The first ACCURL Europe DealerDay in Bad Wörishofen offered participants from the European Union and beyond a wide variety of activities. The day was marked by intensive discussions and exclusive insights into the latest developments and forward-looking strategies in the field of bending and laser cutting.

“Together we are strong” said Cameron Lee, Managing Director of ACCURL Europe at the event. And he explained: "ACCURL from China and ACCURL Europe – side by side. Why are we strong together? Because we combine the best of both worlds: the performance, technology, and support of our global team in China with the local service, understanding, and partnership you expect from ACCURL Europe – right on your doorstep. When we work together as a team – ACCURL, ACCURL Europe, and our trusted dealers – we can achieve great things."

Participants enjoyed an exciting program with inspiring presentations on strategic perspectives and the advantages of close cooperation, as well as technological innovations. The groundbreaking cutting and bending solutions were presented, along with insights into ongoing research and development projects.

Innovative machine solutions live in action

In the afternoon, guests had the opportunity to experience the innovative machine solutions in action during live demonstrations. The EuroMaster press brake demonstrated its outstanding bending precision – ideal for processing small and large parts. The eB Ultra bending cell presented automated bending with robot technology, which enables maximum production efficiency at low production costs.

The demonstrations were complemented by innovative cutting solutions: The MasterLINE 2D laser cutting system impressed with its high performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness with complete digital networking. The TubeLINE BK enabled 2D and 3D processing of tubes, profiles, and beams and proved to be perfectly suited for the production of high-precision parts at high cutting speeds. The SMART Cube demonstrated the advantages of a compact solution for 2D laser cutting that combines maximum precision and efficiency with minimal space requirements and complete digital networking.

The ACCURL Europe DealerDay offered dealers an ideal opportunity to experience ACCURL Europe up close, exchange ideas with experts, and gain valuable insights from other dealers. The eventful day was rounded off with an evening program featuring a buffet and DJ music.

Middlesbrough-based SM Thompson (SMT), a leading steel plate processing specialist, is now able to offer clients shorter lead times thanks to its investment in a new 12 kW fibre laser cutter with 4 m bed. By installing the ACCURL MasterLINE 4020 from Axe & Status (ACCURL partner in UK), next-day lead times are now available, reducing from 2-3 days previously.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, family-run SMT is among the region’s most experienced companies within its sector.

“We began as a pure steel stockholder back in 1950,” explains managing director Harvey Thompson, grandson of company founder Stanley Moorhouse Thompson. “When my father Howard joined the business in the 1960s, he initiated a shift in direction, introducing profiling services to add value for customers. It started with flame and plasma cutting – processes we still offer today – but in recent years has progressed into laser cutting, press braking and plate rolling services.”

Serving a market where lead times are just as critical as price and quality, SMT wanted a way to reduce its current delivery time of 2-3 days. With three laser cutters already on site, the way forward was to invest in another.

“We needed more capacity to shorten lead times and further boost quality through the latest laser cutting technology,” says Harvey Thompson. “As a business, we invest regularly in new machines and always cross-reference the market. We have a responsibility to provide the best available technology for the benefit of our customers.”

He continues: “Following extensive due diligence, we settled on ACCURL. Importantly, Axe & Status allowed us to visit an existing user, which showed they had complete confidence in ACCURL laser cutters. The end user was really happy with the machine, a factor that played a big part in our purchase decision. There’s no doubt the ACCURL is a step up from our other laser cutters.”

The ACCURL MasterLINE 4020 features a 4 m long bed (2 m wide) with SMT selecting the 12 kW model. Arriving in February 2025, the company describes the installation, commissioning and training process as seamless from start to finish.

“To be honest, it’s probably the best installation we’ve ever had. The communication from Axe & Status was really good throughout, supported by excellent service. The ACCURL user we visited said the back-up from Axe & Status was first class, and we make them right on that score.”

Although the first ACCURL on site at SMT, the 20-employee business reports a very shallow learning curve. The company’s highly trained operators are particularly impressed with the machine’s features and functions, and all prefer using the ACCURL over the other laser cutters, whatever the job. Batch sizes at SMT extend from 1-offs to thousands.

