Subcon Laser Cutting

New 8kw Trumpf Laser

Subcon Laser Cutting — 20/06/2016

Amazing close up edge detail of a 10.0mm gauge mild steel part, even more astonishing is the 3mm wall thickness achieved using our state of the art £1million pound 8kw Trumpf fiber laser cutting system.

This system is the first of it's kind in the UK and uses CooLline technology as part of it's many additional features.

Subcon Exhibition

Subcon Laser Cutting — 26/05/2016

Subcon Laser Cutting are pleased to announce they will be exhibiting at the Subcon 2016 Exhibition at the NEC from the 7th to the 9th June.

They will be on Stand C21 in Hall 4 and this year will be displaying product produced on their state of the art 8kw Trumpf Brightline Fiber laser cutting system, which incredibly will include parts laser cut from 40mm Stainless Steel. This truly innovative machine is part of Subcon Lasers recent £1.2million pound investment that also seen the introduction of a 3D Faro inspection and scanning arm.

This years exhibition is set to be the best yet with the Automechanika Exhibition also on at the same time, with a huge crossover of visitors expected from both shows.

Since 1992 Subcon Laser has been a regular exhibitor at the exhibition that has witnessed a resurgence in attendance over the past 4 years, so much so that last years exhibition was the best since the mid 90's according to Tom Mongan General Manager at Subcon Laser. His advice if you are planning to visit would be to go after lunch as it tends to quieten down a little in comparison to the morning, therefore the exhibitors can spend more time with visitors answering any questions or queries the visitor may have in relation to the product or service on offer.

Brexit

Subcon Laser Cutting — 24/06/2016

Well that's it the UK has voted out.

As manufacturers we now need to take stock as there will be the inevitable knee jerk reactions and a lot of political posturing. Unfortunately the campaign by both sides became personal and it should never be personal.

The whys, wherefores and what happens next only time will tell, because in all of the rhetoric spouted by both the remain and out camps was there ever a Plan B?

However we at Subcon Laser, just like everyone else involved in engineering and manufacturing have not stopped making a top class product, our determination to succeed has not been diminished and we still have as much to offer today as we did yesterday.

We will weather the storm and hopefully together as manufacturers overcome whatever obstacles are thrown at us, we are still open for trade and we still wish to trade. To me the message is simple, the people of Europe are not our enemy they are our partners with whom we wish do business with.

I wish nothing but good fortune for all Made in the Midlands members and for everyone involved in UK & European manufacturing.

New £1 Million Pound Investment

Subcon Laser Cutting — 15/04/2016

Eighteen months ago Subcon Laser invested close to £1 million pounds in a 5kw Trumpf Brightline Fibre laser cutting machine and a nitrogen generating system, which helped them remain at the forefront of the laser industry whilst greatly reducing their carbon footprint.

However it now gives me great pleasure to announce further groundbreaking news regarding our latest and most exciting investments to date.

A further £1.25 million in the UKs first 8kw Trumpf Brightline Fibre laser system and a Faro 3D measuring and scanning inspection arm.

The 8kw laser will allow us to cut materials thicker and faster than anyone else, this innovative cutting technology trudisk fiber laser is truly a game changer. It will cut stainless up to 40mm thick, aluminium and mild steel up to 25mm thick and copper and brass up to 10mm thick. But we have not stopped there because we have added every optional extra available, including:

· Smart Collision Prevention - This optional extra creates an intelligent processing strategy to maximise process stability and parts can be cut without using micro joints or tagging.

· Titan Package This allows titanium to be laser cut to aerospace standard and specification.

· Dot Matrix Code This option enables us to mark components with a standardised industrial code, the laser applies a data matrix code onto the parts being processed.

· Drop and Cut Allows small offcuts of material to be used more intuitively and efficiently thus reducing waste. A live image of the offcut inside the machine is projected onto the user interface allowing you to place part geometries directly onto the offcut.

· Mobile Control Lets you monitor and control the laser machine using an IPad app. Using the machines own wireless network the screen of the control panel and pictures taken by machine cameras are transmitted to the IPad so what is being produced can be monitored away from the machine.

· CoolLine Allows selective cooling of the work piece during the cutting process, especially useful when cutting fine detail in thick materials significantly increasing process stability.

There are a host of other extras included which makes this system the first of its kind to be used in the UK and Europe.

We have also made a significant investment in quality, this new 3D measuring capability compliments our already comprehensive 2D inspection laser scanning systems, therefore ensuring quality components throughout the range of laser cut product.

With these investments I firmly believe Subcon Laser will be able to produce some of the most cost effective, quality laser cut parts available throughout the UK and most of Europe.

For further details please give me a call on 024 7664 2221 or direct on 07976 399243.

Made in the Midlands Brexit Debate

Subcon Laser Cutting — 02/03/2017

It is nearly a year since MIM organised the great Brexit debate chaired by the irrepressible Chris Greenough!!

