LaserBond breaks into US export market.

Surface engineering and coating business, LaserBond has broken into the US market, delivering its first order of composite carbide steel mill rolls to an American steel producer.

Sydney-based LaserBond (ASX: LBL) said in an announcement that this was the first of many orders it expected for its new range of its steel mill rolls.

CEO Wayne Hooper said pressure to increase productivity and reduce maintenance costs meant customers were searching for better performance from wearing components.

LaserBond’s steel mill rolls have been in use in the Australian market for 18 months and typically last five to 15 times longer than competitors.

“The products division directly exported $2.6 million in FY18 and we intend to grow that strongly,” Hooper said.

“These early international orders for a new product range form part of a strategy that will deliver tremendous growth.”

The announcement quoted Liberty House Group, which operates the Whyalla blast furnace and a number of electric arc steel mills, as saying LaserBond’s products were integral to its supply chain.

“In every case the carbide composite components far exceeded our expectations in terms of service life,” said Liberty House.

LaserBond utilises advanced surface-engineering techniques to reduce the wear rates, maintenance and operating costs of production-vital components of industrial customers.

Earlier this year the company licensed its laser cladding system, ongoing training and support and agreed to provide consumables to a UK company.

In 2017 it licensed its systems to a Chinese partner.

Picture: LaserBond/Wayne Hooper

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