Coventry-based Bystronic UK (www.bystronic.co.uk) has sold its 200th fibre laser in the UK to Accurate Laser Cutting, a sheet metal sub-contractor in Oldbury.

Magnums of champagne were presented to Accurate owners Jon Till and Steve Morgan at Bystronic’s Open House last month — in front of a ByStar Fiber 10kW machine.

A 4020 model will be delivered in June where it will join a similar machine installed in August 2016.

Mr Till said: “The latest machine is being part-exchanged for a 6 kW BySprint fibre laser that we have operated for three years. Fibre technology is roaring ahead, and it is important to regularly invest in the latest plant to remain competitive.

"Having operated a 10kW machine for over 18 months, we know that we can get 60% more output when processing 5mm mild steel using nitrogen as the cutting gas — for example — compared with using a 6kW fibre source.”

David Larcombe, managing director of Bystronic UK, said: “In the first two years after our fibre laser machines were introduced in 2011, we supplied seven in the UK.

“Many customers held back and continued to purchase traditional CO₂ lasers.

Reaching our 200th fibre laser machine in such a short time is a great testament to the huge benefits of this technology.

Machines with a 10kW cutting performance — considered impossible with CO₂ machines — are now regularly chosen by our clients.

“We wish Accurate Laser Cutting much success with their second 10kW machine.”