Luzzo Bespoke, a creative engineering specialist supplying highly bespoke products to a range of customers in the automotive, marine, lifestyle and consumer luxury markets, has expanded its capabilities with the addition of a Charmilles LASER P 1000U 5-axis digital texturing and engraving machine.
Installed at the company’s 1000m² manufacturing facility in January 2025, the machine was supplied by GF Machining Solutions—now known as United Machining.
The investment represents Luzzo Bespoke’s first use of laser texturing technology from this supplier, although the company has a history of adopting advanced machining equipment, including Mikron 5-axis machining centres with automated pallet changers. According to the company, the new LASER P 1000U machine has increased its in-house design and manufacturing options and enabled the production of a wider range of 2D and 3D surface textures on machined products.
The introduction of the new equipment is expected to enhance Luzzo Bespoke’s ability to apply high-accuracy decorative and functional textures, especially for mould tools and inserts. The company views the new laser machine as a step toward broadening its manufacturing capabilities and meeting the requirements of its clients in high-value sectors such as the automotive, marine, lifestyle, and luxury consumer markets, where the company supplies bespoke engineered products.
Managing director Brian Challenger said: “Not that long ago we were asked to add the finish machining touches to a one-off high-end steering wheel that had been machined in China for a luxury car manufacturer in the UK.
“The steering wheel was, in truth, machined to high accuracy and certainly looked the part and I estimated that if we were asked to machine the whole job from scratch to the same quality standards the cost, including the purchase of the raw billet and all associated machining and programming operations, would be in the region of £7k.
“When I found out that the cost from the Chinese manufacturer was just $950, it reinforced my conviction that competing toe-to-toe on cost with Far East and other low-cost manufacturers was a fool’s errand, and that, instead, we needed to be offering something new, different and unique to the market, that was valued by customers, and that could not be easily replicated or achieved by our competitors.”
He decided that the technology that a 5-axis laser texturing machine would help Luzzo stand out from the crowd and meet the company’s immediate and future laser texturing, engraving and ablation requirements.
In addition to completing a number of fee-paying jobs, the machine is also allows Luzzo Bespoke to show actual and potential customers its potential for producing unique and highly innovative decorative and functional textured surfaces as a route to opening up new business opportunities.