Starting out in 1992 with only two employees, Laser 3D now employs over 60 staff throughout Australia, operating 11 machines across Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
The laser cutting and fabrication specialists service a diverse range of industries, including automotive, transport, aerospace and shop fitting, among others. With a strong focus on company culture, Laser 3D place high importance on attracting and retaining great staff, with an aim to build upon their knowledge and training where possible.
Laser 3D’s CEO Bruce Thomas says that there are three main factors that contribute to the company’s success: technology, customer relationships, and dependable suppliers.
Ten years ago, Laser 3D used four different machines from four different suppliers. The company now uses one supplier, Headland, and Trumpf machinery only. Consequently its processes are fully streamlined where possible as all staff members can operate all the machinery in the factory. Technology is critical to automating processes and ensuring quick turnaround times for customers.
“We use technology wherever and whenever we can in order to streamline processes,” says Thomas. “We make sure that we fully understand each and every customer’s individual needs. We place high value in our customer relationships and we have been servicing some of the same customers for 25 years.
“We also take our relationship with our suppliers as seriously as with our customers. We stick with them through thick and thin, which is why we believe our business succeeds.”
Laser 3D recently purchased a TruLaser 5030 6kW, a highly automated Trumpf laser, from Headland. Trumpf machinery was chosen due to its quality and dependability. Renowned for high productivity and efficiency, the laser machine achieves high-quality results using any type of sheet metal, in a variety of thicknesses. High processing speeds and minimal operator involvement mean that non-productive times are minimal, and the complete machining process is more reliable than ever.
Thomas reiterates the importance of their relationship with Headland: “Having a strong supplier relationship is imperative to our business because we sell time. If one of our lasers goes down, we’re losing time that we can’t get back.
“It’s crucial to have as much up-time as possible, and the service team at Headland does a fantastic job across the country. There are no words to describe how good they are. We spent a long time looking for a reliable supplier, and the high level of support and service from Headland means that they are so quick to get us back up and running as best as they can.”