October, 2024: In the 1986 action film Top Gun, Tom Cruise immortalized the words, “I feel the need the need for speed.” The iconic phrase could also be used to sum up today’s fiber laser industry. Fabricators’ relentless pursuit of faster processing speeds and improved productivity is driving market growth, which is projected to reach $6.93 billion by 2028.
“The trend remains focused on higher wattage fiber lasers,” asserts Michael Bloss, laser product manager for AMADA AMERICA INC. “Unfortunately, there are machines that are being pushed into the marketplace with high wattage numbers but limited engineering. The feedback I’m getting from customers that have already stepped into this arena is that they just aren’t working.”
BASELINE
The company introduced its first fiber laser, the LC-F1 4000kW in 2010. Since then, it has continued to push the envelope by introducing faster and more versatile cutting solutions. Ongoing investment in research and development has helped it produce a portfolio of fiber lasers equipped with pivotal capabilities. “When we put a new machine out there, it’s perfected,” says Bloss. “The engineering has been done.”

AMADA’s REGIUS series can process thin materials or thick plate without a cutting lens change or manual setup
In 2014, AMADA AMERICA introduced the ENSIS Series. The line combined the capabilities of both fiber and CO2 lasers in a single machine by using variable beam control (VBC). The hybrid technology allows users to switch between different laser modes for optimal processing speed and quality for different materials and thicknesses. In 2019, the manufacturer rolled out the VENTIS 3015 AJ Series and the REGIUS 3015 AJ Series. These models raised the bar with developments in speed and automation. The VENTIS operated at 4,000 watts three to four times faster than conventional 4kW CO2 lasers at the time. The VENTIS incorporated AMADA’s proprietary locus beam control (LBC) technology, which meant users could manipulate the laser beam pattern during processing. The REGIUS was built with ENSIS technology for continuous processing of thin and thick materials without a cutting lens change or manual setup. It combined AMADA’s newest high-end technologies into one machine from the industry’s fastest linear drives to the highest acceleration rates.
This month, the machinery builder set performance milestones with the launch of three new fiber lasers at Fabtech 2024. The machines represent the latest additions to the manufacturer’s ENSIS, VENTIS and REGIUS lines with some notable advances.
FASTER PROCESSING
“Our goal is continued performance for cutting thicker materials,” says Bloss. “We want to equip customers to process material as quickly and as accurately as possible, move blanks to the next downstream process, and then out the door.”
The new ENSIS was demonstrated via live feed from AMADA’s 62,000- sq.-ft. Carolina Technical Center in High Point, North Carolina. Able to accommodate 5-ft. by 10-ft. sheet metal, the ENSIS boasts 15kW of power. “We went from a 12kW machine with three modules and a combiner, to a single module 15kW fiber laser with no combiner,” says Bloss.
Fabtech visitors were able to see the new VENTIS and REGIUS at the manufacturer’s booth. The VENTIS went from a previous capacity of 6kW to 9kW. “The new 9kW single module design delivers a superior edge quality and virtually no part taper,” says Bloss.
The latest REGIUS 3015 model was unveiled with 26kW of output power. “We doubled our wattage and then some,” he says. “Features range from an automatic nozzle changer to a gas mixer that allows the fiber laser to seamlessly cut different materials with improved quality. With 30-plus standard options, this machine checks all the boxes.”
In addition to higher wattages, fewer modules help to reduce a fiber laser’s beam parameter product (BPP). “More modules mean a larger beam parameter value,” continues Bloss. “The smaller and denser the beam, the sharper and cleaner the cut. With a smaller BPP, the beam becomes tighter and more precise. Kerf becomes smaller too. You can cut thicker materials, or cut faster, with the same amount of power. We’ve improved BPP with fewer modules at the same wattage.”

To help customers determine which fiber laser model is best suited to their application, AMADA begins with an in-depth evaluation and analysis. An on-site visit to the customer helps technicians and engineers see manufacturing processes first hand. “A customer doesn’t always know what they need,” says Bloss. “We ask them about their current production goals and where they see themselves in five years. Are they planning an expansion? Do they need to replace legacy technology? Those types of questions help us match their requirements with the right wattage and fifi ber laser model.”
HIGHER THROUGHPUT
Floor space can also be a consideration. Higher wattage AMADA fiber lasers take up the same amount of floor space as smaller wattage machines but offer manufacturers more flexibility while boosting throughput. AMADA automation options support cutting processes from blanking to parts shipment. “It’s not just about how thick an operator can cut or how fast; it’s about making the entire process seamless,” Bloss says.
AMADA machine features and automation equip companies to improve performance and output but also assist with labor shortage challenges. Last year, the manufacturer released a next-generation controller built like a tablet. “It was designed with young people in mind,” Bloss says. “If you can use a tablet, you can run our machines.”
The AMADA School offers training in equipment and software for young prospects and current employees. “If a company finds someone who is willing to work, we can train them to run our equipment and help them take the necessary steps toward a solid career with room to grow,” says Bloss.
“It’s an exciting industry to be in, especially with a company like AMADA because we’re continually coming up with new technology advances to improve machine performance and get parts out the door faster.”
AMADA AMERICA INC., 714/739-2111, amada.com.