Why not have another one?

How has the past twelve months worked out for manufacturing?

With current Brexit saga STILL ongoing what are everyones thoughts?

Are steel prices linked to current uncertainty?

What does the future hold? What are peoples plans going forward? Optimistic or pessimistic?

Trade negotiations Where & what countries?

The CEO of JLR coming out and stating Brexit will have an impact on the UK if a favourable trade deal cannot be negotiated. The uncertainty over the future of Ford Bridgend is this related to Brexit?

Happy New Year

Subcon Laser Cutting — 05/01/2017

2017 I hope is going to be a great year for midlands manufacturing.

There does seem to be a lot of optimism within manufacturing at the moment and there are certainly huge plans for investment and growth both from OEM's and the supply chain.

Although there is still an underlying uncertainty regarding Brexit and what will happen, I firmly believe UK Manufacturing PLC could be in for a positive run, as long as the politicians don't scupper it.

I know a lack of skills has been a worry for a lot of people, however there are a lot of good companies now out there trying to address this issue. For me there is a bigger issue looming and that is the lack of suitable business premises and land for development, as a lot of the land available is earmarked for housing. Also the cost of raw materials continues to rise, which if left unabated, could hamper everyone's plans.

So as I was born in the year of the Rooster and to end on a positive note, they say people born during the Year of the Rooster will benefit greatly from the positive energy flows of the year 2017!!

Who am I to disagree?

Subcon Laser nominated for "Excellence in Science & Technology" award

Subcon Laser Cutting — 29/09/2016

Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd have been selected as one of the three companies to be nominated as finalists in the Coventry & Warwickshire business awards Excellence in Science and Technology category.

The awards ceremony & grand gala evening will be held at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday October 20th.

Tom Mongan General Manager at Subcon said To be selected as one of the three finalists from all of the companies who entered in the Coventry and Warwickshire region is an honour and a great achievement".

This is one of two award nominations Subcon Laser have received with the other one being "Excellence in Manufacturing"

This recognition really is a testament to the skill, dedication & hard work put in on a daily basis by all the staff at Subcon, especially when one considers the pedigree of the other finalists, namely Jaguar Land Rover, The Autins Group PLC and Lorax Compliance Ltd

Subcon Laser The Beginning

Subcon Laser Cutting — 25/07/2016

Hard to believe that this was the company's first laser cutting system circa 1989.

Laser systems have come a long way since the days of this Laser Lab 1.5kw machine.

Back then 8.0mm mild steel was about as good as it got.

It really is amazing to think that now our very latest state of the art 8kw Trumpf Fiber laser system can cut up to 40.0mm Stainless Steel.

2016!! Good or Bad Year?

Subcon Laser Cutting — 15/12/2016

Well 2016 was some year wasn't it, what with Brexit and Donald Trump being chosen as the next President of the USA, it is certainly leading to 2017 being an interesting one.

2016 also seems like a year where we have lost a lot of household names, people such as broadcasters Terry Wogan, Jimmy Young & Ed "Stewpot" Stewart. Musicians such as David Bowie, Prince, Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, Glenn Frey from the Eagles & Leonard Cohen. Sports stars Muhammad Ali & Johan Cruyff. Actors, Actresses & TV personalities such as Paul Daniels, Ronnie Corbett, Victoria Wood, Gene Wilder, Caroline Ahern, Robert Vaughn & Andrew Sachs.

I have mentioned just a few here but there are lots more and it seemed not a week went by without another celebrity passing on.

Closer to home we at Subcon Laser have continued to invest in the very latest technology available, and 2016 seen us take delivery of the UK's first Trumpf 8kw fiber laser with Cooline Technology. We also invested in the very latest state of the art 3D laser scanning and inspection system, we have increased turnover by over£1million pounds and have started exporting parts to India.

And it's just nice when someone else recognises your achievements as we also won the Coventry & Warwickshire award for "Excellence in Manufacturing" beating the likes of JLR and the Autins Group whom were the other nominated finalists.

It has also been an interesting first year as gold members of Made in the Midlands, I have attended most of the breakfast morning events, I attended the great Brexit debate and ended up being shadowed by Japanese TV. We exhibited at the MIM expo in May, I have been interviewed on MIM TV by Ilona Pitt and I also attended the East Mids expo. Oh and I attended the summer drinks reception at the Hotel DuVin, but unfortunately was unable to make the Christmas one.

Speaking of Christmas, I hope all MIM members have a great one and I also wish everyone a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year.

Bring on 2017.

Worlds Biggest Liver Bird Statue

Subcon Laser Cutting — 02/11/2018

If anyone is heading to the Liverpool Exhibition Centre on the 14th / 15th November for The Manufacturer Smart Factory Expo, Manufacturing Leaders Summit, Top 100 Awards or the TMMX Awards, then if you get the opportunity take a little detour.

