Bradley McBain — managing director of Wetherby-based MBA Engineering (
www.mba-eng.co.uk), which is the exclusive distributor of Kimla fibre lasers in the UK — says that the machine industry is in a fourth industrial revolution, with “computers and machines combining like never before, resulting in an increased demand for cutting-edge technology with automation to match — including fibre laser cutting machines”.
He says that the unrivalled cutting speed of fibre lasers makes them the obvious choice for customers looking to increase their efficiency, as verified by a number of MBA Engineering’s customers, including Ellesmere Port-based Cook Compression and Manchester-based Concept Metal; both have increased their productivity following the installation of Kimla fibre laser machines.
Richard Wignall, managing director of Cook Compression, said: “Since installing the Kimla machine, we have experienced unprecedented results.
"During a recent project, we managed to cut components in 2min 44sec — a tenth of the time it would have taken
previously. We had been concerned that the speed of the cutting process would affect the quality of the finished product, but we couldn’t have been more wrong; all parts were of superior quality and cut with precision accuracy.”
In a vote of confidence in Kimla machines, Manchester-based sheet metal fabrication specialist Concept Metal has invested in a second fibre laser from MBA Engineering, following the installation of a 10 x 2m 4kW Kimla Powercut model in 2017.
The company was so impressed by not only the speed and precision of the machine but also the resulting cost savings that it bought a 6kW Powercut LF2040 machine earlier this year.
General manager Dean Barnard said: “We were amazed by the efficiency and precision of our original Kimla system, and the cost savings were far more significant than we anticipated.”
Mr McBain says the life expectancy of fibre lasers is much longer than other cutting methods, with the diodes typically completing around 100,000hr of work.
“Kimla machines are also compact, saving valuable floor space — and they are precise, cutting to an accuracy of 0.03mm.
"Furthermore, all parts and consumables for Kimla’s fibre laser machines — bar the laser source and delivery system —
are manufactured in-house, resulting in cost-effective repairs when required; and Kimla can diagnose some 85% of problems remotely, minimising machine down-time.”