Why Montanstahl chose the Cutlite Penta laser

Can you briefly tell us the story of Montanstahl?

Montanstahl has been on the market for almost 40 years. We make products for different sectors — from pharmaceutical to aerospace, from chemical to nuclear — and we work with architects on structures for building projects, such as the Cube in Berlin or the facade of Park Tower at Transbay in San Francisco, with highly aesthetic elements.

Compared with the early years, we have specialized in niche markets, where quality and added value matter more than quantity: less competition on numbers, but a very high level of technology required.

Today we have about 400 employees — 240 in Switzerland, the others in the production sites in Germany and the USA — and sales offices in several countries. We offer products made with hot and cold plastic forming, extrusion and laser welding.

What kind of materials do you work?

We work stainless and carbon steel, with a ready-from-stock / just-in-time service for products in continuous demand and made-to-order for those with very high customization and added value.

It is a positioning that fits laser technology perfectly: laser-cut and laser-welded products can have complex geometries, more accurate tolerances and far nicer surfaces than extruded ones. In this field it is hard to get the same results with other technologies.

How did you get to know Cutlite Penta?

During routine maintenance on another laser cutting system, an external technician showed one of our maintenance staff some laser-cut samples of very high thickness. Struck by the quality, we wanted to find out their origin: that is how we reached Cutlite Penta.

Once we visited the company, we realized that the power of the machines and the willingness to take on new technological challenges were in perfect tune with the spirit of continuous innovation that characterizes Montanstahl.

What are the strengths of Cutlite Penta technology for you?

The machine arrived recently, so it is early to draw conclusions, but the cutting power struck us. It is an added value that meets our need to supply very advanced and special products.

So also the ability to cut thick material?

Exactly. With our systems we had gone up to 30 mm of stainless; with the Cutlite Penta machine we are already testing 40 mm of stainless and 50 mm of iron.

It is a big saving of time and costs: before, these products had to be bought externally and, in some cases, reworked in-house. External suppliers reduce flexibility and tie you to timings you do not control, while for us it is key to respond quickly to the market.

A large stock of always-available products helps us: we can fulfill requests for in-stock products in a week, much faster than those who work only to order.

Which figures do you work with for customized products?

It depends on the sector and the type of product. For structural products for architecture we deal with architects, engineers or the builder: it is important to translate the requests into functional products that also meet the aesthetic expectations.

How has your company changed over the years?

When I started at Montanstahl (Switzerland) we were 24 employees, now 240. Before there were two sheds, today in Switzerland we have 11, for about 80,000 sq m of covered surface.

The evolution went from mass markets to niche markets, investing in cutting-edge technologies like the laser. The human factor matters a lot too: it takes a certain mindset to keep innovating and reading the sector's trends.

Today the aesthetic side matters a lot as well: the product must first of all be functional and of quality, but for structural works architects also ask for image-related features. In the Cube in Berlin, for example, the aesthetic component was essential. We offer an almost tailor-made product, cut to the requests of a customer-stylist: it requires very high customization, which we ensure with our technologies, laser included.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Montanstahl?

A company with almost 40 years of activity, a reference in the global market for special profiles in stainless and carbon steel, with about 400 employees across Switzerland, Germany and the USA.

Why did Montanstahl choose Cutlite Penta?

For the cutting power and the willingness to take on new technological challenges, in tune with its spirit of innovation. It all started from the samples cut at high thickness.

What thicknesses does it cut with Cutlite Penta technology?

With its previous systems up to 30 mm of stainless; with the Cutlite Penta machine it is testing 40 mm of stainless and 50 mm of iron.

What advantages does high-thickness laser cutting bring?

It lets you bring in-house operations once outsourced, with more flexibility, faster times and savings in time and cost.