The Lower Bavarian company Kölbl Metallbau GmbH from Tiefenbach in the district of Passau can Kölbl Metallbau GmbH, a Lower Bavarian company based in Tiefenbach in the Passau district, looks back on a 40-year history. Founded in 1985 and now managed by Georg and Martin Kölbl, the medium-sized company has developed into a versatile provider of metal and steel construction services – complemented by a high-performance cutting center that encompasses four cutting technologies: plasma, oxy-fuel, waterjet, and, since 2025, laser.

"Our company is characterized by 22 well-trained employees who have mastered their craft. But also through a very modern machine park, which we always keep up to date and with which we can implement all the requirements of the metal construction industry internally," explains managing director and owner Georg Kölbl at the on-site appointment.

Four cutting technologies – each with its own significance

Kölbl Metallbau utillizes the four cutting processes that are decisive in metal construction today: laser, plasma, oxyfuel and waterjet – and each of them is deliberately applied in the family business. "Each of the four cutting technologies that we have on site has a right to exist, and none of them can be dispensed with," emphasizes Kölbl.

Plasma: flexible and insensitive

For example, the company has had a plasma-oxyfuel combination system from MicroStep for many years. The team mainly uses plasma to cut plates up to 35 mm material thickness – a process that delivers stable results relatively independently of the quality of the sheet surface. "A simple and uncomplicated cutting method," says Kölbl. Oxy-fuel technology is particularly strong for thick sheet metal: "With oxy-fuel technology, we cut structural steel with a material thickness of up to 150 mm," explains the managing director. And the waterjet system enables precision in materials for which thermal separation processes do not technically work or are not desired due to the heat input: Kölbl's company uses it to cut plastic, stone, glass or even granite, for example – even with the finest internal contours.

"The laser is a perfect addition to our systems"

Since 2025, a new laser cutting system from MicroStep Industry powered by ACCURL has been strengthening production. "The laser is the perfect addition to our systems," says Kölbl. "This allows us to cut even the smallest inner contours – just like with a waterjet. This relieves our waterjet system, which is still indispensable." The new laser system has a working area of 4,000 x 2,000 mm and is equipped with an 8 kW Raycus laser source and a cutting head from the EX-TRABEAM® series from THERMACUT. It processes aluminum, stainless steel and structural steel as well as high-strength steels such as Hardox – and with sheet thicknesses from 1 to 25 mm.

More than 20 years of partnership with MicroStep Europa: "Fair advice is something special"

Kölbl Metallbau and MicroStep Europa (ACCURL partner in Germany) have a long-standing relationship. "We bought the first system more than 20 years ago," Georg Kölbl recalls. The renewed award of the contract for a cutting system from MicroStep Europa was therefore no coincidence: "The fair advice, which really determines the best results for the customer, is really something special. And that's why the decision was made again in favor of MicroStep Europa." According to Kölbl, the implementation of the new laser system confirmed the decision: "The implementation was very professional – from planning and project planning, i.e. how the system is ideally placed in the room with all the necessary media, to training and commissioning." According to Kölbl, the start-up phase is particularly important: "If you have a new machine with a technology that is new to you, there are many questions at the beginning. And then you call MicroStep Europa and they quickly come up with a solution."

Fast, stable and powerful

Georg Kölbl is extremely satisfied with the new MasterLINE laser system: "The performance level is very high. The machine is ready to start very quickly – until it runs, until you cut, it only takes a few minutes. And the running stability is also excellent."

KreLe GmbH, based in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria, has been manufacturing precise laser parts and laser bent parts for customers in the mechanical engineering, metal technology, and locksmith industries in Austria and Germany since 2022. At the heart of the modern machinery are a MasterLINE laser cutting machine (which is sold in German-speaking countries under the product name “MSE SmartFL”) and a EuroMaster press brake, with which KreLe can precisely implement even demanding 3D components. In addition to state-of-the-art CNC technology, the company particularly appreciates the personal and reliable service of MicroStep Europa (ACCURL partner in Germany).

Founded by Florian Lengauer and Maximilian Kreiseder, KreLe produces state-of-the-art solutions for metal processing at its Perwang am Grabensee site – from prototype production to series production. The customer base mainly includes companies from the mechanical engineering sector in Austria and Germany, but metal technology and locksmith companies also rely on KreLe's expertise. With around 1,000 tons of raw material processed annually, the contract manufacturer is recording steady growth. However, despite the increasing volume of orders, KreLe remains flexible with its current four employees and can also reliably implement short-term customer orders.

