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

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