Laser Industry News — October 28, 2026: TRUMPF Doubles to 50 kW, Tube Laser Automation at Two Shows, Welding Brands Go Handheld, Stainless Costs Slide
TRUMPF put a 50 kW laser on a 2D cutting machine at EuroBLECH and says it cuts plate up to 80 mm, more than double the top power it sold before. Tube laser builders spent the same week on part handling instead of wattage. ESAB, Kemppi and ACMER all shipped handheld laser welders in October. Stainless costs kept falling into October 27, and China's September stainless exports were the best month of 2026.
1. TRUMPF Puts 50 kW on a 2D Laser and Cuts 80 mm Plate
TRUMPF announced the TruLaser 8000 Power Edition on October 21 at EuroBLECH in Hanover. The machine runs a 50 kW fiber laser, more than twice the power of the most powerful laser in the company's machine tool range until now.
The thickness number is the one that matters: up to 80 mm. Sheet formats run from 3 x 1.5 m to 8 x 2.5 m depending on configuration.
TRUMPF names heavy machinery and plant construction, steel service centres, defense and infrastructure as the target work. Market launch is at EuroBLECH 2026, with a second showing at the company's own INTECH event in April 2027.
"No other solution on the sheet metal fabrication market offers this combination," said Martin Blaschke, product manager at TRUMPF, in the release. That is marketing, but the direction is real. Fiber has been eating thick plate for four years.
| Item | TruLaser 8000 Power Edition | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Laser power | 50 kW fiber | More than double TRUMPF's previous top 2D power |
| Max material thickness | Up to 80 mm | Replaces oxy-fuel or plasma on heavy plate |
| Sheet formats | 3 x 1.5 m to 8 x 2.5 m | Covers standard and oversized plate |
| Target users | Heavy machinery, plant construction, steel service centres, defense, infrastructure | Thick plate, long cut length, tight edge quality |
| Timeline | Launched at EuroBLECH, October 2026; shown again at INTECH April 2027 | First deliveries follow the show cycle |
Why it matters: shops that cut 40 mm and above have been running two processes for years, oxy-fuel for the thick end and fiber for everything else. One 50 kW machine changes the cost per part on that thick end, because you stop paying for a second setup, a second nest and a second operator. It also changes what a buyer should ask. Power is easy to print on a brochure. What decides your edge quality at 60 mm is gas, nozzle, focus and how the machine holds the head steady over a long cut.
If you are weighing a 12 kW to 30 kW machine against a 50 kW quote, our fiber laser cutting machine page lists power, table size and automation options so you can compare on the same basis.
2. Tube Lasers at Two Shows, Both Built Around Part Handling
HSG showed the TS2 PRO at FABTECH in Las Vegas, reported on October 27 by Shop Metalworking Technology. It is aimed at high-mix tube work: high cutting speed, precision control and flexible automation rather than headline watts.
The head is a standard zero-pivot bevel type, so small-tube beveling and weld preparation come from selecting a parameter set, not from changing the head. A dual-line laser scanning system adds correction for tube position.
The weld seam option is the practical one. On welded tube, the machine can locate the seam and avoid putting a cut through it, which is where a lot of scrap comes from on parts where seam location matters.
Unloading rack and belt conveyor are standard. Loading can be semi-automatic or fully automatic, and the semi-automatic rack adjusts for different tube lengths. Zoned unloading and length configurations are selectable.
Bodor did the same thing in Hanover. The company took more than 1,400 sq m across booths A181 and A182 in Hall 13 at EuroBLECH, October 20 to 23, and gave two tube machines their European debut.
The four-chuck series uses a fully floating chuck with unrestricted rotation. Compared with conventional three-chuck machines, the dual-process mode helps on heavy tube: the machine adjusts chuck operation to tube and part length, and stepless retraction lets short tubes load without re-homing.
