A laser is used in the technique of "laser cutting," which can be used for both practical and creative purposes like etching. For precise cutting and designing tasks, various sectors use laser cutting machines. A powerful laser beam is sent by the laser cutting device to either precisely cut or etch a design onto materials like steel, plastic or wood.
Laser Cutting Machine Market Dynamics
Rising demand for high-precision machining solutions drives the global laser cutting machine market. However, high investment and maintenance costs are significant market restraints.
Rising demand for high-precision machining solutions
High-technology industries such as automotive and aerospace have experienced rapid growth in recent years. The major companies in these industries are developing new aircraft and vehicle models to drive further growth. Developing new vehicle and aircraft models is a complex task that requires the development of various new technologies and components.
The development and production of new components require upgradation to existing manufacturing processes to increase refinement, accuracy, precision and turnaround time. Aircraft and automotive manufacturing companies are undertaking significant capital investments to install and operate new machinery capable of producing complex new components. Laser cutting machines are highly accurate and cut with precision. Lasers can be programmed to focus on upto 25 microns, less than the width of a single human hair. Laser cutting machines can achieve a cut width of 0.001 inches and have high dimensional accuracy of 0.0005 inches.
It makes laser cutting machines ideal for high-precision machining applications, particularly cutting intricate patterns for alloy wheels in the automotive industry and precision machining high-strength alloy sheet metals in the aerospace industry. The rising demand for high-precision machining solutions is a key driver for the global laser cutting machine market.
High investment and maintenance costs
Laser cutting machines are generally expensive and require significant upfront capital investment. The cost of more complex industrial machines runs into several hundred thousand dollars. Therefore, adopting laser cutting machines incurs very high costs.
Companies generally take on debt to finance the purchase of these machines. Large multinational conglomerates can easily afford financing, given their multi-billion dollar revenues. However, small and medium enterprises struggle to raise capital. The lack of these machines means they cannot produce high-quality goods faster and more efficiently, making them unable to compete with mass-produced goods from large players. It decreases their demand and may also lead to bankruptcy.
COVID-19 Impact on Laser Cutting Machine Market
The global laser cutting machine market experienced a decline due to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments globally imposed strict lockdowns and other kinds of movement restrictions to curb the spread of the pandemic. The restrictions dramatically decreased road and air travel as businesses and individuals drastically cut back on non-essential travel.
Many automotive companies had to slow down or outright suspend production due to declining demand. The decline in automotive production affected the demand for laser cutting machines since they are extensively used in the automotive industry for production operations. Automotive companies had to suspend capital investments for production expansion to cope with economic difficulties brought on by the pandemic. The global COVID-19 pandemic has also caused supply chain disruptions in the laser cutting machines market. The market has a diversified global supply chain with component manufacturers, suppliers and distributors in different countries.
Despite the challenges, the pandemic is expected to have a positive impact on the long-term outlook of the global laser cutting machine market. The pent-up demand from the pandemic period and a rapid increase in the adoption of industrial automation are expected to increase demand for these machines greatly.
Laser Cutting Machine Market Segmention Analysis
The global laser cutting machine market is classified based on product, process, end-user and region.
The advantage of laser fusion cutting which boosts the process demand, is that it creates an almost oxide-free cutting edge, boosts the demand for tea bags in the global laser cutting machine market
Fusion laser cutting uses reaction-inhibiting nitrogen as the cutting gas. In special cases, argon is the inert gas used. In tantalum, titanium, magnesium and zircon, nitrogen is used because these materials form chemical bonds with nitrogen. Fusion cutting is used to cut materials unsuitable for flame cutting. Typical materials include alloyed steel, also referred to as stainless steel. Unalloyed and low-alloyed steels can be cut using fusion cutting for quality-related reasons.
At up to 20 bar pressure, nitrogen or argon is forced into the cutting joint. The fusion cutting process is suitable for thin sheets and when the workpieces must fulfill high visual requirements without further processing.
The advantage of laser fusion cutting which boosts the process demand is that it creates an almost oxide-free cutting edge. Laser fusion cutting is used if workpieces fulfill high visual requirements without further processing. If later material modifications are undesired, hygiene and laboratory engineering issues must also be considered.
Unlike vaporization cutting, which removes the melt through the gasification process, fusion cutting requires effective purging with the help of gas. Fusion cutting avoids the issue of laser beam emission and steam absorption. Only the front material is affected when the laser beam goes through the notch gap. The actual absorbed laser energy cannot continue to melt because the firing angle is too great when the laser beam is projected onto the workpiece’s material surface. As a result, the fusion process is carried out gradually.
