When a bold move pays off: the Dalcos coil-fed punching machine by Dallan

Being a pioneer in any field requires a clear vision and the ability to foresee the direction your company should take. Andrea Dallan, CEO of roll-forming machine specialist Dallan, is a prime example of a bold move proven successful. His pivotal role in promoting innovation through the Dalcos brand is a testament to his foresight and initiative.

Over 20 years ago, Dallan began producing CNC coil-fed punching machines under the Dalcos brand, after recognizing the growth potential in this sector. It included laser equipment and bending machines, with a market ten to twenty times larger than that of roll formers.

Customers’ satisfaction was evident and supported by concrete results, as Dalcos punching machines allowed saving substantial amounts of material, sometimes up to 25%. Moreover, the production time was halved through a process that eliminated metal sheet loading and unloading operations.

Thanks to this insight, CEO Andrea Dallan was able to increase Dalcos' revenue from 2 to over 6 million. The next turning point came with Giovanni Maffei, an Industry 4.0 pioneer and owner of a company specializing in paneling. With Maffei's consultation, Dalcos developed the first parametric coil-fed punching machine. This innovative technology solved numerous issues that also plagued Maffei. Here are its benefits:

Minimal waste during processing
The Dalcos coil-fed punching machine significantly reduced processing waste: the scrap percentage, previously at 20%, dropped to 4%, resulting in substantial waste reduction thanks to the unique software that allowed choosing between standard or custom width.

Increased productivity
In the past, the time needed for the process - from panel loading to the finished piece - was about 4 minutes. By using the punching machine, with only a few punches required, standard-width panels could be processed in just over a minute, reducing processing time by 80%. Furthermore, this new technology increased overall productivity by approximately 85%.

Processing panels of various sizes
The Dalcos parametric punching machine has shown the ability to handle panels of different lengths, from 4 to 8 meters, in contrast to metal sheet punching machines. This innovation allowed Maffei to reduce processing times from hours to less than a minute for products more prominent than 4 meters, enabling him to process orders for panels of practically any size in real time.

From that initial coil-fed punching machine, the Italy-based company has come a long way. After more than 20 years, the Dalcos coil-fed punching machines still stand for efficiency and innovation, remaining a flagship product in the sheet metal industry.

To learn more about Andrea Dallan's journey in the punching sector, please have a look at the dedicated article on the company's website >>