Precision Cutting Meets Automated Coil Feeding

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Precision, Floor Space, and Prefabrication: Lockformer® Vulcan® Fiber Laser Elite + Iowa Precision® Coil Feed NEO™

As prefabrication demand grows across the HVAC duct construction industry, shops need equipment that delivers precision without slowing production down. The Lockformer Vulcan Fiber Laser Elite was built with that shift in mind: a patented open architecture design lets operators pull finished parts straight from the table, while a specialized shroud keeps the cutting zone controlled and safe. It cuts a full range of material, from 10 gauge down to 26 gauge, in both mild steel and stainless, giving shops flexibility across job types without swapping equipment.

Pairing the Fiber Laser Elite with the Iowa Precision Coil Feed NEO turns two machines into one prefabrication-ready work cell. The Coil Feed NEO's Grid Feed Drop-in Uncoilers hold up to twelve coil stations, freeing up the floor space traditional sheet racks eat up, and accommodate 48" and 60" width coil (72" optional) in 16 to 26 gauge mild steel, with a 14 gauge option available for heavier-duty runs. Its Automated Multi-Select and Coil Select System reads job data and automatically de-coils and re-coils the right gauge for each part; stepper motor driven edge guides detect coil width by measuring material torque, while a laser and optical edge detection system continuously monitors that width and adjusts guides and tooling on its own. Straightener and beading positions are saved and recalled automatically for each coil specification, so shops can run job by job across multiple gauges and widths instead of batching, with no operator 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, tightening tolerances and getting more install-ready parts out the door per shift. Contact Mestek Machinery to learn more about the work cell.

Learn more about the Lockformer Vulcan Fiber Laser Elite Cutting System.

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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.