Case Studies

Meet Porky Penguin

Porky Penguin began in 2012, when founder Rebecca Kellet started creating personalised prints for friends and family. What began as a hobby soon developed into a thriving personalised gift business, with a growing team designing and handcrafting products in-house. During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand surged for one of the company’s most thoughtful creations, the Pocket Hug, which helped people feel connected to loved ones during periods of isolation.

To keep pace with rapidly increasing orders, Porky Penguin needed laser cutting and engraving equipment that could handle a wide variety of materials while delivering consistent quality and reliability through long production hours. The business chose the HPC Laser PRO Laser Cutter (LS6840) and, as demand continued to grow, expanded from one machine to four.

The LS6840 machines became an important part of Porky Penguin’s production process, helping the team maintain a smooth workflow, minimise downtime and consistently produce high-quality finished products. The wider benefits included low running costs, minimal material waste, quick turnaround times and a compact footprint that freed up valuable space for packing and order fulfilment. Rebecca describes the machines as reliable “workhorses” that have become a trusted part of the company’s everyday operation.

More recently, Porky Penguin has taken the next step by investing in HPC Laser’s High Speed PRO Laser (LS6840HS). Following a demonstration, Rebecca placed an order, and the new machine is now fully operational, helping the team increase engraving speeds, improve production efficiency and continue delivering the high standard of service its customers expect.

Customer: Porky Penguin

Machine: HPC Midi Pro LS6840HS

The Steeltech Kinetix Story

Chris Westney, MD of Steeltech Kinetix in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, runs a versatile precision sheet metal and fabrication business known for its technical expertise and high-quality bespoke metalwork. Frustrated by the delays, costs and limitations of subcontracting, he needed an in-house laser cutter that could handle higher volumes, deliver far greater precision and produce a cleaner finish than his old plasma cutter. After discussions with the HPC team, Chris opted for a larger machine than he originally planned, choosing the Midi PRO fibre laser (LS3015, 6kW, 3000 × 1500 mm bed) for its full-sheet capability in a compact, safety-focused enclosure.

The new laser has transformed the business. It has cut subcontractor costs, opened new revenue streams, shortened lead times and given the company the flexibility to take on short runs and one-off jobs. Cutting quality is markedly higher with minimal burr, processes are faster and more efficient, running costs are lower thanks to reduced gas and power use, and the team now has the freedom to experiment with ideas that were previously uneconomical.

The results have exceeded expectations. Jobs that once took a full day are now completed in around ten minutes, human error has been largely eliminated, and production capacity has increased so significantly that a dedicated laser operator has been employed. Extra work that could not previously have been accepted has become a regular part of the workload, while HPC’s rapid WhatsApp-based support has proved outstanding. Chris sums it up simply: he wishes he had invested five years earlier, as the machine would already have paid for itself.

Customer: Steeltech Kinetix

Machine: HPC Midi Pro LS3015 6kW

Meet JonoKnife

Jonathan Slater founded JonoKnife by bringing together his love of woodworking, quality knives and fresh homemade bread. Handmade on a small farm in the English countryside, each JonoKnife is inspired by the traditional Appalachian bow bread saw and fitted with an ultra-thin Sheffield blade, designed to glide effortlessly through both crusty loaves and delicate soft breads.

As demand grew, Jonathan needed a more efficient way to create handle stencils, refine blade production and personalise each finished knife. Following a strong recommendation and his own research, he chose the HPC PRO Multi-Cut Laser. The machine offered the capability and value he was looking for, backed by the positive service reputation HPC had earned with its customers.

The laser has improved accuracy, consistency and efficiency throughout production, enabling JonoKnife to create stencils in-house, personalise handles with engraved branding, and make precise blade modifications without the time-consuming, error-prone manual processes previously required. “I have now owned three HPC machines, all of which have exceeded expectations, I’ve found the service to be outstanding and the laser perfect for my needs.”

