Enfield-based BIZ Engineering, a precision engineering and sheet metal fabrication company, has invested in a Nukon Rex 315 4kW fibre laser supplied by sole UK agent Nukon UK Ltd (www.nukon.co.uk).

A leading Turkish manufacturer of fibre laser machines, Nukon is well-established in Europe and the USA, and its
machines have built up a reputation for speed, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Paul Jones, BIZ Engineering’s managing director, said: “For a number of years, we have worked with Nukon UK’s sister company MTL Engineering, which specialises in selling and servicing CNC sheet metal-working machines.

"When we decided to invest in a new fibre laser, they recommended that we should opt for a Nukon; and while we looked at a number of other makes, machines from Nukon stood out for their build quality — and the fact that they cost significantly less than equivalent products from many of their competitors. We were also suitably impressed by Nukon’s new laser head with maintenance-free self-adjusting lens.

“We ordered the Rex 315 during the first week in November last year; it was ready for delivery before Christmas, and it was installed and working by the second week of January. Moreover, we only needed three days of training.”

The new laser has not only rendered two CO₂ lasers at BIZ Engineering obsolete but also slashed costs — and boosted productivity five-fold.

Mr Jones added: “Our CO₂ lasers, which are now 18 years old, are no longer in use, saving us about £15,000 a year in electricity costs alone; and whereas we used to have a backlog of around two weeks, the backlog with the fibre laser is under a week, giving us the opportunity to take on more work.”

Nukon UK offers a wide range of fibre lasers. The Rex model, as bought by BIZ, features a 1,530 x 3,050mm “dual modifiable shuttle table” that offers easy access to the workpiece.

It has a maximum cutting capacity of 20mm in mild steel, 12mm in stainless steel, 10mm in aluminium and 6mm in both brass and copper.

The machine also offers the option of a ‘pipe and profile’ cutting capability for processing a wide range of materials; these include stainless steel, carbon steel, mild steel, alloy steel, galvanised steel, silicon steel, spring steel and titanium.

The machine also features nozzle cleaning, ‘automatic repeat’ and a loading/unloading system.

Project management

BIZ Engineering, which has structured its manufacturing processes to provide high levels of quality and traceability, manages projects from initial design concept right through to the manufacture of prototypes, batch quantities and high-volume quantities.

Its design team allows BIZ Engineering to take a concept from a client brief through to full production, using the latest SolidWorks 3-D modelling package and 2-D CAD packages.

It also has two 3-D printers, which allow components to be modelled from a plastic substrate and tested ahead of full manufacture, reducing the need for costly prototypes to be machined.

Laser cutting is offered by BIZ Engineering as part of a general fabrication package and also as a stand-alone cutting service.

To complement its profiling capabilities, the company has a CNC punching machine that accommodates sheet up to 4m long and can tap and/or countersink holes, thereby removing a potential additional production process. It also has six multi-axis press brakes with capacities up to 4m.

Biz Engineering can also cut a variety of plastics — including acrylic, styrene and high-density polyethylene — using its in-house CNC router.

Moreover, the company’s experience in plastic bending means it can offer complex and durable products that are not suitable for making from metal; and working with its approved sub-contractors, it can offer a wide range of additional services.

These include powder coating, plating, galvanizing, polishing, machining, heat treatment, wire bending and spinning. It also offers an in-house bead-blasting service for stainless steel.

In conclusion, Mark Lewis — Nukon UK’s managing director — said: “With the support of MTL, we not only offer a first-class fibre laser machine but also a first-class service and support network with a team of experienced engineers around the UK.”