Pay a visit to the Liverpool Shopping Park, a £100 million pound development on the site of the old Meccano works, there you will see the worlds biggest Liver Bird statue, an eleven metre high, seven tonne work of art that Subcon Laser produced all the metalwork for.

It is truly an astonishing feat of engineering and well worth a visit.

More land needed for business growth.

Subcon Laser Cutting — 04/10/2017

Last week we were pleased to host the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerces North Branch meeting, to discuss the need for more land to be set aside for jobs in Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Business leaders were joined by MP Marcus Jones to consider concerns that the area could see unemployment remain well above the regional average if land remains an issue.

This is something that we can relate to here at Subcon as we are also struggling to find the space we need to meet the growing needs of our company. Currently unemployment in the borough stands at 5.5% compared to 2.8% across Warwickshire.

The Chamber responded to the Borough Plan for the area by suggesting that there needs to be more space for businesses to grow and is calling on companies that are having difficulties expanding to reach out.

Marcus Jones said: The plan at the moment is a little unbalanced. There needs to be more emphasis on commercial growth so that businesses currently in the area can grow and also, so we can attract new companies here.
Our general manager, Tom Mongan who chaired the meeting added: We are maxed out at the moment and we have a vision for growth as a business, but this issue is making it very difficult to put that into place.
We understand that there has to be new housing schemes in the area but the people who live in those new homes will need jobs to go to if there isnt enough employment space, we are creating a bigger problem for ourselves.

The Chamber has been campaigning on this issue since its Go For Growth campaign showed a lack of employment space as a key factor to growth across the region.

David Penn, Vice President of the Chamber, said: There appears to be an issue where local authorities feel that if they take another look at employment land, they will have to change their housing numbers too.

We have been informed that this is not the case and, therefore, gives authorities the opportunity to look again at the balance of space for jobs without having to readdress the housing numbers.

Subcon Laser Manager appointed as Vice President for Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

Subcon Laser Cutting — 08/04/2020

General Manager of MIM member Subcon Laser, Tom Mongan, has recently been appointed as Vice President for the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Tom, who is currently Chair of the chamber’s branch, will continue his current role whilst also taking on the position of Vice President.

He said:

“I am extremely proud to take up this role and it comes at a time when every single business across the region – indeed the country, and the globe – is facing challenges, the like of which I’ve never seen before.

“And the chamber’s response to the coronavirus outbreak is, for me, a great example of why it remains such an important pillar of the business community and is why I am so proud to be taking up this new role.

“Since it became clear that the virus was going to have a major impact on businesses across our patch, the Chamber has been at the forefront of delivering up-to-the-minute information to members as well as speaking up on what companies need to help them face this crisis.

“Looking ahead, and I think it is important that we do look beyond the current crisis, there is so much to be positive about here in this region once we come through this situation."

Tom added: “As someone who works in manufacturing, I can see what a fantastic place this is for our sector with so many major companies operating here and hundreds more in the supply chain.

“I believe that strengthening the links between the largest manufacturers and the smaller suppliers in this region is something that we must look at and see how we can ensure that companies here can push themselves forward in order to see more contracts reshored to this area.”

You can find out more information about Subcon Laser by heading to their microsite: https://subconlaser.madeinthemidlands.com/

(Source: The Business Desk)

Subcon Laser continue investing to stay leading

Subcon Laser Cutting — 25/09/2019

Subcon Laser-based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire continue to invest in new technology and other aspects of the business to exceed customer expectations and maintain their leading status. We visited MiM Gold members Subcon Laser for an interview with General Manager Tom Mongan and a look around.

The multi-award-winning Warwickshire based company Subcon Laser Cutting is one of the leading manufacturing service providers in the UK. They offer high quality and reliable laser cutting services and have done so since the company was founded by Bill and Christine Brown in 1988.

The leading laser-cutting company has a number of achievements in regards to having the latest technology in the sector. In the reception of the company headquarters in Nuneaton, you are greeted by a number of framed images from the production line. One of the images captures a Laser Lab three-dimensional laser taken in 1995, with its unique cutting head Subcon Laser was the first company in the UK to have this technology. This perfectly complemented the two-dimensional laser systems and helped maintain Subcon’s position as one of the UK’s premier laser cutting companies.

Further down the line in the company’s history, they were also the first to invest in a Trumpf Brightline eight kilowatt fiber laser with Cooline technology, to produce incredibly detailed components in much thicker gauge material. To add to this, they were the first company to install a first of its kind Nitrogen Generating System.

