FEATURE ON PROFILING

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

Enabling robot compatibility with Foba

Flexxbotics, which delivers work-cell digitalisation for robot-driven manufacturing, can now
offer robot connectivity compatibility for machine tending with all of the Foba laser marking
and engraving products. Flexxbotics includes communication with Foba’s integrated camera
system for vision-based inspection, providing closed-loop feedback to the robot for
autonomous process control. With Flexxbotics robot-driven operation of Foba equipment
customers achieve greater throughput and higher yields.
 
Foba provides precision laser marking systems and laser engraving machines that include
fibre laser markers and UV laser markers, as well as ultra-short pulse laser markers, CO2
laser markers and green laser markers for a diverse range of applications and industries. The
patent-pending FlexxCORE technology in the Flexxbotics solution enables robots to connect
and communicate with the Foba laser marking and engraving equipment including the
integrated camera systems for robotic orchestration of part processing with in-line
inspection. Flexxbotics compatibility includes the Foba MarkUS control, as well as Foba’s
digital I/Os, PROFINET, Profibus/TCP/IP and EtherCAT.

 
The solution co-ordinates robot actions with Foba’s three-stage marking process, which
includes part inspection prior to marking, automatic mark alignment and subsequent
validation of the marking. Flexxbotics utilises either the intelligent mark positioning (IMP) or
point and shoot (P&S) capabilities in the Foba equipment for precise alignment of the laser
marker on the customer’s product, along with vision-assisted workflows for accuracy if
touch-up is needed.
 
Combining Foba with Flexxbotics is particularly valuable in industries with strict regulatory
compliance requirements that dictate the highest levels of repeatable precision, such as
medical devices and surgical products along with aerospace, defence and space,” explains
Tyler Bouchard, co-founder and CEO of Flexxbotics. “With Flexxbotics and Foba together,
customers can optimise cycle time, expand capacity and increase profit per part.”
For further information www.flexxbotics.com

Bystronic unveils ByCut Star 3015 laser cutter

Bystronic is expanding its established ByCut Star range of laser cutters, launched at EuroBLECH 2022. This premium laser cutter series is now available in the 3015 format.

According to the company, the ByCut Star 4020 was already an eye-catcher.However, the smaller and completely new ByCut Star 3015 is its equal in every way. With the same features, Bystronic says the machine cuts sheets of 3 x 1.5 m with precision, speed and intelligence. 

The ByCut Star 3015 is, of course, also available with power up to 30 kW, which means higher cutting quality, greater production flexibility and productivity due to the combination of more laser power and smart features such as ‘Intelligent Cutting Process’ (ICP), ‘Nozzle Control Tool’ (NCT) with KerfScan and ‘Parameter Wizard’.

The technological leap from the previously available 3-20 kW levels to the new 30 kW level is considerable, opening new possibilities for users to optimise production and, as a result, remain ahead of ever-tougher competition. Furthermore, cutting thicknesses up 50 mm become a reality.

The cutting speeds of the ByCut Star increase significantly compared with 15 kW and MixGas for sheet thicknesses between 6 and 15 mm. Piercing times are also shorter for sheet thicknesses from 15 mm.

“With the new ByCut Star 3015, our customers receive a compact premium laser cutter with high power and smart features for consistently excellent quality and high productivity,” statesDaniel Brenner, product management systems, Bystronic.

Like the 4020 model, the new 3105 is built on one platform, thus offering the same modern, sharp contours that create a striking appearance. 

For further information www.bystronic.co.uk

Biogas Products invest in 4 kW Penta Laser

Renewable energy technology specialist, Biogas Products of Dudley, has recently taken delivery of a new 4kW fibre laser cutting system from Penta Laser UK, together with an MSS Nitrocube on-site nitrogen generation system.The laser system supplied by Penta UK comprises a Swing 4 kW 3015 fibre laser featuring IPG laser source and Precitec cutting head. The Nitrocube system produces 25ppm purity (99.9975%) nitrogen for the new 4kW laser.

Tony Smith, managing director at Biogas Products, says: “This new Penta laser offers us major efficiency benefits via reduced running costs, increased production speeds and better cut quality compared with the plasma cutting system it replaces. Notably, our cutting quality with the new Nitrocube system is significantly better than using gas cylinder packs.”

He continues:“I’m really pleased with the decision to purchase both the Penta system and the MSS Nitrocube.We received fantastic support so far and we’re fully confident it will continue, allowing us to enjoy the benefits of this important equipment for many years to come.”

Chris Smith at Penta Laser UK adds:“This impressive laser system offers all the functionality, performance and quality that much more expensive fibre laser systems provide. The installation work went very well; with the co-operation of Biogas all work from unloading to training was complete within just a few days.”

The Penta range offers laser power from 2 to 60kW and cutting bed sizes from 3×1.5m to 12×2.5m.Penta Laser UK offer full UK sales and aftersales support, including a huge UK stock of Penta spare parts.

For further information www.pentalaser.co.uk