In the production of high-quality titanium plates, every detail matters. From material integrity to process reliability: errors are simply not an option. Voestalpine Böhler Bleche GmbH & Co KG has found a solution with the Teqram EasyFlipper that not only drastically accelerates the turning of titanium plates, but also reduces the risk of damage and raises safety to a new level.
Critical surfaces require special care
At elevated temperatures, titanium absorbs oxygen at the surface. This creates a hard, brittle layer that differs significantly from the tough base material. For applications in aerospace and medical technology, among others, this layer is not permitted.
To ensure fatigue strength, this layer is removed on both sides using a wide belt grinding machine. This process places high demands on the handling of the plates, which are sensitive to damage.
Time loss and risks when turning heavy plates
Turning the titanium plates for processing on both sides was, for a long time, a bottleneck for Voestalpine. Previously, plates with dimensions of up to 6,000 x 2,000 mm and thicknesses of up to 75 mm were tilted using an overhead crane and clamps. This method was time-consuming, involved safety risks, and also posed a significant risk of damage.
An intelligent innovation from Teqram as the solution
The solution came from Teqram, where Voestalpine Böhler Bleche first encountered the EasyFlipper at EuroBLECH 2022.
Since 2025, Voestalpine has been using a pneumatic EasyFlipper to flip titanium plates during grinding. With its extension arms, the EasyFlipper can quickly and precisely turn plates up to 6 x 2 meters in size and weighing up to 750 kg – regardless of format. By positioning it directly next to the wide belt grinding machine, the EasyFlipper is fully integrated into the existing production process. This significantly reduces the workload for machine operators.
From 15 minutes to 10 seconds
While turning the plates previously took up to 15 minutes, this process now takes just 10 seconds. The grinding machine operator simultaneously controls the EasyFlipper, eliminating additional work steps and wait times entirely.
“What used to be a time-consuming and risk-prone process is now completed in just a few seconds – safely and without interruptions,”
says Matthias Illmeier, Product and Process Technician at Voestalpine. The result is a continuous workflow without delays caused by waiting for the overhead crane, as well as a more efficient production process requiring fewer personnel.
Reliability and quality without compromise
Since commissioning, damage during turning has become a thing of the past. The EasyFlipper operates reliably and without faults – even under demanding industrial conditions.
“Our expectations were not only met, but even exceeded – the EasyFlipper has fundamentally simplified our work,”
says Matthias Illmeier. The combination of reliability, safety, and ease of use makes the EasyFlipper an integral part of the production process.
Voestalpine Böhler Bleche: Specialist in high-quality steel plates
Voestalpine Böhler Bleche GmbH & Co KG, based in Mürzzuschlag (Austria), is a leading company in the steel industry with around 450 employees. As part of the Voestalpine Group, the company specializes in high-quality stainless steel plates and specialty materials for demanding industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, toolmaking, industrial high-temperature applications, and medical technology.
Teqram: Innovation in sheet metal handling and automation
Teqram develops solutions that make production processes in the metal industry smarter and more efficient. The EasyFlipper was designed for the fast and controlled turning of heavy plates and contributes to higher productivity as well as improved process control.
In addition, Teqram also offers robotic solutions for automated material handling, enabling companies to further optimize their production and meet the growing demands for flexible and scalable automation.
For more information, visit bohler-bleche.com and teqram.com
