The Benefits of Fibre Laser Cutting Over Traditional Metal Cutting Methods
- 10-11-2026
- Ben Edwards
For a UK manufacturer or fabrication business, investing in a fibre laser cutting machine is one of the biggest decisions you could be facing right now. But outsourcing cut parts or relying on older equipment comes with costs too.
The real question is then whether bringing laser cutting in house could save enough money and production time to justify the investment.
Fibre laser technology has become an option for a wider range of UK workshops, however buying a machine might not automatically be the right move for your workshop. Your workload, your current subcontracting bills, and expected running costs all play a part in your decision.
Or they should at the very least come into the equation when weighing up whether a Fibre Laser is right for you.
What does a Fibre Laser Do Better Than Traditional Methods?
Traditional cutting methods still have their place.
A guillotine is effective for straight cuts, while a notcher cuts corner notches and similar edge features. But producing more complex profiles might involve a number of operations and extra handling.
Turret punches are useful for holes and formed features, especially where repeat jobs are concerned. Plasma works well for a lot of plate cutting applications, although finishing requirements will depend on a variety of factors.
A fibre laser offers flexibility for intricate profiles, repeatable accuracy, and programmed cutting.
Explore Bison’s laser cutting machines to compare equipment for your different production needs to help you choose what is best for you.
Fibre Laser vs. CO2 Laser
If you already have a CO2 laser, then compare its actual performance with the potential replacement that you’re considering.
It is well-established that electricity consumption is far less in fibre lasers compared to CO2. Fibre lasers convert electrical power into laser energy more efficiently and often require less routine maintenance at the laser source.
Chart based on technical efficiency data compiled from global laser manufacturers and published engineering benchmarks under ISO 14955-1.
Because CO2 lasers rely on gas mixtures and periodic optical alignment, they typically involve more upkeep and higher standby energy use.
Fibre laser technology eliminates these requirements through sealed laser diodes and fibre-optic delivery systems, improving efficiency while reducing maintenance overheads.
In addition, fibre lasers can also cut thin sheets quickly, depending on the material, power of the machine, thickness, and more.
Fibre technology is especially suitable for reflective metals like copper and brass, as long as the equipment is designed for these applications.
Of course, an older CO2 machine may be fine if it meets production requirements reliably.
Compare energy consumption, maintenance records, cutting speeds, and downtime before deciding whether the potential savings can justify the cost of the replacement you would need.
Fibre Lasers are Becoming More Affordable
The rapid development of high-power fibre laser technology has also changed the economics of metal cutting. Over the last few years, fibre laser machine prices have become more attainable than many fabricators realise, while cutting performance has continued to advance.
As a result, some businesses that would traditionally have invested in plasma cutting are now considering high-power fibre lasers instead.
Modern fibre lasers are capable of processing material thicknesses that once made plasma the obvious choice, but with the added advantages of lower consumable costs, increased accuracy and reduced finishing requirements on many applications.
Although plasma remains a valuable technology for certain workloads, its position within the market has come under increasing pressure as fibre laser systems become more affordable and versatile.
It's one of the reasons why many machinery suppliers that historically specialised in plasma equipment have expanded their offerings to include fibre laser technology.
Fibre Laser vs. Punching
A fibre laser can cut intricate shapes and varied hole patterns without needing a dedicated punching tool for every single feature.
This can be useful for short runs, frequent design changes, and even bespoke components.
A turret punch may be more productive for large batches of simple parts though, especially if forming features are needed. The choice depends on the jobs that you complete the most often, so it’s not always going to be necessary to replace a punch press.
Bison supplies CNC punch presses as well as laser systems, which allow you to compare your options against the requirements that you have at the moment.
The Real Costs of Machine Investment
The machine price is only part of the investment.
Remember that you also need to budget for a number of other elements, including but not necessarily limited to:
- Installation including delivery, commissioning, and any site preparation
- Electricity and assist gas. Consumption rates are variable, with machine specification and metal types impacting the cost calculation.
- Safety and space as you will need a suitable extraction system, storage, and metal handling
- Training and software as operator training and nesting tools are needed
- Maintenance as servicing and consumables. Although the cost is greatly reduced due to the low maintenance requirements of fibre technology and low consumable consumption.
When you’re comparing in-house production with subcontracting, all of these elements need to be taken into account. Bison is also able to offer machinery finance options which could be useful if you need to spread the initial cost.
If this is the route you want to go down, think about repayments when working out your budget.
Reducing Manual Handling and Secondary Operations
One of the biggest advantages of a fibre laser is the ability to combine multiple manufacturing stages into a single operation.
Parts that may previously have required marking out, drilling, cutting and deburring can often be produced directly from a CAD drawing with significantly less manual intervention.
