THE MICROTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION PORTAL | THE SHOW
05.08.2026
B - Equipment
HEMA Bellows from Lestoprex: Custom Machine Protection for Modern Manufacturing Technologies
Do new manufacturing technologies require completely new machine guarding concepts? Not necessarily. What matters is adapting proven protection systems to the specific conditions of each process.
Industrial 3D printing is a clear example. Temperatures can reach up to 200 °C in the build volume and up to 275 °C on the heating plate. These conditions require specially selected materials, suitable construction and reliable joining techniques. With HEMA bellows, users benefit from dependable machine protection even in demanding additive manufacturing applications.
The protection systems are manufactured from special technical fabrics. Depending on the application, temperature-resistant and partly self-extinguishing materials are used. These are processed through thermal bonding or HF welding, creating robust, sealed and durable protective systems tailored precisely to the machine and its application.
Benefits of HEMA bellows
- Safe thermal separation of work areas
- Reliable protection for heat-sensitive machine components
- Temperature-resistant materials and joining techniques
- Custom design tailored to the specific application
- Protection against chips, dust, heat and dynamic loads
- Improved machine longevity and process reliability
HEMA also provides solutions for large and complex machine protection systems. Back panel systems can be manufactured in many different designs, for example for moving columns with one or several spindle feedthroughs. Application examples include protection systems for two moving columns and up to six spindles.
Large and complex bellows are designed and manufactured modularly. Individual segments can be produced separately and then assembled directly on the machine. This simplifies installation significantly, especially for large protective covers.
One special solution involved dividing the protective cover into individual four-metre-long segments. An internal scissor mechanism, designed for the travel speed of the CNC machine, ensures smooth operation under dynamic loads. The SAMURAI bellows were designed with a tilted shape and two-part overlapping lamellae. This design ensures smooth movement while providing a reliable seal, even at high speeds.
Conclusion:
Reliable protection systems are not off-the-shelf products. At Lestoprex, we provide custom HEMA solutions that protect machine components, extend machine service life and ensure process reliability in demanding manufacturing environments.