Company Profile

Cirrus Laser Ltd was first formed as Nimbus Laser Services Ltd (NLS) in August 1987, being a subsidiary company of Nimbus Diamond Tool & Machine Co Ltd. Our first laser machine was capable of both cutting and welding and NLS initially sub-contracted welding services to NDT, the machine time available shared between saw blade welding and sub-contract laser cutting to other companies in the UK. Our customers included NDT, automotive industry, kit cars and replacement part specialists, blacksmiths, musical instrument manufacturers, aviation, shop fitters, sheet metal workers and manufacturers of industrial machines.

In January 1997 both NDT and NLS were sold to Unicorn Abrasives PLC, which was then acquired by Saint Gobain later in 1997. During 1999 a Management Buy-out (MBO), was finalised on 17th May with NLS being sold to the existing NLS Management Team. Due to the Nimbus name being owned by Saint Gobain we had to change our company name and Cirrus Laser Ltd began trading, with David Connaway taking over as Managing Director.

Over the company's many years of trading there has been a continuous policy of upgrading existing equipment and purchasing new machines, to maintain our level of service to customers. In the third quarter of 2001 we extended our capabilities with the delivery of a new Trumpf Trumatic L3030 Laser machine (Laser #5), fitted with a 3000-watt CO2 laser. This machine replaced 2 older machines and allowed us to cut much thicker plate at faster speeds compared to our previous machines. With 2 shuttle tables the Trumpf L3030 had more flexibility when changing between different materials. Unlike previous machines, which were purchased, all new Trumpf Laser machines have been installed under an Operating Lease agreement.

In November 2005 a new Flow WMC2 Water Jet cutting machine was purchased and installed at Cirrus Laser. By January 2006 this machine was cutting materials and thicknesses not possible with our current CO2 laser technology. The Water Jet process is complimentary to our laser cutting allowing a greater range of materials to be cut and because it is a cold process capable of cutting materials that would be heat affected by the laser process. The WMC2 Water Jet machine has a 60,000-psi pump, 3x2 metre bed and dynamic head drives to compensate for cut edge taper.

In the last quarter of 2006 a new Trumpf Trulaser 3030 (Laser #6) was installed, the new machine has a 3200-watt CO2 laser, more advanced material piercing cycles, 3 cutting heads (3.75ins / 5ins / 7.5ins focal length), high speed cutting and compressed air cutting. At the end of 2006 Laser #5 finished the leasing deal and departed to South Africa via Germany for a re-fit. In the first quarter of 2007 a new Trumpf Trulaser 3530 (Laser #7) was installed. This newest machine has two X-Axis drives, a normal drive and a short (300mm) fast axis drive. Equipped with the same 3200-watt CO2 laser and cutting heads as Laser #6, the new machine is capable of cutting at much higher speeds and gives Cirrus Laser Ltd a technological advantage over our competitors.

The 3rd quarter of 2009 saw the addition of 2 new machines requiring employee training and site re-organisation. Because customers require a complete service from Cirrus Laser we have installed an Amada HFP 1303 Press Brake, which has a 3 metre bed length and 130 tonne capacity. This machine will fold 8mm mild steel and 6mm stainless steel at the maximum width of 3 metres. Thicker materials can be folded but at less than 3 metre width. Fitted with full 7 axis cnc control and cad software for off-line programming this is a machine designed to produce quality folded parts at a rapid pace. Included with the machine has been a suite of brand new tooling including dies and punches to cover a wide spectrum of materials and thicknesses.

The other machine that we have installed, is a BATY Venture Plus CMM with a high resolution CCD camera and an additional Renishaw touch probe for checking 3D objects. Because most of the components we manufacture at Cirrus Laser Ltd are 2D sheet or plate products the camera system is ideally suited to our requirements. We have built a new climate controlled office in the factory area to accommodate the new CMM to ensure that the machine remains at a constant temperature and humidity with a clean environment.

Our trading philosophy has always been service, quality and turn-round. If you require assistance with design / development, small batches or large-scale production, please do not hesitate to call or visit our factory unit, situated in Burgess Hill.