Industrial Metal Supply Co. (www.imsmetals.com), the largest distributor of metals in the southwest, has created a new business unit to provide unique six-axis, 3D laser cutting and fabrication services to its customer base of design and manufacturing firms, metal fabricators, welders, machine shops and other businesses in Southern California and Arizona.

“We're investing roughly two million dollars in equipment, facilities and people to create a new business unit that will deliver innovative new services that have not been available to our customers before now,” Eric Steinhauer, president of Industrial Metal Supply, said.

“Our laser services group will focus on providing fabrication and production services enabled by a sophisticated new device from Mazak Optonics Corp. called the FabriGear 300,” he added.

He said the FabriGear uses a six-axis laser to cut large sizes of round, square, rectangular and triangular tubes and pipes. It can cut lengths to 26 ft. and also processes I-beams, H-beams, C-channel, angle iron and other shapes. The machine can make cuts at any angle with high accuracy and quality.

The company also announced that it named Martin J. Mechsner general manager and chief engineer of its new Laser Services Group. Mechsner is president and chief executive officer of the Small Manufacturers' Institute, president of Schober's Machine and Engineering, and adjunct professor of Technology and Mechanical Engineering at Cal State University.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Industrial Metal Supply Co. is a multi-location metal service center and mill distributor. It operates five locations in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego and Phoenix.