Laser Industry News — August 12, 2026: TRUMPF Acquires Cutlite, Mazak Optonics Launch, IMTS Previews
Four stories this week, and they all point one way: the laser cutting market is splitting into two lanes. TRUMPF agreed to buy Cutlite Penta, the Italian builder of 30-60kW large-format machines, to own the very high power segment outright. Mazak launched Optonics, a China-built line of laser cutters priced for shops that want a proven brand without the premium. And with IMTS six weeks away, Bystronic Rofin and Prima Power LASERDYNE both previewed precision marking, micro welding and high-power processing systems. High power at the top, value at the bottom, precision in the middle.
1. TRUMPF Moves to Acquire Cutlite Penta: Owning the 30-60kW Segment
TRUMPF announced on August 7 that it will acquire the business of Cutlite Penta S.p.A. from El.En. S.p.A., Italy's laser group. Closing is expected in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approval. Cutlite keeps its own brand, its factory in Prato with about 190 employees, and its sales and service network.
Cutlite has 34 years of experience building custom large-format cutting systems. Its specialty is very high power lasers — 30kW to 60kW — aimed squarely at shops that want to replace slow, energy-hungry plasma cutting on thick plate. The company also builds oversize tube machines, which fits neatly into TRUMPF's tube cutting lineup.
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Buyer | TRUMPF (Ditzingen, Germany) |
| Target | Cutlite Penta S.p.A., from El.En. S.p.A. |
| Specialty | Custom large-format cutting, 30-60kW fiber lasers, oversize tube machines |
| Team | ~190 employees, Prato, Italy; 34 years in business |
| Closing | H2 2026, subject to regulatory approvals |
Why this matters: TRUMPF has been strong in medium and high power, but the 30kW+ custom market was mostly independent builders. Buying Cutlite gives TRUMPF an in-house answer for the fabricators who outgrow standard machines — the ones cutting 20mm to 60mm plate daily. It also gives Cutlite access to TRUMPF's global service network, which was the main reason Italian custom machines were hard to sell outside Europe.
For most buyers, the practical read is simpler. Machines in this class start well above $1 million, and you need serious plate volume to justify them. A well-matched 12kW or 20kW fiber laser cutting machine covers the majority of fabrication work at a fraction of the cost. The very high power lane is real, but it is not where most shops live.
2. Mazak Launches Optonics: A China-Built Laser Cutter with a Brand Name
Mazak Optonics introduced its new Optonics brand of laser cutting machines, built in China but carrying Mazak's quality controls. Canadian Metalworking covered the launch, which happened during the Discovery '26 showcase in Elgin, Illinois. President Al Bohlen was direct about the strategy: Mazak knows how to manufacture in China — it runs two plants there with 1,350 employees — so it used that know-how to build lower-cost machines.
The first two models are the Lz 3015A and Lz 6025A. The Lz 3015A runs a 6kW or 12kW source on a 5 by 10 ft table; the Lz 6025A runs a 12kW or 20kW source on an 8 by 20 ft table. Both use Mazak's SmoothCUT fiber laser source — the same one in the FT 250 tube cutting machine — plus the SmoothEDGE control, a dual pallet changer and Mazak's standard nozzle technology.
| Model | Power Options | Max Cutting Area |
|---|---|---|
| Lz 3015A | 6kW or 12kW | 5 x 10 ft |
| Lz 6025A | 12kW or 20kW | 8 x 20 ft |
The Optonics line also adds Mazak's first press brake, the XB 130-32A, which debuts at FABTECH in Las Vegas, October 21-23. Bohlen said the expected customers are shops new to laser cutting, or existing fabricators adding capacity in a cost-effective way. The 8 by 20 ft table on the Lz 6025A is a deliberate answer to shops that want to make the most of their sheet purchases.
This is the same move we see across the industry: established brands using Chinese manufacturing to hit value prices, while keeping a service structure buyers trust. It validates what Chinese builders have done for years — build solid machines at factory-direct prices. The difference now is that global brands want in on that lane too. If you are comparing options in this power range, our laser cutting machines are built in the same factories and priced without the brand markup.
3. Bystronic Rofin IMTS Preview: EasyMark Marking and ExactWeld Micro Welding
Bystronic Rofin will show its marking and welding lineup at IMTS 2026, September 14-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The booth covers three product groups: the EasyMark desktop marking platform, the Performance Series manual welders, and the ExactWeld micro welding system.
EasyMark is a compact desktop fiber laser system for marking, 3-D engraving, annealing, deep engraving and cutting on metals and other materials. It comes with configurable power options and the integrated Visual Laser Marker (VLM) software. Optional SmartView vision, a rotary axis and 3D engraving expand what it can do.