More than 30 years on, Subcon Laser continue to invest in the latest technology to stay cutting-edge. One of their recent investments includes a one million pounds spent on a Trumpf Laser TruDisk 1001, a fiber laser that proves to be more energy-efficient and creates cleaner cut edges to eliminate further processes. Wondering around the company factory, we had a look at the latest laser technology and spoke to Marek Kurzynski who operates the new laser. He said:

“Our newest laser is better in terms of performance and efficiency. The bigger touch screen control makes it easier to use, productivity also increases when compared to older machines. I also like the active speed control which constantly monitors the kerf, this means the laser is constantly operating at the optimised feed rate rather than relying on fixed parameters set by the operator”

Subcon now has five 2 axis systems, consisting of three fiber lasers and two CO2 lasers, it also has two state of the art 5 axis laser systems, all backed up with both 2D and 3D laser scanning technology.

Investments into the company do not stop there, an extension of the factory is already underway to add extra processes, this will allow Subcon to produce more products in a smaller time frame, due to the extra space.

Plans are already in place to purchase a new Nitrogen Generating System, as the current one is five years old, Subcon is committed to getting the latest technology. With this type of Generating system, atmospheric air which contains around 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen is compressed and filtered. Nitrogen is separated from the compressed air by selective permeation, where oxygen and water vapour is removed and returned to the atmosphere while nitrogen gas is discharged under pressure into the distribution system.

After a look around the factory and discussion on the company’s latest investments, we sat down with General Manager Tom Mongon who has worked at Subcon Laser for the past twenty-six years. He mentions that the newest fiber laser by Trumpf is their most powerful laser to date:

“We just invested one million pounds in the very latest generation Trumpf ten kilowatt fiber, which is our most powerful laser to date. So in our thirty-one-year history, as lasers have evolved, we have always kept up to date with the latest generation that is coming out.”

We then spoke about the Nitrogen Generating system the company plans to invest in. With the current circumstances of the environment, Tom mentions by purchasing the system the company will be more environmentally friendly:

“With all of the new lasers, we need to generate more nitrogen. The new system will cost more than half a million pounds, however, it has a huge benefit to the environment. Instead of nitrogen being shipped in on lorries to fill big cylinders, we are producing it ourselves, greatly reducing our carbon footprint.”

In the run-up to Brexit, it may be common for companies to be reluctant to invest. However, like many other Made in Members, Subcon is positive of their company’s position in the market. Toms said:

“It is a sizeable sum of money we have decided to invest in the company and you have the added problems of Brexit and with no one knowing whats going on. However, SMEs like ourselves and those part of the Made in Group have very positive news in terms of investing”.

Subcon Laser creates important products for companies all over the UK, one these being the floor grilles at Westminster Abbey. The recent investments into the company are the reason why they are able to maintain their status as one of the leading laser cutting services. Investment and expansion at Subcon are ongoing not only in the very latest equipment but also into its processes, with Industry 4.0 technology being rolled out across the shop floor replacing the need for Job Cards, drawings, and paperwork.

Making Light Work for 30 years - Projects

Subcon Laser Cutting — 13/08/2018

The challenge set to Subcon was to maintain a 0.5mm tolerance whilst not only protecting a highly polished surface but keeping the shape of the pressing during the laser cutting process.

Anyone familiar with working on deep drawn pressings will fully understand the issues faced when trying to obtain a given shape from a deep drawn pressing, further compounded in this case by the fact that the material used was stainless steel.

The stresses within the pressing will cause the part to "ping" and distort when the laser cutting process starts to release the object part.

In this case we had to design and manufacture a fixture that would keep the shape of the part without damaging the all important polished surface, whilst maintaining a high degree of accuracy during the 3D laser cutting process.

See how we have made light work for 30 years at www.subconlaser.co.uk and over the coming months please watch out for further projects we have been involved in.

Subcon Laser Win "Excellence in Manufacturing" award

Subcon Laser Cutting — 26/10/2016

Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd are proud to announce they have won the coveted CET Coventry & Warwickshire Excellence in Manufacturing award. The winners were announced at a grand gala dinner and presentation night held at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday 20^th October.

Tom Mongan General Manager at Subcon Laser said Winning the award was an unbelievable achievement given the pedigree of the other two finalists, namely Jaguar Land Rover and The Autins Group. It was a great honour just to be nominated as a finalist with these two truly world class organisations and then to actually win the award is quite remarkable.

Mongan continued It is great honour for all the staff at Subcon as it really is in recognition for all their hard work, dedication and loyalty to the company, because without them winning such a prestigious award would not be possible.

On the night Subcon also picked up another trophy as they were named as runners up in the Excellence in Science & Technology category.

Over the last couple of years Subcon Laser has nearly doubled its turnover whilst investing heavily in the very latest technology to keep it at the forefront of a very competitive and growing industry. The company offers world class two & three dimensional laser cut product, with 2016 seeing the company take delivery of the UKs first 8kw Trumpf Fiber laser cutting system with every available extra feature, including Cooline Cutting, Drop & Cut and Remote Operational functions.

2016 also saw the company invest in the very latest state of the art 3D laser scanning and inspection system from Faro, which complements the companies 2D laser scanning, inspection and reverse engineering system.