Fiber lasers and press brakes from ACCURL in use

Since 2023, KreLe has been relying on a cutting system from the MasterLINE series from ACCURL. Equipped with 6 kW 2D fiber laser technology, an automatic shuttle table and a working area of 4,000 x 2,000 mm, the company uses it to cut steel up to 25 mm and aluminum and stainless steel up to 15 mm sheet thickness. Initially, a used press brake complemented the machinery, which was replaced by a EuroMaster from ACCURL at the end of 2024. This offers 320 tons of press force, a bending length of 4,000 mm and is equipped with an angle measuring system, bending aids and a modern Delem control system. "This means that we can realize all 3D components and are also ideally positioned when it comes to bending," emphasizes managing director Florian Lengauer. KreLe rounds off its range of services with additional processing steps such as welding and edge rounding using a deburring machine.

Technology and partnership on an equal footing

The state-of-the-art machinery enables the production of special formats up to 4,000 mm in length using the latest CNC technology. For managing director Maximilian Kreiseder, the choice of machine supplier was quickly clear: "We chose MicroStep Europa, the responsible ACCURL dealer for all German-speaking countries, because of their humanity, because contact with customers is simply their top priority, as is for us. Whether in the field or by technicians on site: The support provided by MicroStep Europa convinced KreLe from the very beginning. The most important thing for us was the service. They are actually available for us around the clock. Not least, that was the decisive reason why we also purchased the second machine from MicroStep Europa."

Founded in 2021 as a two-man operation, BIKU Laser- und Metalltechnik has developed into a high-performance manufacturing company in a very short time. With a broad portfolio, a high level of vertical integration and modern technology, the team now serves customers from a wide range of industries. The investment in a laser cutting system from MicroStep Europa (ACCURL partner in Germany) is another significant step towards even greater efficiency and process reliability in contract manufacturing.

In Bad Wurzach, a small spa town in the Upper Swabian Allgäu, BIKU Laser- und Metalltechnik GmbH has its headquarters. Since it was founded in 2021 by the two managing directors Philipp Kuhn and Markus Birk, the company has developed dynamically: What began as a two-man locksmith's shop is now a modern manufacturing company with eight qualified specialists. BIKU's range of services extends from the manufacture of welded assemblies and steel construction components to extensive contract manufacturing work in sheet metal processing. The customers are just as diverse as the projects – from mechanical engineering and special machine construction to the food and pharmaceutical industries to forestry and agricultural machinery technology, the packaging industry and the construction industry. Whether prototypes, small or large series – BIKU implements tailor-made solutions that are precisely designed to meet the requirements of its customers, from planning to production.

From plasma to laser technology

In production, BIKU relies on modern technologies and offers a wide range of services – including bending, welding, milling and surface finishing. A particularly central area within production is sheet metal cutting. To increase vertical integration and be able to react flexibly to customer requirements, the company invested in a high-performance plasma cutting system from ACCURL as early as 2022 – initially for classic applications in the construction and locksmith sector. However, with the continuous increase in contract manufacturing orders, the requirements for precision and cutting quality also increased. In order to meet these requirements and ensure reliable further processing, BIKU started looking for a suitable laser cutting solution – with success.

"We chose MicroStep Europa right away"

The decision was once again made in favor of MicroStep Europa (the ACCURL dealer for the German-speaking market) —and quite deliberately so. “Our collaboration with MicroStep Europa on a previous system was already excellent. The support was very good back then, which is why we didn't even bother asking anywhere else, but decided directly in favor of them, because we were simply in good hands here and still are,” explains Managing Director Markus Birk.

Since 2023, a laser cutting system from the MasterLINE series (which is sold in German-speaking countries under the product name “MSE Smart^FL”) with a working area of 3,000 × 1,500 mm and 6 kW laser power has been ensuring maximum precision – and replacing the previous plasma technology. It enables precise cutting of steel up to 25 mm and stainless steel and aluminium up to 15 mm material thickness. "We are very satisfied with the laser cutting system. This allows us to cover our spectrum ideally and we are in a top position in terms of process reliability," adds managing director Philipp Kuhn.

