Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions that automate, streamline, and accelerate product design, has recently launched the new CLS Auto Leather Cutter, designed to support automotive manufacturers in the optimization of their industrial processes.
Since the economic crisis has hit the automotive market hard, it is becoming more and more important for companies to deploy flexible production models adapted to shorter runs. These require solutions specific to each material, like textile, leather and airbag fabric. For leather, used in automobile seats and interiors, CLS Auto provides a cutting process that is unique in the market. It reduces production costs, increases material savings and maintains flawless quality.
CLS Auto is a unique non-stop production process on a conveyor, managing every stage of the production process: Loading of pre-marked hides, recognition of hide flaws by a high resolution scanner, automatic contour detection, calculation of the actual hide surface, automatic nesting of pattern pieces taking flawed zones into account, cutting, and sorting of pieces for offloading.
Maximum leather savings is achieved through a combination of three integrated tools – HideScan software, a high resolution scanner which automatically identifies hide flaws and contours; AutoNest software that automatically nests pattern pieces, ensuring material savings of 5% to 10% compared to die-cutting systems; and finally, Offload (Lectra’s offloading assistance software), which guides the operators offloading combinations of several cut orders, generates additional material savings of 2% to 5%. With CLS Auto, automotive manufacturers are able to make annual savings running into several thousand Euros.
“CLS Auto, in the current macroeconomic climate has given value-added technologies and solutions that have enabled companies to boost their competitiveness and sustain their sales strategy,” said Daniel Harari, Lectra CEO.