With Brexit still high on the news pages does Subcon Laser worry about what the future holds? Well the answer to that according to Tom Mongan is Que Sera Sera, we have little control over the continuing political negotiations, however here at Subcon we have not seen a downturn in terms of manufacturing volume and if anything it is full steam ahead and rising. We have not put our investment or business strategy plans on hold. In fact we are looking to expand and with that comes job creation, yes Brexit was a shock, however the majority of companies we deal with are very optimistic, so Que Sera Sera.

Raw Material Costs

Subcon Laser Cutting — 01/03/2017

I am somewhat stunned and totally bemused why most companies involved in manufacturing are not shouting from the rooftops about the price of steel.

Why is there no discussions? Is everyone that happy and content with what is happening?

The cost of purchasing all types of steel, aluminium, stainless, copper and brass have shot through the roof.

The past twelve months has seen some types and grades of material rise by around 60% plus!!

Who on earth can sustain such increases?

I know we can't and therefore we have to increase our prices much to the annoyance of some of our customers, albeit we have only passed on a tiny fraction of that 60% increase.

What do other Made in the Midlands members think? Are constant material price increases sustainable? Where will it end? What are the reasons?

What steps has everyone taken to absorb or offset such increases.

Here at Subcon Laser we have invested in the very latest technology, therefore our laser systems work better than previous older systems which has helped us keep cost increases to an absolute minimum, but what does the future hold?

New Investment

Subcon Laser Cutting — 18/12/2015

Subcon Laser will shortly be releasing details of their latest investment in the very latest state of the art laser cutting system and 3D laser scanning and measurement technology.

This investment in fiber laser cutting technology will be a game changer in terms of cutting capability and the system will be the first of its kind in the UK.

Subcon Laser are one of the longest established laser cutting companies in the UK and are now gold members of "Made in the Midlands".

Subcon Laser processes a diverse range of materials ranging from common metals such as aluminium, mild and stainless steels, to more exotic types such as brass and copper. The ISO 9001:2008 accredited company, which employs around 30 people and has a £4 million turnover and looks forward to establishing links with other members.

For further details or information please contact Tom Mongan ( tmongan@subconlaser.co.uk ) or Matt Brown ( mbrown@subconlaser.co.uk ).

Alternatively please phone 024 7664 2221 and ask for Tom or Matt.

Amazing Garden of 25000 Letters

Subcon Laser Cutting — 31/08/2016

Subcon Laser and Donovan & Siegel have teamed up to bring a garden of letters to life in Edinburgh. Commissioned by Edinburgh Printmakers, The Rust Garden was conceived of and designed by Donovan and Siegel to transform a neglected area in Edinburgh into a space for reflection and interaction and features a pathway made of tiny rusted steel letters made specially by our team at Subcon Laser.

Thomas Flanagan, speaking on behalf of Edinburgh Printmakers, said, the garden has been a hit with members of the local community. Passers-by have used the letters to fashion words, phrases even short poems and have left their creations behind for others to discover. With its range of newly-installed flowering flora, the site has really sprung into life and this sense of renewal has been mirrored by the people of Fountainbridge and beyond, who continue to update and refresh the garden with their messages.

One of the main purposes of the garden is to give locals a chance to interact with a space that has been derelict for some time. The main idea for the Rust Garden was to create a path made up of tiny rusted steel letters that visitors can play with, walk over and even put in their pocket to take home. It is this idea of being at risk that fascinated Judith as it shows how an area can change and gives the sense of the rise and fall of industry in the area.

New website launch

Subcon Laser Cutting — 25/01/2018

I am pleased to say that after a lot of hard work our new website has just been launched.

Please take a look at www.subconlaser.co.uk

Any thoughts or feedback would be most welcome.

Coventry & Warwickshire Business Awards

Subcon Laser Cutting — 20/09/2016

Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd have been selected as one of the three companies to be nominated as finalists in the Coventry & Warwickshire business awards "Excellence in Manufacturing" category.

The awards ceremony & grand gala evening will be held at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday October 20th.

Tom Mongan General Manager at Subcon said "To be selected as one of the three finalists from all of the companies who entered in the Coventry and Warwickshire region is an honour and a great achievement. It is testament to the skill, dedication & hard work put in on a daily basis by all the staff at Subcon, especially when one considers the pedigree of the other two finalists, namely Jaguar Land Rover and The Autins Group PLC".

Subcon Laser have also been selected as finalists in another category for the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Awards, details to be released shortly.

2017 and all that!!

Subcon Laser Cutting — 12/12/2017

Well another year is drawing to a close and what a year it has been.

I think on reflection 2017 seems to have been a very good and positive year for a lot of MiM companies, err dare I say it "Despite Brexit".

I know for Subcon Laser it has been another incredible year with turnover set to increase by over a million pound again this year. We have created 9 new jobs and invested in another Trumpf 2 axis laser system and that is just the start of some exciting growth plans for 2018.

