York-based fabrication specialist AJ Manufacturing has strengthened its production capabilities and sharpened its competitive edge following a strategic investment in advanced sheet metal processing technology supplied by Axe & Status.
It has installed an Accurl Smart Cube 3015 6kW CNC fibre laser cutter and an Accurl 175-ton CNC press brake, already delivering gains in speed, accuracy and flexibility.
The investment marks an important milestone for AJ Manufacturing as it approaches its fifth anniversary. Founded by Adam Jennings and Jake Connell-Southcoat, the business serves sectors including agriculture, construction, retail and food, offering CNC fabrication, machining, welding, installation and maintenance engineering.
From plasma to precision
For Adam Jennings, the decision to invest in fibre laser cutting technology was driven by a clear ambition to enhance both efficiency and capability.
“We previously operated a plasma cutter and outsourced laser cutting to a local company,” he explained. “However, it meant longer lead times and additional cost. Bringing this capability in-house was the logical next step.”
AJ Manufacturing’s workload is highly varied, with the team producing everything from agricultural components to architectural steelwork and domestic projects such as staircases, gates and balustrades. Adam said: “Most of our work is one-offs or small batches, so the machines we acquire have to be flexible and efficient.”
A year in the making
“We looked at four or five different laser cutters,” recalled Adam. “It was a big investment for a company of our size, so making the correct decision was imperative. Our thorough decision process took over a year from start to finish.”
AJ Manufacturing first saw Accurl machines at MACH 2024 on the Axe & Status stand, then carried out further research and visited existing users.
“It was great to see the laser cutters processing real-world parts and speak to the owners about factors like performance and reliability,” he explained. “It really helped us make the right call.”
Practical factors also influenced the decision, including the Smart Cube’s retractable cutting table for heavier plate and its compact footprint.
The Accurl Smart Cube 3015 6kW fibre laser was installed towards the end of 2025 and commissioned quickly.
“The machine was up and running in two days,” revealed Adam. “Axe & Status came back a week later to deliver the training. It was our first laser cutter, so it was quite daunting, but the training was excellent and we picked it up quickly.”
Speed, quality and capability
The new laser cutter has made an immediate impact, improving speed, control and overall cutting performance.
“Investing in the Accurl laser was the best decision we ever made,” stated Adam. “It’s around 50% faster than the plasma cutter we were using previously, and the quality of cut is far superior.”
Enhanced edge quality has removed a significant amount of secondary finishing work.
“With our plasma cutter, we had to clean the edge post-profiling,” he said. “That’s no longer necessary with the fibre laser. We’re also able to cut extremely accurate hole sizes, which means there’s no need for secondary drilling operations to achieve the tolerance required.”
AJ Manufacturing uses the fibre laser to process various grades of steel, including stainless, and cuts aluminium when required.
One feature proving particularly useful is the laser’s etching capability.
“We can write part numbers or identification marks directly on the sheet without changing the head or adjusting anything else on the machine,” explained Adam. “It’s a really handy feature that helps with traceability and organisation.”
Forming power to match
Alongside the laser cutter, AJ Manufacturing upgraded its forming capability with the acquisition of an Accurl 175-ton CNC press brake.
The company’s previous torsion-bar press brake handled basic parts, but the new CNC machine has expanded capability and increased productivity.
“The Accurl is a far superior machine,” stated Adam. “It produces much more accurate angles across entire plate length. The machine is also easier to use, while the ability to see bending simulations on-screen makes an enormous difference, because it informs us of any potential collisions so we can adjust the program accordingly.”
The machine is currently bending materials up to 12 mm thick, with AJ Manufacturing already introducing additional tooling to extend its capabilities further.
Ready for the next chapter
The combined investment in laser cutting and CNC bending has strengthened AJ Manufacturing’s ability to win more work.
Adam said: “We’re already seeing more enquiries. Thanks to the new machines, we can process parts faster and with greater accuracy, which is attracting interest in longer production runs.”
Growth remains on the agenda, with planning approval secured for a workshop extension that will increase floor space by around a third.
“We’re hoping to start building before the end of 2026,” he explained. “Once complete, we’ll probably relocate the laser and press brake into the new space and continue expanding from there.”
Throughout the project, Adam said the support provided by Axe & Status had been key: “They’ve been brilliant. If we have any questions they respond straight away. That level of support makes a significant difference to a small business investing in new machines.”
With its new capability in place, AJ Manufacturing is well positioned to build on its early success.
“The new machines give us the capability and confidence to take on more complex work and larger batches,” he concluded. “Investing in Accurl machines has opened the door to new opportunities and we’re excited about what comes next.”