LVD Belgium and Pullmax AB based in Sweden have announced the operational merger of the companies to combine sales, service, production and research and development facilities.

The agreement will expand the product offerings and market reach of both companies and will create one of the industry’s largest sheet metalworking equipment manufacturers with manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Central Europe, the US and China, providing representation in over 50 countries worldwide including 20 direct sales and service subsidiaries.

Each company will maintain independent corporate identity but will combine key operations in the areas of sales, service, production and engineering development.

Under the terms of the operational merger, LVD will manufacture Pullmax punching machines for the world market and will collaborate with Pullmax on R&D efforts for future punching products and technology. Pullmax will represent the breadth of LVD laser cutting, punching, bending and shearing equipment, as well as LVD software and mid-range automation products.

The complete range of Pullmax punching machines will be added to LVD’s existing punch press product portfolio. The result will be a comprehensive punching product offering with a broad range of capabilities and an extensive line of automated systems.

In Scandinavia and the UK, LVD and Pullmax sales and service operations will be merged at a country level to provide an integrated sales and service network for LVD and Pullmax customers alike. For all other markets, LVD will provide sales and service support via an extensive network of subsidiaries and agents.

Pullmax is recognised as a leader in advanced production machinery and system solutions. The 73 year old company has more than 50,000 machines installed worldwide and enjoys a reputation for robust, innovative and reliable punching systems.

The company’s 520 and 720 punch presses are high speed, high production punching machines capable of forming flanges up to 75mm, featuring a tool changer design that allows the 360° indexing of tools and expanded turret capacity using its Extended Tool Magazine (ETM) and OrbitTool cassette. Fully automated, the machines allow unmanned production 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Established in 1952, LVD’s core business focus is punching, laser cutting, bending and offline software process integration. A leader in bending technology, the company claims to be the first to introduce a PC-based control for the pressbrake and has pioneered adaptive bending technology and custom forming solutions.

Moving forward, LVD and Pullmax will combine design and engineering resources to address market requirements, jointly developing and introducing new sheetmetal fabrication products.

Jean-Pierre Lefebvre, chairman of LVD, states: "We are enthusiastic about combining forces with Pullmax to offer a broader umbrella of high level punching products and more extensive automation solutions to our customers. The addition of Pullmax punch presses to our Strippit line of punching products further strengthens and positions the LVD brand.”

Tomas Hellström, chairman of Pullmax concurs: “LVD’s vast range of products, and in particular their expertise in forming, laser cutting technology and offline software technology, opens doors of opportunity for Pullmax to offer increased added value to our customers by having a more comprehensive set of solutions beyond our core punching and automation products.”

LVD
www.lvdgroup.com

Pullmax
www.pullmax.com