Back in March we were successful in achieving the new ISO9001:2015 quality standard as well as the new ISO14001:2015 environmental standard.

In May we were proud to be involved in what was the biggest and most successful MiM Expo to date at the Ricoh Arena and in June Subcon was once again exhibiting at the annual SUBCON Exhibition at the NEC, oh and we have managed to win a couple of awards as well.

Over the past year I have attended some great MiM member breakfast events and I will repeat what I said in my "Meet Britain's Makers" video shoot, which by the way is now the most viewed in the series. And that is of being a member "you will get out of it what you put into it", if you become a member you have to "join up and you have to join in".

The breakfast events are a great way of letting other members know who you are and what you do, I know I have gained business from them and made some good friends along the way.

So as 2017 nears its end I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all MiM members a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous 2018

Major Quality Achievement

Subcon Laser Cutting — 30/07/2019

Subcon Laser are pleased to announce having been audited on Monday 29th July, that they have passed the final stage of the BS EN 1090 quality audit, having passed the initial stage1 on the 26th June.

Subcon maintain full traceability, compliance and verification throughout to meet the requirements of the BS EN 1090 quality standard, thus ensuring that appropriate controls are in place at every stage of their manufacturing process.

Although already holding ISO9001:2015 quality and 14001:2015 environmental certification, having BS EN 1090 approval will potentially open up supply opportunities within the architectural and construction industries.

Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Subcon Laser Cutting — 02/11/2016

Some of the team at Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd proudly showing off the coveted CET Coventry & Warwickshire Excellence in Manufacturing award. Subcon were announced as winners at a grand gala dinner and presentation night held at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday 20th October.

Subcon Laser invest £2m on the latest technology

Subcon Laser Cutting — 28/07/2016

Subcon Laser Cutting has begun exporting parts to support the yellow goods industry after a major company within the sector opened two new Indian factories at the end of 2016.

The Nuneaton firm produces a part which is used within a heater grille assembly, and already exports into Europe.

Subcon Laser Cuttings general manager, Tom Mongan explained: We have exported in the past to companies in France and Ireland, and we can now add India to that portfolio.

So far our customer in India has placed four orders each for 5,000 parts at a time, so they are quite large-scale orders.

The company is looking to place more orders going forward and we are also looking at new products for them.

Mongan continued: Its a really exciting time for us at the moment. We have invested heavily over the past couple of years, spending over £2m on the latest technology, and our new 8kw Trumpf Fiber laser system is the first of its kind in the UK.

We have seen a huge amount of growth recently. Weve also been visited by George Osborne, were invited to a garden party at 10 Downing Street and Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones came to our 25th anniversary celebrations last year.

We are now looking at new processes which would be unique within our industry and the automotive industry would be very keen for us to develop them due to the potential cost savings.

Subcon Laser Cutting was established in 1989, employs 30 people and has a turnover of £4m. However, the company is a victim of its own success and is on the verge of outgrowing its current premises. It is also struggling to find staff due to a skills gap in the industry.

Mongan added: The surrounding area used to be wasteland, however over the years it has all been developed and houses have grown up around us.

As we plan for the future we have to keep all options open and as there is limited potential to expand our current facility, re-locating may be an option.

A lot of the staff are local people so the aim would undoubtedly be to remain in Nuneaton. The company started out on the Trident Business Park in the town and has over the years won numerous awards and is very proud of its association with Nuneaton and Warwickshire.

Were also facing issues as the skills we need from new employees arent readily available, so we find it difficult when recruiting new members of staff.

Made in the Midlands member nominated for Manufacturer of the Year award

Subcon Laser Cutting — 01/10/2019

Made in the Midlands is proud to announce that one of our members, Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd has been nominated for the Coventry Telegraph and Business Live Business Award. Announced earlier today, Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd is one of three finalists in the Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharayya Award for Manufacturer of the Year.

Speaking to Made in the Midlands, Tom Mongan, the General Manager of Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd said;

“I am immensely proud and deeply honoured that Subcon Laser Cutting has been shortlisted for the Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya award for Manufacturer of the Year. I firmly believe that Subcon over 31 years, has not only demonstrated a dedication to manufacturing excellence but upheld the proud manufacturing traditions that are synonymous with the Coventry & Warwickshire region by continual investment in the very latest technology available.”

We recently sat down with the company to discuss their investment in new technology and other aspects of the business which they have designed to exceed customer expectations. You can read the full story here.

The awards night will be hosted by Jeremy Vine and will take place at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, the same place as our 2020 Made in the Midlands Expo, on Thursday, November 21st 2019.

Our first event as gold members

Subcon Laser Cutting — 18/12/2015

Great night at our first event as gold members!!

Made in the Midlands Expo 2019: Subcon Laser Focuses on Bringing Their Industry Forward

Subcon Laser Cutting — 12/06/2019

Subcon Laser is both one of the oldest and largest laser cutting companies in the UK. From its inception in the eighties as a small business with a single machine, they quickly became the first in the UK industry to own and operate a 1.7kw laser system - and have been pioneering the way forward ever since.