With this investment, BIKU Laser- und Metalltechnik has taken its production to a new level. As a flexible and efficient company with a high level of vertical integration and state-of-the-art technology, BIKU is now optimally positioned to meet the requirements of contract manufacturing – with MicroStep Europa as a reliable partner at its side

Engels Behältertechnik is more than a metal processor. At the Selmsdorf site, the company manufactures tailor-made waste systems for the public sector – flexibly, efficiently and with high quality. To remain competitive in the future, Engels has invested in state-of-the-art laser technology. The new MasterLINE (which is sold in German-speaking countries under the product name “MSE SmartFL”) not only significantly reduces operating costs but also increases speed and precision in production. The company benefits from the new technology in several ways.

Waste disposal is increasingly being incorporated into municipal construction plans – and more often underground. Underfloor systems are seeing a surge in popularity in Germany – not only, but especially in municipal road and residential construction. An important driver of this development is located in Selmsdorf near Lübeck: Engels Behältertechnik GmbH. The metal processing company is part of the internationally active Engels Group and supplies individual waste solutions for the public sector.

The company has its roots in the neighboring country, where underfloor systems have long been an established waste disposal system. About the background of the company: Engels is an owner-managed company based in Eindhoven with other complementary locations in Belgium, England, Portugal and also in Germany. Since 2008, Engels Behältertechnik GmbH has been serving the German-speaking countries from Selmsdorf (near Lübeck).

Tailor-made solutions for municipal clients

"Engels has been a supplier of sustainable storage, transport and disposal solutions for over 70 years. Here at the location in Germany, we are the metal manufacturing company within the Engels Group," explains sales manager Jan André. Mainly produced are underfloor systems and waste containers – but also smallest parts such as closure systems for plastic containers. The majority of customers are from the construction segment. "In doing so, we benefit from our extremely high flexibility and our high-quality design. Of course, we also have standard products, but in the end, we can always offer customer-specific modifications and implement the wishes," says André.

The challenge of competition: quality as the key

And this is one of the big plus points in an increasingly tight market. "There are some regional providers, and some of them compete on price. The market is competitive, so we need to be efficient and produce cost-effectively. And we need to maintain the high quality, for which we are known," explains the Sales Manager.

New laser, new efficiency – investment in the future

DSince the end of 2023, cutting has been carried out with the “MSE MSE SmartFL” from MicroStep Europa (ACCURL partner for German-speaking countries) with an automatic shuttle table and smart Eckelmann control. Here, too, the focus was on efficiency to further strengthen competitiveness. The fiber laser system replaced an aging CO2 laser that was no longer profitable in terms of performance, spare parts availability and also in view of enormous ongoing operating costs. "A replacement solution has been considered for a long time. It was then properly planned around mid-2022," recalls Jan André, who was not involved in the purchasing process at the time.

Several laser manufacturers were contacted, and different variants and construction methods were examined. They were looking for a powerful 2D machine including an automatic shuttle table. "I think in the end it was the overall picture of the series and simply the good price-performance ratio that tipped the scales in favor of the MasterLINE," says André.

Material use for underground and above-ground tasks

Since then, the new technology has proven itself in everyday life. The system cuts large metal sheets for individual products on daily basis. In most cases, Engels then bends and welds manually. The MasterLINE is used to cut out the large-format side panels of the underfloor systems, add contours, or drill holes – but also to cut many small plug-in parts, including drop-in hatches, which are positioned above ground and thus visible, and must therefore meet higher standards in terms of appearance and design. The choice of material is also made accordingly: Engels cuts structural steel up to 20 mm, while galvanized steel and aluminum are only a few millimeters thick.

A new pillar: contract manufacturing with potential

In addition, Engels has built up a second pillar in the field of contract manufacturing over the pandemic period. An area with growth potential – also thanks to the higher capacities provided by the laser cutting system from ACCURL.

MasterLINE replaces CO₂ lasers – a technological leap with many advantages

And André Lange has been able to observe another great advantage since switching to the modern laser cutting system: the operation saves a lot of electricity. "Thanks to the MasterLINE, we have an energy saving of around 50 percent compared to the previous system," he has calculated. Compared to the predecessor system, the MasterLINE works much faster due to higher cutting speeds – accordingly, the working time of the operating personnel is used much better. The new acquisition also had a positive impact on gas consumption.

Many of these factors are clearly noticeable in production and balance sheet. Jan André concludes accordingly: "With MicroStep Europa, we have found a partner who meets our high standards of precision, performance and cost-effectiveness," he explains. The plant was set up and put into operation within a tight time frame. "This was not least due to perfect communication with MicroStep Europa in all planning phases, a competent service team and good operator training."

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.

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.”