This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Recam Láser saca chispas a la velocidad del corte por láser

Confidence in its own speed, a key factor

Recam laser takes Sparks to the cutting speed for laser

Ibon Linacisoro15/11/2006

The company is located in Caldes de Montbui (Barcelona) Recam laser, founded in 1988, and a pioneer in laser cutting in a geographical area which, over time, has become the place where there is a surprising concentration of such companies. Recam laser is part of a group that now includes 14 companies, all of which specialized in sheet metal machining. The two latest additions, which also represent the first jump to the outside of the group, there are two companies created in 2006 in Latin America, one in Mexico and one in Chile.

Recam laser the laser cutting is an activity that dominates perfectly. But this is not enough in a competitive environment. Mastery of the technique is, to put it in some way, a bare minimum that Recam laser combined with machines of first level and, above all, something that cannot be bought: the absolute conviction that can do things that others can't. And this little defined as "things" are in this Catalan company acquires its maximum expression in the service, especially in the speed of service. So much so that account with a high demand service, the work in 24 hours, and another more recent, splitting the loop of service in an hour.

"Our market is very local - explains Pere neighborhoods, Manager of the company, to MetalUnivers-." The province of Barcelona is basically concentrated. We have specialized both in service and urgency, that the proximity is essential, because it is obvious that, for example, the service 24 hours cannot give it if we are not close to the customer. "This does not mean that we also address other areas, in which we have grown with the creation of branches".

The laser cutting has become a conventional tool and which is used often, precisely because of its speed. According data handling this Catalan company, at the moment there are more than 100 companies involved in this in Spain and there is more than a thousand installed cutting machines by laser. "We were the first, in 1988, which we offered the subcontracting of cutting laser." After less than 20 years, the growth is spectacular and not only in our activity, but also in industries related to our sector, such as storage of sheet metal, industrial sheets, etc. "Of course, if someone wants to make a piece of metal furniture, here it is easy".

Recam laser works on request. The client calls the piece you want to cut and, rarely, also provides the material. Listening to Pere neighborhoods, everything seems easy: "the client sends a plane, says the amount of pieces you want and we respond accordingly". However, to maintain its leadership position is also offering other services, subsequent to the laser cutting processes.

"It is something that more and more, we have even reached the final product." We are no longer only subcontractors for laser cutting, but that we could define us as snowboarders industrial very well equipped in cutting by laser. It is the client that has brought us really to bring us closer to the snowboarders. Bending, welding, polishing, make threads... We will provide components that the client can incorporate into your system. "We carry out intermediate elements of machines, semi-finished products, although sometimes we provide completely finished parts where only lack integrate Electronics".

One aspect that Recam laser have clear is the importance of the technology. The best way to improve margins is having the most modern machines, because much improve productivity. Yields of the new machines currently installed in the factory have improved a lot, which allows, for example, cushioning the impact of the rise in prices of steel on the final product to the customer better.

And, as mentioned above, other factors for success are the urgency and quality. "Here we are service - oriented explains Pere neighborhoods - and it is not unusual to have 20 or 25 a day for other orders." To do this the means of production are important, but more so is the belief that things can be. "It is something that we believe and why it works." Here anyone who take the phone and receive an order for the next day, is not surprised. "We have technical office 16 hours a day, workshop up for 24 hours and, with some 54 people on staff, we are very focused on the service, to the urgency".

With this philosophy and these means, for the year 2006 the billing will reach 8 million euro in the plant of Caldes de Montbui.

Modern equipment

"We have all the machines, tube-specific versions, combined with punching machines... up to a total in this plant, of eight laser machines and other complementary, such as folding or robotic welding and laser welding equipment." "Basically they are all Trumpf, here we have no doubt that we want to be with the world's leading".

Another part of its success lies in the "know-how" hidden after a historical portfolio of 4,000 clients from all industries and all sizes. This not only generates experience and knowledge, but distributes risk and ensures a stable pace.

How to be the last

Be accompanied by the first suppliers of technology brings many advantages to Recam laser. "We have clear, says the Manager of the company - it." We have so many of the same brand which is difficult to change, among other things because our workers already know them well and know how to get them maximum benefit and what are the parts that are needed. On the other hand, when you go hand in hand with a leading company, you leave take some for them, because you are by checking the latest technological trend. If you want to have the latest, there to do a follow-up to the most recent has released our regular supplier of machines. "They make fashion."

This is not in words: in 2006, investment in machines in this factory has been of two million euros, which can be understood as a response to growing demand. But while the laser cutting is ever requested, they are also more and more companies that offer it, which is affecting prices. As Pere Barrios says, "we, fortunately, are out of this war." I feel that you recognized us leadership in reliability and service. Only seeking price probably does not come with us, because we offer a range of benefits, with the service as a major. But I must also say that although we are not going to the battle of the great tight volume at price, we have means to do so. "We should not be the cheapest, but the fastest, with an unquestionable quality".