The double-chuck series goes the other way and combines cutting, drilling and tapping on one platform, with an optional 14-position tool magazine. Laser scanning, visual recognition and sensors watch the tube contour, the weld seam and the cutting condition, and the machine adjusts while it runs.
| Machine | Show | Design focus |
|---|---|---|
| HSG TS2 PRO | FABTECH, Las Vegas, October 2026 | High-mix work: zero-pivot bevel head, dual-line scanning, weld seam detection, zoned unloading |
| Bodor four-chuck series | EuroBLECH, Hanover, October 20-23, 2026 | Heavy tube: floating chuck, unrestricted rotation, dual-process mode, stepless retraction |
| Bodor double-chuck series | EuroBLECH, Hanover, October 20-23, 2026 | Cut, drill and tap in one setup; optional 14-position tool magazine |
| Bodor booth size | EuroBLECH 2026 | More than 1,400 sq m, Hall 13 |
Why it matters: nobody bought a tube laser in 2026 because of the wattage. Tube shops lose money on handling, on remnants and on second operations, not on cutting speed. A machine that drills and taps in the same setup removes a whole queue from your floor. A machine that finds the seam removes scrap you currently pay for and never see on a quote. When you compare quotes, put the handling time per part next to the cutting time per part and the ranking usually flips.
Our laser tube cutting machine page covers chuck count, tube range, bevel capability and loading options, which is the part of the spec sheet that decides throughput.
3. ESAB, Kemppi and ACMER All Ship Handheld Laser Welders
Three welding names moved into handheld laser welding in October, and that is the story. When the companies that sell wire, gas and MIG sets start shipping laser welders, the category stops being a niche tool from Chinese factories.
ESAB announced its first laser welder, the Dueler EHL 1500, at FABTECH on October 21. It is a 1,500 W air-cooled handheld system, rated at up to 4x TIG speed and 2x MIG speed, with a 7-inch touchscreen and two modes: manual for experienced users and synergic with factory settings for common metals. It is on sale in the U.S. now and in Canada from November.
Kemppi released the FastBeam 3, a 3 kW handheld unit for steel, stainless and aluminium. Penetration Shape Control lets the operator change beam shape, balance, oscillation and power, and Weld Assist guides parameter selection. Kemppi positions it next to MIG and TIG as a third option, not a replacement.
ACMER launched the XMetal in two models: 1,300 W with up to 6 mm single-side penetration on stainless and carbon steel, and 900 W with up to 4 mm. Both have an automatic wire feeder for 0.8 to 1.6 mm filler built into the machine, which removes a separate feeder unit from the cart, and more than 100 presets in Simple Mode.
| System | Power | Claimed performance | Notable detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESAB Dueler EHL 1500 | 1,500 W, air cooled | Up to 4x TIG speed, 2x MIG speed | 7-inch touchscreen, manual and synergic modes |
| Kemppi FastBeam 3 | 3,000 W | Controlled heat input, less distortion | Penetration Shape Control, Weld Assist |
| ACMER XMetal 1300W | 1,300 W | Up to 6 mm single-side penetration | Built-in wire feeder, 0.8-1.6 mm |
| ACMER XMetal 900W | 900 W | Up to 4 mm single-side penetration | More than 100 presets |
Why it matters: a welding brand brings a service network and consumables, which is what a buyer actually needs after month six. It also means spec sheets will get easier to compare, because names you already know are now in the same table. The questions stay the same though. Ask for laser class and the shielding setup, ask what happens to the lens when the operator welds galvanized steel all day, and ask for the duty cycle at full power instead of the peak number. Our handheld laser welding machine page lists power, wire feed and cooling for the handheld range we ship.
4. Stainless Costs Slide Again, and September Exports Set a 2026 High
Stainless kept falling into October 27. The SHFE stainless main contract closed at 13,395 CNY per tonne, down 1.11%. Foshan spot prices fell across 201 and 304, while 430 held flat.
On the mill side, 304 hot rolled in Foshan was 13,300 CNY per tonne, down 200. Delong 304 cold rolled was 13,400, down 100, and the 201 series dropped 50 per tonne. In Wuxi, 304/2B cold rolled was 13,500 CNY per tonne, down 50, and 316L/2B was 28,350, down 400.
Inputs fell with it. Jinchang refined nickel was 121,000 CNY per tonne, down 1,000. Indonesian nickel ore held at USD 57.62 per wet tonne CIF, high-carbon ferrochrome from Inner Mongolia slipped 50 CNY to 7,475 per 50-basis tonne, and 304 stainless scrap in Foshan was 9,500 CNY per tonne, down 150.
Exports are the other side of the picture. China shipped 454,577 tonnes of stainless steel in September, up 8,914 tonnes or 2% from August and 8.7% year on year, the highest monthly total so far this year according to customs data reported by Mysteel.
