Reliable, affordable laser cutting

 MSS Lasers has helped Kenilworth based MPJ Fabrications to optimise the efficiency of its laser cutting machinery at reasonable cost, through its expertise in the technology. MPJ started as a management buy-out of the fabrication workshop of a pump manufacturing company in 2002. With three years of contracts and co-location on the pump manufacturer's site the business prospered. The company used an old Strippit CNC punch press to produce many sheet metal parts, but subcontracted laser cut components. In 2005, it decided to replace the punch press with a laser cutter and was recommended to MSS Lasers in Rugby.
Mike Jeffs, Managing Director of MPJ Fabrications says, "MSS Lasers was completely professional. It carried out a site survey, evaluated the type of work we were doing, recommended the most appropriate laser and produced a schedule of works for machine installation. For us, the cost of a new machine was prohibitive, so we needed to find a reliable partner for used machinery." The company started with a pre-owned 2kW LVD Helius machine and then shortly afterwards added a second 3kW Helius.
To achieve further efficiency improvements and to cut manufacturing costs, MPJ decided to trade in both machines for a much larger 4kW LVD Axel with pallet changing system and 11m footprint from MSS Lasers. By now, the company had broadened the range of parts it produced, supplying components for specialist vehicle manufacturers, motor sport and even James Bond films!
Mike Jeffs adds, "The pallet changing capability of the Axel made a big difference to our efficiency, maximising the cutting time and minimising the handling of sheets and components. Service from MSS Lasers ensured the reliability of this pre-owned machine, enabling us to easily meet customer deadlines which can be as little as 4 hours. The installation was seamless too, as MSS Lasers left us with one of the Helius machines until the Axel was up and running."
Unfortunately for MPJ, it was given notice to quit its existing premises. However, Mike Jeffs had had the foresight to purchase an industrial unit, which he had initially planned to rent out, and the move to this new unit took place in December 2010. MSS Lasers played its part in this too.
Mike Jeffs says, "Our new factory was too small for the LVD Axel as we needed to maintain a separate polishing shop, yet we wanted to maintain the pallet changing capability of the LVD. MSS Lasers proposed a pre-owned 4kW Trumpf, which has a front loading pallet system and a 7m x 5m footprint. Although space is tight, this has been the perfect solution for us. We find the Trumpf to be a robust and technically advanced machine."
The Trumpf uses nitrogen to purge the bellows and for cutting. Mike Jeffs says, "The quality of the cutting on the Trumpf is excellent. Furthermore, cutting with nitrogen takes out an operation. Previously, we had to clean the oxidised edges of our components so that any welding would stick properly and similarly, for powder coated parts to avoid chipping."
Space in the new workshop is at a premium so MPJ took the decision to rent a high pressure nitrogen generation plant from MSS Lasers. Mike Jeffs adds, "The system is absolutely fantastic. Previously we had to use two nitrogen banks, which only lasted two days, and one oxygen bank. Each bank contains 15 bottles, is 1.5m x 1m in size and weighs 1.5 tonnes. These are difficult to manoeuvre and use up valuable space. We also used to be subject to delivery delays when we ran low on nitrogen causing disruption to production. With the nitrogen generator, we let it run overnight, and there is plenty of gas for us to start cutting at 6am and run all day with nitrogen. As well as saving the cost of gas and the potential disruption of running out, we now also use less oxygeAdidas Tubular Boost