Balustrade manufacturer opts for fully automated and unmanned production of aluminum profiles

Better efficiency and greater output thanks to thoughtful investment

To buy new machines, you don't always have to go abroad by a long shot. The most suitable solution can often be found simply in Belgium, for Lammertyn (Ardooie) even around the corner. The balustrade manufacturer invested in a fully automatic production line from Soenen Hendrik (Izegem) and can thus "save" two operators to be used at other locations in the production process. From now on, one only has to place the profiles on the feed table, after which they are quickly and automatically processed on the same machine. Since unmanned production is also possible, efficiency and output increase significantly.

For almost 35 years, Lammertyn has specialized in the production of mainly balustrades for professional customers. For example, building promoters have a choice of some 15 standard models, but it is also possible to provide customization. "Everything is done entirely in-house, which allows us to be flexible. We have an in-house design office, a workshop with experienced employees and modern machinery, as well as our own assembly teams," explains Krist Lammertyn, who, together with his wife Saskia, is the brainchild of his father.
Roger continues to expand. 

"We continue to invest heavily in people, machinery and facilities. For example, we built a 1300 m² profile warehouse with a height of 16 m and installed an automated tower warehouse to store small parts and maintenance supplies. To further optimize our machinery, we looked for a new machining center, which met our needs and requirements of today and tomorrow."

Fully automated production line, designed in Belgium

Krist Lammertyn and his team did not take any chances. They evaluated various possibilities and even went abroad for demonstrations. All to no avail and eventually the suitable solution was found in their own backyard. The manager came into contact with the specialists of Soenen Hendrik and was impressed by the quality and performance of the fully automatic production lines for processing profiles. 

"As with the other projects, we started from a conversation, identifying all of Krist and his team's requirements. Then our engineers developed a production line, which recognizes the aluminum profiles and then performs all the necessary operations fully automatically: milling, drilling, sawing, counter-profiling, sorting and much more ...," states sales representative Pepijn Carlier. 

"Our systems are based on a basic concept, but for us every customer and his project are unique. They receive a customized solution, perfectly tailored to their needs and requirements. For example, at Lammertyn we attached great importance to 'tapping on the head of the profile' and solutions for the fully automatic production of foot slabs with specific operations."

The new system is used for the automatic, even unmanned production of the most diverse profiles for manufacturing  of balustrades.

Unmanned, even outside working hours

This production line is controlled entirely from an open source software and monitored by cameras. If a tool no longer meets the requirements or a breakage occurs, the operation is automatically taken over by other available tools, avoiding any machine downtime. These features allow Soenen Hendrik's Smart Machine to operate completely unmanned. 

"Thanks to this intelligent solution, our operators only need to place the profiles on the feed table. Afterwards - and during the processing of the profiles - they can be switched on elsewhere in the production process. We can now continue production even after working hours. In this way, we expand capacity and increase output, so our efficiency and profitability are now significantly higher," Lammertyn concludes. 

Pepijn Carlier adds, "Together with the customer, at Soenen Hendrik we pre-test each machine, the profiles selected by the customer and, if necessary, all machining operations. This is done at our company and together with our production team. Thus, we always leave with a ready-to-use and fully tested system. This allows the customer to start production almost immediately after installation."