“We traditionally offer mild steel plate, but since entering the laser cutting arena a few years back we’ve made big gains in the stainless steel and aluminium markets,” says Thompson. “We cut from 1-25 mm using laser, although the average is probably around 10 mm. For anything from 25 mm and above we turn to our flame or plasma cutters. However, since the arrival of our new ACCURL, I don’t think it will be long before we phase out plasma. Laser is more efficient and just as cost effective to run – and the cut quality is better. We’ll probably end up with just laser and flame cutters.”

Although the other laser cutters on site also offer 12 kW power output, SMT reports the ACCURL MasterLINE 4020 cuts 20-30% faster using the same gases – oxygen or nitrogen (depending on material and thickness).

“We’re not sure why and can only put it down to better technology,” says Thompson. “We can now offer next-day lead times, so the ACCURL has definitely had the desired effect. It’s quite a tough market at present, which means any advantages new technology can provide are a big help.”

SMT runs a three-shift system, five days a week, with the ACCURL MasterLINE running around the clock. Thanks to the use of high- quality components such as the machine’s RAYCUS fibre laser source and BOCI cutting head, ACCURL laser cutters can operate continuously seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“The cutting head is the core element for a stable cutting process and high component quality,” says Thompson. “Optimal cooling ensures consistently precise cutting performance, particularly for long-running jobs with high laser power.”

As a progressive manufacturing business, investment is clearly key to SMT, which can today offer a host of added-value services that extend beyond profiling to include rolling, press braking, drilling and plate marking. The company is certified to ISO 1090, an international standard focusing on the execution of steel structures that ensures quality and safety throughout production, assembly and installation processes. SMT also carries the ISO 9001 quality management accreditation.

“Even in a tough market we’ve got to keep investing,” he concludes. “In tandem with our innovation and passion, new technology means we remain ahead of the competition. We’re constantly developing new ways of working, and thoughts are already turning to our next laser cutter, probably with even larger bed size and more powerful laser, perhaps 20 kW or more.”

Big machines and big ideas will almost certainly translate into a big future for SMT. As recently as 2015 the company relocated to a facility twice the size of its previous premises. Looking ahead, the company is convinced it can achieve further long-term growth. With 75 years of experience and success to call upon, few would bet against it.

At the two leading international exhibitions for joining, cutting and surfacing technology, ACCURL Europe will be showcasing its versatile product portfolio for cutting, bending and automation. Visitors can look forward to exciting innovations and numerous live demonstrations during both weeks of exhibition.

“The two technology exhibitions offer us the ideal platform to present our broad solution portfolio in the areas of laser cutting and bending to an international specialist audience,” says Johannes Ried, Managing Director of ACCURL Europe. “We will be cutting live on site and providing visitors with expert advice – a visit to our exhibition stands is definitely worthwhile!”

SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025

“Join the future” is the motto of the international welding technology exhibition SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN, which will be opening its doors at the Messe Essen exhibition center from September 15 to 19, 2025. In keeping with this forward-looking motto, ACCURL Europe will be presenting innovative high-end technologies for sheet metal, pipe and profile processing in hall 6, booth D20.

A special highlight is the latest version of the TubeLINE BK – a highly dynamic fiber laser for 2D and 3D processing of pipes, profiles and beams. With a laser power of up to 15 kW, the system enables the production of high-precision parts at maximum cutting speed. Thanks to the high degree of automation, particularly fast and reliable production is also guaranteed. In addition, ACCURL Europe will be presenting the MasterLINE series, a powerful and reliable laser cutting system for 2D processing with an automatic shuttle table.

Blechexpo 2025

Just a few weeks later, the next highlight of the exhibition year will follow with Blechexpo: from October 21 to 24, 2025, ACCURL Europe will be presenting its high-performance solutions in the field of laser and bending technology in hall 7, at booths 7200 and 7301. The focus will be on future-oriented developments that meet the increasing demands for quality, efficiency and automation.

Among the highlights is the EuroMaster press brake, which offers an impressive range of features even in its basic version. It scores points for its cost-effectiveness, precision, user-friendliness and wide range of expansion options. Also on site: the SMART Cube, an extremely compact fiber laser for sheet metal processing. Despite its small footprint, the system impresses with its first-class cutting quality and high efficiency. The exhibition portfolio is rounded off by the TubeLINE BK, which can also be seen in action at Blechexpo – for precise 2D and 3D laser cutting of pipes, profiles and beams.

