Introduction to industrial laser cutting
A laser cutting machine is a very flexible and versatile industrial equipment. These machines allow marking, welding and of course metal cutting. Moreover, companies also use it for more complex and specific applications, such as surface treatment or chemistry. Today, industrial laser technology has clearly reached maturity, especially with the innovation of fibre laser technology which has seen many new manufacturers appear. It is a market that is therefore, unsurprisingly, growing rapidly. (10% growth forecast between 2017 and 2021)
The starting point, the reflection for your laser cutting machine
When you want to invest in a laser machine, it is important to ask yourself the right questions. What will be the intensity of use of this machine? What are the different projects planned thanks to it? How much do I estimate my laser subcontracting currently?
All of these questions are essential before embarking on your project. Indeed, the laser investment requires your company to also invest in compressed air, gas, electricity, water and electricity. laser maintenance and above all a qualified workforce, with competent operators for your laser. For this, you can equip yourself with a nitrogen generator dedicated to laser cutting.
Then in a second step, based on the first answers, you can more easily establish a budget for your machine tool. It will have to be adapted according to your means, but above all according to the use of the production volumes you think you will achieve! Depending on this budget, you can then choose between the two technologies currently available on the market: the fibre laser or the CO2 laser.
Fiber laser or CO2 laser?
As you can see, you can now find 2 types of equipment on the market. CO2 laser machines, like the famous Trumpf L3030, or fiber laser machines. For this last category, you can consider our brand EAGLE Laser. That being said, if your budget is more modest, for example if you are starting your laser activity, it is preferable to opt for a second-hand laser machine.
On the other hand, given the quality of cut (especially on the fine thickness) and the possible savings (maintenance, electricity...) thanks to the fiber laser technology, if you can afford to invest in a new machine, it is better to go for the latest equipment.
Choosing the brand of your machine is another matter. It is important to understand that there are a multitude of brands available on the market, at varying prices. Before investing in a brand of laser machine, we advise you to first see a similar machine in production on an industrial site. This will allow you to judge the quality and cutting speed of the materials you are interested in, whether it is for cutting steel, stainless steel or aluminum.
The second important factor to take into account is how far back the machine has been in production. Indeed, it is difficult to have an idea about the brands of laser machines in production for less than a year...The important thing is to see the satisfaction of the current customers on the long term, to see if they decide to renew their purchase...Or to choose another brand for their next investment.
What is the price of a laser cutting machine?
This is the question that all manufacturers ask themselves when they want to invest in a laser cutting machine. The answer is not obvious because it clearly depends on many factors. First of all, the brand. Yes, some major brands like Trumpf have large volumes of laser machine manufacturing, which allows them to benefit from significant economies of scale. Other brands, such as Bystronic, decide to open production plants in China to reduce manufacturing costs. These brands therefore have an advantage in terms of flexibility on the prices they offer to their prospects.
The second important criterion to define the price is the size you want to cut in your laser cutting project. Indeed, some companies buy standard cutting tables, i.e. 1500x3000mm for their machines. Nevertheless, some projects require much larger tables, these companies then generally choose a table of 2500x6000mm, or even more in some cases.
Finally, one of the last important criteria is clearly the power of the laser you will choose. Today, there are machines that exceed 30kW, as is the case for the EAGLE fiber laser cutting machines. This will improve the efficiency and cutting capacity of your machine, an advantage that is necessary for large laser subcontractors who have a large volume of cutting per year.
Simply put, the price of a new laser cutting machine varies greatly depending on the project and size of each company. It can range from €150,000 for the smallest laser cutting machines, to over €1 million for the best configurations.
The SERVILASE laser machine range in response to expectations!
As an example, we are proud to distribute the brand of fiber laser machines EAGLE. A brand that uses the best components to meet the expectations and needs of its customers.
Therefore, the EAGLE Laser brand is dedicated to the most demanding companies in terms of performance. Indeed, the machines are able to reach accelerations of almost 6G and cutting speeds up to 350m/min!
Finally, for smaller projects, we also distribute the Spanish brand Motocono. This brand is very interesting for companies with small budgets and small working spaces. In fact, unlike most laser machines on the market, they do not have automatic table changes. The cutting table is in the form of a cart with removable wheels.
Machine tools complementary to laser cutting
Today, there is strong competition between the different companies using laser technology. Ranging from laser subcontractors to sheet metal and boiler works. More than ever, it is important for these companies to optimise the quality of their cut parts! To do this, more and more companies are choosing to turn to the purchase of a deburring machine for metalworking. These reliable and space-saving machine tools bring real added value to your laser manufacturing processes.
Today, thanks to a partnership with the Costa Levigatrici brand, we are able to assist our customers in investing in this type of machine.
Aids and advantages for the purchase of a laser cutting machine
Here is a small overview of the aids and advantages available if you wish to invest in a laser cutting machine.
- Regional grants: Of course, the amount of grants depends on your region and location, but it is a considerable help when making your investment. Some of our customers succeed in obtaining a 30% subsidy for the purchase of new laser equipment (!!!);
- Macron over-amortization: this assistance introduced in 2015 was extended for SME investments between 2019 and 2020. It allows an exceptional deduction equal to 40% of the original value excluding financial costs of eligible properties. It is spread over the entire period of use of the property and reduces your depreciation and allows small and medium-sized businesses to invest more serenely;
- Attractive interest rates: finally, interest rates are currently very attractive for companies. It is now possible to obtain rates around 3% for the purchase of your laser cutting machines.
In conclusion
The investment of a laser cutting machine can be a real added value for an industrial company, especially if the yearly subcontracting costs are high. Nevertheless, it is important to know the specificities of this market in order to avoid the pitfalls. The important thing is to always have in mind the different characteristics of your project in order to choose the product that will best suit your expectations. It is also important not to forget the different aids available to invest.
The price is not the only important variant to take into account, you need to have a long-term vision when investing. The accompaniment is therefore essential in your purchase, especially not to neglect!
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