All Metal Solutions: Investing in Speed to Stay Ahead of the Game
From Plasma to Fiber
On the Coral Coast of Queensland, Australia, right in the middle of the Southgate Industrial Park in Paget, Mackay, lie the headquarters of All Metal Solutions. Founded in 2004 by Caesar van Lint and Steve Battaia, the company caters to a diverse range of sectors including the mining, sugar, agricultural, and health industries.
Before delving into the world of fiber lasers, they had a plasma machine but needed to deliver their products faster. In 2018, they acquired their first Eagle Laser cutter, an 8kW 2040 (2m x4m) machine. However, one laser wasn’t enough to meet the growing demand. In the following years, they ramped up quickly. Today, they have an impressive four Eagle fiber laser cutters in their ranks, alongside other metal processing equipment such as rollers, welders, and presses.
“The 8 kW was our first laser, and we would run that machine 24 hours a day, so the following year we decided to get a second 10 kW laser. We've kept up with technological advances and acquired a 12kW 2560 in 2022. Then we got the big one, a 30 kW 2560,” said Brett Naumann, Laser Manager at All Metal Solutions.
Larger-than-average bed sizes are essential for All Metal Solutions, which works with longer stainless-steel plates, especially for the sugar industry. With four machines in their lineup, they’re still running a 24-hour production.
Need for Speed​
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The company already had a good relationship with Kraftech, Eagle’s official distributor in Australia, from whom they had purchased their plasma machine several years ago. When they were on the lookout for a new, high-performing laser, they knew one thing for sure: their priority was speed. Kraftech showed them what an Eagle could achieve speed-wise, and that was enough proof.
“Kraftech had done their research and picked the best fiber laser, which was Eagle. Our old laser’s traverse was controlled by screws that ran on either side of the gantry. The Eagle Laser has linear motors that move through a magnetic field on each side. This makes it much quicker for the traverse to travel, and it’s very light too. So, it all came down to speed. The speeds on the 30 kW are like nothing I’ve ever seen. It is quick. To stand in front of it is mind-blowing,” added Naumann, who also has previous experience with CO2 machines. Comparing the two, he commented:
“Lasers are far quicker than CO2s, and the new cutting technologies these days like MyEMIX, which mixes nitrogen and oxygen, make them even faster. The technology is just getting better; I would say these machines are 130% faster than CO2s, probably more.”
Performance Under Pressure
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Machine reliability is crucial for All Metal Solutions. Their top priority is to keep their customers happy and deliver products on time. One breakdown could mean an upset for the company and its clients.
“Eagle machines are very reliable, provided the maintenance is kept up. We've had service people tell us that our 8kW machine is the cleanest one they've seen for its age. They have a very long lifespan, and that’s crucial because our machines are running at full capacity every day, most of the time at full speed through all our thicknesses. We’re pushing the machines hard. Cutting quality is also important to us, and the Eagle lasers are very effective. They can cut between 0.5 mm stainless, all the way through to 60 mm mild steel, and 80 mm stainless. They work very well under pressure,” commented Brett.
All Metal Solutions currently employs 120 people, among which are highly experienced technicians. However, as in every growing business, new operators join the company from time to time, and grasping the equipment’s ins and outs quickly ensures work continuity and customer satisfaction. Thus, high usability plays a key role. Brett was impressed by the ease-of-use of the Eagle, even for non-experienced operators:
“On Monday, we had a new operator start with us. By his third day of learning to operate, he had already picked it up very well. Once you pick it up, it's like riding a bicycle—you've got it forever.”
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Improved Lead Times for Increased Margins
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All Metal Solutions is one of those companies that truly gives meaning to the “Clients First” philosophy. If a customer needs something urgently, they’ll do everything in their power to deliver in the shortest possible time. With the Australian mining industry growing at a rapid pace and many fabricators attending to their orders, they need to stay ahead of the game. Having four Eagle Laser cutters ranging from mid to ultra-high power has drastically accelerated delivery time. As Brett puts it:
“The Eagle machines have impacted our lead times. We have shorter lead times, and we’re getting the product out much quicker to the customer. We make more money, and we’re getting more work. If a client says, ‘I need this tomorrow,’ we drop everything and try to deliver that job tomorrow for them.”
By improving their lead times, they’ve not only increased their margins but also helped their own customers grow, which for Naumann is the ultimate satisfaction.
“We've had a company out west. They started in a small shed and have eventually grown big. Now, they're building another shed. The client came to see me the other day and said, ‘Thank you.’ I asked, ‘Thank you for what?’ He replied, ‘We have built our business up so much because of your lead times!’ Hearing that from a customer was very pleasant.”
Becoming an Industry Benchmark
As All Metal Solutions continues to build upon its solid reputation, grow its client base, and expand its workshop and onsite services, they’ve become a reference for metal fabrication across the country.
“I've had phone calls from companies who have come up to look at the installation of the Eagle machine. I've given them a few pointers, and they’ve actually got an Eagle now.”
It’s been a steady upward curve for this Australian manufacturer which keeps betting on speed and innovation for the benefit of its clients and, consequently, their own. We couldn’t agree more with their motto: No job is too big or too small for All Metal Solutions.
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