Continuous investment has always been key to the success of Sheffield-based Charles Day (Steels) Ltd, and with the latest purchase of a Bystronic ByStar 15kw fibre laser to add to its laser fleet, the company shows no signs of slowing down.

The new fibre laser supplied by Coventry-based Bystronic UK Ltd has a cutting bed of 6,000 x 2,500mm, it has once again broadened its service offering and bolstered itself as an absolute industry leader.

From humble beginnings Charles Day founded the business as a specialist flame cutting service in 1976, where its first site consisted of a single machine in a small workshop.

From there it has grown into one of the largest and most diverse specialist cutting providers in the UK having since been an early adopter of laser and waterjet cutting technology. The company has six flatbed lasers, three large bed waterjet and three flame cutting machines, and sits alongside a sister company specialising in tube laser cutting.

The new laser investment wil open up new opportunities for customers and further advance Charles Day’s existing capabilities.

Big step forward
Operations director James Day said: “The addition of a 15kW laser is a big step forward in Charles Day’s already large capacity and capability offering. With the ability to cut thicker material up to 50mm at such a high speed on this new laser, we also increase the capacity on our existing five lasers by focusing material thickness to its most productive machine.”

Charles Day has five other lasers consisting of 3 x 6kW and 2 x 10kW on 4,000 x 2,000mm cutting beds, allowing for short lead times on projects of all sizes. This is the first machine of its kind in the UK and the ability to cut with 15kw of power on such a large cutting bed, means customers will benefit from tighter tolerances on parts up to 6,000mm long. These would otherwise need to be cut using other methods such as plasma or flame.

Charlie Day, sales and business development director, said: “Achieving laser tolerances on parts up to 6,000mm is a gamechanger. Where typically larger and thicker parts are limited to the tolerances of flame and plasma cutting methods — often having to be split and welded together later — this machine will offer customers greater part flexibility at competitive prices while maintaining short lead times.”

Charles Day has also recently purchased a Bystronic Xpert Pro 150-tonne 300mm wide press brake, so customers can now benefit from a reliable, high-quality ‘one stop shop’.