Why are material prices rising so explosively?

Material prices have now more than doubled.

Material prices have risen explosively in recent months and have now more than doubled compared to mid-2020. Inquiries with various material suppliers teach us why and at the same time indicate that prices may be even higher.

The above graph has been placed in the StaalJournaal, published by steel supplier NovioStaal, which shows the development of the basic (daily) prices for hot-rolled steel coils since July 2020. These are specifically daily prices and not prices for 3 -month contracts or semi-annual contracts, etc.

How did this price explosion originate?

This is not easy to explain, because material prices are cyclical and various factors can influence their development. Before the Covid-19 pandemic started in late 2019, the materials market was already boisterous. This turbulence stems from previous years of low import prices. This was the reason for the European Union to introduce the so-called Safeguard import-restricting measures.

The turbulence also became visible when steel company ArcelorMittal issued a forecast in November 2019 that expected steel consumption would decrease to 1%, and in Europe by as much as 3%. The automotive industry, in particular, a major European steel processor, experienced major problems and material prices were under enormous pressure. The basic price for hot-rolled coils was around € 440 per ton in that period. At the beginning of 2020, material prices were already adjusted upwards, due to higher import prices. For example, in January 2020, prices were quoted between € 460-490 per ton.

The balance between supply and demand was somewhat restored as a number of large factories, including ArcerlorMittal in Spain, switched to a temporary closure of production.

And then came Covid-19

In mid-February-March 2020, Covid-19 came with enormous consequences for the European economy. The hard lockdowns in various European countries ensured that production was further limited and even stopped completely because suppliers were not allowed to produce or parts could not / were not allowed to be transported. Automotive manufacturers were no longer supplied, staff were at home due to illness or duty to work from home, which in turn had an effect on the planned purchase of steel products.

Steelmakers also faced shifts and even cancellations of pending orders. As a result, even more, production locations, such as blast furnaces, were shut down. Many companies speculated that material prices would fall and that the same materials could later be purchased for a lower price. Prices, however, remained stable and steel mills ensure that supply and demand were reasonably balanced by means of the temporary production stops. They even announced that they wanted to increase the basic daily price to € 500 for new assignments. In this sense they were ahead of the curve, certainly because the recovery in China was faster and stronger than expected, import prices were stable to slightly rising and delivery times for European rolling mills were up to 10-12 weeks.

China’s recovery led to an increase in material demand and therefore also in raw materials such as scrap, oil and iron ore, which became a lot more expensive.

Recovery of the economy

In addition, China suddenly turned from a traditional steel exporter into a net steel importer. When the economy started to recover slowly in Q2 in Europe and the US, consumers had to cover themselves for materials again. Transport to and from Asia turned out to be a major problem, due to the great burden that the recovery of the Chinese economy placed on sea transport. Moreover, ordering material in Asia meant a delivery time of 3-4 months and many consumers did not have this time to wait, because manufacturers of transport equipment, in particular, noticed a rapidly recovering demand and therefore had to obtain material quickly.

Ironically, according to NovioStaal, the revival in the European automotive sector was mainly caused by a large demand for more expensive makes of cars from China and not from a domestic need. In Europe, car sales plummeted in the 1st and 2nd quarters, but the effects of the Corona virus were also noticeable in other industries. In the Netherlands, the nitrogen crisis was added to that. While steel prices still seemed stable in March 2020, they fell in the following months. In May we recorded around € 440 per tonne for hot rolled coils and in June that had dropped to around € 410.

Rising commodity prices

Commodity prices rose sharply in the second quarter: iron ore, for example, rose above $ 100 per ton, and is now above $ 170.

Prices for polymers have also risen sharply, from approximately € 500 per ton to above € 1000. This is therefore a doubling in barely a year. Increases are also due to the great uncertainties about the future stock of various products. ThyssenKrupp has been looking for a partner for some time, especially now that the attempt by Tata Steel for the European branch of the German concern was rejected by the EU. At the end of 2020, it turned out that another large producer, Liberty Steel Group, had run into liquidity problems, as a result of which suppliers of, among other things, hot-rolled coils stopped their supplies. As a result, they could not produce as planned and subsequently report to their customers that the agreed contract prices would no longer be respected due to strongly changed raw material prices. Contracts, therefore, had to be renegotiated before buyers would receive the material.

Scarcity

At that time, a few products, such as galvanized coils, started to develop scarcely. During that period, several steel mills announced new increases. The Indian Tata Group had previously decided to leave Europe completely, which, for example, made the future of Tata Netherlands very unclear. An attempt to take over the factory in IJmuiden by the Swedish SSAB failed in January 2021. Hungarian Dunaferr ran into financial difficulties during the 1st quarter of 2021 and it is still unclear what the future for this factory looks like.

Even in Italy, there is still no clear picture of the outlook for the ILVA steel plant in Taranto. Although ArcelorMittal has taken over this factory together with the Italian government, the plans to increase production yields have still not been successful. In addition, a part of the crude steel production is in danger of having to be closed due to high environmental requirements by the local government. There is a lawsuit about this, which will be announced in May. All in all, therefore, European production capacities as a whole are unlikely to be sufficient to adequately meet steel needs within the EU.

European lines fully booked

The current scarcity on the market occurs in the products hot rolled, cold rolled and Sendzimir galvanized steel coils. Most European factories claim to have their lines fully booked through September. Two German factories deliver less tonnage of hot-rolled than usual in Q3 and another large producer reports a delivery time of October or 6 months after the order date. This means that a reduction in scarcity does not seem obvious in the near future. Due to the prevailing scarcity, the current long delivery times, the little competition from import material and the high raw material prices, ArcelorMittal raised prices three times in March (with a total of € 150 per tonne). The official basic price for hot-rolled coils is now € 900 per ton.

