West Midlands start-up Staffs Laser Ltd has selected a Trumpf TruLaser 2030 fiber (www.trumpf.com) to help it target work in the sub-contract sheet profiling market.

Installed as the company’s sole laser cutter when the business was launched in April, the TruLaser is on target to help it achieve a turnover of £800,000 in its first year of trading — way beyond the £560,000 originally budgeted.

The company is the brainchild of Eddie Hopkins, who has been working in the laser cutting arena for the past 15 years.

He said: “At my previous employment, we had CO² laser cutting machines, which are fine but cannot match the speed of fibre on thinner sheet.

“My old bosses were reluctant to invest in the latest fibre technology, so I decided to leave and start my own business.”

Working out of premises near Stone (between Stafford and Stoke), Mr Hopkins knew that he would have to invest from the outset, and Trumpf was always going to be his first choice.

“I knew Trumpf machines well, and I consider them to be the market leader.

"In addition, I knew that good service would be key to a new start-up business like mine.”

With a limited budget, Mr Hopkins opted for Trumpf’s entry-level machine, the TruLaser 2030 fiber, which is designed to provide an easy introduction to highly productive laser cutting.

“We cut mild steel up to 20mm, stainless steel up to 16mm and aluminium up to 12mm. We also process copper, brass, galvanised steel and Zintec. For thinner sheet, we cut with filtered compressed air.”

Staffs Laser (www.staffslaser.co.uk) has already created a strong client base in sectors such as construction, yellow goods and street furniture, supporting its laser cutting abilities with folding, welding and general fabrication services. In addition, the company can undertake design and reverse engineering.