Making the most of offcuts

A sister enterprise of Nottingham-based Lasershape, Steelblanks.co.uk is an ideal solution for anyone who doesn't require a full size sheet of material. Available on next day delivery via an online ordering service, the website went live in early June 2013 and is already taking orders.

At Lasershape, a specialist in laser profiling and waterjet cutting, material offcuts and remnants are a common by-product of everyday operations. The issues of cost and the environment demand a responsible solution to the problem and while normal industry practice is to use a scrap recycling company, Steelblanks.co.uk presents an alternative option that is beneficial for all concerned.

“There are so many engineering companies out there who only need a small piece of material to make a handful of brackets, for example,” says company director, Tim Leam. “The unnecessary expenditure and effort of buying a full sheet, storing what's left – and possibly never using it – can be avoided with Steelblanks.co.uk.”

The initiative originated from the installation of a new offcut management system at Lasershape in 2012. The high prices of modern engineering materials mean that offcuts have become a serious concern for all manufacturing businesses in recent years. Through the new system, Lasershape now reuses as many offcuts as possible in its own processes. However, remnants below a certain size are almost impossible to reuse, hence the formation of Steelblanks.co.uk.

“As well as a business initiative, it also facilitates a greener process in that metal recycling requires processes such as collection, sorting and melting, all of which increase carbon footprint,” adds Mr Leam. “Steelblanks.co.uk.co.uk has none of that.”

The website allows users to select mild steel, stainless steel 304 or stainless steel 316 material, although aluminium will also soon be available. Mild steel can be selected in thicknesses ranging from 0.9 to 20mm, while the stainless materials range from 0.9 to 15mm. In all materials and thicknesses there are three sheet sizes available to select, 240mm by 240mm, 490mm by 490mm and 990mm by 990mm. All of the products are in stock for same day despatch or collection from the warehouse in Nottingham, just five minutes from J25 of the M1. The company also plans to add thicker (up to 100mm) waterjet blanks to the site in the near future.

“Users can be assured of the best prices,” says Mr Leam. “At Lasershape we spend around £300,000 a month on raw material which means we purchase in bulk from the material suppliers to achieve the maximum discounts available. Furthermore, the whole online process is automated. Visitors to the site simply create an account, place items in a shopping basket and check out. Orders received by 10am will be delivered the following day and the whole process is UPS linked so customers can track their orders.”
In just the first week of going live (without any publicity), Mr Leam says that Steelblanks.co.uk.co.uk attracted an 500 hits with numerous orders being placed.

“Lots of engineering companies have already taken advantage of the service but the site has even wider appeal, reaching out to the general public, such as vehicle restorers or DIY enthusiasts,” he concludes. “It's a simple, expedient and cost-effective way of obtaining cut blanks.”

Steelblanks
www.Steelblanks.co.uk