A new policy has been implemented in China whereby less crude steel may be produced in various provinces for environmental reasons. China wants to reduce CO2 emissions by 2025 at the latest. The intention is to reduce steel production by approximately 22 million tons by 2021, an amount that will be at the expense of the available export volumes. In order to still adequately meet the need for rolled steel, measures to stimulate exports are therefore being phased out. The country exported almost 100 million tons of steel in 2018 and that has already decreased to less than 60 million tons by 2020. China will therefore possibly start exporting less steel, import more scrap for crude steel production based on electric furnaces (EAF) and import more rolled steel.

Another big question mark is whether the European import duties will be maintained or will be changed. Although there are requests from various sectors in the US to the Biden government to phase out import tariffs on steel, there are no signs yet that the US will change its import policy. In that context, unilateral action by Europe is not obvious.

Are the prices getting even higher?

In a nutshell: The economic developments in the US and China seem brighter than here in Europe and, moreover, enormous amounts of money are being pumped into the economy by governments there. Forecasts of economic growth look positive at 6% growth or more. For the US, this would be the largest increase since 1974. It is therefore expected that the demand for steel will remain high, which also makes it plausible that raw material prices will remain high for the time being, or perhaps even higher.

Do you have questions about the status of your order and have you already received the track & trace code? Then wait until three days after the shipment date. If you still do not have your package, please contact us at [email protected] or by telephone at +31 45 369 05 46.

CNC materials for the Medical Device industry

The Medical Device industry has a wide range of products and applications, yet there is a lot of overlap in material requirements between the different applications. Read in this article which commonly used types of material have low water absorption, high heat resistance, low corrosion, high hardness, etc.

The Medical Device industry has a wide variety of products and applications, ranging from artificial joints to diagnostic equipment and therapeutic aids. Yet for different applications there are often overlapping requirements that help narrow down the list of possible material choices. For example, most devices require surfaces that do not absorb moisture and can be easily sterilised.

Medical device parts are often manufactured by injection moulding, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and CNC machining. CNC parts have the advantage of a high degree of customisation, tight tolerances, great surface treatments and certified material choices. When using CNC machining, parts are usually milled with 3 to 5 axis machines or turned with a live tooling CNC lathe. Below are the metals and plastic materials that are frequently used for the production of Medical Devices.

Commonly Used Plastics and Composites for Medical Devices

Most common plastics for Medical Devices have low water absorption (moisture resistance) and decent thermal properties. Most any of the materials listed below can be sterilised using an autoclave, gamma, or EtO (ethylene oxide) method. Low surface friction, as well as better temperature resistance, are also preferred by the medical industry. In addition to direct or indirect contact housings, fixtures and conductors, plastic can also serve as a substitute for metals where magnetic and / or RF (radio frequency) signals can interfere with diagnostic results.

Commonly Used Metals for Medical Devices

The best processed metals for the Medical Devices industry naturally have high corrosion resistance, the ability to be sterilised and are easy to clean. Stainless steel is common, because untreated it has virtually no rust, little or no magnetic properties and is easy to machine. Some stainless steels can be heat treated to improve hardness. Materials such as titanium provide high strength-to-weight ratios that are beneficial for handhelds, wearables and implantable medical devices.

CNC Parts for Medical Devices

Whether it’s a medical or dental project requiring machined titanium or smooth PTFE, manufacturing platforms such as Batchforce can quickly provide pricing, lead times, required certificates, and part inspection in one interface. Batchforce helps to choose the best production partner for the work ordered through our AI powered platform.

Delivery with winter weather

Chance of delay throughout the country

The land is coloured white and in addition to the fun in the snow, the winter weather also causes a lot of nuisance. Our logistics partner DHL took to the road today with full buses, but the safety of their deliverers always comes first. Extensive slipperiness and a thick layer of snow mean that parts in the north of the country are not easily accessible. Some shipments may be delayed.

What can this mean for you?

• Chances are that we will deliver later than planned this week. DHL will inform you about the status of your shipment via track and trace.
• There is a chance that the shipment will be picked up later from Batchforce for delivery and your package may therefore be delayed.
• If you have missed the DHL driver and the package has been delivered to a DHL ServicePoint, call the ServicePoint to check if they are open. Opening hours can be found here.

Heb je vragen over de status van jouw zending én je hebt de track & trace code reeds ontvangen? Wacht dan tot drie dagen na verzenddatum. Heb je je pakket dan nog niet, neem dan contact met ons op via [email protected] of telefonisch op +31 45 369 05 46.

Innovation in production after a pandemic: full speed ahead

The pandemic of 2020 stressed our manufacturing systems and global supply chains in unexpected (and unwanted) ways. It has exposed new vulnerabilities and exposed old inefficiencies. New technologies have helped the production system adapt, but not as much as we could have wished for. Could the pandemic shock now pave the way for a change in the pace of manufacturing innovation?

The combination of multiple disruptions and a global recession creates an even more competitive environment than ever before, where the stakes for successful innovation become as high as survive or quit for many companies: “Supply chains are torn apart and the global vacuum of demand continues to push poor performing and inflexible manufacturers out of business. Conversely, the strongest and most innovative companies survive and thrive, and come out leaner, more agile and with a more limited competitive environment.”I recently read on LinkedIn, written by a leading CEO within Automated Manufacturing.

In a static world, lower prices are the easiest way to compete. But in a world of rapid change, the best way to compete is to be one step ahead of the rest by being flexible and adaptive. With consumer demand still subject to great uncertainty, companies are under tremendous pressure to improve margins. This can be done, for example, by using innovation to increase efficiency.

As painful as it has been, the pandemic shock has provided more clarity. For many engineering teams, the pandemic has clarified exactly what is most urgent about digital transformation. While it is impressive in 2020 to see what will power, creativity and competence can do within the manufacturing industry, it also exposed weaknesses in the way goods are made and supply chains managed. This also underlines the need to move away from the ‘old’ way of doing business and switch to an agile and resilient way.

