The new XPR300 plasma-cutting system from Hypertherm is said to represent the greatest leap forward in mechanised plasma cutting ever – and the first place it can be seen in action in the UK is at Esprit Automation’s Nottingham facility.
The XPR300 performs at its best when mounted on Esprit machines, says the company. Cut speeds some 15% faster than the next equivalent system mean production parts can be manufactured at a more rapid pace than ever before. Furthermore, the system offers 20% thicker piercing capacity on stainless steel.
The XPR300 is also fitted with advanced power supply technology that provides active, moment-to-moment system feedback and automatically intervenes to prevent errors that can adversely impact consumable lifespan, improving the machine’s lifetime running costs. Features such as this mean that the XPR300 has half the running costs of its nearest equivalent, says Esprit.
Additional features such as vented water injection ensure good results on aluminium cuts, while connection systems like EasyConnect and QuickLock mean both torches and consumables can be switched-out rapidly. Esprit machines provide an operational base for the XPR300 to work from, whether it’s the flexible Multibevel machine, or the large-scale, multi-headed Viper.
Esprit Automation and Hypertherm’s partnership goes back nearly three decades. In 1990, Esprit chose Hypertherm as its exclusive supplier of plasma cutting technology, allowing both companies to specialise their hardware to complement the other.
For further information www.espritautomation.com

Hot-stamped parts are increasingly replacing traditional metal-formed parts in the manufacture of vehicle frames. For instance, among the trends gaining momentum is the adoption of a new door-ring concept, whereby an element is hot stamped as a single part rather than the usual four parts. With this in mind, Prima Power has released a laser cutter that is focused on this specific application: Laser Next 2130. According to Prima Power, the new model maintains the performance of the existing 1530, but offers increased working volume in the Y-axis to suit the cutting of large, hot-stamped components.
Laser Next 2130 has a working volume of 3050 x 2100 x 612 mm, with a 5 m turntable. To suit throughput in automotive industry applications, this capacity is supported by a trajectory speed of 208 m/min and 2.1 g acceleration. The machine can be equipped with a 3 or 4 kW high-brilliance fibre laser developed and manufactured by Prima Power. Direct motors and transducers are used for the machine’s main axes and focusing head.
Prima Power says it is the only laser machine manufacturer to develop all essential elements of its products in-house, including the company’s new CF series generators.
“We could already offer the best and fastest solution for the cutting of standard sized hot-stamped components,” explains Marco Pivanti, 3D laser product manager, “but we needed an evolution of the Laser Next 1530 featuring an increased Y-axis stroke to allow the processing of larger components, such as the door ring.”
For further information
www.primapower.com