FEATURE ON PROFILING

Midtherm lasers set for growth after £1.2m investment

A specialist subcontract laser cutting and forming specialist is reaping the operational and environmental benefits of a £1.2m machine investment. Midtherm Laser, which employs 45 people at its factory in Dudley, has increased its capacity and speed of processing thanks to the installation of a new Bystronic Bystar Fiber 12kW laser with part automation.

One of the largest purchases in its 23-year history introduces the next level of power in fibre laser cutting. It will help the company deliver high cutting dynamics and thin to thick cutting capabilities to a customer base that spans aerospace, automotive and decorative work, to food processing, agricultural and conveyors.

The machine has also made a massive difference to the firm’s environmental performance, with the Bystronic model replacing two older CO2 machines and delivering a 50% energy saving, the equivalent of powering 2100 average homes every month.

“Our expertise in laser cutting and metal forming is respected throughout our sector and has led to us increasing sales by a further 6% last year, a great achievement considering the volatility of the market,” explains Mark Hannon, director of Midtherm Laser.“The 12 kW Bystar Fiber is a class-leading machine that can cut from 0.5 to 30mm in mild steel, aluminium and a host of other materials. It gives us more capacity to target new opportunities and, importantly, means three quarters of our machines are now fibre technology instead of gas.”

He adds: “With this in mind, and when you consider we’ve also invested in LED lighting, sensor switches, and electric vehicles and charging for our staff on the road, it’s not difficult to see how we have managed to cut our energy usage in half since 2018.”
For further information www.midthermlaser.co.uk

SM Thompson invests further in laser technology

Steel plate processor SM Thompson has invested in a new 22kW fibre laser cutting machine that will boost efficiency and drive the firm’s ambitions forward.The Teesside-based business has invested in a state-of-the-art laser cutting machine that will not only support more environmentally friendly ways of working but enable larger client orders and faster process.

Managing director Harvey Thompson says: “Our continued investment in new machinery enables us to offer a range of services to our customers. By enhancing the range and capabilities of our machinery, we can respond readily to market changes.It’s always been our ethos to invest in the latest technology to keep us at the top of the game. This machine continues that strategy.”

Beyond its high cut quality, the laser can offer etching suitable for bend lines and profile identification, which supports larger orders and identifying parts quickly, saving valuable time and money. The high-end fibre laser provides precise technology and a stable cutting process up to the highest laser power.

Harvey adds: “When we purchased a 12kW machine a little over a year ago, I was so impressed by its precision and efficiency that I knew straight away this was the future of large quantity orders. Six months later, our order was in for our new 22kW laser.”

As a steel plate specialist, the SM Thompson team cuts steel from 1 to 350mm thick using a range of laser, plasma and flame cutting machinery. The company also presses, rolls and chamfers material in a variety of shapes and sizes, working with mild and stainless steel, as well as aluminium, brass, copper and titanium.
For further informationwww.smthompson.co.uk

Ficep Kronos helps John W Laycock diversify

Ficep UK has completed the installation of a Kronos system at John W Laycock, which will help the business build on its success and expand its offering as a steel service provider.
Established in 1740, John W Laycock provides steel services to businesses and domestic customers across the UK, including cutting, drilling and fabrication. At the end of 2021, the business made the decision to add to its services and offer in-house profiling services, having outsourced profiling services in the past.

Waiting for thermally cut profiles to arrive had become an obstacle and the business wanted to regain control and improve lead time, cost and quality for its customers. The business contacted Ficep, which recommended the Kronos due to the production benefits it would bring, its footprint and its flexibility.

Upon delivery, the machine was lowered 6 m through an opening into the basement of John W Laycock’s new two-storey premises in Keighley, West Yorkshire, which the business acquired specifically for this project at the end of 2021. The machine was officially commissioned and signed off in July 2022.

The Kronos heavy-duty gantry-style thermal cutting system integrates all cutting, drilling and marking processes into a single operation to reduce material handling cost. It will enable John W Laycock to better service its customers and offer competitive lead times on any quantity, from single pieces to multiples, one offs and repeat customers.

Mark Sugden, fifth generation John W Laycock managing director, says: “We’re keen to grow on our successful foundation by offering this new service. It was clear from the start that Ficep understood our market position and future opportunity for the growth of our business, and they had an immediate recommendation for the machine we needed.”
For further information www.ficep.co.uk

Trumpf EdgeLine Bevel delivers customer value

The latest machine to arrive at The Laser Cutting Co (TLCC) is a Trumpf TruLaser 5040 flat-bed fibre laser cutter that features EdgeLine Bevel, a Trumpf solution that allows users to bevel or countersink part edges automatically during the cutting process, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming secondary processes. According to TLCC, EdgeLine Bevel will represent a “strong addition to its existing customer offering”.

The new machine arrived at the end of February 2022, supporting the company’s ethos of investing in the latest laser technology every year and being the first to market. It is the second Trumpf model on site, where it joins a TruLaser Tube 7000 CO2 machine, installed in 2020.

“One of our older flat-bed laser cutting machines was a 6 kW model from a Trumpf competitor, which was proving slower than general market demand,” explains TLCC sales director Charlie Day. “The faster TruLaser 5040 has provided a lot more capacity and is generally a much better machine. Our lasers are key to delivering on our short lead-time promises without compromising on cut quality.”

EdgeLine Bevel automatically inserts chamfers up to 45° and countersinks of various sizes, eliminating the need for secondary processes. The benefit: faster, more efficient, more flexible and simpler processes with fewer errors.

Says Day: “We want EdgeLine Bevel because many of our customers request countersinking and weld preparations. Although we can provide this service manually, EdgeLine Bevel will prove to be much more efficient, accurate and productive. As a large proportion of our customer base is essentially fabrication, engineering and welding oriented, the ability to offer countersinks and bevels on all parts will provide us with an even stronger proposition.”
For further information www.trumpf.com

Software for sheet metal business digitalisation

Bystronic is launching a new software solution for the sheet metal industry. BySoft Suite expands on the existing BySoft software products already used by most of Bystronic’s customers. With the latest software, customers can completely digitalise their business, from quote to delivery.

BySoft Suite is comprised of six software product families (Insight, Business, Shop Floor, CAD, CAM, Cell Control) that collectively enable customers to digitally monitor, manage and make decisions at each stage of their business process. The software suite allows better control and accelerated processes by providing immediate data in one place, presenting the ability to make changes when needed. This capability allows customers to adapt to ever-changing and unpredictable market challenges, and make business decisions with more comprehensive and centralised data.

BySoft’s allows any company in the sheet metal industry the opportunity to digitalise, regardless of size or current level of digitization. The technology offers a hybrid solution, combining cloud and on-premise software, making it affordable even for small and medium companies. The software can interoperate with third-party business management systems and machines, enabling complete vertical solutions using a single data source.

“Thanks to BySoft Suite, our customers can advance on their smart factory journey and now have the opportunity to digitalise their entire business, which gives them full control over what is happening and allows flexibility to adapt,” says Alberto Martínez, Bystronic’s chief digital officer. “We have a complete software suite that interoperates, so that customers have comprehensive data in one place. Customers who are using the software tell us they have decreased order-taking time, for example, from three hours to just minutes, along with improved accuracy.”
For further information www.bystronic.com