Most manufacturing companies I have spoken to in the recent period believe the answer lies in accelerating the adoption of Digital Industry 4.0 technologies. At Batchforce we have doubts about this and think that 2021 will be a year in which we will start working on digital transformation. We now know that this transformation is not a ‘nice to have’, but is essential for factories, companies and production ecosystems.

Having your parts custom made by Batchforce and its Manufacturing Partners brings peace of mind to your Supply Chain and reduces the so-called Supply Chain risk by applying a spread of production over possibly 1,500+ manufacturers in 13 countries worldwide, each with their own specific capabilities. You no longer have to maintain your Supply Chain as intensively and can switch more easily to increase capacity or diversify parts. After all, we know our partners and their strengths through and through. Batchforce manages the Supply Chain on your behalf. From quotation request, production and delivery of parts in single pieces, small series or larger batch.

Start your digital transformation today and work with Batchforce to make your Supply Chain flexible and resilient.

International logistics update 📣 – December 2020

Peak season will last another week, so there will still be higher volumes from holiday shipments. Especially now that the Netherlands is in lockdown. Even with the larger volumes, we’ve seen minimal shipping delays as international airlines have managed this extra demand with more flights. Passenger flights to and from China continue to show an upward trend, which also offers extra capacity. In addition, we have added UPS to our carrier list for Chinese shipments as of December 1, 2020. These trends will remain stable after the end of the Christmas season in the Benelux. On the horizon is the Chinese New Year, which will affect production and lead times for international shipping at the end of January. The logistics team will update you in the coming weeks when the consequences become apparent.

Domestically, the COVID-19 pandemic has generated record-breaking shipping volumes. As more people have started shopping online because of the lock down, those numbers have risen even more. These shipping volumes put a strain on logistics networks across the country, which can lead to potential delays. The good news is that our logistics partners DHL Express, DHL Parcel and UPS have added additional capacity to minimise delays where possible. The logistics team will continue to monitor the situation when new restrictions come into effect. Domestic transit time continues to fluctuate between 1-4 calendar days on a daily basis, however the vast majority of orders are delivered to our customers on the promised date.

Guidelines for Batchforce customer

While international transit times are stable, carrier capacity is still limited, so ordering your parts ahead of time is essential. Do not forget to fill in the customs information section when you place orders through the Batchforce platform (this information will be sent to you with the order confirmation). Adding this information will reduce the chances that customs holds the cargo.

Domestically, we see that carriers’ capacity limitations are slowing redelivery attempts. This means that that second delivery attempt can be more than a day after the first attempt. Track your shipment via track and trace sent by DHL Parcel and plan ahead to receive your order when it is first offered.

Batchforce is here to answer all your questions and help you get the fastest possible delivery time, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our Customer Success team through the chat system on the website or at [email protected] if you have any issues have. We’re committed to delivering your order on time so you can plan with confidence!

Internationale logistieke update 📣 – december

Het kerstseizoen duurt nog minimaal een week, dus zullen er nog steeds hogere volumes uit kerstzendingen komen. Zeker nu Nederland in lock down zit. Zelfs met de grotere volumes hebben we minimale vertragingen bij de verzending gezien, aangezien internationale luchtvaartmaatschappijen deze extra vraag met meer vluchten hebben ingezet. Passagiersvluchten van- en naar China blijven een stijgende lijn vertonen, waardoor ook extra capaciteit wordt geboden. Daarnaast hebben wij UPS vanaf 1 december 2020 toegevoegd aan onze carrierlijst voor Chinese zendingen. Deze trends zullen stabiel blijven na het einde van het kerstseizoen in de Benelux. Aan de horizon staat het Chinese Nieuwjaar, dat eind januari gevolgen zal hebben voor de productie en de doorlooptijden voor zendingen naar Batchforce toe. Het logistieke team zal je de komende weken op de hoogte houden wanneer de gevolgen duidelijk worden.

In eigen land heeft de COVID-19-pandemie record brekende verzendvolumes opgeleverd. Naarmate meer mensen online zijn gaan winkelen vanwege de lock down, zijn die aantallen nog meer gestegen. Deze verzendvolumes belasten logistieke netwerken in het hele land, wat kan leiden tot mogelijke vertragingen. Het goede nieuws is dat onze logistieke partners DHL Express, DHL Parcel en UPS additionele capaciteit hebben ingezet om de vertragingen, waar het kan, te minimaliseren. Het logistieke team zal de situatie blijven volgen wanneer nieuwe restricties van kracht worden. De binnenlandse transittijd blijft op dag basis fluctueren tussen de 1-4 kalenderdagen, echter de overgrote meerderheid van orders wordt op de beloofde datum aan onze klanten geleverd.

Richtlijnen voor Batchforce klanten

Hoewel de internationale transittijden stabiel zijn, is de capaciteit van de vervoerders nog steeds beperkt, dus het is essentieel om jouw onderdelen ruim op tijd te bestellen. Vergeet niet om het gedeelte met douane-informatie in te vullen wanneer je orders via het platform van Batchforce plaatst (deze informatie krijg je toegestuurd bij de order bevestiging). Door deze informatie toe te voegen, wordt de kans kleiner dat de douane de zending onnodig lang vasthoudt.

In eigen land zien we dat de capaciteitsbeperkingen van vervoerders de pogingen tot her-levering vertragen. Dit betekent dat die tweede bezorgpoging meer dan een dag na de eerste poging kan zijn. Volg jouw zending via de door DHL Parcel verstuurde track-en-trace en plan vooruit om jouw order te ontvangen wanneer deze voor het eerst aangeboden wordt.