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A brief overview of the exhibition appearance

SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN | Hall 6 / Booth D20

2D LASER CUTTING

Powerful and reliable: MasterLINE | High-performance laser for 2D processing on flat material with automatic shuttle table

The MasterLINE series

LASER CUTTING OF PIPES, PROFILES AND BEAMS

Highly precise and fast: The TubeLINE BK | 2D and 3D processing of pipes, profiles and beams with a high degree of automation

The TubeLINE BK series

SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025

For experts and decision-makers from the world of joining, cutting and coating, SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN is the leading trade fair for the industry. Every four years, the world's largest exhibition brings together market leaders in one place and, like no other trade fair, covers the entire value chain. Due to the wide range of machines, products, processes and services, more than 50,000 visitors from around 130 countries are expected at MESSE ESSEN 2025.

A brief overview of the exhibition appearance

Blechexpo | Hall 7 / Booths 7200/7301

LASER

Efficient and compact: The SMART Cube | 2D processing on flat material with minimal space requirements

The SMART Cube series

Highly precise and fast: The TubeLINE BK | 2D and 3D processing of pipes, profiles and beams with an extremely high degree of automation

The TubeLINE BK series

BENDING

The efficient performer EuroMaster | Reliable, cost-effective and precise bending of flat material with high-quality standard equipment and versatile options

The EuroMaster series

Blechexpo 2025

The 17th Blechexpo international exhibition for sheet metal processing, together with the 10th Schweisstec international trade fair for joining technology, will be the place to go for everything related to sheet metal processing from the 21st through the 24th of October, 2025. The double pack of exhibitions in Stuttgart will cover the entire process sequence for cold forming sheet metal processing, as well as associated thermal and mechanical cutting, joining and fastening technology in nine halls. The range of topics covered by Blechexpo/Schweisstec includes efficient process technologies, modern laser technology, fully automated robot-based sheet metal processing systems, high-precision tools and machines for punching, bending, folding and forming, as well as innovative micro waterjet cutting technologies.

With its subsidiary Accurl Benelux, Tuwi Netherlands serves the Benelux market from a new factory location, which works closely with Tuwi Nederland b.v. and is part of Accurl's new European organizational structure. The advantages of a uniform brand image and additional opportunities through cooperation in a rapidly growing European dealer network were the main reason for Tuwi taking this new step.

In September, Tuwi will therefore open an Experience Center in Zwijndrecht on behalf of Accurl Benelux, where companies can go for demonstrations and advice on flatbed lasers, tube lasers and press brakes and automation solutions. For service and maintenance on the machines, Accurl customers can continue to count on the support of Tuwi Netherlands' technical service department.

Accurl was included in the delivery program of Tuwi Netherlands in early 2024, which made a flying start with these machines on the Dutch market after their introduction at the TechniShow. In a short time, dozens of flatbed and tube lasers were sold and installed. Accurl is not only successful in the Netherlands. In Germany and the United Kingdom, too, Accurl has quickly gained a foothold with local partners. To further shape the growth, a new European branch has been established: Accurl Europe. The organization has its headquarters in Bavaria, southern Germany, from where it supports all European dealers with technology, product information and service.

Advantages of European network

Previously, the partners in the various European countries all maintained individual contacts with the manufacturer in China. The new set-up means that there is now one line from Europe towards Accurl. This will streamline communication, making the mutual provision of information easier and faster. Technical questions concerning the machines, for example, can now be submitted to Accurl from 'one European mouth'. Moreover, the European partners can now more easily share knowledge, develop marketing activities and hold a joint stock.

Service and maintenance by Tuwi

Close ties remain between Accurl Benelux and Tuwi Nederland, particularly in the area of service. Commercial manager Peter van de Merwe of Tuwi says of this development, "Our first year of cooperation with Accurl has taught us that the potential of these machines is unprecedented. Whereas Chinese metalworking machines were previously less accepted in the market, there has been a strong development there in recent years. And this is continuing. Thanks to substantial investments in technology, automation and artificial intelligence, China is making great leaps in innovation. We notice that this is also recognized and acknowledged by the sheet metal working industry in the Netherlands. Accurl, a pioneer in the Chinese metalworking industry, has leveraged these advances to bring high-quality, competitive machines to market. Accurl Benelux can now fully focus on this."

