Yawei HLE fibre laser brings multiple benefits to Wildcat Industries

Following many years working in the sheet metal industry, Jon Flynn founded Wildcat Industries around 10 years ago. Based in Dandenong, Victoria, the business now employs 20 people across four divisions: high-tolerance sheet metal work; architectural facade work; the manufacture of high-tech wood and gas flue systems; and most recently, Wildcat wood-fired pizza ovens. While the architectural division services clients throughout Australia, the sheet metal work is predominantly Melbourne-based. Wildcat offers custom perforated panels to the architectural, building, construction, interior design and landscaping industry.

Flynn already had extensive experience dealing with Applied Machinery having, in his own words, “virtually bought every single piece of equipment to date” from them.

“The Applied Machinery people look after me as though they are part of my business,” says Flynn. “The service, support and warranty are very important for me and Applied excel in this area. So the decision to buy a Yawei fibre laser from Applied Machinery was both a logical and easy one.

Already well known as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of CNC pressbrakes, turret punch presses and guillotines, Yawei’s entrance into the laser cutting market comes off the back of years of R&D and refinement of the machines in its domestic market in China. The Yawei HLE comes equipped with an extensive range of high-quality componentry including an IPG fibre laser source with 2kW capacity, a Swiss Raytools cutting head, and a German Beckoff CNC control system, all housed within a rigid, robust frame.

“The Yawei has enabled us to redesign products to make them perform and look better, and produce parts of a much higher quality,” adds Flynn. “Plus of course, given the speed and accuracy of the fibre laser, we are saving huge amounts of time; you can just do so much more with it. You don’t get any burn marks or blemishes on the material either.

“The Yawei has been an absolute game changer for me; I really can’t stress that enough. It’s allowed us to replace one of the turret punch presses and also replace the plasma. Crucially this has enabled us to bring all our laser cutting in-house.

In addition, the acquistion of the Yawei machine has made Wildcat more competitive in the marketplace.

“There’s no tooling set-up for short runs, we can forecast more accurately and cut more out of a sheet, resulting in further cost efficiencies,” Flynn explains. “Plus we can now cut a wider choice of material including titanium and stainless steel.”

One other thing that the Yawei fibre laser has given Flynn is the confidence to quote on work that he wouldn’t have previously targeted, thereby increasing his volume of work. Just one example is a new customer Wildcat picked up as a direct result of having the fibre laser, which will provide a significant lift in work for the company over the next five years. Without the fibre laser Flynn and his team would not have been able to get the yield and the speed required to be competitive.

“Quite simply the Yawei HLE has far exceeded my expectations – it really is that good,” Flynn concludes. “Yes, there are cheaper models out there but none of those have the quality, robustness and longevity that I am looking for; many also don’t meet Australian standards. Let’s face it, you get what you pay for.

“The way things are going I can definitely see a need for a second fibre laser in the future.”

www.wildcatindustries.com.au
www.mypizzaoven.com.au
www.appliedmachinery.com.au