Batchforce is hier om al je vragen te beantwoorden en je te helpen de snelst mogelijke levertijd te krijgen, dus aarzel niet om contact op te nemen met ons Customer Success-team via het chatsysteem op de website of op [email protected] als je problemen hebt. We doen er alles aan om uw bestelling op tijd te bezorgen, zodat je met vertrouwen kunt plannen!

Batchforce Holiday Schedule Updates

Peak production season is in full swing! I wanted to share a few updates to make sure you get your parts in time.

Please note that Batchforce European Manufacturing will be closed for production on December 24 and December 25. Our Asian Manufacturing operations will be still up and running throughout next week. Your quote lead time will automatically reflect these non-production days so you can plan accordingly.

Our Logistics Team is seeing record-breaking shipping volumes this year, both internationally and domestically. Domestic transit times remain under pressure with a maximum delivery time of 4 days after shipping, but we are seeing minimal shipping delays from international carriers with limited flight capacity. Read more in our latest International Logistics Update.

Chinese New Year is on the horizon (Asian manufacturing will be offline February 8 – 17), so it’s important to get your orders in early!

If you have any questions about production schedules, shipping logistics, or lead times, our team is more than happy to help. You can reach out via the chat system or email us at [email protected]

Login to get your quote started today.

Happy holidays!

International logistics update 📣 – November 2020

When we shared our latest international logistics update on October 6, we announced that orders manufactured in Asia will now be delivered within 3-5 days of transit time, and this is still the case. Orders for which we have received the Intrastat (HS) codes are generally subject to accelerated customs clearance and are generally delivered to us within 3 days. We expect those lead times to remain stable for the rest of 2020.

Batchforce Updates

As the holidays begin and major hardware companies release new devices (such as the new iPhones from Apple, the Xbox from Microsoft, PS5 from Sony, etc.), we know that Asian cargo terminals will become more and more overloaded. However, unlike in March, we consider this to be “just another high season”. Batchforce customers can trust us to meet our transit times.

Guidelines for Batchforce customer

Do you have a time-sensitive part order? Please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer a suitable solution for this, for example by producing locally of split orders. For enquiries placed after November 30, it may occur that delivery can no longer be achieved before Christmas, and that customers must take a longer lead time into account.

After placing an order, make sure that you provide a detailed explanation of the Intrastat (HS) codes of your parts and the product where those parts will be installed (the end use), so that customs can speed up the release of the shipment. The order confirmation indicates where you can fill this in, providing the data is easy and not time-consuming (<2 min).

Main takeaways

We expect our transit times for orders produced in Asia to remain stable with transit times to Batchforce between 3-5 days, with orders for which we have Intrastat (HS) codes delivered to us within 3 shipping days. As the peak season for international orders begins, the Batchforce logistics team is ready to support you.

We are closely following the actions of the government and of our logistics partners DHL Express and DHL Parcel regarding the COVID pandemic and measure transit times on a daily basis.

Convert DWG file to a STEP file

Why doesn’t Batchforce online cnc service accept .DWG, DXF or other file formats and why is only a .STEP file accepted? 

A STEP file is a widely used file format to exchange a product or design between different 3D programs.
The name is an abbreviation of “STandard for the Exchange of Product model data” .
But the main reason why we prefer to work with .STEP files is the fact that the structure of the STEP file is defined in ISO 10303-21.
This way we know for sure that the file meets strict requirements and we avoid nasty surprises.

Many manufacturers and suppliers who make their articles available in a 3D file choose STEP files.

The most commonly used technical drawing programs can export 3D models to a STEP (.stp or .step) file.
They can also import a .stp or .step file and convert this file to their own desired file format.

Programs that can create and view a STEP file:

• Autodesk Inventor from Autodesk

• CATIA from Dassault Systèmes

• Cobalt from Ashlar-Vellum

• CoCreate from Parametric Technology Corporation

• FreeCAD from Juergen Riegel

• Form•Z from AutoDesSys, Inc

• HiCAD from ISD Group

• MicroStation from Bentley Systems

• NX from Siemens PLM Software

• Pro/ENGINEER from Parametric Technology Corporation

• SALOME

• S.FEM from HPESoft

• Solid Edge from Siemens PLMSoftware

• SolidWorks from SolidWorks Corp.

• SpaceClaim Engineer from SpaceClaim Corp.

• Tekla Structures from Tekla

• TopSolid from Missler Software

• TransMagic

• VariCAD from VariCAD

• VisualARQ from Asuni CAD S.A.

So you can open a DWG or other 3d file in one of the above 3D design Softwares and then you can easily convert your existing design to a .STEP file.
Converting the file is basically just opening your existing file and exporting it to your desired .STEP file in one of the 3D design software packages.

How do you convert a dwg to step file if you don’t have the softwares from the list above on your PC?
In general, this is an easy conversion if you have the software.
If you do not have any of the software packages then you can always try a trial version that you buy on trial.
You can then convert your files and cancel your account before the payment period starts.

Convert file from DWG to STEP file

If you really find all this too difficult or just don’t feel like it, then outsourcing this task is the best option.
There are lots of freelancer sites where engineers can convert your file to your desired format for a pinch.
Below are a few freelancer sites where you can have your files converted from DWG to .STEP format.

• Freelancer.com
• fiverr.com
• upwork.com

3D design and Engineering Forums

• CNCZone.nl (here you will find a lot of 3D Designers who would like to convert a file for you)

Find the right freelancer

Finding the right freelancer for your .DWG to .STEP file conversion is actually not that difficult at all.
All the above mentioned freelancer sites have a rating system by which all freelancers are rated.
So it is easy to find the right freelancer by searching for:

• someone with a lot of experience
• someone with good reviews
• someone who speaks your language or English
• Someone with the right training

If you want to know more about .step files and what the advantages are, check out the engineersrule.com website for a complete article.

Supply chain needs for the high-tech sector

Batchforce offers a significant amount of custom on-demand production capabilities for the high-tech sector, enabling this industry to meet their high demands that go far beyond just creating a 3D CAD file.

