Cut Faster, Feed Smarter, Fabricate Without Limits

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The Complete Sheet Metal Fabrication Work Cell: Lockformer® Vulcan® Fiber Laser Elite Cutting System + Iowa Precision® Coil Feed NEO™

The Lockformer Vulcan Fiber Laser Elite Cutting System represents the next evolution in HVAC fittings fabrication. Built on decades of sheet metal cutting expertise, it delivers cut speeds up to 1,200 in/min on 24 gauge mild steel, roughly three times faster than conventional plasma cutting. Its patented open architecture design eliminates enclosures entirely, giving operators direct access to finished parts while a specialized shroud maintains a safe, controlled cutting environment. That safety focus earned the system a Class 1 rating and accession number from the FDA. Powered by a 2.0 kW fiber laser resonator, the Fiber Laser Elite moves from zero to home at 1,800 in/min and features advanced, built-in diagnostic tools that deliver immediate insight directly at the machine, no external connection required. Remote diagnostics are also available for real-time troubleshooting and monitoring from anywhere.

Pairing the Vulcan Fiber Laser Elite with the Iowa Precision Coil Feed NEO turns two standalone machines into a single automated work cell. The Coil Feed NEO houses up to twelve Grid Feed Drop-in Uncoiler stations, replacing space-hungry sheet racks, and uses an Automated Multi-Select and Coil Select System to de-coil and re-coil the correct gauge for each job automatically. Shops can schedule and run production job by job across multiple gauges and coil widths, instead of batching by gauge, with zero manual intervention.

Both systems share the same B&R Industrial Automation control platform, a Linux-based system that pulls job data directly from CAM platforms like Autodesk, Trimble, and Shop Data Systems, and offers remote diagnostics, onboard performance insight, and production simulation before a single sheet is cut. Together, they eliminate manual material handling, reduce scrap, and cut labor costs tied to loading stock by hand.

For duct fabricators scaling into prefabrication, this combination delivers what matters most: speed, precision, and flexibility, without sacrificing operator safety or shop floor space.

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Mestek Machinery is an industry-leading provider of the most complete, innovative metal forming solutions, specializing in machinery manufacturing for HVAC ductwork.