Commercial team Accurl Benelux

The Accurl Benelux commercial team will be formed by Maik Wensink and Nathan van der Hoeven. As account manager at Tuwi Netherlands, Maik gained extensive experience in the sale of cutting machines, including Accurl, Mitsubishi Electric and Durma. Nathan has broad experience in selling both new and used sheet metal working machines. For installation and service on the machines, Accurl Benelux can call on Tuwi Netherlands, so customers benefit from efficient and affordable machines with the expertise and service of experienced Dutch engineers. "By combining Chinese innovative strength, European quality standards and the service expertise of Tuwi Netherlands, Accurl Benelux offers powerful solutions for companies looking for high-quality, affordable metalworking machines," Nathan said.

In addition to his sales activities, he will also be the first point of contact at the Accurl Benelux Experience Center in Zwijndrecht. This is currently being furnished and will officially open its doors in September. Accurl Benelux will demonstrate various flatbed lasers, tube lasers and press brakes here. "Those are the machines we focus on, along with automation solutions," says Nathan. "In the Experience Center, we also have every opportunity to dive deep into the software. For the cutting process, Accurl's own software is a good basic tool. Further steps, such as offline programming or creating a portal, can be done with Libellula software. Accurl Benelux will be the central point of contact for the complete picture."

A unique addition to the Experience Center is direct access to the live production environment of adjacent metal company LSV. Here, visitors can see Accurl machines in action during actual production. LSV (Laser Service Vuren) specializes in machining high-quality stainless steel and aluminum and will soon be moving from Vuren to Zwijndrecht.

Due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), data centersare springing up like mushrooms worldwide. Numerous special fans are needed tocool them. So many that their manufacturer – GEHA from Nieuw-Amsterdam – wasable to fulfil a long-cherished wish: the purchase of its own laser cuttingmachine. The decision was made in favor of the fiber laser of the MasterLINE series from ACCURL with 6 kWpower.

GEHA is oneof the largest European suppliers in the field of industrial air cooling. Thecompany, which is based in Drenthe – a province in the northeast of theNetherlands – develops, produces and supplies components for cooling industrialprocesses. Fan housings up to a diameter of over seven meters and componentssuch as drives, bearing blocks, blind flaps and air boxes form the core of theextensive portfolio. These products are used, for example, in cooling systemsin the energy and (petro)chemical industries – and thus also in data centers.

Major order enables investment

In thisgrowth market for fans, GEHA has secured a major project that will run for anentire year. Every week, 30 specially developed fans are produced, ten of whichfit into a shipping container. An order with many positive consequences: forexample, the number of employees has risen from 25 to 45 in a short time. Inaddition, the project made it possible to concrete the long-planned desire forour own laser cutting system. "For us, it was a question of now ornever," says Pieter Tent, head of technology at GEHA. "This order wasso big that it was important to bring the cutting in-house for that reasonalone." So far, all cut parts have been purchased from the company.However, the quality varied from cutting company to cutting company. Inaddition, there were long delivery times, high transport costs and purchasingmeant an immense amount of time. With the certainty of the large order, thecompany dared to invest and started looking for the right cutting solution interms of ease of use and reliability.

MasterLINE convinces at the tradefair

At theTechniShow, a trade fair for industrial manufacturing technologies in Utrecht,Tent saw the MasterLINE fiber laser for the first time at his long-standingsupplier Tuwi (ACCURL partner in Benelux) and immediately liked the system:good quality, a complete enclosure and smoke extraction. "As a technician,I saw all the European components: motors, drives, linear guides." He wasalso convinced by the price of the smart laser. "We are not a contract cutter,but only cut for ourselves. You have to be able to take that intoaccount." Then things went quickly: Configuration of the laser with 6 kWpower for the cutting of mainly sheet steel with 8 to 15 mm, signing of thepurchase contract and only two months after the trade fair, the system wasinstalled at GEHA. "We put Tuwi under a lot of pressure. Because we didn'tjust want the machine today, but yesterday. After all, the data center projecthad already begun and we were still in the process of buying the cutting partsfor it," Tent reported, adding: "It all happened surprisinglyquickly. After only one and a half weeks, the first parts were ready. We nowcut all our parts on this machine and are very happy with it."

