Following a serious fire, a CNC laser profiling machine company ordered a replacement laser resonator from Germany for a damaged, resited machine, and it was installed by next day.

On the face of it the loss of its manufacturing facility in the UK's Buncefield Oil Depot blaze in December 2005 could have been completely ruinous for subcontractor PCD. However with the support of suppliers, fellow traders and its insurer, PCD was up and running again within a matter of days. Furthermore, the disaster has given the company the opportunity to review its business and to re-establish itself with a greater range of manufacturing services in purpose designed premises.

Although its building was deemed unsafe after the blast PCD was fortunate not to suffer significant equipment loss.

Its powder-coating line and a graining and deburring machine were irreparable as was the laser resonator on a machine that is central to its production, the Trumpf L2530 flatbed laser.

Otherwise everything remained operable and in the immediate aftermath the PCD team simply donned hard hats and continued manufacturing as best they could.

Thanks to the swift work of insurers however PCD soon found temporary accommodation in the old Aquascutum factory in Hemel Hempstead.

Within a matter of days the company had re-located the lion's share of its production facility.

In addition to its Trumpf flatbed, PCD also has two Trumatic punching machines and chairman, Phil Cutts is quick to commend Trumpf's speed and efficiency in getting these important machines up and running again.

He explained, 'Having installed the L2530 at the new site Trumpf ordered a replacement laser resonator from Germany at 3.30pm the same afternoon.

When I arrived at the factory at 8.30am the following day it was already on the machine.

Trumpf really did us proud.' Within weeks a new powder coating line had been ordered and installation completed by April '06.

The grainer was ordered, installed and is now fully operational.

'By comparison with last year's trading figures in February '06 we were at 65% and by March, 80%,' explained David Stoneham, managing director.

'And by April we expect to resume the monthly business growth that prevailed before the fire.

Everyone has worked extremely hard to secure this recovery.' PCD is a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 certified subcontractor specialising in precision sheet metalwork, finishing and assembly.

It serves a wide customer base encompassing the telecoms, datacoms, audio, electronic and lighting industries.

During its 24-year history the company has steadily grown, introducing additional services such as powder coating and silk screening.

The original factory, destroyed by the blast, reflected this organic growth.

Although a devastating experience, the fire has presented PCD with the opportunity to plan a new factory layout that really is fit-for-purpose with flexibility for expansion.

Furthermore, it has allowed Phil Cutts and his team to look at the business and make it even better.

'We have invested in flexible, automated processes to enable us to undertake a broad variety of work economically,' Cutts explained.

The Trumpf TC5000R is equipped with automatic loading and the software is installed on PCD's latest acquisition, the TC3000R to provide a similar degree of automation.

'We are running both lights-out with minimal manning, specialising in close limit work such as chassis, panel work and enclosures.' PCD sees an expanding need for this type of cost-conscious, quality manufacturing and is now seeking to add value to the business by augmenting its growing sheet metalworking operation with other in-house machining services.

'Currently we outsource any machining element a job may require,' added Cutts.

'Having turning and milling in-house will allow us to provide customers with the complete manufacturing package and give us full control of scheduling and quality.' Plans for PCD's new factory on the original site have now been finalised.