Linear technology has been a core part of the PICARD product range since 2015. What started as a pilot project has evolved over the past decade into a key business segment. Today, our in-house Linear Center – combining advanced technology with a dedicated team – offers customized processing of linear components to meet specific customer requirements. We spoke with Dominik Leskosek, Area Manager of the Linear Center, about the journey so far and the milestones along the way.

Dominik, you’ve been with PICARD’s linear motion team from the very beginning. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in this field.

Dominik Leskosek: My name is Dominik Leskosek, I’m 34 years old, and I’ve been part of the PICARD team for ten years – right from the early days of our linear technology department. From my first interview with our managing director, I knew this was a place where I could make a difference and apply my technical background in a meaningful way. I originally started in the picking and shipping area, but my interest in linear motion systems quickly drew me into this field. Now, as Area Manager of the Linear Center, I’m proud to have helped shape its development from day one.

Looking back, how has PICARD’s linear technology segment evolved over the past decade? What were some of the key milestones – especially regarding the size of the center or team growth?

Dominik Leskosek: When we kicked things off in summer 2015, we didn’t fully realize how much technical knowledge and organizational effort would be required to handle customized linear motion components. Unlike standard stock distribution, our work involves configuring and processing components to exact customer specifications – posing unique challenges in both logistics and machining.

Thanks to my background as a plant mechanic, I was able to bring in some hands-on experience. We quickly identified areas for improvement. A major milestone came in 2017, when we replaced our manual cutting equipment with an automated saw. That step was crucial for meeting our delivery promise – today, most rails and shafts leave our warehouse on the same day they’re ordered, saving customers valuable time.

Growing demand led us to move into a dedicated facility in 2018 and invest in a second automatic saw. By 2019, we introduced chamfering on rail ends using a horizontal milling machine – making it easier to install carriage blocks and protecting the seals. In 2022, we expanded our machine park with an additional horizontal mill and a surface grinding machine, allowing us to produce multi-piece rail systems with precision.

Our team has grown from three to ten employees, working in early and late shifts as well as in packaging. Together, we ensure every order is processed efficiently and reliably.

What types of processing can PICARD offer for linear rails and shafts?

Dominik Leskosek: Custom cutting and finishing of profile rails and shafts is central to what we do – especially tailoring them to specific lengths. Manufacturers typically supply standard lengths of up to eight meters, but our customers often require something very different. That’s why cutting is one of the most important steps in our workflow. Each rail or shaft is measured and cut to the customer’s specifications using our specialized saws.

After cutting, deburring and chamfering are essential to remove sharp edges. We use a horizontal milling machine for rails and a special rotating deburring tool for shafts – both crucial for safety and functionality.

When a customer needs a rail longer than what’s available in standard lengths, we offer butt machining using face grinding. Our high-precision grinder ensures a gap of less than 0.02 mm between two joined rail ends – allowing carriages to glide over the joint without interruption.

Finally, each rail is cleaned, protected against corrosion, and laser-marked using our in-house engraving machine. Matched rail ends are labeled to ensure correct alignment during installation. The result: fully prepped components ready for immediate use – no additional processing required.

Which products laid the foundation for today’s linear motion range? How has our stock evolved since then?

Dominik Leskosek: We began with linear rails and shaft guides from leading manufacturers like INA (Schaeffler), NSK, and THK. Over time, we’ve added more premium brands such as Schneeberger, EWELLIX (Schaeffler), Bosch Rexroth, and SNR. Since 2015, we’ve quadrupled our inventory to ensure wide availability and fast delivery for our customers.

How quickly can PICARD deliver custom lengths?

Dominik Leskosek: Even custom-cut components – often including multi-piece rails – typically ship the same day the order is placed, provided it arrives by 7 p.m. Of course, this also depends on the size of the order and the shipping provider’s pickup schedule. Orders received later in the evening will usually ship the next business day.

Is there a particular order that stands out in your memory?

Dominik Leskosek: There have been quite a few remarkable projects over the years. One that really stuck with me was a shipment to South America – 11.5 tons of material packed into 13 crates, with rail lengths up to 6.3 meters. Another memorable one was for a Dutch customer who needed over 3,000 individual cuts for a single project – the highest number of cuts we’ve ever completed in a single order. Despite the size, we were able to fulfill the request on schedule without impacting other customer deliveries.

Thank you for sharing these fascinating insights!