UrBC, Yekaterinburg, September 1, 2015. Plant 9 (a member enterprise of Uralvagonzavod Corporation) launched a modern laser cutting unit made in Russia; this equipment is less expensive than its foreign counterpart and allows for cutting metal that is up to 20mm thick, the corporation's press service reports.

'The ytterbium fiber laser LS4 was installed at the plant's welding department, which has been given a complete overhaul recently and is now being fitted with new equipment. The unique LS4 unit has been assembled, undergone start-up and commissioning, and is now fully ready for operation,' the press service says.

'The unit makes it possible to make even the most sophisticated cutting operations,' says Boris Gilmanshin from the Chief Engineer's Department. He explains laser metal cutting is more efficient than plasma-beam cutting (which the plant has been relying on for over a year now) in that thinner metal sheets can be handled. 'The new unit is meant for fine, jewelry-like work,' he says.