Mysteel's survey also expects producers to cut crude stainless output slightly further in October, because the domestic supply and demand gap is widening.
| Item | Price / value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| SHFE stainless main contract | 13,395 CNY/t | -1.11% |
| 304 hot rolled, Foshan | 13,300 CNY/t | -200 |
| 304 cold rolled, Foshan (Delong) | 13,400 CNY/t | -100 |
| 304/2B cold rolled, Wuxi | 13,500 CNY/t | -50 |
| 316L/2B cold rolled, Wuxi | 28,350 CNY/t | -400 |
| Refined nickel, Jinchang | 121,000 CNY/t | -1,000 |
| 304 stainless scrap, Foshan | 9,500 CNY/t | -150 |
| China stainless exports, September | 454,577 t | +8.7% YoY, +2% MoM |
Why it matters: a falling metal price is not the same as a cheaper delivery. Mills are cutting output while the price drops, so the cheap metal shows up with longer lead time on odd sizes, and 316L is where that bites first because the nickel side moves fastest. If you need 316L for a first-quarter project, book the tonnage early and negotiate the price closer to shipment. Our stainless steel sheet and pipe page lists the 304 and 316 sizes we hold and the finishes we can ship from stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a 50 kW cutting machine matter if most shops cut under 10 mm?
It does not matter for 3 mm mild steel, and nobody should buy it for that. The 50 kW class is for heavy machinery, plant construction, steel service centres and defense work where plate runs 40 to 80 mm. The gain is that one fiber machine replaces oxy-fuel or plasma on thick plate, so you stop paying for two processes, two nests and two setups.
Is a four-chuck tube laser better than a three-chuck machine?
It depends on your tube mix. Bodor's four-chuck series uses a fully floating chuck with unrestricted rotation and a dual-process mode, which helps on heavy tube because the machine adjusts chuck operation to tube and part length. On light tube under 3 mm wall the extra chuck mostly buys faster loading. Ask for a trial cut on your worst part, not on their demo tube.
Can a 1,500 W handheld laser welder replace TIG in a small shop?
For sheet metal, cabinets and stainless frames, yes, and most users report it is the fastest path to a clean seam with less distortion. ESAB rates its Dueler EHL 1500 at up to 4x TIG speed and 2x MIG speed with minimal training. What it does not replace is code work that specifies TIG, or thick multi-pass joints. Our handheld laser welding machine page lists power, wire feed and duty cycle for the handheld range.
Are stainless prices going to fall further in November 2026?
The direction is still down but the pace is slowing. The SHFE stainless main contract closed at 13,395 CNY per tonne on October 27, down 1.11%, and refined nickel fell 1,000 CNY to 121,000 CNY per tonne. Mills are cutting output into October rather than chasing volume, which usually puts a floor under the price before the finished goods price stops falling.
What should I check before ordering a tube laser for 2027 delivery?
Check the loading side, not the wattage. Ask how the machine handles a 6 m bundle, whether unloading is zoned, what happens to a short remnant, and how the head finds the weld seam on welded tube. Our laser tube cutting machine page covers chuck count, tube range and automation options, and we run your part list against the spec before quoting.
Sources
- TRUMPF, "EuroBLECH: TRUMPF doubles laser power in its 2D laser cutting portfolio", October 21, 2026
- Shop Metalworking Technology, "FABTECH REPORT: HSG showcases TS2 PRO tube laser", October 27, 2026
- Bodor Laser, "Bodor Laser showcases two premium tube laser cutting machines at EuroBLECH 2026", October 26, 2026
- Industrial Machinery Digest / ESAB, "ESAB Unveils First Laser Welder Dueler EHL 1500", October 21, 2026
- The Fabricator, "Handheld laser welding system offers high welding speeds, controlled heat input" (Kemppi FastBeam 3), October 6, 2026
- ACMER, "ACMER Introduces XMetal, Its First Handheld Laser Welding System", October 15, 2026 (updated October 18, 2026)
- Mysteel, stainless steel daily review, Foshan market, October 27, 2026
- Mysteel, nickel-chrome-stainless steel chain prices, October 27, 2026
- Mysteel Global, "GACC: China's stainless steel exports reach 454,577 tonnes in September", October 2026
- Mysteel survey, China crude stainless output outlook for October 2026
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