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Schmid OG is based in Fulpmes in Tyrol: the family business is well positioned to offer its customers a range of metal processing services. These include cutting, pressing, punching, folding, painting and even forging. For more than 10 years, the company has also had its own cutting department. A plasma technology was the starting point, and in 2022 a compact laser cutting system completed the machine park for the time being. Due to the good order situation and increased customer requirements, particularly in the automotive industry, the family-owned company has now decided to purchase a smart 2D laser of the MasterLINE series, which is sold in German-speaking countries under the product name “MSE Smart^FL”.

Forging, bending, pressing, punching and more – more than 20 years ago, Gerhard Schmid took over a blacksmith's shop founded in 1910 in the Stubai Valley, about 20 km south of Innsbruck. Production has been continuously modernized and expanded to manufacture high-quality precision parts and series for customers in the mountaineering, automotive and tool industries. Particular emphasis is placed on the individual adjustment of all production parameters to achieve a result that precisely meets the customer's requirements.

Investment in plasma and laser technology

In 2012, Schmid OG also decided to bring cutting in-house. After intensive research, the company came across MicroStep Europa (ACCURL partner in Germany) and decided to purchase a 2D plasma cutting system. In order to meet the increasing demands, particularly from the automotive industry, for higher accuracy, the metal fabricator decided to invest in a laser cutting system almost ten years later.

„You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs“

However, the demand for cutting thin sheets with ever more precise requirements, both for in-house cutting and for contract manufacturing, was constantly increasing. And so, just one year later, a further investment was needed to meet the volume of orders. Based on the good experiences with the cutting systems already purchased, it quickly became clear to Schmid OG after a brief comparison with other manufacturers: it would be another laser system from MicroStep Europa. “You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs – a problem can always arise and at MicroStep Europa we know that we can rely on getting help right away,” says Marie-Theres Schöpf, managing director of Schmid OG. ”With other manufacturers, we didn't know where the support was and if or when someone could help us if something came up.” After consulting with area sales manager Alois Bergmann, the family business decided on an MasterLINE 2D laser cutting system, which is sold in German-speaking countries under the product name “MSE Smart^FL” with an 8 kW laser.

Two laser cutting systems for different requirements

The company uses the compact, existing 2D laser to cut small parts with a material thickness of up to 5 mm, while larger components with a higher material thickness are cut on the MasterLINE, especially for contract manufacturing. Just one month after commissioning, the machine was already running at around 70 percent capacity. “We receive a lot of orders from the agricultural industry, especially in spring and fall, so we expect a further increase in capacity here,” says Schöpf. Regarding the purchase of the new laser cutting system, she concludes: “Everything went really well again. Even the fact that the delivery date could be brought forward – it's just always very good communication.”

Ayrshire Metals Ltd, a leading manufacturer of cold-rolled sections for the construction industry, has invested in an impressive 14m-long, 640-ton ACCURL 6+1 axis tandem press brake from Axe & Status (ACCURL partner in UK). Featuring an extensive range of advanced features, the new levels at this progressive and ambitious manufacturing business.

The Ayrshire Group can trace its origins back to the 1800s, when it was largely a manufacturer of ships on the west coast of Scotland. The company has come a long way since then and is now a leading manufacturer of cold-rolled sections at its 6.5-acre owner-occupied site in Daventry, Northamptonshire. The ISO9001 and CE/CA accredited company, which also has a subsidiary Sales and Technical office in Munich, Germany, manufactures most of its product range from S450 zinc-coated galvanised steel. Five main product groups comprise the vast majority of manufacturing output. While traditional business at Ayrshire Metals is purlins/rails, the company also manufactures mezzanine floors, load-bearing steel framing systems and proprietary products like its AyrFrame™ lightweight, high-strength modular system and SwagBeam™ portal frame building system.

