Above: The Fiber Tube XL machine cuts an H beam
August, 2025- Over the last decade, fiber laser cutting equipment manufacturers have developed dramatic increases in power output, improved beam quality, greater efficiency and a growing range of applications. Simon Croteau has tracked the industry’s technology advances first hand. He is vice president of marketing for Machitech, Quebec City, Quebec. Since its launch more than 20 years ago, the company has undergone its own evolution in developing and building industrial cutting solutions.
“I’ve been with the company for 10 years,” says Croteau. “We started primarily as a plasma cutting supplier but advances in fiber laser prompted us to begin growing that product line. High power density and the use of assist gases helped change sheet metal fabrication by giving fiber lasers the ability to cut steel. That really unlocked things for us. Customers who had been using plasma tables for years began asking us for fiber lasers. I had just started with Machitech when we sold our first machine.”
Since then, the company has ramped up quickly. With 125,000 sq. ft . of combined production space across five facilities, Machitech offers customizable cutting systems that include fiber laser, plasma, pipe and robotic. Technology advances and close attention to quality, service and customer feedback have helped drive growth.
The Fiber Prime S uses a 30kW laser source
EVOLUTION
In February 2025, Machitech introduced its new Fiber Prime S laser cutting machine. It combines high-speed 4G acceleration with high-power performance (12 kW to 60 kW) to give fabricators and manufacturers the ability to cut mild steel up to 4 in. thick. Fiber Prime S is equipped with a Precitec cutting head, which provides integrated gas mixing and focus compensation. The optional Machitech bevel head can make complex bevel cuts including V, X, Y and K, with custom angles, in one operation.
The new Fiber Tube XL laser cutting machine followed in March 2025. Designed for heavyduty industrial cutting applications, the Fiber Tube XL can cut round, square and complex profiles. It is available in 6kW to 12kW with the capability to cut tube up to 40 ft . long in diameters ranging from 0.8 in. to 25 in.
“The Fiber XL is fully automated and equipped with a conveyor that can accommodate small or long parts,” says Croteau. “Lantek Flex3D nesting software, combined with 3D cutting capabilities and three chucks, allows operators to minimize or eliminate the left over [tail] at the end of the cut. Waste is reduced and efficiency increased.”
Flexible equipment options allow Machitech to serve a diverse group of customers from service centers to shipbuilding, defense, agriculture, automotive, mining and oil and gas. Integrated head gas mixing on the Fiber Prime S allows for near instant changes made to the gases at the point of material interaction.
Machitech also offers a hybrid laser that allows operators to cut with oxy fuel on their fiber laser. “A hybrid machine can be very attractive to steel service centers in particular,” says Croteau. “One disadvantage of oxy fuel cutting is the lost production time due to preheating and piercing. For someone that needs to cut 1 ½-in. plate steel, a traditional plasma cutter is still a good option and less costly. Plasma will always exist but the versatility of having machines that can cut stainless, aluminum and steel with a bevel is a real advantage. Our software packages are integrated with our cutting systems and intuitively understand material types and thicknesses. That makes it possible to automate a line with different jobs lights out,” he says.
The Fiber Prime SL cuts 2-in. carbon steel parts using a 30kW laser.
CUTTING WITH AIR
Air cutting has also proven to be a valuable and cost-effective option for applications with fiber lasers. Machitech recently held a demonstration that allowed customers to compare air cutting with a fiber laser vs high-definition plasma, as well as laser with oxyfuel. Air cutting typically offers faster speeds, especially with thinner materials. Oxidation is minimized and metal is cooled during the cutting process, preventing excessive heat buildup, which results in cleaner cuts.
The four-day customer demonstration focused on air cutting and material thickness. “It’s a big advantage for manufacturers who cut a lot of holes,” Croteau explains. “We were able to cut holes four times smaller than the thickness of the material when compared to plasma. The substantial time savings was a game changer for customers with high demand for that application.”
Feedback from the event revealed that some customers didn’t think cutting thicker material with a fiber laser would compare to other cutting methods. Instead, fabricators who saw the demonstration were impressed with the quality of fiber laser cuts on thick steel and rusty steel 1½-in. thick.
“We started out as the underdogs in the fiber laser market,” Croteau says. “Customer support—that’s the secret sauce. That’s always been our first priority. Our customers are partners. That kind of long-term relationship doesn’t happen without support. We understand our customers have large contracts. They can’t afford to be down or waiting for parts. That’s how we have grown—replacing legacy machines and keeping our partners up and running.”
Machitech USA, 888/988-7220, machitech.com.