Some examples of these high requirements are:

• Strict tolerances
• Adapted and often multiple post-treatments
• Part marking, packaging &amp; labeling
• Material certifications
• Measurement reports
• Specific material temperatures and specifications
• Accelerated delivery needs

In addition, the buyer has time-consuming onboarding processes at (large) high-tech companies in order to get a new supplier approved, often at the expense of flexible sourcing of non-standard materials or processes.

CNC turning and milling is a common production process because of the wide range of materials, quality standards and post-treatments. Machining on up to 5 axes is common in industry to produce specially designed parts, often in small series production. These produced parts are usually provided with post-treatment, marking, labeling and packaging prior to delivery.

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Production of high-tech parts via Batchforce

Batchforce is in a niche between research & development and mass production. Clients have their own (internal) account manager who can immediately start up quotation processes, who helps with specific requests such as multiple after-treatments and can even set up production schedules..

Why Batchforce as a trusted supplier?

Using Batchforce as a trusted supplier provides access to Batchforce’s entire supply chain and associated capabilities. Batchforce is responsible for the quality and delivery of all parts and has its own inspection and NDA programme. Batchforce focuses on having great parts made, guaranteeing quality and offering excellent personal customer service.

You can tune in with Batchforce to order via purchase orders (PO) by contacting [email protected]. Batchforce is suitable for most quality clauses within a PO if they are included in the quotation. Your (internal) account manager can even manage orders via our user-friendly online quotation system.

Batchforce only offers CNC turning and milling work and also has an extensive network for post-treatment without the need for multiple RFQs.

unveiling racing car Formula Electric

As sponsor of Formula Electric Belgium, Batchforce was present at the design unveiling of the new crack sample on 21 February 2019. Innovation, sustainable energy and reliability are the spearheads of the electric Eclipse. The two main goals of this team are reliability and data capabilities. Each part of the previous editions was scrutinized by the students. The vision of this team is to innovate and to deliver a reliable basis.

Formula Electric approached Batchforce with this vision. We have supported these future engineers in providing high quality and reliable CNC machined parts for the base frame chassis and battery of the Eclipse.

Umicore Eclipse Racing Car 

Their design was awarded first prize at a design event, but to remain competitive, innovation is essential. Thanks to the carbon fibre (unidirectional), the design of the monocoque becomes lighter and stiffer while maintaining its strength. In addition, a silencer system is designed by the team that has never been seen before in Formula Student. The system was used by Porsche in the Porsche 919, winning Le Mans 2017. In order to increase the performance of the Eclipse, an engine of its own will be developed. This year the focus is on a solid base and with a view to the future steps will be taken towards driverless

The Team

Formula Electric Belgium brings together ambitious engineering students from various campuses at the KU Leuven and Thomas More University College in Belgium. The practical goal of this project is to design, build and drive an electric Formula student racing car. After the first year, the team will participate in international events of the Formula Student competition. Formula Electric Belgium is not only a racing team. The project offers a stage where technological cooperation partners demonstrate and test the latest innovative developments. The team wants to share its knowledge and experience with fellow students. They develop educational material to promote engineering technology and science with a focus on electric mobility.

We are proud of our collaboration with the dynamic students of KU Leuven.

In addition to Batchforce, there are several sponsors who make this event possible: Umicore, Ford, Brunel, Commscope, Siemens, Continental, Sanaca and many others.

South Limburg start up batch force receives inward investment of 100,000 euros

The start-up Batchforce from Heerlen received a boost in the development of its business last week. In a competition in which the company was looking for startups with the best growth plans, the company received a ton of investment funds. This will be provided by the Amsterdam company Peak Capital, a so-called Venture Capitalist company. Batchforce brings together manufacturers and buyers of CNC and 3D printing parts digitally.

CNC parts are intended for computer-controlled machinery in, for example, factories. The Batchforce team saw that this market, but also that of 3D printing parts, for example, is quite fragmented. There are thousands of smaller and larger companies that have production capacity compared to numerous machine builders, companies in the High Tech industry and many others who just want to buy parts. “The latter group often spends several weeks figuring out who is the best supplier for a part. Who can deliver the required quality. And who has the capacity available,” says CEO Mark Pluijmen.

Reduced time and costs

Batchforce provides an automated solution for this process, so it takes less time and costs. By putting a demand for parts online, the customer sets Batchforce in motion. The company quickly provides an overview of the suppliers of the parts and of the prices that these suppliers charge for these parts. Moreover, the quality of these suppliers is also easy to check. The customer can then easily make a selection and order the various parts from different suppliers at the push of a button. Finally, Batchforce also supervises the delivery of the order, with quality guarantee.

Impuls

For Batchforce, the investment is an extra impulse for achieving the company’s objectives. “Thanks to the investment and the knowledge gained, we can expand our service for both customers and manufacturing companies. Our mission is to become the leading online manufacturing service in Europe,” says COO Roy Mingelers.

source:  Zuidlimburg.nl

Online CNC Machining

More and more companies are using Rapid Prototyping with the aim of moving from design to a clear and tangible product as quickly as possible.
Online CNC machining makes it possible for the customer to upload the design directly via an application.
After uploading, the system searches for the best match for the production of the parts.

One of the biggest bottlenecks in the development and production of cnc components is finding the required capaciteti.
There are many companies in the Netherlands that offer CNC services, but often the capacity of these companies is a problem.
Batchforce responds cleverly to this capacity problem in the Dutch market by offering online CNC machining.

With online cnc machining, the problem of capacity is solved by using a large network of suppliers, or in other words, metal companies that make their services available via the batchforce network.