— Jonathan Slater, Owner

Customer: JonoKnife

Machine: HPC Multi-Cut LS1390

Mosevic Eyewear

Mosevic Eyewear, a unique and pioneering brand known for its handcrafted denim sunglasses, began facing production delays due to outsourcing key processes like cutting and engraving.

With the introduction of HPC Laser’s LS3060 Pro laser cutter, they brought these tasks in-house: reducing lead times, cutting costs, and gaining the creative flexibilty that makes their brand stand out. This case study explores how HPC and their LS3060 helped Mosevic improve efficiency, precision, product quality, and content creation.

Mosevic Eyewear was founded by Jack over a decade ago in Cornwall, UK. The company designs and creates sunglasses from resin-infused denim. Initially an experimental project, Jack began playing around with durable but lightweight materials when he was working on creating his own kiteboard.

This led him to explore the idea of infusing fabrics like denim with resin. Today, Mosevic has grown into a successful business that ships globally and captivates a large audience of over 200,000 followers online.

Customer: Mosevic Eyewear Ltd
Machine: Laserscript LS3060
Laser source: Water Cooled CO2 Glass Tube (60W)

Fracino Espresso Machines

Fracino is a renowned British manufacturer of commercial and domestic espresso machines, with over 60 years of experience in the industry.

Recognised as a brand leader with a flair for innovation, they export their products to over 70 countries across five continents. All Fracino machines are manufactured in their Birmingham facility, where the entire production process is managed in-house. This includes design, sheet metal fabrication (laser cutting, bending, and welding), CNC machining, and production testing.

In their efforts to develop a new range of high-end domestic machines, Fracino aimed to introduce manufacturing processes and finishes not typically associated with their machines, such as wooden inlays in side panels. To achieve this, they sought advanced equipment capable of delivering high precision and versatility.

Read the full case study here.

Customer: Fracino
Machines: LSE110 Laser Marker, LSW2000 Laser Welder, CNC6090 Router

Meet Craig Engineering

Craig Engineering is a Halifax-based specialist in the manufacture and assembly of high-quality stainless steel fabrications. With a highly skilled workforce and extensive sheet metal experience, the company wanted to reduce its reliance on subcontracted cutting, improve efficiency and create the capacity to take on more work without compromising quality.

Following its review of several suppliers, Craig Engineering selected a Bodor C3 laser cutter. Its bed size, power and ability to cut a wide range of materials and thicknesses made it a strong fit for the business. The system was upgraded with an iLoader Eco, a pneumatically assisted material loading and unloading device, to support a more efficient production flow.

Bringing cutting capability in-house has helped Craig Engineering reduce the number of jobs sent to subcontractors, improve lead times and offer customers greater flexibility for short runs and one-off requirements. The business also benefits from precision cutting, a high-quality finish, lower power usage and energy-efficient operation.

“The installation of the laser cutter has made a huge difference to the business; we simply couldn’t provide the service we do now without it. One of our larger customers can order over 1,000 parts a month, and it’s thanks to our laser cutter that we can handle that level of production.”

– Rob Woods, MD

Customer: Craig Engineering

Machine: Bodor C3

Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust

HPC Laser visited Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation trust for the annual service of their LS6090 CO2 Laser Cutter.

Channelling the combination of creativity and technology to fundraise for the ongoing renovation and preservation of history, Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust do great work with their laser machine: volunteers Robin Linkens and Neil Clarke use the LS6090 to create branded items out of wood, MDF, acrylic, and slate, which are up for sale in their gift shop. Read the full blog post here.

The proceeds of which contribute to the ongoing preservation and renovation of the almost 300-year-old stately home and its grounds. The LS6090 is compact enough for their smaller workshop, but their 60W laser tube is powerful enough to cut and engrave the materials they use in their creations.

The machine is well taken care of by the volunteers, and is still in very good condition after six years of frequent use.

Customer: Wentworth Woodhouse Trust
Machine: Laserscript LS6090 CO2 Laser Cutter
Laser Source: 60kW CO2 Laser Tube