FC Laser Ltd

Innovation and sophistication from FC Laser

FC Laser Ltd — 13/08/2019

FC Laser Ltd, the Derbyshire-based high-quality laser cutting and fabrication business, is not only building an enviable reputation in innovative and intricate laser cutting services but can now offer the same sophistication in metal bending and fabrication after just seven years in business.

Managing director and founder of the business, Danny Fantom started his career in engineering in 1990 and worked his way up from a shop floor apprentice to management, retaining his characteristic ‘hands-on’ approach to the business to this day. It is this practical, supportive and
passionate approach towards his team that has helped grow the business from a turnover of £0.75 m in 2012 to more than £8 m today. Sales turnover, while important, is not the main driving force of the management team. Innovation and dedication to customer service are the key drivers behind the team’s successful track record in laser cutting, CNC folding and fabrication.

Future investment for this expanding business includes a new 36,000 sq ft unit which will allow the team to provide additional and complementary services in-house. These services include laser tube cutting, powder coating and CNC machining. This places FC Laser in a unique position to be able to deliver customers a true ‘one stop shop’ approach for the delivery of these services.

The company understands that investment needs support from its valuable team. Each member of staff has received a personal development plan detailing their training investment, career opportunities and annual salary increases they will receive over the next five years. Progress is monitored with regular and positive staff appraisals.

With a culture of ‘quality first’, FC Laser has appointed a new operations manager this year, Daryl Lowe, who brings his 10 years of experience working at Rolls Royce to add to the impressive and growing skill base at FC Laser. This all adds to the positive vibe that exists within this growing team of highly skilled individuals.

Delivering excellence in customer service is top of the agenda at FC Laser. Not only can it be relied upon as a top-quality provider of precision laser cutting services, but with the addition of five new press brakes, sophisticated metal bending services can now be provided in-house. The star of the show is its latest press the new 4M 320 tonne Bystronic Xpert 320. It is complemented by the Xpert 150 press at 3M and a suite of Xpert 40’s. Appended to the impressive Xpert 40 press brake is a state-of-the-art mobile bending robot, improving efficiencies with consistent and repeatable accuracy of complex folds. This highly efficient bending capacity, combined with the latest ERP systems puts FC Laser in a strong position for growth over the coming years.

Having Europe's largest installation of three 10 kW Bystronic Bystar Fiber lasers up to 4M x 2M bed size, the business is literally at the ‘cutting edge’ of technology. Whatever the material and however complicated the cut, the ByStar Fiber provides the highest parts output available and at an unmatchable premium cutting quality. This impressive piece of kit can make light work on a wide range of materials, the Bystar Fiber easily cuts through thicknesses of 25 mm mild steel; 30 mm stainless steel; 30 mm aluminium; 15 mm copper and 12 mm brass.

FC Laser also employs continuous improvement techniques that more established competitors find hard to match. The recent introduction of large TV screens linked to the ERP system has meant that management has an up to the minute overview of what stage of production each job is at. Combined with individual digital feedback ‘kiosks’ on the shop floor, team members can give immediate feedback and suggest improvements to work processes.

FC Laser believes that this level of digital feedback is unique within the industry. Customer service is at the very heart of everything that FC Laser do, utilising their 5S continuous improvement processes. The company is about making the process of laser cutting, folding and fabrication as efficient and as environmentally friendly as it can. In fact, the Bystronic Bystar Fiber uses 30 percent less energy than traditional 6 kW CO2 machines and therefore helps to reduce the business's carbon footprint.

The clean layout of the 20,000 sq ft state-of-the-art production unit in Ilkeston, conveniently located just off Junction 25 of the M1 motorway, has been meticulously planned for maximum efficiency; helping to reduce customers’ manufacturing and shop floor handling time. Everything has its specific place within clearly marked bays allowing for safe and efficient forklift drop off and collection points with a continuous workflow ensured, no matter how busy the factory is throughout the 24 hours a day, seven days a week shift working pattern.