Always enough capacity for the production of your desired CNC parts

Thanks to the large network of metalworking companies, there is always enough capacity and it is much easier for the customers of batchforce.
After all, they don’t have to look for a CNC company that has the capacity to produce their cnc parts quickly. An additional advantage of Batchforce’s Online CNC Machining service is that the large network searches for the best price .

Benefits of Online CNC Machining

The benefits of online CNC machining are not limited to ensuring the availability of the physical machines so that the customer’s parts can be produced quickly.
But one of the biggest advantages of Online CNC Machining via Batchforce is certainly the complete team that is ready for the customer.
After the designs are uploaded into Batchforce’s online system, the batchforce team goes behind the scenes to find the best producer for that part.

During this selection we look at the available capacity, the best price for the customer and of course the guarantee of the best quality.

Online CNC Machining without obligations

After uploading the design, a no-obligation quotation will be presented within 48 hours and you, as a customer of batchforce, can choose to order the parts to be manufactured.

Request your first quote today and convince yourself of the high quality, low price and great service.

Online CNC Cutting Quotation

Requesting online CNC machining quotes has been possible for some time now and for companies using Rapid Prototyping it can be a good solution to have parts manufactured without having to have the expertise in-house.
However, requesting online CNC machined quotations is often a time-consuming business.

There is often a lot of time involved in the request, sending the workpieces or designs and waiting for the CNC company’s feedback on the quotations.

Batchforce is aware of this and has streamlined this whole process for you as the creator as much as possible.
When you request an online CNC machining quote from Batchforce, you can rest assured that the entire process of requesting, uploading designs and receiving the actual quote is therefore fast and easy..

Uploading your 3D CNC designs

Batchforce has been known for years as an innovative company that tries to solve the current problems of its makers.
For example, the batchforce platform has been developed to make it as easy as possible for you as a customer to request a quotation.

A few years ago it was quite a hassle to send the designs to the potential metal companies that could possibly make the parts.  Files were often sent by email and one had to trust that the designs were handled with care.

Sending designs was not only a lot of hassle but as a company you also want to be sure that your designs are not used by others.

With the arrival of the batchforce platform, these concerns are all a thing of the past.

Not only can you send your designs within a few clicks via a secure connection through the batchforce platform.
But we have also done everything we can to protect your designs while we search for the best price for the manufacture of the parts.

Safely send online CNC Files

Batchforce makes agreements with all connected metalworking companies in our network to ensure the safety of your ideas and designs.
So you don’t have to worry about your designs falling into the wrong hands or being used by third parties.
After all, it’s YOUR design and you don’t want others to get away with it.

Always the Best priced quotes

Due to the large network of manufacturers and suppliers, it is almost always possible for Batchforce to have the parts made for you.
But even here, of course, we go a step further.
For example, it is sometimes quite possible that the projects are divided into different pieces that we can deliver to different makers and suppliers.
Because of our knowledge and of course our great platform, it is one of the tactics we use to make an extra saving on the final quotation price.

Benefitsof the Batchforce Online CNC platform

The benefits of online CNC machining are not limited to ensuring the availability of the physical machines so that the customer’s parts can be produced quickly.
But one of the biggest advantages of Online CNC Machining via Batchforce is certainly the complete team that is ready for the customer.
After the designs are uploaded into Batchforce’s online system, the batchforce team goes behind the scenes to find the best producer for that part.

During this selection we look at the available capacity, the best price for the customer and of course the guarantee of the best quality.

Online CNC Quotations without any strings attached

After the upload of the design, a no-obligation quote will be presented within 48 hours and you, as a customer of batchforce, can make the choice to have the parts manufactured.
The request for an offer is therefore completely without any obligation for you as a customer and there is no limit to the number of quotes that can be requested.

Online CNC Service Netherlands

You have spent weeks if not months developing a reliable solution for your client and as an engineer you have worked a lot with all parties involved.
Parties who are waiting for the solution that you have devised and designed together.
Now it’s just a matter of manufacturing the parts and then there’s a satisfied customer who will praise and recommend your company.

But now the search for the right cnc service begins, which not only guarantees the cnc capacity but also offers the possibility to produce small series of parts.

Thanks to the Online CNC Service Netherlands as offered by batchforce, it is finally possible for any engineering company to serve their customers faster.
Finding the right CNC capacity is often a problem that engineers are increasingly encountering.
CNC work done in the traditional machine factories is usually not the best choice as they are often only interested in projects with a large purchase of parts.
For smaller projects and projects using Rapid Prototyping this is not an option and the search for a production partner begins.

Batchforce is aware of this and has streamlined this whole process for you as the creator as much as possible.
When you request an online CNC machining quote from Batchforce, you can rest assured that the entire process of requesting, uploading designs and receiving the actual quote is therefore fast and easy.

Uploading your CNC designs

Batchforce has been known for years as an innovative company that tries to solve the current problems of its makers.
For example, the batchforce platform has been developed to make it as easy as possible for you as a customer to request a quotation.

A few years ago it was quite a hassle to send the designs to the potential metal companies that could possibly make the parts.  Files were often sent by email and one had to trust that the designs were handled with care.

Sending designs was not only a lot of hassle but as a company you also want to be sure that your designs are not used by others.

With the introduction of the batchforce platform, all these concerns are now a thing of the past.

Not only can you send your designs in just a few clicks via a secure connection using the batchforce platform.
But we’ve also done everything we can to protect your designs while we search for the best price for the manufacture of the parts.

Securely send online CNC Files

Batchforce makes agreements with all connected metalworking companies in our network to ensure the safety of your ideas and designs.
So you don’t have to worry about your designs falling into the wrong hands or being used by third parties.
After all, it’s YOUR design and you don’t want others to get away with it.

Always the best price for your cnc projects

Due to the large network of manufacturers and suppliers, it is almost always possible for Batchforce to have the parts made for you.
But even here, of course, we go a step further.
For example, it is sometimes quite possible that the projects are divided into different pieces that we can deliver to different makers and suppliers.
Because of our knowledge and of course our great platform, it is one of the tactics we use to make an extra saving on the final quotation price.

