote access when quick assistance was needed.

"Jens Schamberger brought a lot of knowledge about the system and knew how to further improve it and use it optimally with the software," emphasizes Nicole Helbig. She also highlights additional advantages: "You can even add drill holes with the program without having to switch to another 3D program. I can also quickly draw directly on the sheet, enlarge holes, and make many other adjustments right there." Moreover, technology tables are integrated into the software, allowing users to store predefined setups like cutting patterns and quickly access them.

High Precision

Boss Regine Aigeldinger is pleased with the new level of precision and efficiency the company has achieved: "The CAD/CAM software enables us to achieve previously unattained precision in creating cutting patterns. Every cut is even more exact, which not only enhances the quality of our products but also minimizes material consumption."

And if material damage ever occurs on one of Aigeldinger's products, it can be traced back, based on certificates and delivery notes stored in the system, to determine which parts were made from which materials. "This kind of traceability was hardly possible for us before," says Regine Aigeldinger. "What’s important to us is that our employees have embraced the journey into digitalization and adopted the new way of working: team morale has significantly improved, and no one wants to do without the program anymore." The machine-independent operation also provides the growing company with the desired flexibility, ensuring that the expansion of the machinery is not tied to any specific manufacturer. Lantek sales expert Schamberger adds: "The example of Metall Aigeldinger demonstrates that even small businesses can begin their journey into digitalization with just one CAD/CAM software and without special products." (st)

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