Engels Behältertechnik is more than a metal processor. At the Selmsdorf site, the company manufactures tailor-made waste systems for the public sector – flexibly, efficiently and with high quality. To remain competitive in the future, Engels has invested in state-of-the-art laser technology. The new MasterLINE (which is sold in German-speaking countries under the product name “MSE SmartFL”) not only significantly reduces operating costs but also increases speed and precision in production. The company benefits from the new technology in several ways.

Waste disposal is increasingly being incorporated into municipal construction plans – and more often underground. Underfloor systems are seeing a surge in popularity in Germany – not only, but especially in municipal road and residential construction. An important driver of this development is located in Selmsdorf near Lübeck: Engels Behältertechnik GmbH. The metal processing company is part of the internationally active Engels Group and supplies individual waste solutions for the public sector.

The company has its roots in the neighboring country, where underfloor systems have long been an established waste disposal system. About the background of the company: Engels is an owner-managed company based in Eindhoven with other complementary locations in Belgium, England, Portugal and also in Germany. Since 2008, Engels Behältertechnik GmbH has been serving the German-speaking countries from Selmsdorf (near Lübeck).

Tailor-made solutions for municipal clients

"Engels has been a supplier of sustainable storage, transport and disposal solutions for over 70 years. Here at the location in Germany, we are the metal manufacturing company within the Engels Group," explains sales manager Jan André. Mainly produced are underfloor systems and waste containers – but also smallest parts such as closure systems for plastic containers. The majority of customers are from the construction segment. "In doing so, we benefit from our extremely high flexibility and our high-quality design. Of course, we also have standard products, but in the end, we can always offer customer-specific modifications and implement the wishes," says André.

The challenge of competition: quality as the key

And this is one of the big plus points in an increasingly tight market. "There are some regional providers, and some of them compete on price. The market is competitive, so we need to be efficient and produce cost-effectively. And we need to maintain the high quality, for which we are known," explains the Sales Manager.

New laser, new efficiency – investment in the future

DSince the end of 2023, cutting has been carried out with the “MSE MSE SmartFL” from MicroStep Europa (ACCURL partner for German-speaking countries) with an automatic shuttle table and smart Eckelmann control. Here, too, the focus was on efficiency to further strengthen competitiveness. The fiber laser system replaced an aging CO2 laser that was no longer profitable in terms of performance, spare parts availability and also in view of enormous ongoing operating costs. "A replacement solution has been considered for a long time. It was then properly planned around mid-2022," recalls Jan André, who was not involved in the purchasing process at the time.

Several laser manufacturers were contacted, and different variants and construction methods were examined. They were looking for a powerful 2D machine including an automatic shuttle table. "I think in the end it was the overall picture of the series and simply the good price-performance ratio that tipped the scales in favor of the MasterLINE," says André.

Material use for underground and above-ground tasks

Since then, the new technology has proven itself in everyday life. The system cuts large metal sheets for individual products on daily basis. In most cases, Engels then bends and welds manually. The MasterLINE is used to cut out the large-format side panels of the underfloor systems, add contours, or drill holes – but also to cut many small plug-in parts, including drop-in hatches, which are positioned above ground and thus visible, and must therefore meet higher standards in terms of appearance and design. The choice of material is also made accordingly: Engels cuts structural steel up to 20 mm, while galvanized steel and aluminum are only a few millimeters thick.

A new pillar: contract manufacturing with potential

In addition, Engels has built up a second pillar in the field of contract manufacturing over the pandemic period. An area with growth potential – also thanks to the higher capacities provided by the laser cutting system from ACCURL.

MasterLINE replaces CO₂ lasers – a technological leap with many advantages

And André Lange has been able to observe another great advantage since switching to the modern laser cutting system: the operation saves a lot of electricity. "Thanks to the MasterLINE, we have an energy saving of around 50 percent compared to the previous system," he has calculated. Compared to the predecessor system, the MasterLINE works much faster due to higher cutting speeds – accordingly, the working time of the operating personnel is used much better. The new acquisition also had a positive impact on gas consumption.

Many of these factors are clearly noticeable in production and balance sheet. Jan André concludes accordingly: "With MicroStep Europa, we have found a partner who meets our high standards of precision, performance and cost-effectiveness," he explains. The plant was set up and put into operation within a tight time frame. "This was not least due to perfect communication with MicroStep Europa in all planning phases, a competent service team and good operator training."

Powerful 2D fiber laser system with 3,000 x 1,500 mm working surface

Engels relies on the MasterLINE laser series – which is sold in German-speaking countries under the product name “MSE Smart^FL” – for precise and fast 2D cutting of sheet metal. The fiber laser cutting system is a powerful performer including an automatic changing table for loading and unloading sheet metal. Only high-quality components from well-known manufacturers, a highly dynamic machine gantry and durable, solid frame construction ensure consistently precise results. Engels Behälter GmbH opted for a version with a processing area of 3,000 x 1,500 mm with a laser source from the German manufacturer IPG Photonics with a cutting capacity of 6 kW. The MSE SmartControl machine control system developed with the German specialist Eckelmann – a modern, intuitive user interface – enables cutting plans to be reliably and highly effectively converted into finished components.