The Poole, Dorset-based firm will use the £1 million machine produce precision tooling for moulding and engineering requirements. Allen Lodge, managing director at Cable First, which has around 40 staff and a turnover of £7m, says the machine had transformed the company, adding nine new jobs.
The investment was made with the support of The Dorset Growth Hub, which draws on EU funding via the European Regional Development Fund.
The OPM250 is a single process machine which combines laser metal sintering and high speed milling within the same workspace, allowing users to create finished 3D printed moulds within a single machine. This additive technology allows not only for improved mould cooling channels and cycle times, but also streamlines mould design, significantly reducing the number of components necessary to create a complete mould.