Automatic loading and unloading systems for Sheet laser cutting machines

Herochu® Automatic Loading & Unloading Systems for Sheet Laser Cutting Machines
Tailor-made lights-out production cells from US $17,999 – CE / UE / ISO 9001 certified

When every second of laser-on time is billable, manual sheet handling is the silent profit killer. Herochu’s fully automatic loading and unloading ecosystem eliminates forklift traffic, sheet-to-sheet collisions and operator fatigue while turning your laser into a 24/7 profit centre. Built around a modular three-dimensional storage warehouse and twin-gantry truss manipulators, each cell is custom-engineered to fit existing 3015, 4015, 4020, 6015, 6020 or 6025 mm laser cutters—and can be retrofitted to any brand without voiding OEM warranties.

1. How the turnkey cell works
   • Dual-tower plate warehouse – 8–13 independently controlled floors store 3 t or 5 t per layer (up to 3 000 kg cumulative).
   • Double-sided gantry truss – overhead bridge spans the warehouse and laser shuttle table in one 2 000 mm reach motion, payload 200 kg per grab, repeatability ±0.5 mm.
   • Loading truss manipulator – vacuum or magnetic gripper picks the top sheet, performs automatic sheet-separation (fanned or magnetic), and places it on the laser shuttle in <45 s.
   • Unloading truss manipulator – removes cut parts onto a dual-layer finished-material truck while skeleton waste is dropped into an optional scrap bin—all without stopping the laser.
   • PLC control system – Siemens S7-1500 with Profinet to the laser, HMI recipe management and OPC-UA interface for MES integration.
   • Air source – low consumption 1.5 m³/min @ 0.6–0.7 MPa, compatible with standard shop compressors.
2. Core advantages for fabricators
   • Lights-out capacity – Run overnight without operators; typical ROI <12 months on two-shift operations.
   • Zero sheet damage – Soft-contact vacuum pads and dynamic height sensing prevent scratches on pre-painted or polished materials.
   • Flexible storage – Store mixed sheet sizes and thicknesses (0.5–25 mm) on separate floors; inventory managed by barcode or RFID.
   • Modular expansion – Add extra towers or extend gantry length without dismantling the existing cell.
   • Certified safety – Category-3 safety PL ‘e’ light curtains, interlocked fencing and CE/UE/ISO 9001 documentation for global insurance acceptance.
3. Specification matrix – popular configurations

Tower spec (mm) | Floors | Load per layer | Max. load | Footprint (L×W)
3015 | 8–11 | 3 t / 5 t | 300 kg–1 800 kg | 3 400 × 2 200 mm
4015 | 9–12 | 3 t / 5 t | 400 kg–2 400 kg | 4 400 × 2 200 mm
4020 | 9–12 | 3 t / 5 t | 500 kg–2 500 kg | 4 400 × 2 700 mm
6015 | 10–13 | 3 t / 5 t | 600 kg–3 000 kg | 6 400 × 2 200 mm
6020 | 10–13 | 3 t / 5 t | 700 kg–3 000 kg | 6 400 × 2 700 mm
6025 | 10–13 | 3 t / 5 t | 800 kg–3 000 kg | 6 400 × 3 200 mm

All dimensions, gripper type, tower quantity and control logic are customisable; price entry point starts at US $17,999 for a single-tower 3015 starter unit.

4. Integration & control architecture
   • Ethernet handshake with Trumpf, Amada, Bystronic, Mazak and Chinese laser brands.
   • Recipe-based job queue: import cutting programs via USB, network or ERP push.
   • Remote diagnostics via secure VPN—Herochu engineers can log in within 30 minutes.
   • Energy optimisation: manipulators run on regenerative drives, cutting idle power by 35 %.
5. Installation & support workflow
6. Free site audit – 360° scan of your workshop, ceiling height and existing laser position.
7. 3D layout and cycle-time simulation delivered in 48 hours.
8. Pre-assembly in our factory, FAT with customer sheets, then modular crating for export.
9. On-site mechanical completion in 3–5 days; software commissioning in 1 day.
10. 24-month warranty on mechanics, 12-month on pneumatics/electrics, lifetime remote support.
11. Optional upgrades
    • Second manipulator on same gantry for simultaneous load & unload.
    • Automatic sheet labeling and sorting conveyors downstream.
    • Automatic skeleton shredder with scrap auger.
    • Vision system for part recognition and dynamic nesting.
    • Tower cladding with fire-suppression panels for insurance premium reduction.
12. Ordering & lead time
    • Standard export packaging: steel frame + plywood + moisture barrier, suitable for ocean freight.
    • Lead time: 25 working days for single-tower systems; 35 days for dual-tower high-rise.
    • Payment: 30 % T/T advance, 70 % before dispatch or L/C at sight.
    • Spare-parts kit shipped with every order: suction cups, proximity sensors, pneumatic hoses.

Stop paying overtime for forklift drivers and start cutting 24/7. Click “Inquire Now” to receive a live cycle-time video and budgetary quotation within one business hour, or download our interactive ROI calculator to see how quickly Herochu automatic loading and unloading systems pay for themselves.