A new Nukon NKT-125 2kW tube and pipe fibre laser cutting machine supplied by
Nukon Lasers UK, is bringing considerable production efficiencies and new manufacturing opportunities to Redditch-based access equipment maker,
Redhill Manufacturing.
The machine joins a Nukon ECO 315 4kW flat sheet metal fibre laser machine and two all-electric Unison Breeze tube-bending machines that were installed at Redhill’s facility in December 2022. The manufacturer’s introduction to Nukon fibre laser machines came when the company was discussing purchasing two all-electric tube-bending machines from sister company
Unison Ltd.
Redhill’s managing director Andy Colley said" “I had read good things about Unison’s British-built, all-electric ‘Breeze’ tube-bending machines and got in touch to find out more about the range, with a view to ordering two 30mm (tube diameter) single stack models – one to replace a machine we had unfortunately lost in a fire at our previous premises and the second to gus additional capacity.”
It was during a meeting to discuss the specification of the tube benders that the conversation turned to fibre laser machines. Mr Colley continued: “I had a requirement for laser cutting, but wasn’t aware that Unison had a sister company – the UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s fibre lasers. At the time, I did not really know a great deal about the Nukon brand, so sales director, Steve Haddrell, took me to visit a company in Sheffield that had been using a Nukon flat sheet metal laser for around a year – that way I could see first-hand the machine in action and talk to the operators on the ground about their experience of using it.”
Competitively pricedHearing glowing reports about how the Nukon flat sheet metal laser had streamlined the process of cutting complex components at the Sheffield business, Mr Colley then travelled to Nukon’s European headquarter to see one of its tube and pipe fibre laser machines in action. “The build quality was very good and the accuracy excellent, and just like the Nukon flat sheet metal laser, the tube laser machine was competitively priced – particularly considering features included nLIGHT fibre lasers with adaptive beam optimisation, and Lantek Expert nesting software.”
Just like Redhill’s Nukon ECO 315 4kW flat sheet metal fibre laser, its new NKT-125 2kW tube and pipe laser machine was selected for its speed, easy programming, precision and exceptional versatility – all essential requirements for businesses dealing with small production runs; in this case cutting pipe of round, oval, square and rectangular profile.
Since installation, the Nukon tube and pipe laser has streamlined the production of many of Redhill Manufacturing’s products — its BSI-Kitemarked access steps being a good example. Previously, lengths of tubing would be cut to size using a bandsaw, then drilled, slotted and mitred, before having their ends flattened for welding. The entire process typically took around 10min per component.
By comparison, the Nukon tube and pipe laser takes around 30sec to complete the same task – a process that also includes scalloping the tube ends to avoid any need for end flattening before welding. The cutting of hanging holes ready for the painting stage of several components has also been simplified. Mr Colley added: “All in all, with no secondary operations to carry out, the Nukon tube and pipe machine has allowed us to free up two staff members for other duties.”
Redhill’s Nukon NKT-125 2kW tube and pipe laser has also helped simplify the design and manufacture of both existing and new products. Over recent months, the Redhill team has redesigned several of its ranges to further benefit from the efficiencies the machine brings to the manufacturing process. While new products, made possible by the considerable flexibility of the laser, include a highly customisable range of ‘Build your own’ and ‘Ready to go’ picking trolleys and an innovative range of powered sack trucks in association with MGB Easy Handling.
Mr Haddrell concluded: “It has been an absolute pleasure to assist Redhill Manufacturing in the selection and purchase of its two Nukon fibre laser machines which offer fantastic quality and features at extremely accessible prices, and just as demonstrated by Redhill Manufacturing, provide manufacturers and sub-contractors with the ability to not only develop exciting new products, but also produce their existing products far more cost effectively and efficiently.”