Vaartveld 9
4704 SE Roosendaal
The Netherlands
E-mail: marketing.emea@hypertherm.com
Company Profile
Hypertherm’s origins began in a two-car garage in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA and date back to 1968, when Hypertherm founder and president Dick Couch and an associate, Bob Dean, made the greatest breakthrough since the initial discovery of plasma cutting fourteen years earlier. They discovered that by radially injecting water into a plasma cutting nozzle, they could create a narrower arc, capable of cutting metal with a speed and accuracy never before seen. In addition, two issues that had plagued the industry from the start–the accumulation of dross and a phenomenon called double-arcing–were virtually eliminated.
Improved plasma cutting
Hypertherm’s new water injection technique introduced another first to the industry. Instead of relying on several different types of gas for cutting, the Hypertherm system relied on only one: nitrogen. This single gas requirement made plasma cutting more economical and easier to use since customers no longer had to purchase and stock several different types of gas. Customers also saw a marked improvement in nozzle life because steam from the water helped to cool and protect the nozzle, significantly slowing down its wear rate.
Hypertherm patents technology
Dick Couch quickly patented his new radially injected water technique and unveiled Hypertherm’s very first plasma cutter, the PAC400 in 1969. For the first time, plasma was a real option for people needing to quickly and cost-effectively cut through metal. The popularity of the PAC400 grew, as did Hypertherm’s reputation as a world leader in plasma cutting.
Focus, inspiration, and determination led Dick Couch and Hypertherm associates to innovate further. They had one goal in mind: to make plasma cutting more accurate, more cost effective, safer and easier for people to use.
Whether it was reducing the noise and smoke caused by plasma cutting, developing underwater and oxygen based systems, or finding ways to build even faster and more accurate systems, Hypertherm was at the forefront.
More than 50 years of innovation
More than 50 years and 100+ patents later, innovations to improve cut quality, extend service life, enhance productivity, and lower operating costs are still the norm at Hypertherm. In fact, the company dedicates more resources to plasma research, development, and testing than any other manufacturer in the world. That research and development has led to a number of industry firsts in the last few years alone. Technologies like the advent of a 15 degree plasma torch, for easier gouging and cutting in hard to reach areas; the first fiber laser system specifically optimised for cutting; waterjet systems with our advanced intensifier technology; and a collection of integrated cutting solutions which enable the cutting of bolt-ready holes, an increase in the number of parts cut per hour and longer consumable life.
Global expansion
1989 was a significant year for the company in that it began its global expansion with the forming of Hypertherm’s first subsidiary, Hypertherm Plasmatechnik GmbH in Maintal, Germany.
Hypertherm is a 100 per cent Associate owned company, employing more than 1 800 Associates along with operations and partner representation worldwide and regional offices in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Product line
Hypertherm designs and manufactures advanced cutting products for use in a variety of industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automotive repair. The company serves artwork, signs and ornamentation, automotive, construction, demolition and scrapping, energy, farming and ranching, maintenance and repair, manufacturing, mechanical contractors, metal fabricators, mining, pipe and pipelines, steel service centers, training and education, and transportation markets.
Hypertherm’s product line comprises plasma, laser and waterjet cutting systems, in addition to CNC motion and height controls, CAM nesting software and consumables.
This includes plasma systems for cutting and gouging metals such as aluminium, carbon steel and stainless steel up to 160 mm thick, fiber laser systems for marking and fine-feature cutting, torches that are available in hand and machine versions and waterjet products for cutting a wide variety of materials including metal, glass, rubber, plastics, stone and others.
Recognised trade names include Duramax®, MAXPRO200®, HyPerformance®, HyDefinition®, ProNest® CAD/CAM nesting software, Coaxial-assist, LongLife® and patented technologies such as True Hole® and True Bevel®.
HyDefinition plasma bevel cutting
Hypertherm’s HDi thin stainless steel technology brings HyDefinition® cutting technology to thin stainless 3 mm to 6 mm
Examples of HyDefinition plasma cut profiles
HyPrecision waterjet cutting of aluminium gears and copper
Cutting of copper