The Performance Series manual welders deliver micron-level spot and seam welding with a choice of chamber sizes, configurable laser sources and optional motorized part rotation. For oversized components, the Performance Unlimited adds a laser-safe open workspace with advanced pulse shaping.
The headline system is ExactWeld (models 230, 410 and 430), built for precision micro welding of small metal components. It adds optional SmartWeld+ wobble technology, real-time process monitoring and the Laser FrameWork software. Target industries: medical devices, precision sensors, automotive electronics and other high-precision work.
The pattern here is worth noting. Marking and micro welding are where the growth is in precision manufacturing — traceability rules and miniaturized components keep pushing demand. For shops that do both heavy fabrication and fine detail work, the question is whether to buy a micro system or run the detail jobs on a general-purpose machine. A laser welding machine with adjustable parameters covers a wide range of joints, while ExactWeld-class systems exist for parts measured in millimeters.
4. Prima Power LASERDYNE: Precision Heads and High-Power Welding Tests
Prima Power LASERDYNE previewed its IMTS 2026 exhibit at booth 13522. The company will show the BeamDirector and Laser Next Head, its latest beam delivery and processing heads, backed by motion accuracy of ±0.012 mm (0.0005 in.).
The LASERDYNE line covers precision laser drilling, high-performance welding, cutting and advanced material processing. Its proprietary controls — OFC2 ABSOLUTE, SmartRamp, SmartPierce, SmartSense, SmartComp, CylPerf and LinPerf — adjust process parameters in real time to cut scrap and speed production. For shops making complex, high-tolerance parts, that level of control is the difference between a good run and a scrapped batch.
One detail stands out: LASERDYNE confirmed it is testing high powered welding systems as it expands its advanced processing capabilities. That is a direct signal that precision laser companies see welding, not cutting, as the next growth market. It matches what we see on the shop floor — handheld and gantry laser welding machines are moving from cosmetic work into structural, load-bearing joints.
IMTS runs September 14-19 at McCormick Place. If you are there, booth 13522 is worth a stop for anyone running high-tolerance parts. For everyone else, the takeaway is the same as the other stories this week: the market keeps splitting by application, and the machine that fits your actual workload beats the one with the biggest spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the TRUMPF and Cutlite partnership mean for the laser cutting market?
TRUMPF agreed to acquire the business of Cutlite Penta S.p.A. from Italy's El.En. S.p.A., with closing expected in the second half of 2026. Cutlite keeps its own brand, factory and service network, and builds custom large-format cutting systems with very high power lasers of 30-60kW, plus oversize tube machines. For buyers, this means more supply options in the high-power segment where 30kW and above fiber lasers replace slow plasma cutting on thick plate.
Why is Mazak launching the Optonics brand of laser cutting machines?
Mazak Optonics built the Optonics line in China to compete on price while keeping Mazak's quality controls. The first models are the Lz 3015A with a 6kW or 12kW source on a 5 by 10 ft table, and the Lz 6025A with a 12kW or 20kW source on an 8 by 20 ft table. Both use Mazak's SmoothCUT fiber laser source, the SmoothEDGE control, and a dual pallet changer. The target buyers are shops new to laser cutting or adding capacity at a lower entry cost.
What will Bystronic Rofin show at IMTS 2026?
Bystronic Rofin will show the EasyMark desktop fiber laser marking platform for marking, 3-D engraving, annealing and deep engraving; the Performance Series manual welders for micron-level spot and seam welding; and the ExactWeld system (230, 410 and 430) for precision micro laser welding of small metal components. ExactWeld adds optional SmartWeld+ wobble technology and real-time process monitoring, and targets medical devices, precision sensors and automotive electronics.
What is Prima Power LASERDYNE bringing to IMTS 2026?
Prima Power LASERDYNE will show the BeamDirector and Laser Next Head at booth 13522, backed by motion accuracy of plus or minus 0.012 mm. Its OFC2 ABSOLUTE, SmartRamp, SmartPierce, SmartSense and SmartComp features provide real-time process control for precision drilling, high-performance welding and cutting. LASERDYNE also confirmed it is testing high powered welding systems as it expands into higher-power processing.
Should a fabricator buy a 20kW or 60kW fiber laser cutting machine in 2026?
It depends on the plate thickness you cut most. A 20kW class machine handles medium plate fast and is a proven production workhorse. 30-60kW machines mainly make sense for thick plate — 20mm and above — where the speed gain cuts cost per part and replaces plasma. Most shops do fine with 6kW to 20kW. The Cutlite deal shows that very high power machines are a specialty market, not the default purchase. If you are sizing a machine, our fiber laser cutting machine pages cover power selection by material and thickness.
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