Furthermore, Fusion cutting uses a lot less laser power than vaporization cutting. It is mostly employed in substances like common aluminum and copper that can react exothermically with oxygen. Various inert and inactive gases are utilized as help gases.
Companies are using the fusion-cutting process globally. For instance, Epilog Laser offers laser cutting machines having fusion cutting technology with CO2 laser engraving, cutting and marking systems, combining hobbyist-level pricing with industrial-level engineering. It can produce engraving and cutting projects from various materials, including wood, paper, plastic, acrylic, textiles and more. The Fusion Maker Laser is in the initial phase, but right out of the box will be experiencing professional-level results.
Furthermore, Premier laser offers a fusion cut series, specially designed and constructed to cut sheet metal and metal tubes. Its highly efficient features include a specially created cantilever frame for the tube cutting section and a movable worktable for simple sheet metal loading and unloading. The machine can cut tubes in various shapes like circles, squares, elliptical pipes and obround pipes.
Laser Cutting Machine Market Geographical Penetration
Growing urbanization, widespread end-user adoption of laser cutting technology and increased manufacturing investments allow Asia-Pacific to dominate the regional segment of the global laser cutting machine market
Growing urbanization, widespread end-user adoption of laser cutting technology and increased manufacturing investments are the key factors that have significantly impacted the laser machine market. Additionally, the end-use market widely utilizes these machines to quickly and effectively produce high-quality goods. Manufacturers are being forced to automate various processes, including the production of laser cutting machines, due to the pervasive trend of automation.
According to facts from the ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India), the Indian auto component industry recorded its highest-ever revenue of Rs 4.2 trillion in 2021?2022, a growth of 23% because of a strong performance in exports and the aftermarket. India’s auto components industry’s growth supports the demand for laser-cutting machines in Asia-Pacific.
Asia-Pacific is a rapidly industrializing region with a high economic growth rate. The development and expansion of various sectors are creating a growing demand for laser-cutting machines. The primary engine of economic growth in Asia-Pacific is India and China. Both countries are undergoing major economic transformation and industrialization. China is a major global manufacturing hub, producing everything from electronics, consumer goods, automobiles and industrial equipment.
On April 12, 2021, Han’s Laser announced the launch of its new fiber laser cutting machine. More than 20 integrated features, a hybrid drive motion system and a dual control system (CNC+PLC) are all prevalent in the fiber laser cutting machine.
Laser Cutting Machine Company and Competitive Landscape
The global laser cutting machine market is enormous. It is becoming increasingly competitive due to the presence of significant players such as Coherent Incorporation, Jenoptik Laser GmbH, ALPHA Laser GmbH, Bystronic Incorporated, Epilog Laser Inc., IPG Photonics Corporation, Trumpf GMBH + Co. KG, Amada Miyachi Company, Ltd., Conzzeta Management AG and Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group Co. Ltd. The market is fragmented. Market players employ market tactics such as mergers, acquisitions, product launches, contributions and collaborations to gain a competitive advantage and recognition.
Bystronic Incorporated
Overview: Bystronic is a world-class technology company specializing in sheet metal processing. The company’s headquarters are in Nieder?nz, Switzerland. Additional development and manufacturing facilities are located in Sulgen, Switzerland; Gotha, Germany; Cazzago San Martino & San Giuliano Milanese, Italy; Tianjin & Shenzhen, China and Hoffman Estates, Illinois (U.S.). It has sales and service subsidiaries in over 30 countries and agents in many more. Bystronic employs around 3,500 people in over 40 locations globally. Bystronic AG will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in 2021
Brand Portfolio
• ByStar Fiber: ByStar Fiber has a capacity of 20 kilowatts. Fiber laser cutting allowed faster and more precise cutting of steel, aluminum, stainless steel, brass and copper due to increased laser power and optimized cutting.
Key Development
• In July 2022, The ByCut Smart 6225 now has a laser output of 12 kilowatts. The optional BeamShaper improves the quality of the cut parts while also increasing cutting speeds. Furthermore, the optional BeamShaper function provides exceptional quality while cutting steel up to sheet thicknesses of 30 millimeters. The BeamShaper improves cutting-edge quality and increases cutting speed by up to 20%.
The global Laser Cutting Machine market report would provide approximately 61 tables, 59 figures and almost 255 pages.