With over 65 years of experience in the steel stockholding and distribution business, C Brown & Sons (Steel) Ltd entered the laser cutting market in 2002 by installing a pre-owned Trumpf TCL3030.

The company now offers a complete processing service in steel — from de-coiling and blanking to sheared and laser-cut pieces.

With the help of Trumpf Financial Services (www.uk.trumpf.com), C. Brown & Sons recently acquired a Trumpf TruLaser 3040 CNC laser profiler with LiftMaster automation, allowing the company to replace two existing machines and release valuable floor space.

The TruLaser 3040 has a 6kW resonator, which C Brown & Sons requires to process thick-gauge orders, and CoolLine advanced contouring technology. The machine is currently profiling thick-gauge mild steel 24hr a day, five days a week.

The company used Trumpf Financial Services because an operating lease is not capitalised; it is a rental expense known as ‘off balance sheet’ financing. A lease has a lower initial outlay and VAT is spread over the life of the agreement.

Julian Adkins, a director of C Brown & Sons, said: “Our ambition is to laser-cut quicker than ever before, so the option of trading the machine in for a newer model in five years presents the operating lease as the best way to invest in our future.”