Out with the old

Until recently, Ayrshire Metals relied on a press brake that had been running since 1996. With machine reliability levels falling, the company decided it was time to invest in a new resource. Indeed, the new press brake is part of a five-year planned investment programme at Ayrshire Metals. “Rather than replace like-for-like, we wanted a slightly bigger press brake to provide more capacity in both length and thickness,” explains Managing Director Scott Reilly. “We looked at three potential suppliers, but the responsiveness of Axe & Status caught our attention. Not only was their communication very clear from the outset, but Axe & Status also grasped the urgency of our situation as it wasn’t economic to keep repairing our existing press brake. Another major influence on our purchase decision was the value for money offered by the ACCURL press brake against competitor machines.”

The ACCURL tandem CNC press brake from Axe & Status arrived in June 2024, with machine operatives at Ayrshire Metals immediately commencing a programme of training. “As you can image, the new ACCURL is very different to our existing 28-year-old press brake,” says Scott. “It’s akin to moving from a DOS operating system to Windows, such is the contrast. We can now use the DELEM® DA66T 2D graphical/3D visualisation touchscreen control to draw the required profile at the press brake without having to create a program manually. The difference is night and day.”

Playing the long game

The ACCURL has also increased production capability at Ayrshire Metals. The company “is today able to bend lengths up to 14m, compared with 12.6m previously. In addition, whereas its existing press brake is on the limit when bending metal at 3mm thick, Ayrshire Metals can now form sheet up to 4mm thick across material up to 14m long. For shorter lengths it is possible to bend much thicker material. “We’re hoping this extra capability will allow us to access new markets. At the moment, we focus solely on construction products for buildings, but starting from 2025 we want to explore sectors outside of our traditional comfort zone.” All products at Ayrshire Metals are made to order. The company holds no stock and there is no minimum order.

Says Scott: “While we make our high-running products on a rolling mill, the ACCURL gives us the flexibility to manufacture bespoke items. Compared with our existing press brake, we now enjoy more productivity and far greater reliability. Moreover, our uptime is 100% compared with around 70% previously. Speed of response is vital in the construction sector and we’ve seen a big boost in machine availability and OEE (overall equipment effectiveness).” Ayrshire Metals runs two shifts (day and night). Depending on workload, the company has the option to run its ACCURL press brake around the clock if necessary.

The price is right

“The construction market is very price-sensitive, both here in the UK and in mainland Europe, where we export around 50% of production. There’s very little loyalty. So any advantage in productivity and/or efficiency will help us remain competitive and potentially improve our margin, which is vital for the future of the business.”

Ayrshire Metals also has two licenses of ACCURL’s DELEM® TL offline software, one at each of its technical offices in the UK and Germany. The company can seamlessly send fully simulated and tested data files between facilities. It is now implementing full networking in support of direct file transfer to the press brake. “Skills remain a big issue,” states Scott. “A major advantage with our ACCURL press brake is the ease of training operators. If you can draw a profile, you can program the machine. It was a big selling point.”

Growth opportunity

Generating annual turnover in the region of £20 million with 60 employees in the UK and a further 20 in Germany, Ayrshire Metals wants to build on its success with further growth. And the best way to meet this ambition is through investment. “We’ve been around for many years and it’s easy to carry on as normal,” says Scott. “However, you sometimes need to take a step back and see what new manufacturing technologies are available. It’s about improving our capabilities and efficiencies to provide customers with the best value possible. With our ACCURL press brake we are more productive, more accurate and have much better traceability. All of these factors benefit our customers.”

With features such as the ACCURL Hybrid Servo ECO function and IE3 class high-efficiency motor, the environment will also benefit. “It’s too early to say, but we’re expecting a sizeable percentage reduction in energy consumption. We’ve started our journey to net zero, so any carbon footprint reductions are very welcome.”

With business booming at Wetherby-based fabrication specialist Kellys Welding, the company wanted to replace its pre-owned CO2 laser cutter with a new fibre laser. With a shortlist of ‘wants’ that included quality, speed, energy efficiency and a very competitive price, Kellys Welding spent nearly 12 months assessing the UK market. The company discovered that only an ACCURL fibre laser cutter from Axe & Status (ACCURL partner in UK) could meet its requirements and provide the impetus for further growth. Such has been the impact of the ACCURL MasterLINE 3105 that the monthly savings on electricity consumption alone pay for the finance on the machine. According to Kellys Welding, “it’s like having a laser cutter for free”.