Tom Mongan, General Manager at Subcon, has seen the expansive development of both the company and the industry in general over the 25 years he’s been with Subcon Laser. Mr. Mongan discusses the wide range of customers they’ve worked with, stating that: “I think the diversity of the people we work with is phenomenal.”

From working with Westminster Abbey and Rolls Royce, to travelling to places like Chicago to learn how about implementing Trumpf Smart Factory assets and Industry 4.0 procedures, Subcon have all the bases covered in terms of remaining on top in the world of UK laser cutting.

“We tend to bring in state-of-the-art systems every few years,” says Mr. Mongan, explaining that with every new acquisition of technology comes new opportunities for designing for more customers. To this end, Subcon are currently on the verge of investing in a 10kw laser system - a huge benchmark of progress since their early years of business.

This million-pound investment is perhaps the greatest example of what puts Subcon Laser ahead in the industry. They’ll be bringing this news to the upcoming Made in the Midlands exhibition, along with their expert knowledge and industry insight.

Who wants to be a..........

Subcon Laser Cutting — 07/12/2016

Pop Star, Film Star, Footballer, Lawyer, Banker, Doctor, Nurse, Teacher or Journalist? Or what about Architect, Accountant, Pilot, Police Officer, Army Officer, Pharmacist, Biologist, Zoologist or any other ologist. Or what about being an "Engineer"

Well the first three you would have to be very lucky and the remainder you have to be very clever don't you? Apart from being an engineer!!!!

That was actually said to me and what never ceases to amaze me is people's perception of engineering, and how they describe it. Statements such as "Engineering that's smelly and dirty", or "Engineering, nah you mean factory fodder", or "Apprenticeship? What in engineering, that's for people who aren't that bright"

Ring any bells with anyone?

What about "I want to go to Uni and get a degree in..................... and earn lots of money"

Err reality check, the average starting wage for a university graduate is around £19k to £22k, leaving university with an average debt of around £44k.

Light bulb moment, if you are clever enough!!! Get an engineering apprenticeship, learn a highly valued skill with exciting and rewarding career prospects in a diverse and ever changing advancing profession.

Oh and you get paid from the start, all things considered it's a no-brainer really.

Imagine having the ability to be able to draw, design, mould, manipulate, machine, fabricate and manufacture any item or object? Then imagine having the skill to make that item or object move, to bring it to life!! Just imagine having that ability.

Now look around you and imagine a world without engineers, a world without technical, mechanical, electrical, civil or software engineers.

A world, our world, without engineers could not function or even exist.

Engineering!!

A future in the making.

Record Breaking 12 months

Subcon Laser Cutting — 26/02/2018

Since the last recession, I am pleased to say that Subcon Laser has enjoyed a year on year increase in turnover, culminating in incredible growth over the past twelve months.

Our turnover this year has increased when compared to our best ever previous corresponding months by an average of 50%, with one month showing an absolutely astounding 88% increase.

So what has given rise to such an impressive performance?

Never has the competition within the laser industry been so fierce, with a record number of companies offering laser cutting services.

Since our beginning some 30 years ago, Subcon Laser has continually strived to offer its customer base in terms of quality, price and availability, the very best service and products available.

Our strategy of repeatedly investing in the very latest machine and process technology has enabled the company to remain at the forefront of an immensely challenging and ever-changing industry.

However, the question still intrigued me, so I asked our customers as to why they chose Subcon over the countless other companies and their response could be summed up in three words: because we care.

It seems whether or not our customers are new, or have used our services for years, the key ingredient was understanding what the customer required and caring enough to exceed their expectations.

A company can go out and buy the very latest equipment, it can introduce the very latest processes and it can have the most modern systems, but there are still key components missing. I firmly believe the key components to our success is the knowledge, longevity and loyalty of its staff and this is what makes Subcon Laser a cut above the rest.

Tom Mongan, General Manager

The importance of a strong online presence at Subcon Laser

Subcon Laser Cutting — 25/07/2017

With close to 5,000 followers across the @SubconLaser and @TmonganTom Twitter accounts, General Manager of Subcon Laser, Tom Mongan is one of the digital leaders within our membership.

Tom featured in one of the earliest episodes of Meet Britain's Makers on MIM TV back in September 2016 which to date has attracted over 750 viewers to this episode making it one of the most popular in the series so far. In the video, Tom discusses Subcons growth plans, past successes and life after Brexit as a manufacturer.

With Made in the Midlands having recently released a FREE download: 5 tips to boosting your online presence and sales for our members, MIM caught up with Tom to get his views on having a strong online presence.

I think it's crucial to have an online presence incorporated within a sales strategy to cover all mediums as people of all ages are now using the internet to find out information. If you are not promoting yourself on the internet or social media then nobody will ever know about you. You can spend millions investing in new equipment, but if nobody knows about it then what's the point? Tom said.