Advantages Batchforce Online CNC service

The benefits of online CNC machining are not limited to ensuring the availability of the physical machines so that the customer’s parts can be produced quickly.
But one of the biggest advantages of Online CNC Machining via Batchforce is certainly the complete team that is ready for the customer.
After the designs are uploaded into Batchforce’s online system, the batchforce team goes behind the scenes to find the best producer for that part.

During this selection we look at the available capacity, the best price for the customer and of course the guarantee of the best quality.

Online CNC Quotations without obligations

After uploading the design, a no-obligation quotation will be presented within 48 hours and you, as a customer of batchforce, can choose to order the parts to be manufactured.
The request for an offer is therefore completely without obligation for you as a customer and there is no limit to the number of offers that can be requested.

Batchforce Online CNC Service

You have spent weeks if not months developing a reliable solution for your client and as an engineer you have worked a lot with all parties involved.
Parties who are waiting for the solution that you have devised and designed together.
Now it’s just a matter of manufacturing the parts and then there’s a satisfied customer who will praise and recommend your company.

But now the search for the right cnc service begins, which not only guarantees the cnc capacity but also offers the possibility to produce small series of parts.

Door de Online CNC Service zoals batchforce deze aanbiedt is het voor ieder engineersbureau eindelijk mogelijk om hun klanten sneller te bedienen.
Het vinden van de juiste CNC capaciteit is vaak een probleem waar engineers steeds vaker tegenaan lopen.
CNC werk dat in de traditionele machinefabrieken wordt gedaan is meestal niet de beste keuze daar deze vaak alleen interesse hebben in projecten met een grote afname aan onderdelen.
Voor kleinere projecten en projecten die gebruik maken van Rapid Prototyping is dit dus geen optie en de zoektocht naar een productiepartner begint.

Thanks to the Online CNC Service as offered by batchforce, it is finally possible for any engineering firm to serve their customers faster.
Finding the right CNC capacity is often a problem that engineers are increasingly encountering.
CNC work done in traditional machine factories is usually not the best choice as they are often only interested in projects with a large purchase of parts.
For smaller projects and projects using Rapid Prototyping this is not an option and the search for a production partner begins..

Uploading Your 3D designs

Batchforce has been known for years as an innovative company that tries to solve the current problems of its makers.
For example, the batchforce platform has been developed to make it as easy as possible for you as a customer to request a quotation..

A few years ago it was quite a hassle to send the designs to the potential metal companies that could possibly make the parts.  Files were often sent by email and one had to trust that the designs were handled with care

Sending designs was not only a lot of hassle but as a company you also want to be sure that your designs are not used by others.

With the arrival of the batchforce platform, all these concerns are now a thing of the past..

Not only can you send your designs in just a few clicks via a secure connection using the batchforce platform.
But we’ve also done everything we can to protect your designs as we search for the best price for manufacturing the parts.

Online quotation requests for CNC milling and turning

Batchforce makes agreements with all connected metalworking companies in our network to ensure the safety of your ideas and designs.
So you don’t have to worry about your designs falling into the wrong hands or being used by third parties.
After all, it’s YOUR design and you don’t want others to get away with it..

Always the lowest price

Due to the large network of manufacturers and suppliers, it is almost always possible for Batchforce to have the parts made for you.
But even here, of course, we go a step further.
For example, it is sometimes quite possible that the projects are divided into different pieces that we can deliver to different makers and suppliers.
Because of our knowledge and of course our great platform, it is one of the tactics we use to make an extra saving on the final quotation price.

Advantages Batchforce Online CNC

The benefits of online CNC machining are not limited to ensuring the availability of the physical machines so that the customer’s parts can be produced quickly.
But one of the biggest advantages of Online CNC Machining via Batchforce is certainly the complete team that is ready for the customer.
After the designs are uploaded into Batchforce’s online system, the batchforce team goes behind the scenes to find the best producer for that part.

During this selection we look at the available capacity, the best price for the customer and of course the guarantee of the best quality.

Online CNC quotations for small series

After uploading the design, a no-obligation quotation will be presented within 48 hours and you, as a customer of batchforce, can choose to order the parts to be manufactured.
The request for an offer is therefore completely without obligation for you as a customer and there is no limit to the number of offers that can be requested.

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#1  iEngineer app

Instant access to all the knowledge you can’t miss as an engineer. iEngineer has a database with all kinds of information about screws, nuts and the necessary conversion options.
It gives you exactly the information about the strength of the screws and the amount of force a screw can withstand and what kind of drill you should use per screw.

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This app contains 200 formulas of the HVAC formulator and the complete international mechanical code. You can search, mark formulas as ‘favourites’ and also access frequently used formulas.

What is milling and where is it applied?

What is milling and where is it applied?
Machining refers to the processing of material by machines or people. During machining, chips are removed from the basic product, hence the word machining.
By machining a material, the product becomes smaller and often takes on a different shape.  Because material is removed, the mass and weight of the basic product decreases. Because there are different forms of machining, we have described a number of examples of machining below. We also explain the applications of the different types of chipping..

Examples of machining?

The best example of chipping is a carpenter who uses a planer to scrape chips from a door in order to make it a perfect fit for the frame.
Because chips are scraped off the door during this process, the door not only becomes smaller but also lighter.
Due to the machining by the carpenter, the shape of the door will also change.
Because the material is removed or scraped off by the carpenter can no longer be replaced, it is important that the carpenter pays close attention to how much material he collects from the door.  The curls created during this process are called chips and form the waste that will be disposed of after chipping.