Working hand-in-hand with customers and raw material suppliers, FC Laser’s knowledgeable account management team helped to achieve the company's ISOQAR UKAS ISO 9001 and EN1090 accreditations. FC Laser’s unique approach to account management means that the designers, engineers and production operatives can concentrate on the job in hand. Their ‘OTIF’ (On Time in Full) measurements are some of the highest in the country and is the most important area that the whole team focus on.

The business is on a rapid growth trajectory, despite an uncertain economic outlook in the U.K. and Europe. With numbers steadily increasing beyond the current 60 workers, the business is keen to take on more staff especially apprentices who can benefit from FC Laser’s unique staff training and development programme.

From internal ‘quality forums’ to regular financial performance presentations, the management team work hard to keep everyone well informed and fairly remunerated, with regular performance bonuses no matter what level they operate at within the business.

The future growth of the business is just as reliant on its investment in its people, as it is in having the very latest high-tech machinery. A strategic growth plan over the next five years will see the company expand its operation at the Ilkeston site with extra production capacity afforded by a new 36,000 sq ft unit. However, the current production site has ample potential for expansion as plans are put in place for the future. With this in mind, FC Laser is proud to be associated with Sheffield University’s ‘One stop shop automated factory of 2050’ with funding available to work alongside students on this innovative programme.

FC Laser lands £1.5m loan to automate and expand the business

FC Laser Ltd — 22/06/2021

FC Laser has received a £1.5m loan from Maven Capital Partners through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and backed by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

The business, which specialises in engineering and metal fabrication, is set to use the finance to purchase new technology and enable the automation and expansion of its two sites near Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

Danny Fantom, managing director, said: “The ongoing investment we continue to make into our machinery will allow FC Laser to keep up with our rapidly growing customer demand. The expansion of our Ilkeston site cements our business as one of the fastest-growing precision laser cutters in the UK.”

Richard Altoft, investment director for Maven, added: “This is an established, growing business with an experienced management team and strong client base. Maven is delighted to provide the funding to enable the company to achieve its continued expansion plans in the years ahead.”

Lewis Stringer, senior manager at the British Business Bank, said: “The MEIF is committed to driving business growth across the Midlands, with the fund’s latest investment supporting a manufacturing business to increase their efficiency and realise their growth potential. We’d encourage other businesses looking to continue to invest and grow across the region to consider the options available through the fund.”

(Source: The Business Desk)

FC Laser Rejoins MIG, Unleashing New Growth Opportunities in Manufacturing

FC Laser Ltd — 31/05/2023

FC Laser, a renowned laser cutting and manufacturing company, has recently announced re-joining the membership group of Made in Group, in order to expand their network and growth opportunities.

Derbyshire based FC Laser has been making waves in the industry for the quality of their work and the diversity of their clientele. With a turnover of around 13 million, the company has cemented its position as a reliable provider of laser cutting, folding, and fabrication solutions for a wide range of industries.

Founded in 2012, FC Laser initially offered laser cutting services for flat sheet materials. Over the years, the company has expanded its offering to include tube and box section laser cutting, folding, welding, and assembly services. Their expertise in producing quality metal products makes them a sought-after supplier across many industries, including agriculture, fitness, yellow goods, and many others.

Made in Group, including Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire, is a membership community championing British manufacturing. The decision to join Made in the Midlands demonstrates FC Laser's dedication to strengthening the manufacturing industry in the Midlands region.

Through this membership, FC Laser gains access to a diverse network of like-minded businesses, opening up opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and potential partnerships. Through this association, FC Laser aims to contribute its expertise and innovative solutions while also benefitting from the collective wisdom and experiences of other industry leaders.

The quality of FC Laser's work, alongside their unwavering commitment to customer service, has won the trust and admiration of clients across the UK, and the company is ultimately looking to build and grow more of these relationships with businesses within the Made in Group.

Make sure that you check out Made in Group’s upcoming events, to see which of these FC Laser are set to attend, so that you can connect with the business soon! You can also find out more about the company by visiting the brand new microsite here.