Statistical research has indicated that more than 80% of consumers do their research online or via mobile, which means that having a digital presence is more important than ever. Tom continued: I have strengthened relations with people using for example LinkedIn or Twitter. Subcon Laser do exhibitions and people that I have never met but are connected with me on either of those social mediums have visited our stands, introduced themselves and have recommended us to other people that require our services.

Manufacturing leaders are fantastic sources of knowledge and it may seem logical to retain the information you have. Although, sharing your knowledge with the world has never been more valuable, as people always want to learn and get better. Believe it or not, your knowledge is already out there on the internet and someone is already shouting about it. Dont give away all of your trade secrets, but you can attract people to your presence by writing about your experiences.

The digital marketing industry has done a great job in scaring people away from doing it all themselves. People sometimes suffer from the fear of exposing themselves or not having the qualifications. However, Tom explained: People would expect me to write that Subcon is the best laser cutting company in the UK, the art is coming up with something that would grab people's attention and attracting them to your online presence, because you have a relatively short time frame to make an impression online.

When you have a website, you need to tell everybody about your great work and Made in the Midlands can support you with that. We create a microsite, which provides you with a platform to upload news and we will spread your message to over 11,000 Twitter followers. Utilizing online social media platforms will help you to spread the message of your company, entirely for free.

Tom concluded: I dont know why people dwell on the idea of joining Made in the Midlands or doing MIM TV. Within a high tech laser industry, you have to be on top of new technology and also the social networks that help to promote yourself and the company. Made in the Midlands have a ready made audience to share the great news from our industry.

Subcon Laser backs Warwickshire to continue economic growth

Subcon Laser Cutting — 27/07/2018

The county of Warwickshire has been ranked as of of the top countries for business growth, despite uncertainty on a national scale over trading conditions.

The was announced following an Economic Outlook Event held by Warwickshire County Council and the local Chamber of Commerce. Although confidence had dropped compared to findings in January but optimism in the region was shown to be well above the national average

Tom Mongan, General Manager of Nuneaton-based manufacturing company Subcon Laser on why the region’s businesses we positive currently said “We have an incredible location, with superb road, rail and air connectivity which is extremely attractive.

“And, while there is a wider issue around skills, we are blessed with a good level of skilled workers in this region due to the fantastic manufacturing heritage in Coventry and Warwickshire.

"From the major closures of bigger businesses in previous years, smaller companies have emerged in this sector and that has helped the region to keep those skills and, importantly, pass them on to the next generation.

“We are blessed with two fantastic universities – both of which understand and engage with business – alongside other institutions such as WMG and the MTC, as well as some outstanding businesses that are operating on the global stage such as Jaguar Land Rover, LEVC and MIRA .

“And, finally, it’s a great place to live too, which is vital when attracting the best talent – with a host of world-class attractions on our doorstep, breath-taking countryside and the City of Culture right in the middle.”

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Subcon Laser Cutting — 10/12/2018

With just under two weeks left before we close for the Christmas holidays it's probably a good time to reflect on 2018.

As Christmas approaches I am personally as unprepared as ever, as I still have numerous things to do including my shopping.

Unprepared, that is a key word here as there is no doubting the main word that seems to be on everyone's lips these past few weeks and that is Brexit!

With the March 29th deadline fast approaching we seem to be as unprepared as the very first day after the referendum took place, in fact in my opinion I believe we are now in a worse situation than we were nearly 2 years ago.

At time of writing we were supposed to be having a televised debate between the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, however this looks like it has been shelved, parliament was going to be voting on the deal Theresa May had negotiated but that also looks like it is going to be delayed. So all in all this of course leaves us all...............who knows where.

I don't know about you but I'm sick to the back teeth of Brexit, but one thing is for sure it's not going away and it will have an impact on all of us, regardless of whether you are a remainer or a brexiteer.

Manufacturing of course is already feeling the impact and all this uncertainty is not helping anyone, especially those companies allied to automotive. Last week when a lot of you were enjoying the MiM Xmas drinks I was with a delegation of businesses at Westminster discussing all things Brexit with the British Chambers of Commerce and a number of MP's, it was certainly an interesting time to be in the hallowed halls of parliament as things seemed to be changing by the hour as MP's debated the EU withdrawal bill.

So as the uncertainty continues, as the debate rages on, whatever your thoughts and which ever way you voted, the Brexit discussions will continue long after the turkey has been eaten and Auld Lang Syne has been sung.

To conclude, if you have had a great 2018 then I hope 2019 is even better, if 2018 was not so good for you then I hope 2019 improves.

Key Industry Figures visit Subcon Laser

Subcon Laser Cutting — 21/02/2017

http://www.mtdcnc.com/tv/precision-engineers/subcon-laser-hold-local-open-house-event?keywords