Back to Job Shop

Message from the Chairman 2008

Laser Job Shop Group

Neil Main, JS Chair, Feb 2008

The UK laser job shops have seen mixed results in the last 12 months. It depends on who the customers are and how well they are doing.  In the next twelve months and longer the world economic climate and local inflation will provide a lasting period of uncertainty for our customers and for us.

Most people are well aware of the issues: Energy prices and industrial gas prices have sky rocketed and probably will never reduce; Material prices are very volatile; a steady stream of customers relocate to Eastern Europe or the Far East; for the customers that stay price competition is fierce.

With that background what benefits does AILU bring that make it worth the few hundred quid that it costs?

The annual costs comparisons are worth it alone.  Most of us spend tens of thousands of pounds each year on gasses and knowing what others pay gives a very good benchmark come negotiation time. In addition to the gasses we have also compared electricity, laser consumables, material (steel), credit checking and bad debt insurance costs to quote only a few.  The deal is that if you contribute and add to the information then you share the (anonymised, but you know your own) results.  There are companies that have saved thousands with this alone.

A web-based forum where burning topics of the day are discussed and questions can be asked.  Anything and everything is grist for this mill. General business, health and safety, laser operation, material and parts sourcing, etc. have all been discussed and a core of members gives unbiased, factual answers. You wouldn't ask us to check over your customer list but you might ask for, and get, help cutting a particularly difficult material.

AILU meetings and particularly the Job Shop business meeting each year are interesting, informative and a chance to network. Look over previous meetings on this web site to see the range of topics.

The job shop committee is pleased to hear of any ideas for meetings or web discussions or comparisons. In addition we have discussed ideas of cutting standards - not taken further, a core operator training program - in discussion now and examples of work to help designers - in operation see the web site.

So, many of the UK Job Shops recognise the benefit in belonging to this group. All of the others are, of course welcome; just talk to Mike Green on the AILU Number.

We have fewer of the industrial laser users within large companies. Although they may get the best prices for their electricity and gas they are in the same boat as the rest of us when it comes to sourcing laser spares, consumables and servicing.  They may have similar needs in advancing the technology and improving productivity.  This group is for them too.

As was said in a previous chairman's message "As we have said in the past, we may be in a highly competitive environment, but we should still be able to share a coffee, or something stronger, when we're off the field". (Martin Cook).

Regards,

Neil

Neil Main, Job Shop Chair November 2005 - April 2008