A new tube & pipe fibre laser cutting machine from Nukon Lasers UK, is bringing considerable production efficiencies and new manufacturing opportunities to Redditch-based access equipment maker, Redhill Manufacturing.
The machine, a Nukon NKT-125 2kW model, 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 manufacturing facility in December 2022.
Redhill’s introduction to Nukon fibre laser machines came when the company was discussing purchasing the two all-electric tube bending machines from Unison Ltd, the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation.
“I’d read good things about Unison’s British-built, all-electric Breeze tube bending machines,” says Redhill’s managing director, Andy Colley.
“I, therefore, got in touch with Unison to find out more about their range, and with a view to ordering two 30 mm (tube diameter) single stack models – one to replace a machine we’d lost in a fire at our previous premises and the second for additional capacity.”
It was during a meeting to discuss the specification of Redhill Manufacturing’s two tube benders that the conversation turned to fibre laser machines.
“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,” adds Andy Colley.
“At the time, I didn’t 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 – all so I could see the machine in action and talk to the operators about their experience of using it.”
Hearing glowing reports about how the Nukon flat sheet metal laser had streamlined the process of cutting complex components at the Sheffield business, Andy Colley then travelled to Nukon’s European HQ to see one of its tube & 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 their 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 & 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 & 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 ten minutes per component. By comparison, the Nukon tube & pipe laser takes around 30 seconds 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. “All in all, with no secondary operations to carry out, the Nukon tube & pipe machine has allowed us to free up two staff members for other duties,” comments Andy Colley.
Redhill’s Nukon NKT-125 2kW tube & 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.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to assist Redhill Manufacturing in the selection and purchase of its two Nukon fibre laser machines,” comments Nukon Lasers UK’s sales director, Steve Haddrell.
“Nukon fibre lasers offer fantastic quality and features at extremely accessible prices, and just as demonstrated by Redhill Manufacturing, provide manufacturers and subcontractors with the ability to not only develop exciting new products, but also produce their existing ranges far more cost effectively and efficiently.”
The sister company of UK-based tube bending machinery specialists, Unison Ltd, Nukon Lasers UK is the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s European-built 2D, 3D and tube fibre laser cutting machines, press brakes and loading & unloading solutions.
Nukon fibre lasers combine high speed and high precision with exceptional value and build quality, as well as exceptionally low running costs.
The Nukon Lasers UK team offers first-class machine tool service, training, maintenance and technical support, in addition to service contracts and service level agreements that can be tailored to specific requirements.
