Bystronic ByTower

The Bystronic ByTower is an automated sheet metal storage and material handling tower designed to integrate with Bystronic's punch press and laser cutting machines. As a standalone automation system rather than a cutting machine in its own right, the ByTower transforms a conventional Bystronic punch press or laser cutter into a fully automated, unmanned or lightly staffed production cell by managing raw sheet input, finished part sorting, and skeleton removal without operator intervention between jobs.

The ByTower consists of a multi-level storage rack with individual shelves for raw sheet material and partially processed or finished sheets. An integrated crane or gantry system handles all sheet transfers: loading raw blanks from the storage rack to the punch press or laser, repositioning parts during processing if required, and depositing finished parts or sorted batches back onto designated storage positions. The system can accommodate multiple sheet sizes, materials, and thicknesses simultaneously in different rack positions, enabling mixed-material job scheduling without manual material changes.

In practical operation, the ByTower enables a fabrication cell to run unattended across shift changes, overnight, or during weekends. The machine controller schedules production jobs against available material in the rack, automatically selecting the correct sheet for each job and loading it to the processing machine. Finished parts can be stacked to a sorting station or returned to the rack for downstream operations such as bending or welding.

The ByTower integrates natively with Bystronic's Bysoft control software and the broader Bystronic machine ecosystem. Job scheduling, material inventory management, and production reporting are handled through the same software interface used to program the associated punch press or laser cutter. This tight integration reduces the complexity of operating an automated cell compared to third-party automation systems.

For fabricators running Bystronic punch presses or laser cutters who need to increase machine utilization, reduce per-part labor cost, or enable unmanned operation, the ByTower is the primary automation path within the Bystronic ecosystem. It is commonly deployed alongside the Bystronic BySprint Fiber laser and Bystronic punch presses in facilities targeting high-volume sheet metal production.