This can help reduce labour requirements while improving consistency between parts. It may also reduce the risk of errors caused by manual measurement and handling.
For many workshops, the savings generated by reducing secondary operations can be just as important as the cutting speed improvements themselves.
When assessing the return on investment of a fibre laser, it's worth looking beyond subcontracting costs and considering the amount of workshop time that could potentially be released for other productive work.
Working Out Payback
In order to work out your payback, you need to start with the subcontracting spend and estimate how much work you could realistically bring in, and handle effectively in house.
For example, say your business spends around £4,000 a month on subcontracted laser cut parts. If you could bring around 90% of that work in house, you might avoid around £3,600 in monthly subcontracting costs.
If running the new machine, including material, labour, gas, power and maintenance, costs around £900 per month, your potential net saving is then going to be around £2,700 per month, before you factor in things like finance costs, tax, and other business impacts that you would be facing.
Now that you’ve got this number, you then need to work out what your total investment would be roughly.
For arguments’ sake, let's just say that it’s £90,000. In this case, you would do £90,000 divided by £2,700, which is 34 months (rounded). Therefore, the payback period here would only be around 3 years total.
Of course, these figures are just for illustration purposes, they are not a prediction of how much you could end up saving, but it gives you an idea of how to weigh up the cost benefit of purchasing a laser.
In your calculations, you should also be including things like labour, materials, maintenance, and more. Also think about whether faster production could help you to accept work that you currently have to turn away.
Signs You Are Ready for a Fibre Laser
An investment might be worth looking into if several of these situations are relevant to you:
- Subcontracting bills that are constantly sky high
- Existing machinery creates bottlenecks or requires a number of finishing stages
- You have enough regular work to keep the new machine regularly working
- Waiting for external supplies delays production
If laser cutting work is only every now and then though, outsourcing might still be the more cost-effective solution for now. If it is, you can always revisit this in the future.
Make The Numbers Work for You
Fibre laser cutting is able to improve flexibility, productivity, and control over lead times.
However, the financial case needs to be able to measure up, which means comparing subcontracting costs with the cost of full ownership.
Bison Machinery supplies laser cutting machines and offers case studies to help businesses explore machinery investments.
Before you commit, take the time to use your own figures to work out the payback period, and use this information to take the right next step for your business.
Talk to Bison Machinery Experts
Thinking about upgrading to a fibre laser? Talk to the experts at Bison Machinery. We will help you weigh up your options and find the perfect machine for your individual manufacturing needs.
Get in touch via 01785 214242, contact form, or book a showroom visit to see a fibre laser in action.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fibre Lasers
Is a fibre laser cutting machine worth the investment?
A fibre laser can be a worthwhile investment if your business regularly outsources laser-cut components, experiences production bottlenecks, or needs greater control over lead times. The best way to determine value is to compare your current subcontracting costs with the ongoing running costs and finance repayments of an in-house machine.
What are the main advantages of fibre laser cutting over traditional cutting methods?
Fibre laser cutting offers high accuracy, repeatability, the ability to produce complex profiles, and reduced manual handling. Unlike processes that may require multiple operations, a fibre laser can often produce finished parts directly from a CAD drawing, helping to improve efficiency and consistency.
Are fibre lasers more energy efficient than CO2 lasers?
Yes. Fibre lasers are generally more energy efficient because they convert electrical power into laser energy more effectively than CO2 systems. They also use sealed laser diodes and fibre-optic beam delivery, reducing maintenance requirements and standby energy consumption.
Can a fibre laser replace a plasma cutter?
In many applications, yes. Modern high-power fibre lasers can process thicker materials than earlier laser systems and often provide improved accuracy, lower consumable costs, and reduced finishing requirements. However, plasma cutting remains a practical option for certain workloads, depending on the material and production requirements.
How long does it take for a fibre laser to pay for itself?
The payback period varies depending on factors such as outsourcing spend, machine utilisation, operating costs, and finance arrangements. Many businesses calculate payback by comparing monthly savings from bringing work in-house against the total investment cost of the machine and installation.
What ongoing costs should be considered when buying a fibre laser?
In addition to the purchase price, businesses should budget for installation, commissioning, electricity, assist gases, operator training, software, extraction systems, servicing, and consumables. These costs should be included when calculating return on investment.
What materials can a fibre laser cut?
Fibre lasers can process a wide range of metals, including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, and brass. Their suitability for reflective materials such as copper and brass is one of the key advantages of modern fibre laser technology.
How do I know if my business is ready for a fibre laser?
Signs that a fibre laser could be a good investment include high subcontracting costs, recurring production bottlenecks, sufficient workload to keep the machine productive, and delays caused by external suppliers. Businesses with only occasional laser cutting requirements may find outsourcing remains the most cost-effective option.
