Introduction 

Established in 1998 in Perth, Western Australia, Lazer Safe Pty Ltd specialises in the research, development, assembly and worldwide sales of safety systems for metal manufacturing machines. Today it is an international leader in its field, generating sustained revenue growth and a positive net return to shareholders.  Lazer Safe has established its own European presence and has an active international support network, with technical and service representation in France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Spain, The Netherlands, Denmark, Eastern Europe, China, New Zealand, The United Kingdom and North America.

The laser-based LZS-003 Series of operator guarding products - Lazer Safe's first product range - innovated by offering press brake manufacturers [press brakes bend and form sheet metal used in the manufacture of white goods, air conditioners, vehicle parts and many other common items], users and operators greatly improved safety and productivity. The LZS-003 Series achieved these improvements by delivering protective measures that were more responsive and efficient than existing technologies, with less intrusion on workflow. Lazer Safe's LZS-003 Series can be installed either at the time of manufacture or as a retrofit to a press brake that is already in service.

 

In 2002, the company identified substantial complementary market opportunities through extending its expertise beyond operator guarding into the wider area of overall electronic control safety systems. Supported by a Research and Development Grant from the Australian Federal Government, Lazer Safe committed to the design of a combined press control and safety system known as the PCSS (Press Control Safety System). The PCSS was released to the market in late 2003.
As a result of the company's commitment to continuing research and development and after-sales service, Lazer Safe has achieved global recognition for the PCSS and LZS-003 systems it supplies to the press brake market. The LZS-003 Series is generally regarded as the world's most advanced operator guarding system for press brakes and has been adopted by leading manufacturers.

 

Leadership in international standards

From the outset, Lazer Safe has recognised the importance of meeting various standards in force in its international market. Company representatives are actively involved in a number of forums to ensure full understanding of relevant safety standards, as well as contributing to their ongoing improvement.

 

Both the LZS-003 and PCSS have received "CE" (Conformite Europe) certification as Category 4 safety products through independent testing by TUV Nord Germany. CE certification indicates conformity with all European assessment requirements specified by law for a given product type, allowing certified products to be sold and used without restriction in EU countries. Lazer Safe has since received additional CE certificates for enhanced versions of the LZS-003 and PCSS systems. The LZS-003 and PCSS have also been certified as meeting American "UL" (Underwriter Laboratory) safety compliance requirements an essential step for entering that country's market.

 

Intellectual property

Lazer Safe has been granted a number of patents for intellectual property that has contributed to the company's market leadership. These have been filed in jurisdictions corresponding to Lazer Safe's key markets and the company is active in protecting its rights in this area.

 

Strategies for growth

Like the LZS-003 Series, Lazer Safe's PCSS is a market innovation that challenges existing conventional safety and control solutions. A single factory-fitted PCSS replaces a collection of components and complex wiring, offering press brake manufacturers significant manufacturing economies. With a speed of operation as low as 1 millisecond and a high level of programming flexibility, the PCSS also facilitates substantial productivity improvements. Because the PCSS incorporates the control elements for the operator guarding system, this feature can be supplied at low cost, increasing the appeal for manufacturers. Lazer Safe views this as an important element in achieving wider market penetration.

 

Since its introduction, market acceptance of the PCSS has been enthusiastic, with key manufacturers of press brakes committing to incorporate it into their products.

 

Long-term opportunities

The expertise gained through the development of a machine control and safety solution for the PCSS presents Lazer Safe with an excellent opportunity to add further to its range of capabilities and products in the sheet metal industry. Lazer Safe's outstanding record of achievement in the press brake sector will provide the technical basis and market credibility for future offerings in safety control, operator guarding and productivity aids in the wider sheet metal industry.