Today we’re looking at the topic of outsourcing vs. owning: tuber lasering decisions for businesses in Australia. Tube laser cutting machines can cut through metals, plastics, timber, foam, leather, cardboard, paper and other materials. The ability of these machines to make short work of precision cutting tasks has revolutionised production processes in many industries and led to significant demand for new machines. But should you buy one or continue to outsource your tube laser cutting operations?

What Is a Tube Laser Cutting Machine?

Before we dive into our outsource vs. purchase comparison, let’s start with a concise definition of the term ‘tube laser’ to ensure there’s no confusion about the topic of today’s discussion.

A tube laser cutting machine is designed primarily to cut square and round tubes made from various metal alloys. Advanced machines include features such as automatic tube loading and unloading, fully adjustable cutting length and a 5-axis linkage movement for 3D cutting. Smaller, less powerful machines with fewer features are made for the home and office markets but such machines are unsuitable for commercial applications.

At the heart of a commercial tube laser cutting machine is a water-cooled, sealed CO2 laser tube.

Why Use a Tube Laser Cutting Machine?

To determine whether a tube laser cutting machine is a good investment for your organisation, you need to establish whether laser cutting is the right choice for your production facility. To help you do this, we have listed some of the most important advantages a tube laser cutting machine offers:

  • Speed – A laser cutting machine can cut many different metals and other materials much faster than traditional cutting tools. If you have an emergency job, tube laser cutting is almost always the best solution.
  • Power – A commercial tube laser cutting machine is an incredibly powerful piece of equipment that can cut through much greater thicknesses than would be possible with conventional cutting machinery. 
  • Precision – If tight tolerances must be maintained throughout a production process, laser tube cutting is the preferred option. Advanced tube laser cutting machines are accurate to within +/- 0.05 mm. 
  • Efficiency – The cuts made with a tube laser are precise and clean, which means there’s no need for any post-cut processing. If production costs are rising and you want to do something about it, a tube laser cutting machine could be a great investment.

With all these advantages, it is easy to understand why so many companies in Australia are using tube laser-cutting machines today. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should rush out and buy a new machine for your production team.

Outsourcing vs. Owning: Tube Lasering Decisions Made Easy

The decision to outsource your tube laser cutting or invest in a commercial machine should not be taken without careful consideration of all relevant factors, which may include the following:

  • Financial Resources – While small tube laser cutters can be purchased for around $5,000 at the time of writing, these machines are only suitable for cutting non-metal materials. For a commercial machine capable of cutting metal at the speeds required for industrial and manufacturing processes, expect to pay around $300,000 and up. With this in mind, if you have limited financial resources, outsourcing may be the better option to choose, for the moment at least.
  • Order Book – If your order book is bursting at the seams, buying a commercial laser cutter could make perfect sense. On the other hand, if large orders are few and far between right now, it might be better to wait until the situation improves.
  • Clientele – Companies with demanding clients who often request rush jobs are more likely to benefit from the purchase of a tube laser cutting machine. Conversely, if the vast majority of your orders are not urgent, outsourcing could be the more economical and practical option.
  • In-House Expertise – Don’t forget you’ll need trained and qualified personnel to operate your tube laser cutter, as well as skilled maintenance technicians. If you do not have suitably qualified and experienced employees, you’ll need to invest in training or take on new workers.
  • Intellectual Property – If you are going to outsource cutting operations to a 3rd party, you need to ensure your intellectual property is not compromised. If IP theft is a concern, you have two options: use a reputable service provider with impeccable references or invest in your own machine. 

If you’re still not sure whether to buy or outsource, the following summaries of the pros and cons associated with each choice should help to clarify the situation and make your decision a little easier.

Buying a Tube Laser Cutting Machine: Pros & Cons

Buy a tube laser cutter and you stand to enjoy the following benefits:

  • Complete Control Over Production Process
  • Faster Turnaround Times
  • More Accurate and Efficient Cutting Operations
  • IP Protection

However, you also need to consider the following downsides of making such a purchase:

  • Initial Cost
  • Running Costs/Depreciation
  • Training/New-Hire Requirements
  • Long-Term Financial Commitment

Companies with access to low-cost funding and a healthy order book may well find such an investment pays dividends over time but smaller businesses with less assured futures will probably find that outsourcing is the most practical option.

Outsourcing Tube Laser-Cutting Operations: Pros & Cons

If you decide to outsource all of your tube laser cutting operations, potential advantages include:

  • No Initial Expense
  • Ready Access to Experienced Personnel
    • Scalable Solution
  • No Long-Term Commitment

On the flip side, the potential disadvantages of outsourcing your tube laser cutting operations to a 3rd party include:

  • IP Theft Concerns
  • Less Control Over Production Processes
  • Total Cost May Exceed Purchasing Costs Over Time

As you can see, the pros and cons associated with both decisions require careful consideration before you can make the right decision. If you would prefer to outsource, contact the team at Bend Tech Group. We guarantee to protect your IP and help you maintain control over all production processes.