Kellys Welding is a family-run business launched by Owner Joe Kelly in 2017. In just seven years the company has grown from a one-man start-up to a 10-employee enterprise that is on track for a turnover of £1.3 million in 2024. The reasons behind this impressive growth are many, but ironically the company gained its first real break during the pandemic. Although welding jobs came to a halt, Kellys Welding was also selling raw material online, an activity that boomed. “After the pandemic we had enough money to buy our first laser cutter, a pre-owned CO2 model,” says Joe Kelly. “It was perfect at the time but we soon ran out of capacity due to our growing workload and the machine’s lack of speed. It also consumed a lot of electricity, so we started thinking about a replacement.” By then, Kellys Welding had built up a robust customer base; sufficient to afford a brand new laser cutter. Around the same time, the company relocated to the unit next door, which at double the footprint would provide the perfect home for its new laser cutter. The question now, was which one to buy? “We looked at lots of machines over a 12-month period,” states Joe. “At first we only considered brands that were familiar to us, but soon realized they were way out of our price range. We started looking at other brands, including from Asia, but they were poor. We even went to see one in action. Although it was cheap and did the job, it seemed unsafe. It had a CE mark, but it only stood for ‘Chinese Export’.” He continues: “Then we came across the ACCURL MasterLINE and knew it was the one for us. It’s had all of the right parts. A lot of machines from Asia come with parts we’ve never heard of. The ACCURL is different with its PRECITEC cutting head, for example. The machine also carries an official CE mark and features integrated Class IV safety systems. Axe & Status did some test cuts for us and we were very happy to proceed.”

Eight times faster

Kellys Welding estimates that the ACCURL MasterLINE 3015 6kW fibre laser cutter from Axe Status is about eight times faster than the company’s previous CO2 laser cutter. Moreover, the ACCURL offers far more economic running costs. “The ACCURL MasterLINE uses around five times less electricity than our CO2 machine, which equates to a saving of around £4000 a month,” reveals Joe. “These savings pay for the finance on the machine, so it’s like having a laser cutter for free!” The company also reports that the ACCURL fibre laser uses far less gas and requires a lot less clean-up: parts come off the machine ready to weld. The CADCAM nesting software for the ACCURL brings further savings. “We nested a job the other day for 5mm thick stainless steel. Whereas previously we would need three sheets, now it’s just two because the software can place parts closer together. At £500 a sheet, it’s a big saving.”

Benefits for Customers

Kellys Welding laser cuts mild steel from 1 to 20mm thick, stainless steel from 1-12mm and aluminium up to 6mm. The company processes everything from 1-offs and small batches up to thousands. Investing in the ACCURL fibre laser is not only good news for Kellys Welding, but also for its customers. “Keeping our CO2 laser would have created such a backlog with our workload today,” explains Joe Kelly. “Our customers need a quick response and if we weren’t in position to meet their requirements they would quickly go elsewhere." Kellys Welding has a strong and growing pool of local customers in sectors that span construction, automotive and retail, with many now trusting the company as its main supplier. The business has seen its turnover double every year for the past five, based on an ethos of short lead times, competitive prices and top-quality products. “As a small company we usually have the flexibility to price match and win orders. In contrast, many of our competitors have expensive monthly machine payments to meet. We looked at a European machine with the same specification as the ACCURL and it was over £500,000. The ACCURL was less than a third of that, with a three-year warranty for parts and labour.”

High-Level Support

Kellys Welding is pleased to report that the ACCURL MasterLINE has proved totally reliable since its arrival, with the company enjoying high-level support from both Axe & Status and ACCURL. “During commissioning we had the engineer from ACCURL optimise the parameters for every single material we cut here,” says Joe Kelly. “Since then, Axe & Status set up a What’s App group. If we ever had a query we simply post a message and get a reply around two minutes later. The group is even linked with the ACCURL factory, which will be useful if we ever need their input in the future.”