LECTRA: OPW cushion manufacturers boost bottom line with Lectra's newest airbag cutting solution, increasing productivity by up to 20%

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OPW cushion manufacturers boost bottom line with Lectra's newest airbag cutting solution, increasing productivity by up to 20%

FocusQuantum^® OPW 3K accelerates production to further reduce cutting cost per bag

Paris, October 24, 2017 - Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using fabrics, leather, technical textiles and composite materials, allows one-piece woven (OPW) airbag cushion manufacturers to significantly increase their productivity and positively impact their bottom line with the launch of its new FocusQuantum^® OPW 3K laser airbag cutting solution.

Unveiled in December 2015 and already deployed by major automotive airbag cushion suppliers worldwide, including Global Safety Textiles, Sumisho Airbag Systems, Kolon and HMT, Lectra's ground-breaking FocusQuantum OPW makes it possible to achieve quality nearing zero defects while lowering per unit production cost. Thanks to Lectra's ongoing R&D efforts and extensive experience gained on the airbag cutting market-with more than three out of every five airbag cushions cut by Lectra equipment worldwide-FocusQuantum OPW 3K is engineered to deliver even more value to manufacturers.

Laser cutting of airbag cushions is a precise operation that relies on automation to perfect production techniques. Major hardware and software improvements built into Lectra's FocusQuantum OPW 3K allow airbag cushion suppliers to produce significantly higher output with zero compromise on the exacting safety requirements imposed on these life-saving devices.

FocusQuantum OPW 3K comes equipped with a new, breakthrough feature called Dynamic Laser Trajectory Management, which controls operation of the advanced cutting solution's two 1.5 kW source lasers. The new feature minimizes stops and slow-downs through on-the-fly cutting, automatically optimizing concurrent operation of the two cutting heads. Smaller cuts like slits and holes can now be executed 25% faster, contributing to an overall increase in cutting speed that accounts for up to 20% greater productivity, leading to an approximately 15% reduction in cutting cost per bag.

Deployed in tandem with advanced cutting preparation software FocusQuantum Suite, FocusQuantum OPW 3K enables manufacturers to adapt laser cutting action to fabric distortions in real time using Lectra's SmartCutting technology, ensuring the highest quality while opening the door to material savings.

"Light vehicle production is set to reach 108 million units worldwide annually in the next 10 years, with an average of four airbags per vehicle," remarks Céline Choussy Bedouet, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Lectra. "Most of this growth will come from emerging markets, which are beginning to phase in side-impact protection as mandatory. Growing global demand for OPW airbags will make it crucial for airbag cushion suppliers to deploy the production capability necessary to remain competitive."

® FocusQuantum is a registered trademark of Lectra.

About Lectra

Lectra is the world leader in integrated technology solutions (software, automated cutting equipment, and associated services) specifically designed for industries using fabrics, leather, technical textiles, and composite materials to manufacture their products. It serves major world markets: fashion and apparel, automotive, and furniture as well as a broad array of other industries. Lectra's solutions, specific to each market, enable customers to automate and optimize product design, development, and manufacturing. With more than 1,600 employees, Lectra has developed privileged relationships with prestigious customers in more than 100 countries, contributing to their operational excellence. Lectra registered revenues of $288 million in 2016 and is listed on Euronext.

For more information, please visit www.lectra.com

Contact - Lectra Headquarters / Press Dept.: Nathalie Fournier-Christol
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 64 42 37 - Fax: +33 (0)1 53 64 43 40

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