When Queensland manufacturer Bridgeman Stainless Solutions decided to invest in a laser cutter, it found the solution it needed with Bystronic Australia.
Based in Brendale, north of Brisbane, Bridgeman has been in operation for over 20 years. During this time the company has evolved into a specialist in stainless steel fabrication, with the ability to undertake fully customised designs, engineering and installation. Bridgeman’s work can be found in restaurants, shopping centres, domestic and commercial kitchens, and bespoke bars , as well as for leading food manufacturers in Queensland and across Australia.
A key to Bridgeman’s success has been its ability to work within tight deadlines while producing complex solutions. To enhance this capability, the company recently moved into brand new purpose-built facilities with greater floor space. The nature of Bridgeman’s activities necessitated working around the clock and on weekends to meet tight deadlines. Third-party supply for profile parts also created delays. This prompted Bridgeman to investigate the purchase of a laser cutter for internal use.
When Bridgeman began narrowing down the list of potential suppliers, Bystronic was identified as a leading manufacturer. To support the case for investment, several companies were asked to provide time and cost studies. The Bystronic BySmart Fibre 4kW laser provided ample evidence to Bridgeman that this was the way forward.
Purchase price and operational efficiencies were important to Bridgeman. A chance meeting with one of Bystronic’s service technicians during an equipment demonstration at a reference customer offered real insight into the support that Bystronic offered. That meeting also provided the reassurance that Bystronic had technicians based in Brisbane, rather than flying in.
The operational efficiencies have been greater than anticipated. The speed and efficiency of the laser, coupled with the accuracy and repeatability that can now be achieved, have further enhanced Bridgeman’s profitability. The company has found that it is turning jobs around in days that would have taken weeks, and there has been a substantial reduction in the amount of scrap metal due to reworks.
Paul Walmsley, Finance Manager at Bridgman, notes that cutting operations are particularly simple due to the ease of use of the Byvision software installed with the machine. The original plan had been to have dedicated operators at the laser, but the intuitive interface has allowed for a number of confident people to be trained quickly in the machine’s use.
In dealing with Bystronic, the team at Bridgeman has been reassured by the strong support it received during the sales and installation phase, and its ongoing access to Bystronic’s dedicated hotline. With further investment in equipment planned in the future, Bridgeman expects to look to Bystronic again.