Castings: Cleaning and Post-Processing in a Time of Change – How quickly this sector is evolving in 2024

The foundry industry is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by various factors such as technological innovations, changing market requirements and the pressure to automate. A conversation with the experts at Lianco Technologies, a company specialising in bespoke solutions for foundry finishing, reveals some interesting insights.

FP: That sounds fascinating. How is Lianco Technologies structured, and where does this extensive expertise come from?

Lianco: Our expertise is based on many years of technical development and the supply of bespoke solutions in the field of castings finishing. Lianco emerged from the former senior management and technical sales team of the Italian company MAUS. We were pioneers in the development of CNC solutions with linear axes for castings finishing and established these innovative technologies worldwide – at a time when full automation in this sector was still viewed with scepticism. This pioneering work presented us with the challenge of convincing customers worldwide of the merits of our solutions, for which there were no comparable models. From these numerous successful projects, we developed the ability to machine castings of all kinds – whether one-off or in series production – flexibly and efficiently. Today, this enables us to quickly offer bespoke solutions that give our customers a competitive advantage. For over 25 years, we have been working daily with technologies such as CNC, PLCs, robotics, automation and tooling.

“Customised solutions through automation”

FP: Automated castings cleaning is now widely used. Lianco has extensive experience and a global track record. What makes your company so successful?

Lianco: Our strength lies in the versatility of our products, combined with unique system design and expert advice. We respond individually to our customers’ requirements and work with them to develop the optimal solution – without limiting ourselves to our own standards. Whilst other machine manufacturers only offer specific types of plant for each application, we take a different approach: we explain the possibilities offered by various technologies, link them together through automation and even integrate third-party systems if this adds value for the customer. This comprehensive service is offered at extremely fair prices. Our lean structure enables us to provide globally competitive quotes, even though we use only certified components from renowned global companies.

Another key to our success is our use of CNC machines based on tried-and-tested linear technology – the most robust solution available for mechanical machining. This is why virtually all machining centres on the market rely on this system. Our machines, which are often at the start of the machining chain, have to cope with particularly demanding work, which makes them exceptionally resilient.

“It’s mostly about volume, material, dimensions and component requirements”

FP: How important is an in-depth understanding of the product to be machined, particularly in the case of castings in different sizes and materials?

Lianco: When selecting the optimal solution for a specific machining task, numerous criteria must be taken into account. Using a well-thought-out checklist, we guide our customers through our wide range of products to identify the best possible technology for their requirements. On our website, we provide technical articles that systematically categorise relevant technologies.

In our approach, we distinguish between steel, iron and aluminium, taking into account the relevant dimensions, the necessary processing steps, the production volume, and specific component or customer requirements. Depending on the type of casting process, each material places different demands on the machining process. Added to this are the actual machining tasks and any additional operations that may offer the customer a further, perhaps initially unrecognised, advantage.

Experience plays a crucial role in this process. Even if a machining process proves successful in tests, a lack of process stability may later mean that the new technology does not deliver the desired results. We therefore occasionally find ourselves obliged to advise against certain customer requests, to highlight the associated risks and to offer alternative, more suitable solutions.

FP: How have customers’ demands and expectations changed? What is the current state of the art?

Lianco: Customers worldwide are increasingly open to new technologies, regardless of geographical boundaries. Even in regions with an abundant labour force, the benefits of new technologies are being recognised. The level of technology employed depends heavily on the skills of the workforce, the learning process, the desired degree of automation and, of course, the available budget.

Customers expect their investments to lead to a reduction in production costs as quickly as possible and, ideally, to generate higher profits. The fact that further machines are purchased after a certain production period clearly shows that the benefits of our systems become apparent very quickly.

FP: Which markets are currently performing particularly well, and where does Lianco’s focus lie?

Lianco: Our most important markets currently include Brazil, Mexico and Southern and Central Europe, particularly France and, increasingly, Germany. We are also expanding into India, Indonesia and other Asian countries, whilst China remains a key market for us. In these regions, we work closely with local companies, which form a strategic part of the Lianco philosophy in areas such as service, sales and spare parts.

Our current focus is on aluminium machining, and with our newly launched AS series, we have struck a chord with the times. This series offers a CNC alternative to the traditional robot cell, combining not only deburring and cutting but also smaller machining tasks within a single system.

Our aim is to grow globally and establish a strong presence. Thanks to our streamlined decision-making structure, we can provide our customers with personalised and optimal support. Growing together with our customers as partners is our top priority.

“We’ll be taking part in GIFA Mexico 2024”

FP: What can we expect from Lianco Technologies in the future, and at which trade fairs and events will you be present in the near future?

Lianco: We are currently working intensively on installing new machinery in several countries. At the same time, we attach great importance to raising the profile of our still-young company at trade fairs and events in order to build the necessary trust within the foundry industry. In 2024, we have already taken part in six trade fairs worldwide (Europe, Brazil, China, India) and will also be present at GIFA in Mexico in October, as this market continues to offer great potential for us.

Furthermore, we are continuously expanding our product portfolio to better meet our customers’ needs, thanks to the unique supplier network we have built up over the first five years of our operations.

Many thanks to Claudio Cossalter and Nicola Antonucci for the interesting conversation, and we wish you continued success!