FC Laser Announces Exciting Investment News at #MIM Breakfast Morning

FC Laser Ltd — 13/05/2021

Leading precision laser specialists, FC Laser, held a virtual breakfast morning with Made in Midlands recently. Over 40 members joined to learn more about the business’ capabilities and network with fellow members in themed breakout rooms. The company also announced plans for a new powder coating division and automated tower loading bay at their site in Ilkeston.

The Made in the Midlands Virtual Breakfast morning with FC Laser kicked off with an introduction from Made in Group CEO Jason Pitt. With a range of events scheduled throughout the year, including virtual and physical events, Jason mentioned that members can now select from an array of themed breakout rooms at the virtual breakfast mornings - all based on relevant topics in the industry.

Via the backend of the Made in Group microsites, members can choose a themed breakout room after registering for a virtual breakfast event. They also have the opportunity to view the list of attendees to the events, follow and message them.

Members at FC Laser’s breakfast morning then had the chance to introduce themselves and their businesses ahead of the breakout sessions. This was followed by an interesting and insightful presentation from Adam Blake, Business Development and Marketing Manager at FC Laser.

FC laser, based in Ilkeston, operates across three divisions - Tube Manipulation, 3D Fibre Laser Cutting, and Fibre Laser Cutting. Their philosophy is to invest in the best people, technology, and materials with the aim of becoming the fastest and most efficient laser cutting company in the UK.

The company has a 24/7 capacity and capabilities of folding and further operations, offering an all-around service due to an onsite research and development department, stock holding, and onsite storage facility.

To reach their ambition of becoming the fastest and best laser precision company, FC laser has plans of doubling their Ilkeston site in 2021 due to the rapid expansion of their tube division. This will see a new powder coating division and automated tower loading bay, expanding their operations bay.

Following Adam’s presentation, members were then split into different themed breakout rooms on topics such as Manufacturing Optimism, Skills in industry, Selling in a Post Covid World, and Is Localisation the Future of Supply Chains?

Watch this event back by heading to the backend of your microsite and heading to events. Join us at our next networking event with Bevan Group, commercial vehicle bodybuilders, by clicking here.

At the cutting edge

FC Laser Ltd — 13/08/2019

The star of the show is its latest press, the new 4M 320 tonne Bystronic Xpert 320, complemented by the Xpert 150 press at 3M and a suite of Xpert 40’s. Appended to the impressive Xpert 40 press brake is a state-of-the-art mobile bending robot that improves efficiencies with consistent and repeatable accuracy of complex folds. Combine this highly efficient bending capacity with the latest ERP systems and it’s not difficult to see how the addition of this innovative technology puts FC Laser in a strong position for growth over the coming years.

Based in Derbyshire, the company provides customer service second to none. Established by managing director Danny Fantom in 2012, FC Laser has seen impressive growth over the past seven years and now boasts a team of 60 highly skilled team members. It uses the very latest Swiss-made Bystronic cutting and folding machines, housed in a specially designed 20,000 sq ft state-ofthe-art unit.

With Europe's largest installation of three 10 kW Bystronic Bystar Fiber lasers, up to 4M x 2M bed size, the business is at the ‘cutting edge’ of technology. With a culture of ‘quality first’, FC Laser has appointed a new operations manager this year, Daryl Lowe, who brings his 10 years of experience working at Rolls Royce to add to the impressive and growing skill base at the company.

FC Laser takes its responsibilities for the environment very seriously. It has one of the best track records in the industry when it comes to the energy efficiency of its Bystronic Bystar Fiber lasers, using up to 30 percent less energy than traditional 6 kW CO2 machines.

Working with its new large TV screen-based ERP system on the shop floor, alongside the tried and tested ‘5S’ continuous improvement strategy, the management team ensures that production error rates are as low as possible and any improvements that can be made are done within a very short timescale. Danny Fantom and his team are proud of what they have achieved to date and further investment is planned over the next five years.

FC Laser Tel: 0115 944 3428
Email: sales@fclaser.co.uk www.fclaser.co.uk