Machining techniques

Nowadays a number of machining operations are possible.
Depending on the purpose to be achieved, a machining technique is selected.
If it is desirable to drill holes in the material, this can be done by means of a column drill.
This drilling is also a machining technique.
The other techniques that can be used to make a material to measure are for example sawing, but also planing and filing.
Of course it is also possible to sharpen metal, for example, but also turning, milling, boring, honing, sticking, tapping and gouging (of wood) are part of the machining operations so that any material can be made to measure.

Turning and milling

Turning and milling are the more special forms of machining operations.
Turning a material is done on a lathe and milling a material is done on a milling machine.
These 2 types of machining operations make it possible to change the shape of a raw material to a large extent.
Turning and milling are not only used in mechanical engineering, but also in the woodworking industry.
Because nowadays milling and turning can be done by man or machine, we speak of conventional turning and milling if the milling process is carried out manually by people.
The computer-controlled form of milling or turning is called CNC (Computer Numerical Control) and means that these machines are computer-controlled..

Application of chipping in technology

Within the technique, machining is applied quite widely.
It is used to process wood, metals and plastics because these materials can generally be chipped well.
Within the wood processing industry, for example, machining is used for the furniture industry. Think of making stairs and for woodcarvings that have been applied as a finish for the ornamental purpose.  Of course, the wood industry also drills many holes and saws boards to size.

In mechanical engineering, it is the machine factories where machining is used for turning shafts or for making machine parts that can be made to measure by milling.
Parts are also machined in the oil and petrochemical sector.

Machining safety

Safety is an important aspect of the machining process as it involves the use of saws, drills and chisels.
The tools used are sharp and must be handled properly to avoid damage or injury.
For example, rotating tools can grip garments and quickly tighten or even tear them apart.
You can imagine that serious accidents can also occur if safety is not taken into account.
In addition, the metal shavings and wood shavings are often razor-sharp and must be disposed of anyway.
It is therefore important that the chips do not come close to the eyes of the chipper or other personnel.
Wearing safety goggles is therefore certainly not an unnecessary luxury and in many cases mandatory.

As standard, many turning and milling machines have a special safety cover with which the machine can be closed. This allows the operator to stand safely behind a transparent screen so that he or she still has a clear view of the process.

Machining Outsourcing

You can see that machining materials is a task for the real craftsmen.

For example, a machine tool does not only need to keep its knowledge up to date because more and more different CNC machines are being used.
It is important that a machine tool can not only provide the machines with new materials that need to be machined, but a good machine tool can also program a CNC machine independently so that the machine performs the correct operation for the product..

Before a machine tool can become an independent CNC programmer, he or she must have built up the necessary experience and a great deal of material knowledge..

What does cnc milling cost?

How much does cnc milling cost? The costs of CNC milling depend on several factors.
For example, the cost of CNC milling depends first and foremost on the size of the product to be produced, and the way in which the design is supplied, the degree of difficulty and the quantity of milling work all determine the price of the machining operation..

Door deze verschillende factoren is het dus ook niet mogelijk om direct vaste prijzen te geven voor cnc draai en freeswerk.
Ieder project is immers anders en hierdoor variëren de kosten ook per project.

Milling single pieces or small series cnc?

The cost of producing a few pieces of a prototype is generally proportionately more expensive than having a small series of products milled.
Because no product is identical for a few pieces, the machine has to be adjusted every time and this leads to higher costs.
When milling a small series of products or a large series of products, the costs of setting up the machine can be one-off and a series of products can be made relatively quickly and easily in succession.

Treated or untreated cnc milling

When calculating the costs of cnc milling of parts, the after-treatment also plays an important role.
You can choose to have your milled products delivered without further processing. In this case, the parts will be delivered directly to your home without any further processing.
This type of untreated milling parts will be delivered to you “As machined”.

However, it is often desirable to have a part finished neatly, as these finished parts will still be treated.
For example, you can choose from certain post-treatments such as anodising and deburring.
The finished CNC milling parts are better and more beautifully finished.

Digital 3D drawing delivery for cnc milling

If you are in possession of digital files in which the exact desired dimensions and operations are stated, the cnc milling of parts is often a lot cheaper than if you are not in possession of this digital 3D drawing..

Request a free quote

Request a free quote

If you want to know exactly what the costs are for the production and processing of your design?
Batchforce.com will be happy to give you a free quote for all your milling and turning work.
By using this non-committal cnc quotation service from batchforce, you not only save hours / days of work requesting and comparing quotations, but you are also assured that all your produced parts meet the high quality requirements that batchforce imposes on their suppliers within the batchforce network.

How to get more orders for my machineshop

If you are looking for more orders for your machineshop you can do several things .

• Join the cnc network of Batchforce.com  where you can apply as a supplier and get new orders throught our network.
• Create content on your website and blog about the cnc and the problems it solves for your customers.
  You can also showcase existing clients and projects and hope that google will give send you organic traffic
• The third and best method is to use a marketing funnel to send payed traffic to from google ads , bing ads or facebook.
  For example you can setup a simple page in clickfunnels that offers your customer something for free in return for the email address.
  This free thing could be anything from a free pdf guide on how to lower the cnc production cost or you can offer a free quotation for the project.
  Once you get the email address you can start emailing your potential customers with other valued content or casestudies.
  After you have your page and freebee setup you can start driving traffic with ads.

Why use google ads to get new customers for your cnc shop?

Because people are already looking for your service in google and you can serve your ads to anyone that is looking for a specific term like: “cnc manufacturing” or “machineshop [your location]’

This same principle can be used for bing ads.
Bing is the nemisis of google search and although it is not as big as google there are still people using bing search to find a machineshop.
So by advertising on Bing you will find new customers that are already looking for your service.

You can also start a podcast where you start interviewing your ideal customers.
Ask them about the business they have and the challenges they faced.
By interviewing people you can “borrow” the following they have online and you will become known as the go to guy for cnc.

We use a mix of all these things but the paid advertising is where you get clients and orders the fastest.