Kerfs cuts bottleneck at subcontractor

As a subcontract manufacturer, Q-Laser offers laser, waterjet, press brake and fabrication services throughout the UK. When the main division at Washington, Tyne & Wear, realised its waterjet cutting department based in nearby Hebburn was reaching full capacity, the company needed a solution. Kerf Developments provided the answer with a Semyx Optima 420 twin abrasive waterjet cutter.

Founded in 2012, Q-Laser set up its waterjet cutting division in 2019 to complement its laser, press brake and fabrication services, starting with a five-axis waterjet machine. Except for the pandemic, the waterjet division has grown exponentially, and the existing waterjet machine was struggling to meet the capacity demands of the business, so Q-Laser turned to the Optima 420 twin abrasive waterjet.

With two cutting heads, the 4 x 2 m bed machine instantly doubled cutting capacity in comparison to the company’s existing machine. In a sector where clients expect a quotation in hours and components cut and delivered in less than a week, the addition of the machine has alleviated the bottleneck, created additional capacity and immediately reduced lead times.

Company director Colin Hewitt says: “We gave Kerf a range of trial parts. The productivity, precision, cut quality and edge finishes were beyond anything else we had seen, so our decision to invest was made. A few months after the installation, Kerf has excelled in its service and consumable supply, which was a critical element for us. Kerf stocks all spare parts for the machine in the UK and they are available on a next-day service. This gives us complete confidence.”

For further information www.kerfdevelopments.com   

NEO range and service focus drive laser sales

The new NEO range of laser processing machines and a strong focus on customer service helped Yamazaki Mazak UK to record its most successful ever year for laser sales in 2023. NEO machines, which complement Mazak’s 2D laser and 3D tube cutting models, have opened up new markets for the company at both OEMs and subcontractors.

Ian White, general sales manager – laser products for Yamazaki Mazak, says the NEO machines – including the Optiplex NEO 20 kW 2D fibre laser and the FG-400 NEO fibre laser for long tubes, pipes and structural materials – have added new capability to the Mazak laser range.

“The NEO machines have helped us penetrate new markets, particularly where laser users are working with heavy plate – in the energy and construction sectors, for example,” says White. “We’ve also recorded especially strong results in medical, a sector that requires exceptional accuracy and cut quality.”

The strength of Mazak’s service offering for laser users has also driven market share, as White reveals: “Mazak has invested in its service and support for customers, and we now have 25 applications staff ready to advise. We’ve also introduced our industry-first 24-hour service hotline for laser users, which is available even if the machine is not under warranty or a service contract. The hotline enables customers to speak with a UK-based engineer to get their machines back up and running at any time of the day.”

White is confident that 2024 will deliver even more success, especially with the launch of the new Optiplex Ez machine, a cost-effective laser processing range with multiple advanced cutting features.

For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Trumpf filters out inefficiency in metal profiling

Porvair Filtration Group is using its investment in a new Trumpf TruLaser 1030 fibre laser cutter to eliminate outsourcing and improve its in-house sheet metal profiling operations. Such is the speed of the new machine that estimates by the company suggest it will pay for itself inside the time originally expected.

“Until recently, we purchased subcontract profiled sheet metal parts, performing secondary operations at our New Milton facility in Hampshire to make them fit for purpose, which was inefficient,” reports production engineer Karl Goodman, who subsequently commenced a review of laser cutters available in the UK, visiting no less than seven potential suppliers. Trumpf stood out from the pack.

“First and foremost, Trumpf manufactures its laser unit based on the company’s own design, which we found very reassuring,” he says. “Our confidence levels in Trumpf technology, along with the service and support available in the UK, far outweighed the other options. Cutting trials were also highly successful.”

Today, the Trumpf TruLaser 1030 Fiber is in daily use producing filter components from exotic stainless steel materials that act as filter media. In some applications, Porvair uses filter media down to 1 µm rating.

“The stainless steel sheets are very expensive: a 1.5 x 1.2 m panel costs around £600 on average, so we want to avoid any scrap,” reports Goodman. “We’ve had no problems with the Trumpf laser and Trumpf Boost software; from drawing, to having a cut part in my hand can be as quick as 15 minutes. We’re currently running a spreadsheet so we can record what we’re saving. As things stand, we’re on track to outperform our financial justification.”

For further information www.trumpf.com

ParkerSteel grows its manufacturing capabilities

In 2023, ParkerSteel invested over £4m in significantly upgrading its processing capabilities. This total included the acquisition of two BLM tube laser cutting machines for its Dudley facility and an additional four machines for its Canterbury headquarters. The latter comprised a similar tube laser, a combined drill-and-saw, a mitre saw and a flat-bed fibre laser profiling centre from BLM Group.

The new 12 kW BLM LS7 4020 fibre laser cutting machine offers not just operational efficiency and flexibility but also much-needed redundancy for uninterrupted production. Factors influencing the purchase decision included its European build quality, CE marking, cost-effectiveness and the supportive approach of BLM’s UK team. In addition, the modular design facilitated rapid on-site assembly, significantly enhancing productivity at a crucial time for ParkerSteel.

A visit to the BLM Group’s manufacturing facility in Levico, Italy, by managing director Dylan Alexander provided reassurance of the equipment’s reliability and the manufacturer’s support. Since its commissioning in mid-October 2023, the LS7 4020 has demonstrated exceptional productivity, attributed to its 2 g table acceleration and an automatic pallet shuttle system, which together streamline operations and minimise changeover times to just nine seconds.

Ease of use is another commendable feature, with program handling, nesting and cutting cycles managed offline through SigmaNEST CADCAM software. The machine’s features include active piercing, nozzle centring and real-time control of cutting accuracy.


As ParkerSteel moves forward, its investment in the BLM LS7 4020 represents not just a commitment to technological advancement but also a strategic positioning for growth and innovation in the steel industry.

For further information www.blmgroup.com

Second Nukon machine for AD Laser Cutting

Just 18 months after purchasing the display machine from the Nukon Lasers UK stand at
MACH 2022, Greater Manchester-based AD Laser Cutting has taken delivery of a second
Nukon fibre laser. Whereas the company’s first fibre laser cutter was a Nukon ECO 315 4 kW
model, its new machine is from the European laser machine manufacturer’s REX model
range.
Just like Nukon’s ECO machines, the Nukon REX is able to accommodate flat sheet metal
sizes of up to 3 x 1.5 m. Chosen primarily for its side-mounted loading table, to better fit
with the available floorspace at AD Laser Cutting’s new subcontract manufacturing facility –
a move driven by the company’s growing order book – the Nukon REX also has a more
powerful 6 kW laser. This additional power will enable AD to precision-cut stainless steel up
to 25 mm thick.
We really couldn’t have imagined just how much precision laser-cutting work our first
machine from Nukon Lasers UK would enable us to complete,” comments AD Laser Cutting’s
managing director Darren Golden. “Projects undertaken have ranged from precision cutting
stainless steel components for the utilities sector, to manufacturing furniture components,
extraction panels and even stillages for a number of leading vehicle manufacturers. In fact,

only a short while after installation, the Nukon ECO 315 machine was running at near full
capacity.”
He continues: “It’s extremely intuitive to program, easy to use and has been trouble-free
since its installation. Moreover, the quality of cut has more than met the high standards that
our customers demand. Therefore, when it was time to grow the business and invest in a
second fibre laser machine, it seemed pretty obvious that it should also come from Nukon
Lasers UK.
For further information www.nukonlasers.co.uk