Manufacturer invests £1m in cutting edge technology
A WARWICKSHIRE manufacturer has invested £1m to purchase the new machinery that will give keep it one step ahead of its competitors.
Subcon Laser Cutting, based in Bermuda Road, Nuneaton has invested the money in the UK’s first 8kw fibre laser cutting system with Cooline technology, which helps to cut fine detail into thick material. It can be controlled remotely using the very latest iPad technology.
The investment is already reaping rewards, opening up new opportunities for the firm. These include new orders from India, with further enquiries coming in from Belgium, Switzerland and Italy.
The company, which already employs 30 staff, is now looking at further investment to enhance its position as a UK leader within the highly-technical field of producing parts using laser technology.
The machine is supplied and made by the Trumpf Group in Germany, which has production facilities all over the world – including Luton and in Farmington, USA.
Annette Doyle, managing director of Trumpf UK, attended the launch of the new system which was unveiled by Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, and Jonathan Browning, the chairman of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Tom Mongan, general manager of Subcon Laser Cutting, said: “Depending on what you read or who you listen to, they say UK manufacturing lags behind our EU counterparts in productivity and investment, well not from where I am standing and I would like to know who is providing the statistics and information.
“I’m immensely proud that we here at Subcon are playing our part as we have continually invested heavily in the very latest technology available to keep us at the forefront of a rapidly changing and challenging environment.
“We were one of the first company’s in the UK to invest in a five-axis laser system, we were one of the first to invest in a twin bed laser, we were the first company to install a first-of-its-kind nitrogen generating system and definitely the first in the UK and most of Europe to invest in a Trumpf 8kw fibre laser.”
He said the firm had the capability to produce components it could not even have attempted before – whether that be for the automotive industry or through to unique items such as a pizza oven.
Ms Bennett said: “Subcon Laser Cutting is a great example of a company investing in technology and people to help drive efficiency, productivity and growth.”
Mr Browning said continued investment was vital if the Coventry and Warwickshire economy was to continue growing.
