Sign-maker Blaze Neon has installed a second flat-bed laser profiler, as well as two new CNC press brakes at its Broadstairs factory, as it looks to continue its 'aggressive' expansion. The company, which hires over 300 employees in Kent and Birmingham, has added a Bysprint 3015 to its Bystar 4020. The company hopes that the new machine will speed up its laser profiling by up to 15 percent.

"Having the extra equipment means we normally complete our production during day shifts, seven days a week, so expensive night shifts are avoided," notes managing director Clive Knight. "The [older] machine proved reliable in operation and continues to do so, which encouraged us to standardise on this supplier for practically all of our sheet metal processing plant."

The new 3015 machine has smaller dimensions than the 4020, at 3 x 1.5m rather than 4 x 2m, reflecting the growing trend in the sector to standardise steel widths.

"We think they are well produced machines and the manufacturer keeps up to date with modern sheet metal-working technology, which allows us to stay competitive," concludes Knight.